Precautions and Side Effects
Effexor Oral Warning
Antidepressant medications are used to treat a variety of conditions,
including depression and other mental/mood disorders. These medications
can help prevent suicidal thoughts/attempts and provide other important
benefits. However, studies have shown that a small number of people (especially
children/teenagers) who take antidepressants for any condition may experience
worsening depression, other mental/mood symptoms, or suicidal thoughts/attempts.
Therefore, it is very important to talk with the doctor about the risks
and benefits of antidepressant medication (especially for children/teenagers),
even if treatment is not for a mental/mood condition.
Tell the doctor immediately if you notice worsening depression/other
psychiatric conditions, unusual behavior changes (including possible suicidal
thoughts/attempts), or other mental/mood changes (including new/worsening
anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, irritability, hostile/angry feelings,
impulsive actions, severe restlessness, very rapid speech). Be especially
watchful for these symptoms when a new antidepressant is started or when
the dose is changed.
Effexor Oral Side Effects
Headache, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, weakness, dry mouth, constipation,
loss of appetite, weight loss, blurred vision, tiredness, nervousness,
trouble sleeping, sweating, or yawning may occur. If any of these effects
persist or worsen, tell your doctor promptly.
Venlafaxine may increase blood pressure. Your blood pressure should
be checked regularly while you are taking this medication.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he
or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side
effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side
effects occur:
fainting
severe/pounding headache
unusual or severe mental/mood changes (e.g., extreme anxiety, unusual
high energy/excitement, rare thoughts of suicide)
shakiness (tremor)
decreased interest in sex
changes in sexual ability
difficulty urinating
change in the amount of urine
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side
effects occur:
stomach/abdominal pain
chest pain
persistent cough
shortness of breath
bloody/black/tarry stools
vomit that looks like coffee grounds
easy bruising/bleeding
fast/irregular/pounding heartbeat
muscle weakness/cramps
yellowing eyes/skin
dark urine
seizures
unusual tiredness
This medication may rarely cause a very serious condition called serotonin
syndrome. The risk increases when this medication is used with certain
other drugs such as "triptans" used to treat migraine headaches (e.g.,
sumatriptan, eletriptan), certain antidepressants including SSRIs (e.g.,
citalopram, paroxetine) and other SNRIs (e.g., duloxetine), lithium, tramadol,
tryptophan, or a certain drug to treat obesity (sibutramine). See also
Drug Interactions section. Before taking this drug, tell your doctor if
you take any of these medications. Serotonin syndrome may be more likely
when you start or increase the dose of any of these medications. Seek immediate
medical attention if you develop some of the following symptoms:
hallucinations
restlessness
loss of coordination
fast heartbeat
severe dizziness
unexplained fever
severe nausea/vomiting/diarrhea
twitchy muscles
For males, in the very unlikely event you have a painful or prolonged
erection lasting 4 or more hours, stop using this drug and seek immediate
medical attention, or permanent problems could occur.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek
immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic
reaction, including:
rash
itching
swelling
severe dizziness
trouble breathing
If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or
pharmacist.
Effexor Oral Precautions
Before taking venlafaxine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are
allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical
history, especially of:
personal or family history of psychiatric disorders (e.g., bipolar/manic-depressive
disorder)
personal or family history of suicide attempts
bleeding problems
severe loss of body water (dehydration)
glaucoma
high blood pressure
heart problems (e.g., chest pain, irregular heartbeat, heart failure,
heart attack)
high cholesterol
kidney disease
liver disease
seizure disorder
thyroid problems
low sodium in the blood (e.g., hyponatremia)
This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Use caution while driving, using
machinery, or doing any other activity that requires alertness. Avoid alcoholic
beverages.
Caution is advised when using this product in the elderly because they
may be more sensitive to its effects. The elderly are more likely to lose
too much salt (hyponatremia), especially if they are also taking "water
pills" (diuretics) with this medication.
Caution is advised when using this drug in children because it may affect
weight, growth rate, and final height. Consult your doctor or pharmacist
for more details.
This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may
harm an unborn baby. Also, babies born to mothers who have used this drug
during the last 3 months of pregnancy may infrequently develop withdrawal
symptoms such as feeding/breathing difficulties, seizures, muscle stiffness,
or constant crying. If you notice any of these symptoms in your newborn,
tell the doctor promptly.
Since untreated depression can be a serious condition, do not stop taking
this medication unless directed by your doctor. If you are planning pregnancy,
become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant, immediately discuss the
benefits and risks of using this medication during pregnancy with your
doctor.
This medication passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects
on a nursing infant. Breast-feeding is not recommended while using this
drug. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Effexor Oral Drug Interactions
Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug
interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or
change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist
first.
Taking certain medications with this product could result in serious
(rarely fatal) drug interactions. Avoid taking MAO inhibitors (e.g., furazolidone,
isocarboxazid, linezolid, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline,
selegiline, tranylcypromine) with venlafaxine for 2 weeks before treatment,
during treatment, and at least 7 days after your last dose of venlafaxine.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
This drug should also not be used with the following medications because
very serious (possibly fatal) interactions may occur:
weight loss drugs (e.g., sibutramine, phentermine)
tryptophan
If you are currently using any of these medications, tell your doctor
or pharmacist before starting venlafaxine.
Certain drugs that may affect the heart rhythm (QTc prolongation in
the EKG) include amiodarone, dofetilide, pimozide, quinidine, sotalol,
procainamide, thioridazine, and erythromycin, among others. Venlafaxine
may increase the risk of this effect. QTc prolongation can infrequently
result in a serious (rarely fatal) irregular heartbeat. Consult your doctor
or pharmacist for more details and for instructions on how you may reduce
this risk of this effect.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all
prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially
of:
drugs removed from your body by certain liver enzymes (e.g., antipsychotics
such as clozapine/ haloperidol, HIV medications such as indinavir, tricyclic
antidepressants-TCAs such as desipramine)
drugs affecting liver enzymes that remove venlafaxine from your body
(e.g., cimetidine, azole antifungals such as ketoconazole, itraconazole)
"water pills" (diuretics such as furosemide)
drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising (e.g., aspirin, antiplatelet
drugs such as clopidogrel, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, "blood thinners" such
as heparin/warfarin)
Aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding when used with this medication
(see above). If your doctor has directed you to take low-dose aspirin for
heart attack or stroke prevention (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams
a day), you should continue taking it unless your doctor instructs you
otherwise. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
Also tell your doctor if you take any other drugs that increase serotonin,
such as buspirone, dextromethorphan, lithium, meperidine, propoxyphene,
SSRIs, other SNRIs, St. John's wort, drugs used to treat migraines such
as "triptans" and dihydroergotamine, street drugs such as MDMA/"ecstasy,"
amphetamine. (See also Side Effects section.)
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness
such as: certain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine), anti-seizure drugs
(e.g., carbamazepine), medicine for sleep or anxiety (e.g., alprazolam,
diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine),
psychiatric medicines (e.g., chlorpromazine, risperidone, amitriptyline,
trazodone). Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., allergy, cough-and-cold
products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask
your pharmacist about using those products safely.
Cimetidine is a nonprescription drug that is commonly used to treat
extra stomach acid. Because it may cause undesirable interactions when
used with venlafaxine, ask your pharmacist about other products to treat
stomach acid.
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