What is venlafaxine?
Venlafaxine is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin and
norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs). Venlafaxine affects chemicals in the brain that may
become unbalanced and cause depression.
Venlafaxine is used to treat major depressive disorder, anxiety, and panic disorder.
Venlafaxine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking venlafaxine?
Do not take this medication if you are allergic to venlafaxine, or if you are also using a
monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline
(Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate). You must wait at least 14 days
after stopping an MAOI before you can take venlafaxine. After you stop taking venlafaxine, you must
wait at least 7 days before you start taking an MAOI.
Before taking venlafaxine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any medications, or if you have:
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bipolar disorder (manic depression);
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cirrhosis or other liver disease;
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kidney disease;
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high blood pressure;
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glaucoma;
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seizures or epilepsy;
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a bleeding or blood clotting disorder; or
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high cholesterol.
If you have any of the conditions listed above, you may need a dose
adjustment or special test to safely take venlafaxine.
You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if
you are younger than 24 years old. Tell your doctor if you have worsening symptoms of depression or
suicidal thoughts during the first several weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.
Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.
Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.
FDA pregnancy category C. Venlafaxine may be harmful to an unborn baby, and may
cause problems in a newborn baby if the mother takes the medication late in pregnancy (during the third
trimester). Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Venlafaxine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this
medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Do not give this medication to anyone under 18 years old without the advice of a doctor.
How should I take venlafaxine?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger
amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Your doctor may occasionally
change your dose to make sure you get the best results from the medication. Follow the directions on
your prescription label.
Take this medication with a full glass of water.
Venlafaxine should be taken with food.
Swallow the controlled-release capsule (Effexor XR) whole, without crushing or chewing.
To make the medication easier to swallow, you may open the capsule and sprinkle the medicine into a
small amount of applesauce. Swallow all of the mixture without chewing, and do not save any for later
use.
Try to take venlafaxine at the same time each day.
It may take 4 weeks or more for your symptoms to improve. For best results, keep using
the medication as directed. Do not stop using venlafaxine without first talking to your doctor. You may
have unpleasant side effects if you stop taking this medication suddenly.
Store venlafaxine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose of venlafaxine?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next
regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed.
Do not
take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about venlafaxine?
Your pharmacist has information about venlafaxine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of venlafaxine?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
skin rash or hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Contact your doctor promptly if you have any of the following side effects, especially if they
are new symptoms or if they get worse: mood changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping,
irritability, agitation, aggressiveness, severe restlessness, mania (mental and/or physical hyperactivity),
thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
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increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision);
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easy bruising or bleeding;
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severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
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very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, fast or
uneven heartbeats, tremors, overactive reflexes;
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nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, feeling
unsteady, loss of coordination; or
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headache, trouble concentrating, memory problems,
weakness, confusion, hallucinations, fainting, seizure, shallow breathing or breathing that stops.
Less serious side effects may include:
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drowsiness, dizziness, feeling nervous;
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dry mouth;
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mild nausea, constipation;
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decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an
orgasm;
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blurred vision;
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increased appetite; or
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changes in weight.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about venlafaxine?
Do not take this medication if you are allergic to venlafaxine, or if you are also using a
monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline
(Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate).
You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if
you are younger than 24 years old. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the
first 12 weeks of treatment.
Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or
behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated,
hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts
about suicide or hurting yourself.
Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of venlafaxine.
It may take 4 weeks or more for your symptoms to improve. For best results, keep using
the medication as directed. Do not stop using venlafaxine without first talking to your doctor. You may
have unpleasant side effects if you stop taking this medication suddenly.
What should I avoid while taking venlafaxine?
Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of venlafaxine.
Venlafaxine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if
you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Tell your doctor if you regularly use other drugs that can cause sleepiness (such as cold or
allergy medicine, narcotic pain medication, sedatives, muscle relaxers, or medicines to treat seizures or
anxiety). These may add to sleepiness caused by venlafaxine.
What other drugs will affect venlafaxine?
Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine for pain, arthritis, fever, or swelling. This
includes aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), diclofenac (Voltaren),
indomethacin, piroxicam (Feldene), nabumetone (Relafen), etodolac (Lodine), and others. Taking any
of these drugs with venlafaxine may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.
Before taking venlafaxine, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following medicines:
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cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB);
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warfarin (Coumadin);
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ketoconazole (Nizoral);
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tryptophan (sometimes called L-tryptophan);
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haloperidol (Haldol) or risperidone (Risperdal);
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almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), sumatriptan
(Imitrex), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), or zolmitriptan (Zomig); or
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any other antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil),
amoxapine (Ascendin), citalopram (Celexa), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine
(Norpramin), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), imipramine
(Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), protriptyline (Vivactil), sertraline (Zoloft),
or trimipramine (Surmontil).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with
venlafaxine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This
includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using
a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of venlafaxine?