Venlafaxine (Effexor – Efexor)
No More Panic forum posts about this medication can be found here: Effexor / Venlafaxine
Venlafaxine is a bicyclic antidepressant that inhibits the reuptake of serotonin, norepinphrine, and dopamine ( SSNRI). This drug is licenced in the treatment of depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder but is also often used to treat OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) and Fibromyalgia (FMS).
Benefits Seen
- Within two – four weeks
- You may feel worse for a few days before the benefits kick in and experience transient side effects.
Missed Dose
- If within 12 hours take
- If over 12 hour skip and then continue on your normal schedule
- Never Take a Double Dose!
If Stop Taking
- Do not stop without consulting your doctor and never abruptly
- This medication needs tapering off gently
Overdose symptoms include
- Convulsions
- Seizure
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Warnings
- Do not take this drug if you are pregnant.
- Do not take this drug if planning to become pregnant.
- Do not take if you are breast-feeding.
- Do not drink alcohol when taking this drug.
- Do not give this drug to children under eighteen. If over sixty only use drug in small doses and with close monitoring of it’s side effects.
Do not use if: You had negative reactions to this drug or any drug in this class in the past. If you have taken any MAO inhibitors in the last 14 days. If you have any type of seizures. (epilepsy or convulsions )
Have a history of cardiac disease
Inform your Doctor if
- You had negative reactions to this drug or any drug in this class in the past.
- If you have taken any MAO inhibitors in the last 14 days.
- If you have a history of liver or kidney problems.
- If you have a history of seizures, hyperlipdemia, hypomania, or mania.
- If you are taking any other prescription or non-prescription drug.
- If you plan to be under anesthesia or having any surgery in the next few months, also if you will be under-going any medical tests.
Symptoms or Side Effects
Common
- Anxiety
- Constipation
- Delayed orgasm
- Depression
- Difficulty breathing
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Itching
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of strength
- Nausea
- Nervousness
- Problem urinating
- Sedation
- Skin rash
- Sleepiness
- Sleeplessness
- Sweating
- Tingling hands/feet
- Tremors
- Vomiting
- Unusual dreams
- Weight loss
- Weakness
Rare
- Abnormal speech
- Bleeding/irritated gums
- Chest pain
- Dry skin
- Ear pain
- Hair loss
- Excessive salivation
- Migraines
- Seizures
- Sensitivity to sun,
- Soft stools
- Stomach irritation
- Suicide attempts
- Taste disorders
- Tongue discoloring
- Thyroid changes
- Problems with vision
See doctor always
- Abnormal speech
- Bleeding/irritated gums
- Chest pain
- Dry skin
- Ear pain
- Hair loss
- Excessive salivation
- Migraines
- Seizures
- Sensitivity to sun,
- Soft stools
- Stomach irritation
- Suicide attempts
- Taste disorders
- Tongue discoloring
- Thyroid changes
- Problems with vision
See doctor if severe
- Anxiety
- Constipation
- Delayed orgasm
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Itching
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Nervousness
- Sedation
- Sleepiness
- Sleeplessness
- Sweating
- Tingling hands/feet
- Unusual dreams
- Weight loss
- Weakness
See doctor NOW
- Skin rash
- Vomiting
Stop taking and see doctor NOW
- Seizures
