Drug Uses

Effexor XR is a potent inhibitor of the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine-two neurotransmitters thought to play important roles in the pathophysiology of depression. Correcting the imbalance of these two chemicals may help relieve symptoms of depression.

How Taken

Effexor XR comes as a capsule to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day and should be taken with food. Each capsule should be swallowed whole with fluid and not divided, crushed, chewed, or placed in water, or it may be administered by carefully opening the capsule and sprinkling the entire contents on a spoonful of applesauce. This drug/food mixture should be swallowed immediately without chewing and followed with a glass of water to ensure complete swallowing of the pellets.

Warnings/Precautions

Before starting Effexor XR, tell your doctor about any medicines you're taking, including over-the-counter drugs and herbal supplements. If you take MAOIs you should not take Effexor XR. If you are taking antidepressants you should be watched closely for signs that your condition is getting worse or that you are becoming suicidal, especially when you first start therapy, or when your dose is increased or decreased. You should also be watched for becoming agitated, irritable, hostile, impulsive, or restless. Such symptoms should be reported to your doctor right away. Effexor XR may raise blood pressure in some patients, so blood pressure should be monitored regularly. When you suddenly stop using or quickly lower your daily dose of Effexor XR, discontinuation symptoms may occur. Talk to your doctor before discontinuing or reducing your dose of Effexor XR. Pregnant or nursing women shouldn't take any antidepressant without consulting their doctor. Until you see how Effexor XR affects you, be careful doing such activities as driving a car or operating machinery. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Effexor XR.

Missed Dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next one as directed. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

Possible Side Effects

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Effexor XR and contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment: an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); seizures; or an irregular heartbeat or severely high blood pressure (blurred vision, headache). Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Effexor XR and talk to your doctor if you experience nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, abdominal pain, or loss of appetite or weight; dry mouth; drowsiness or dizziness; mild tremor, anxiety, or agitation; insomnia; abnormal dreams; sexual problems such as impotence, abnormal ejaculation, difficulty reaching orgasm, or decreased libido; sweating; yawning; or increase in blood cholesterol levels (detected by blood tests); Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Storage

Store Effexor XR at room temperature (68F to 77F or 20C to 25C). Keep Effexor XR away from children.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected. Symptoms of an Effexor XR overdose may include dizziness, drowsiness, numbness, nausea, irregular heartbeats, seizures, and unconsciousness.

More Information

Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Effexor XR may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities. Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness, dizziness, and confusion Do not stop taking Effexor XR without first talking to your doctor. Your doctor may need to gradually reduce the dose before stopping the medication completely. Stopping the medication suddenly may cause unpleasant side effects to occur.

Disclaimer

This drug information is for your information purposes only, it is not intended that this information covers all uses, directions, drug interactions, precautions, or adverse effects of your medication. This is only general information, and should not be relied on for any purpose. It should not be construed as containing specific instructions for any particular patient. We disclaim all responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information, and/or any consequences arising from the use of this information, including damage or adverse consequences to persons or property, however such damages or consequences arise. No warranty, either expressed or implied, is made in regards to this information.

Other info about Effexor-xr at Wikipedia.org and other resources:

Paxil May Raise Death Risk for Those Taking Tamoxefin
Breast cancer patients who are taking Tamoxefin to prevent a recurrence of the disease should not take the antidepressant Paxil (paroxetine), a new study suggests. Women in the study who took both drugs together had a greater than average risk of dying from breast cancer. The study looked at medical records for 2,430 breast cancer patients who had been taking tamoxefin. About 1 out 4 of these women had also taken Paxil; and, on average, about 41% of the time that the women were taking tamoxefin they were also taking Paxil. The researchers found that there was about one extra death from breast cancer for every 20 women who had taken the two drugs together. The researchers believe that the risk of death from breast cancer was increased because Paxil interferes with the cancer-preventing a...

Coping with Antidepressant Side Effects
All types of antidepressants can cause some side effects. The most common problems are sleepiness, dry mouth, constipation, nausea and sexual problems. Some people react badly to antidepressants; in others side effects can be quite mild. Different drugs have different risks: SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as fluoxetine (Prozac) may cause you to feel sick or more anxious during the first couple of weeks. Some types of SSRI can cause indigestion, but this can usually be avoided by taking them with food. They may interfere with sexual function, and there have been reports of episodes of aggression, although these are rare. Side effects of SSRIs tend to become less obvious after the first few weeks, while the body adapts to the drug. The exception is sexual side effect...

EFFEXOR (Venlafaxine Hydrochloride) Tablet [Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Company]
Updated Date: Feb 2, 2010 EST (Source: DailyMed Drug Label Updates for the last seven days (since May 20, 2007 EST))

Stellate Ganglion Block Effective for Severe Hot Flashes
SAN ANTONIO — Stellate ganglion block may be an option for severe, treatment-refractory hot flashes and sleep disturbances in breast cancer patients. In a prospective study, stellate ganglion block procedures led to significant improvements in 17 of 24 breast cancer patients with severe hot flashes despite pharmacotherapy with venlafaxine (Effexor) and/or clonidine, Dr. Patrick Neven reported at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. (Source: Clinical Endocrinology News)

Sun gets a boost as FDA rejects rival Osmotica’s plea
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries’ plan to launch a copy of US-based Wyeth’s blockbuster anti-depressant capsule Effexor XR got a big boost after the US drug regulator rejected rival Osmotica Pharmaceuticals’s appeal to bar the Indian company, said a top executive, reports Khomba Singh. (Source: The Economic Times Healthcare and Biotech News)