Venlafaxine

What is Venlafaxine?

Venlafaxine is used by adult patients to manage major depression. Extended-release (long-acting) capsules can also be utilised in the treatment of the disorder of generalised anxiety (GAD), which is characterised by excessive worry that is hard to manage, as well as social anxiety disorders (extreme anxiety about interacting with others or performing in public, which can interfere with daily life) and anxiety disorder (sudden unintentional attacks of extreme anxiety and anxiety about the attack).

Venlafaxine is part of a class of medicines known as selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Venlafaxine helps by increasing the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, the natural substances found within the brain that aid in keeping the mind in balance.

Cautions

Venlafaxine should not be taken when you suffer from uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma.

Venlafaxine is not to be taken within 7 days of or 14 days following the time you've taken any MAO inhibitor, like linezolid and isocarboxazid, as well as Methylene Blue injections, phenelzine, or tranylcypromine.

A few young people may have thoughts of suicide after first starting an antidepressant. Keep an eye on shifts in mood or signs. Inform your doctor if you notice any new or worsening symptoms, including mood or behaviour changes such as panic attacks, anxiety, and sleeplessness, or when you are feeling uncontrollably angry, angry and aggressive, anxious, or hyperactive (mentally as well as physically) and more depressed, or when you are thinking about suicide or harming yourself.

Don't stop taking Venlafaxine without consulting your doctor.

Don't give this medicine to anyone under 18 years of age without consulting medical professionals. Venlafaxine does not have FDA approval to be used in children.

Don't take Venlafaxine if you've used an MAO inhibitor within the last 14 days. A potentially dangerous interaction with a drug can happen. MAO inhibitors are isocarboxazid linezolid, methylene blue injection, the phenelzine compound, and the tranylcypromine compound.

Inform your physician if you are taking any stimulant medications such as opioids, herbal products, or medications for mental illness, depression, Parkinson's disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or the prevention of nausea and vomiting. A venlafaxine-related interaction could cause a serious health condition known as serotonin syndrome.

To ensure that venlafaxine is suitable for you, ask your doctor if you have ever experienced:

• Bipolar Disorder (manic depression);
• Heart condition, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or triglycerides
• Diabetes;
• Lung disease;
• Glaucoma;
• An thyroid disorder;
• A seizure;
• Sexual problems;
• Bleeding issues;
• Low blood sodium levels low blood levels of sodium
• Kidney disease or liver problems

Certain young people might experience an increased risk of suicide when they first start taking medication to treat depression. Keep an eye out for any changes in your mood or symptoms. Family members or carers must also be on the lookout for any sudden changes in your behaviour.

Pregnancy is a time when taking this medication can harm your baby; however, stopping the medication might not be suitable for you. Don't start or stop taking venlafaxine unless you consult your physician.

If you're expecting and you are a registered mother, your name could be included on an ob-gyn registry to track how venlafaxine affects you as an infant.

Consult your doctor for advice on whether it is safe to breastfeed while taking this medicine.

How to Take Venlafaxine?

Utilise venlafaxine according to the prescription of your physician. Follow the instructions on the prescription label and review all medication guides or instruction sheets. The doctor might alter your dosage.

Consume your food at the right time throughout the day.

Suck the extended-release tablet or capsule completely and don't crush or chew on it, break it, or even open it.

If you are unable to take a capsule in its entirety, take it out and mix the medication with applesauce. Drink the mixture immediately without chewing.

Inform your physician if you notice any changes in your sexual activity, for example, losing interest in sexual activity and difficulty having an orgasm, as well as (in males) issues with erections or ejaculation. Certain sexual issues are treatable.

Your symptoms might not get better for a few weeks. Don't stop taking the drug abruptly, or you may experience unpleasant effects (such as disturbances, nervousness, tingling, and electric shock sensations). Talk to your doctor before stopping the medication.

Your blood pressure needs to be monitored regularly.

This medication could cause false results in a urine test to screen for drugs. Inform the laboratory personnel that you are taking Venlafaxine.

Place it in a cool, dry place free of heat and moisture.

Details on Dosage

Usual Adult Dose for Depression:

Release immediately:
Initial dosage: 37.5 mg orally twice per day, or 25 mg taken orally three times per day.
The dose for maintenance ranges from 75 to 150 mg daily, administered in divided doses.
-Maximum dose:
Patients with moderate depression: at least 225 mg/day
Patients with severe depression: 350 mg/day

Extended release:
Initial dose: 75 mg taken orally at least once per day.
Dosage for maintenance is 75–225 mg once orally, every day.
-Maximum dose:
Moderately depressed outpatients: at least 225 mg/day
Inpatients with severe depression: daily 375 mg

Comments:
The daily dose of immediate-release formulations may be divided into two or three doses per day.
Health care providers should be able to suggest starting with extended-release doses of 37.5 mg once a day for up to seven weeks (before increasing the dosage up to 75 mg/day) in patients who require more time to adjust to the medication.
Doses can be increased in daily increments of up to 75 mg, orally, in intervals of not more than four days.
Patients should be evaluated regularly to determine if they require regular treatment as well as the right dose of treatment.
The use of doses that exceed 250 mg per day is prohibited.

