Description
What is Effexor?
Effexor is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called
selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs).
Effexor affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and
cause depression.
Effexor is used to treat major depressive disorder, anxiety, and panic disorder.
Effexor may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Effexor?
Do not take this medication if you are allergic to Effexor, or if you
are also using a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as
isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect),
selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate). You must
wait at least 14 days after stopping an MAOI before you can take
Effexor. After you stop taking Effexor, you must wait at least 7 days
before you start taking an MAOI.
Before taking Effexor, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any medications, or if you have:
If you have any of the conditions listed above, you may not
be able to take Effexor, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special
monitoring during treatment.
You may have suicidal thoughts or behavior when you first
start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are under 18 years
old. Watch for worsening symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts.
Your doctor should check you at regular visits during the first 12
weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.
In addition to you watching for changes in your own
symptoms, your family or caregivers should be alert to changes in your
mood or symptoms.
Contact your doctor if you have any of the following side effects,
especially if they are new symptoms or if they get worse: mood changes,
anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, irritability, agitation,
aggressiveness, severe restlessness, mania (mental and/or physical
hyperactivity), or thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself. FDA
pregnancy category C. Effexor may be harmful to an unborn baby, and may
cause problems in a newborn baby if the mother takes the medication
late in pregnancy (during the third trimester). Tell your doctor if you
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Effexor can
pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this
medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a
baby. Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this
medication. Do not give this medication to anyone under 18 years old
without the advice of a doctor.
How should I take Effexor?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you.
Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer
than recommended by your doctor. Your doctor may occasionally change
your dose to make sure you get the best results from the medication.
Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Take this medication with a full glass of water. Effexor should be
taken with food. Swallow the controlled-release capsule (Effexor XR)
whole, without crushing or chewing. To make the medication easier to
swallow, you may open the capsule and sprinkle the medicine into a
small amount of applesauce. Swallow all of the mixture without chewing,
and do not save any for later use.
Try to take Effexor at the same time each day. It may
take 4 weeks or more for your symptoms to improve. For best results,
keep using the medication as directed. Do not stop using Effexor
without first talking to your doctor. You may have unpleasant side
effects if you stop taking this medication suddenly. Store Effexor at
room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it
is almost time for the next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed
dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take extra medicine to
make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have taken too much
of this medication. An overdose of Effexor can be fatal, especially if
taken together with alcohol.
Symptoms of a Effexor overdose may include dizziness, sleepiness, nausea, and numbness or tingling in your hands or feet.
What should I avoid while taking Effexor?Avoid drinking
alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of Effexor. Using
too much of this medicine in addition to drinking alcohol can cause
death.
Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as
cold medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxers, medicine for seizures,
other medication for depression or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness
caused by Effexor.
Effexor can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or
reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to
be awake and alert.
What are the possible side effects of Effexor?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: skin rash or hives;
difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Contact your doctor promptly if you have any of the following side
effects, especially if they are new symptoms or if they get worse: mood
changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, irritability,
agitation, aggressiveness, severe restlessness, mania (mental and/or
physical hyperactivity), thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
-
increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision);
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restlessness, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea, fever, fast heartbeat; hallucinations, loss of coordination,
fainting, coma;
-
seizure (convulsions);
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extreme thirst with headache, nausea, vomiting, and weakness; or
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easy bruising or bleeding.
Other less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:
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drowsiness, dizziness, nervousness, or anxiety;
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dry mouth, increased sweating;
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nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation;
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decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm;
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headache, blurred vision;
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sleep problems (insomnia);
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tremor or chills; or
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changes in appetite or weight.
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.
What other drugs will affect Effexor?
Before taking Effexor, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following medicines:
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cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB);
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warfarin (Coumadin);
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ketoconazole (Nizoral);
-
tryptophan (sometimes called L-tryptophan);
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haloperidol (Haldol) or risperidone (Risperdal);
-
almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), sumatriptan (Imitrex), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), or zolmitriptan (Zomig); or
-
any other antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil),
amoxapine (Ascendin), citalopram (Celexa), clomipramine (Anafranil),
desipramine (Norpramin), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac),
fluvoxamine (Luvox), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor),
paroxetine (Paxil), protriptyline (Vivactil), sertraline (Zoloft), or
trimipramine (Surmontil).
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to
use Effexor, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during
treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect Effexor.
Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter
medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products,
and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new
medication without telling your doctor. EFFEXOR XR is believed to work by affecting the levels of 2 naturally occurring chemicals in the brain ? serotonin and norepinephrine. Because EFFEXOR XR works on these 2 chemicals, it is known as an SNRI, or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.
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