Effexor Overview / Effexor Side Effects

Venlafaxine is an antidepressant medication. It affects chemicals in your brain that may become unbalanced and cause depression. Effexor is an SSRI.

Specific Uses for Effexor:

Venlafaxine is used to relieve symptoms of depression such as feelings of sadness, worthlessness, or guilt; loss of interest in daily activities; changes in appetite; tiredness; sleeping too much; insomnia; and thoughts of death or suicide. Venlafaxine is also used to relieve symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.

Effexor Side Effects:

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, or weakness, 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, or problems with vision.
(If you experience any of the above serious side effects, stop taking Effexor and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately)

Prescription Drug Warnings for Effexor:

Effexor can cause severe withdrawal symptoms. Do not take more than the prescribed amount of medication or take it for longer than is directed by your doctor. Withdrawal effects may occur if Effexor is stopped suddenly after several weeks of continuous use.

Do not take venlafaxine if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor ( MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days.

Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness, dizziness, and confusion while you are taking venlafaxine.

Venlafaxine is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether venlafaxine will harm an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.

Do not stop taking venlafaxine without the approval of your doctor. It may be 4 weeks or more before you begin to feel better, and you may require continuous treatment for quite some time. Talk to your doctor before you stop taking this medication.

Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Venlafaxine may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.