painful acne & effexor

Get off Effexor immediately if you are breaking out! My acne has constantly got worse and worse over the past 3 years, I have been on Effexor for 8 years and never thought it caused my break outs. From chemical peels to oral acne medication - nothing seemed to work until my new doctor let me ween off Effexor - suddenly I had no new break outs and people keep telling me how much better my skin looks. If it wasn't for this and the other message boards out there I would still have terrible acne today. Acne is emotionally and physically scarring - something I do not wish on anyone. Today I am so much more confident - I no longer feel that I need to hide my face! 

I was started on effexor almost 2 years ago after spending 8 years on Seroxat. Prior to that I had never had any problem with spots or acne. I was 27 when I went on the effexor. There is no history of acne in my family, in fact everyone has incredible skin. However a few weeks after commencing the Effexor I had a severe breakout. Mainly around my chin but also scalp and forehead. It gradually got worse as  my dose was increased and in desperation I went to my GP who prescribed me anti-biotics. These did work but when the dose finished I broke out again. The Effexor does reallly help my mood but the recurring breakouts just make me depressed again.  My GP said I have adult acne. They initially feel almost like a sting or itch and look like a red blemish but after a few hours emerge as raw cystic nodules that take weeks to clear up. I never associated these breakouts with Effexor (although I have had several other side-effects from it) until my mum pointed out that it all occurred the same time that I started this med. After going on the internet and finding that this happened to others I am going to try come off this awful drug. I just hope that it is not a long term side-effect.

I have just started taking Effexor and have also noticed cystic acne forming around my chin. I only ever get break outs around my period these days and I never get cystic acne anymore so this is very unusual. I have only been on Effexor for a week so I am going to stop my medication right away. I can't believe this is a side effect of an anit-depression drug! 

I never really had clear skin always blemishes and acne but nothing srious or annoying. Hoewver a few months back I started to develop sever acne all over my back and thighs and mostly painful cysts and white heads in the weirdest places such as my knees etc. My face was always very clear but not anymore and it occured to me that this severe acne started when I upped my dose of effexor from 150 mg to 225 mg. I recently started a course of antibiotics for the acne it seems to be slightly working but as the Dr said this acne issue should be considered a chronic issue and will take at least 3 months for it for me to start seeing any permenant changes. I am just suprised how just a forum filled with non doctors could come close to tying effexor to acne when the medical community doesn't even have these side effects documented...

thank you thank you thank you to ALL of you for writing!! i have been on this drug for a few months (and like everyone here), have developed severe cystic acne all over my face ... it's so dry, painful and absolutely nothing will make it go away. I also have PCOS, so do in fact get skin issues, but have never had anything like this before and never anything that won't heal/get better within a few weeks. i've hid from life since i've been on this medication .. and yes although it's only been a few months, i can't describe how depressed, angry, sad and generally awful i have felt. i honestly didn't think of the connection until this morning and subsequently found this forum .. THANK YOU. 

Thankyou everyone for sharing. I also suspected that effexor has caused boil like pimples on my chin, ugly and uncomfortable. However I did manage to get rid of them without altering my meds.  I spoke with a natrapath, she put me on a regime of supplements that included Complex B vitamins, zinc and Chaste Tree and it cleared them all up. I subsequently did some research and found that it is very common for people with depression to have low levels of B vitamens. I strongly encourage those of you who are struggling with depression/anxiety and finding the right medication to also consult a reputable natrapath and dietician as part of a whole support plan. It wont solve everything but it will certainly help.

I must add however that whilst the all cleared up, I am now starting to come down off Effexor and my entire face has broken out. But hopefully this will again clear up once I've come off completely. 

I wish you all well.

 

Me too. On Effexor for several years, my acne has worsened a lot, with break outs (cysts, nodules) on chin area and I additionally got scars from acne. I never had such acne before Effexor. Thanks for sharing everyone.

It's a relief reading all these posts! I've been on Effexor for almost 2yrs. I've always suffered from mild acne but I noticed last year that it was getting worse. My entire back was breaking out along with my face & chest. My doc put me on various topical meds & antibiotics but nothing has worked. I happened to come across this site when I was searching Effexor & weight gain. I went off Zoloft because I was gaining weight & tried Wellbutrin-I lost 18lbs in 6wks but the drug itself made me feel terrible & seemed to up my anxiety. My doc recommended Effexor because its "weight neutral". Not for me!!!! I've gained 20lbs! My doc thinks Effexot has nothing to do with it. Recently I'm feeling EXHAUSTED and unmotivated all the time, and down about my weight and skin so I'm seeing the doc this week and getting off this stuff!

Idk maybe I a weird. I googled does effexor affect the skin because my skin seems to be clearing. It looks beautiful. I did not expect to hear so may horror stories. Now I am concerned will I have a delayed reaction. I have been on effexor for two mnths. Would I have already incountered a problem with my skin. Now I am slightly worried.

I wouldn't worry too much, everybody reacts differently! :)

i have had the same thing happen. Have been on effexor 150 mg for ages, decreased to 112.5 mg and my neck, chin and forehead are now covered in painful big red pimples but not just normal pimples like almost cysts. Painful and itchy. What is going on>>>??? on antibiotics for it and have been putting differin cream on but not helping!!! anyone>???

Definitely large painful cystic bumps with very slow healing from Effexor XR. I'm 66 years old and really very tired of having huge acne breakouts. Yes I can tell you the withdrawal from Effexor is very difficult and must be done slowly and with the aid of perhaps Klonepin an antianxiety medication to help get you through that!! Effexor is the ONLY drug that has slightly helped the deep Bipolar Depression I have for entire life time. Any luck with other medications for anyone out there? I've tried just about all mood stabilizers, antidepressants, anti convulsants and am called "treatment resistant". Life is not easy at all.

Ditto!!! horrible breakouts all over my face.

OMG, I have thought this, but NOW I know from all of your posts. It coincides with the time I started getting cystic acne with when I started taking Effexor. I thought I was going crazy. I am almost 55 years old and have had terrible acne fore the last 10 years+. I never had this bad of acne when I was a teenager or young adult. Thank you, thank you, thank you all for posting your stories - I now know what to do.

 

 

I am a 61 yr old woman and took Effexor for abt a year. It was quite effective as an antidepressant with no significant side effects EXCEPT cystic acne! Well, this may seem vain, but I'm done with it! The withdrawal from Effexor was weird and started immediately after my first missed dose... zingy little electrical shock feeling at various times during the day; these lasted abt 3 wks. However, six weeks now and my skin is back to beautiful, and luckily, haven't taken a nose dive into depression! I'm working with my doctor to find another suitable anti-depressant medication that will allow me go out without a bag over my head.  Thanks to people who post side effects, even though the doctors often "pooh-pooh" our concerns that things aren't "right"! If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck... you know where I'm headed!  Again, thank you!