effexor xr

[wokachick]

I would like to talk to anyone that has taken or is taking the anti depressant drug effexor xr. I would like any information regarding this drug.

[junem]

I was on Effexor XR for 3 years and did not experience any side effects and it worked well for 2 and a half years. Recently I had to be hospitalized as my meds weren't working anymore and was swithced to another antidepressant. Apparently that can happen some times.

[Crystal Gypsy]

I've been on Effexor for a year and a half. They tried me on Paxil and Lexapro which made me very ill. Effexor hasn't made me sick, but I do feel tired a lot.

[junem]

Here is some more info

Therapeutic class: ANTIDEPRESSANTS
Drug Alert
October 15, 2004:FDA Issues Public Health Advisory for Antidepressant Use in Children and Adolescents
June 30, 2004:Venlafaxine Associated With Neonatal Complications
March 22, 2004:Antidepressants May Cause Depression and Suicidality - 10

Dosage and Uses

Adult Min/Max Dose: 37.5mg/225.0mg

Common Dosages by Indication:
Depression take 1 capsule (37.5mg) by oral route once daily with food
take 2 capsules (75mg) by oral route once daily with food
take 1 capsule (75mg) by oral route once daily with food
take 2 capsules (150mg) by oral route once daily with food
take 3 capsules (225mg) by oral route once daily with food
take 1 capsule (150mg) by oral route once daily with food
Generalized Anxiety Disorder take 1 capsule (37.5mg) by oral route once daily with food
take 2 capsules (75mg) by oral route once daily with food
take 1 capsule (75mg) by oral route once daily with food
take 2 capsules (150mg) by oral route once daily with food
take 3 capsules (225mg) by oral route once daily with food
take 1 capsule (150mg) by oral route once daily with food
Social Phobia take 1 capsule (37.5mg) by oral route once daily with food
take 2 capsules (75mg) by oral route once daily with food
take 1 capsule (75mg) by oral route once daily with food
take 2 capsules (150mg) by oral route once daily with food
take 1 capsule (150mg) by oral route once daily with food


All Labeled Uses: Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia
Unlabeled Uses: Depression associated with Manic Depressive Disorder
Drug-Drug Interactions

Contraindicated Drug Combination:
Clearly contraindicated in all cases and should not be dispensed or administered to the same patient:
SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS/MAOI'S - Adverse reaction with both drugs
QT PROLONGATING AGENTS/DROPERIDOL - Adverse reaction with both drugs
QT PROLONGATING AGENTS/LEVOMETHADYL - Adverse reaction with both drugs
QT PROLONGATING AGENTS/SPARFLOXACIN - Adverse reaction with both drugs
QT PROLONGATING AGENTS/HALOFANTRINE - Adverse reaction with both drugs
QT PROLONGATING AGENTS/PIMOZIDE - Adverse reaction with both drugs
QT PROLONGATING AGENTS/MESORIDAZINE - Adverse reaction with both drugs
QT PROLONGATING AGENTS/BEPRIDIL - Adverse reaction with both drugs
QT PROLONGATING AGENTS/THIORIDAZINE - Adverse reaction with both drugs
SEROTONINERGIC AGENTS/DEXFENFLURAMINE; FENFLURAMINE - Adverse reaction with both drugs

Severe Interaction:
Action is required to reduce the risk of severe adverse interaction.
SEROTONINERGIC AGENTS/SIBUTRAMINE - Adverse reaction of the latter drug

Moderate Interaction:
Assess the risk to the patient and take action as needed.
QT PROLONGATING AGENTS/METHADONE - Additive side effects from both drugs
QT PROLONGATING AGENTS/APOMORPHINE - Additive side effects from both drugs
SSRI'S; SSNRI'S; VENLAFAXINE/AMPHETAMINES - Adverse reaction with both drugs
QT PROLONGATING AGENTS/PROPAFENONE - Additive side effects from both drugs
QT PROLONGATION AGENTS/DOLASETRON - Additive side effects from both drugs
QT PROLONGATION AGNETS/RISPERIDONE - Additive side effects from both drugs
QT PROLONGATION AGENTS/SOTALOL - Additive side effects from both drugs
QT PROLONGATION AGENTS/MOXIFLOXACIN - Additive side effects from both drugs
QT PROLONGATION AGNETS/GATIFLOXACIN - Additive side effects from both drugs
QT PROLONGATION AGENTS/DOFETILIDE - Additive side effects from both drugs
QT PROLONGATION AGENTS/ARSENIC - Additive side effects from both drugs
QT PROLONGATION AGENTS/AMIODARONE - Additive side effects from both drugs
ANTIDEPRESSANTS/BUPROPION - Additive side effects from both drugs
SSRI'S; VENLAFAXINE/LITHIUM - Adverse reaction with both drugs

Label Warnings

Pediatric
Relative Contraindication: POSSIBLE INCR. SUICIDAL IDEATION & ATTEMPT IN PEDS. W/MAJOR DEPRESSION

Lactation
Precaution: NO IMMEDIATE EFFECTS OBSERVED IN INFANTS, LONG TERM CNS EFFECTS UNKNOWN.

