Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUsesSide EffectsBefore Taking EffexorWarnings and Interactions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Uses

Side Effects

Before Taking Effexor

Warnings and Interactions

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What is the most important information I should know about Effexor (venlafaxine)?You should not take venlafaxine if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) in the previous 14 days.Tell your doctor if you have a history of seizures, brain injury/illness, heart disease, high/low blood pressure, or kidney/liver disease.

What is the most important information I should know about Effexor (venlafaxine)?

You should not take venlafaxine if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) in the previous 14 days.Tell your doctor if you have a history of seizures, brain injury/illness, heart disease, high/low blood pressure, or kidney/liver disease.

Venlafaxine is an antidepressant drug in a class calledserotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors(SNRIs). It is an oral tablet that comes in both an immediate-release (Effexor) and extended-release (Effexor XR) formula. Both are used to treat depression in addition to a variety of other mental health conditions.

Effexor Uses

Effexor is mainly used to treat anxiety and depression. The four conditions it has been FDA-approved to treat are:

Doctors also sometimes prescribe Effexor off-label to treat other conditions, including:

Off-label use is both legal and common. It simply means that a doctor is prescribing it to treat a condition other than what the medication has been officially indicated to treat. However, a 2017 study found that Effexor was one of the medications least likely to be prescribed for off-label use.

One study found that Effexor was one of the most effective antidepressants.While Effexor can be a strong antidepressant, individual effects and tolerance may vary. Working with your doctor to determine which option is right for you is crucial.

Common Effexor Side Effects

Like any medication, side effects may occur while taking Effexor. Be sure to contact your doctor if they don’t go away or become bothersome. The most common side effects include:

These side effects often improve over the first week or two as you continue taking the medication. Call your doctor if your symptoms become severe or don’t go away.

Effexor may make you drowsy when you first start taking it, but this side effect often goes away or improves after a week or two. Some people may also experience insomnia or nightmares. Over time, you may also notice improvements in mood and increased energy levels.

Effexor should not be taken with or within two weeks of takingmonoamine oxidase inhibitors(MAOIs). Examples of MAOIs include:

Both Effexor and MAOIs increase serotonin levels in the brain. Severe and even fatal complications may result from such a combination.

Precautions

Make sure your doctor knows your complete medical history. Effexor should be used with caution if you have:

How to Take Effexor

Effexor XR is taken once each day. Typical doses range from 37.5 mg to 225 mg, with a typical target dose of 75 mg per day.Your healthcare provider will typically start at a lower amount and gradually increase the dose until they determine the right dose for you.

The medication should be taken with food at any time of day, morning or night. However, if you have trouble sleeping after taking Effexor, it may be best to take your medication in the morning.

Warnings are established to both ensure the safe use and discontinuation of Effexor. Your doctor should monitor you for the following complications while you’re taking Effexor.

Serotonin Syndrome

Be careful when mixing Effexor with other medicines that also affect serotonin levels, such as other antidepressants,lithium, andSt. John’s wort. Doing so can lead to an excessive serotonin buildup in the brain. This can cause a condition calledserotonin syndrome.

Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include:

Some cases of serotonin syndrome can be life-threatening. If you’re taking Effexor and experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Risk of Overdose

You should always avoid drinking or using other drugs while you’re taking Effexor. These substances may decrease the benefits of the medication, or they can result in a toxic overdose. The most common Effexor overdose effects include:

To reduce your risk of overdose, your doctor will only prescribe you the lowest possible dose in the smallest quantity.

How to Tell If Someone Has Overdosed on Antidepressants

Suicidal Thoughts and Actions

Children and young people (up to age 25) may experience increased suicidal thoughts and behaviors when taking antidepressant medications. The danger is greatest the first few months of treatment or when changing the dose.

Though this warning is true for all antidepressants, taking Effexor may increase your risk even more. A major study found that Effexor was associated with a higher risk of both completed and attempted suicide compared with other antidepressants, includingCelexa(citalopram),Prozac(fluoxetine), and Prothiaden (dothiepin).

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Discontinuation Syndrome

Stopping Effexor abruptly may result in one of more of the followingwithdrawal symptoms:

It’s important not to stop taking Effexor on your own. If you and your doctor decide you should stop Effexor, they can provide you with a tapering strategy to minimize any withdrawal symptoms.

Tips for Antidepressant Withdrawal Relief

9 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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