Usual Adult Dose for Generalised Anxiety Disorder:

Extended release:
Initial dosage: 75 mg daily, orally.
Dosage for maintenance ranges from 75 to 225 mg taken orally every day.
Maximum dose: 225 mg/day

Comments:
Healthcare providers should think about recommending the initial extended release dose of 37.5 mg taken orally every day for a period of 4 to seven weeks (before increasing the dosage to 75 mg per day) for patients who require additional time to adapt to the medication.
Doses can be increased in daily increments of up to 75 mg per day at intervals of no more than four days.

Usual Adult Dose for Social Anxiety Disorder:

Extended release: 75 mg orally every day, once

Comment: There isn't any evidence to suggest that doses higher than 75 mg/day provide any additional benefits.

Usual Adult Dose for Panic Disorder:

Extended release:
Initial dosage: 37.5 mg orally once every day for 7 days, followed by 75 mg orally twice a day thereafter.
Dosage for maintenance ranges from 75 to 225 mg taken orally every day.
Maximum dose: 225 mg/day

Comment: Doses can be increased by daily amounts of up to 75 mg orally in intervals of not less than 7 consecutive days.

What Happens If I Miss A Dose?

You should take the medication as quickly as you can. However, do not take your missed dose if it's close to the time of the next dose. Don't take two doses at a time.

What Happens If I Overdose?

For medical emergencies, seek emergency medical attention or contact the Poison Help line toll-free at 1-800-222-1222.

Avoid this

Avoid drinking alcohol.

Talk to your doctor prior to taking a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) like naproxen, aspirin, ibuprofen, Advil, Aleve, Motrin, and more. When you take an NSAID that contains venlafaxine, it can cause bleeding or bruises.

Avoid driving and other hazardous activities until you understand how venlafaxine affects you. Your reaction could be affected.

Side Effects of Venlafaxine

See a doctor immediately. If you are experiencing symptoms of an allergy reaction to the drug venlafaxine, such as difficulty breathing, hives, or swelling of your lips, face, or tongue,

Inform your doctor immediately if you notice any abrupt or new changes in your mood or behaviour, such as more or more severe depression or an anxiety disorder, panic attacks or trouble sleeping, feeling impulsive or irritable and aggressive, inactive, or agitated, or having thoughts of suicide or harming yourself.

Venlafaxine could cause severe adverse effects. Contact your physician immediately. If you suffer from:

• Blurred vision, eyes, redness or pain, eye pain or redness, spotting halos around lights;
• Cough and chest tightness trouble breathing
• A seizure (convulsions);
• Uncommon bleeding bleeding gums, nosebleeds, abnormal vaginal bleeding, or any bleeding that isn't stopping;
• Low blood sodium, headache or confusion, issues with memory or thinking, weakness, unsteadiness, or
• Serious nervous system response: extremely rigid (rigid) muscles with an excessive fever, sweating, disorientation, rapid or irregular heartbeats, tremors, and tremors. It feels like you're going to pass out.

Get medical attention now if you are experiencing symptoms of serotonin syndrome, for example: agitation, hallucinations, or fever; sweating or shivering; rapid heart rate; muscle stiffness; shaking; loss of coordination; nausea; vomiting; and diarrhoea.

Common side effects of venlafaxine could include:

• Headache, dizziness, drowsiness, and tiredness;
• Your ears are ringing, and you feel anxious and nervous.
• Insomnia, odd dreams;
• Tremors;
• Fast heartbeats;
• Blurred vision
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and consti+pation;
• Changes in appetite or weight;
• Dry mouth, yawning;
• More sweating, more sweating
• Sexual problems.

This isn't a complete list of possible side effects, and other side effects could be present. Consult your physician to seek medical advice on adverse effects. You can report any adverse reactions to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Interaction with Other Drugs

Taking venlafaxine along with other drugs that cause you to become drowsy could cause more of this. Talk to your doctor prior to using opioid medication, a sleep pill, a muscle relaxer, or medication that treats anxiety and seizures.

Inform your doctor about the medicines you are currently taking. Numerous drugs can interact with venlafaxine, including:

• Any other antidepressant,
• Amphetamines;
• Fentanyl;
• Cimetidine;
• Tramadol;
• John's Wort; tryptophan (sometimes known as L-tryptophan);
• Diet pills and for weight reduction medication (such as phentermine);
• A bleeding thinner (Warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven);
• Medication for treating mental disorders, mood disorders, or mental illnesses such as buspirone, lithium, and many more; or
• Migraine medication: sumatriptan, zolmitriptan, and more.

This isn't a complete list, and a variety of other medications could be incompatible with Venlafaxine. This includes over-the-counter and prescription drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements. There are many possible interactions between drugs, which are listed here.