Pregnancy
Only When Necessary: CAUTION 3RD TRIMESTER, REPORTS INCLUDE NEONATAL RESP DISTRESS,OTHER ADV EFFECTS

Geriatric
Precaution: MAY NEED TO ADJUST DOSE/INCREASED RISK HYPONATREMIA

Adverse Effects

Most Frequent:
Abdominal Pain with Cramps, Accommodation Disorder, Anorexia, Anxiety, Blurred Vision, Chills, Constipation, Diarrhea, Dizziness, Drowsiness, Dysgeusia, Dyspepsia, Flatulence, General Weakness, Headache, Hyperhidrosis, Insomnia, Nausea, Nervousness, Nightmares, Paresthesia, Rhinitis, Sexual Function Impairment, Tremors, Visual Changes, Vomiting, Weight Loss, Xerostomia

Less Frequent:
Acute Confusional State, Chest Pain, Depersonalization, Depression, Dysuria, Emotional Lability, Feeling Agitated, Hypertension, Increased Urinary Frequency, Mental Changes, Mood Changes, Palpitations, Pruritus, Skin Rash, Tachycardia, Tinnitus, Twitching, Urinary Retention

Rare:
Dyspnea, Hypomania, Manic Disorders, Menstrual Disorder, Orthostatic Hypotension, Peripheral Edema, Prolonged QT Interval, Seizure Disorder, Suicidal Ideation, Torsades de Pointes, Trismus

Drug-Disease Contraindications

Significant
Hypertension, Pregnancy, Prolonged QT Interval, Recovery Phase Following Myocardial Infarct, Severe Hepatic Disease, Suicidal Ideation, Upper GI Bleed

Possibly Significant
Blood Coagulation Disorder, CNS Disorder, Congestive Heart Failure, Drug Abuse, Drug Dependence, Epilepsy, Manic Depression

[exzim]

I have been on Effexor XR (450mg per day - quite a high dose) for the past 8 years. I think the reason I stayed on it so long is that for me, it has the least side effects).
I've been on many different drugs and combinations of drugs).
I just want to warn you, to never just stop this drug on your own - you must if you go off it take about 3 months to gradually reduce, then stop the drug. It is VERY addicting - and I have found that even after a gradual reduction I experienced some horrible side effects from going off it. Loss of cognition, horrible "shocks" in my head. And while I was on Effexor - I found quite considerable short term memory loss.
It is a good drug - and these side effects might be because I was on such a high dose.
Good luck!
MaggieMay

[runningfree]

I have been using Effexor xr for a little more than a year. I have experienced little if any side effects that I am aware of! If I had known then what I know now then I would not have been so eager to go on it. It did not seem to help for a long time until other drugs were added to it. I have now heard about the awful effects of getting off of it and I just want to get off of it and have those things behind me. My doctor is not in favor of this and since I am just starting to adjust positively to all the medication he doesn't want to play with it just yet.
I am on 300mg/day but I used to be on 450mg and I just did away with 150mg when I was mad at my doctor and I never went back and it seemed to be okay.
Good luck...
Medication is so scary and different for everyone that it is a crap shoot when starting these things.
Best to you!

[shutterbug]

I was on a 150 mg for more than a year when I had a major depressive episode from my bipolar disorder. The docs have since added a mood stabalizer and boosted my Effexor dose to 225 mg. I will probably be put on a higher dose (300 mg) soon.

The side effect I have from the Effexor is if I forget to take it and go too long then I start to feel really strange. This has been a plus for me as a way to help me remember to take it. It's the only anti-depressant I've ever been able to stay on for more than a month or two...and it seems to work better than the others did for me.

[Lukey]

I tried Effexor and got full-blown sexual side effects immediately. I'm now on Wellbutrin with no side effects at all. Actually I think it has increased my sex drive (and it's already very high!). Thanks.

[minneapolisgrrl]

Originally Posted by exzim

I just want to warn you, to never just stop this drug on your own - you must if you go off it take about 3 months to gradually reduce, then stop the drug. It is VERY addicting - and I have found that even after a gradual reduction I experienced some horrible side effects from going off it. Loss of cognition, horrible "shocks" in my head. MaggieMay

I forgot to refill my effexor prescription and did not realize that the debilitating and scary physical effects I experienced were due to the withdrawal. I, too, had electric-type shocks in my head and vertigo so bad I couldn't walk. I asked to be switched to a different med and never want to deal with effexor again.

[shutterbug]

Yeah, those electric-type shocks in your head are what I was talking about. It feels awful so it reminds me that I've missed a dose. I've noticed when I'm feeling that way it helps not to move my eyes around a lot. It often seems that eye movement will trigger a shock or multiple shocks. It does suck, but it got me through a year of being able to stay on meds for the first time in my life.

And I know some people use the term "addictive" for this drug b/c of this type of side effect, but Effexor really isn't addictive. What it is, is a chemical that you have to be slowly put onto and slowly taken off from in order to minimize side-effects and whatever. Believe me I'm the most ANTI-addictive presciption patient most doctors have ever seen. I ask every doctor 2-3 times if a new prescription is addictive b/c I refuse to take ANYTHING that is even remotely, potentially addictive. And then I usually ask a second doctor or nurse the same question about the drug...and I read the packet info...and then I often even research it on line.

My aunt died 4 years ago b/c she was addicted to prescriptions and OD'd so trust me when I say Effexor is NOT addictive. I wouldn't be taking it if it was. Hu uh! no way!

If you go too long without your regular dosage then yea, you're probably going to feel some discomfort, but if you take your dosage then it usually doesn't take too long to go away.

There has been times I've been out of my prescription too for a couple of days or have been in a manic state and forgotten and I just suffered through it until I got a refill or made myself stop and take my meds.

Anyway, it just makes me want to hurry up and get back on my meds like I'm suppose to be....so it's been a very good thing for me.

But to each his own.

"Take what you want and leave the rest."

hugs,
Jenna

[ink2]

I was on Effexor for about three months and it just made me more depressed because I couldn't get any sleep. Also, my mouth was so dry all the time.

My doctor didn't warn me about tapering off the drug and I too unknowingly stopped cold turkey; couldn't figure out why I had vertigo and kept fainting.

I'm off it and I'm happier. No more anti-depressants for me.