"i spent several years taking citalopram, which i found to be very good, until it stopped working. i was then prescribed venlafaxine. i started off on 225mg daily, but it was not controlling my anxiety and i became depressed on it.. i was then told to up the dosage to 300mg daily by my psychiatrist. several months on, and i can firmly say this medicine has turned me into the same state i was in prior to ever taking any medication. my anxiety has increased, and i now suffer with depression and suicidal thoughts which i never had before. i have had no appetite, which can be a side effect for some people. have lost a lot of weight. food and drink tastes strange, my skin has developed pimples."