Provided by You Health for patients
Usage
How to get the most out of your treatment
Warnings
Important safety information
Side Effects
What to look out for when using your treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Venlafaxine is a prescription medicine used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder (social phobia).
To get started, follow your provider's dosing instructions and follow your provider's dosing instructions. Extended release tablets should be swallowed whole. Do not break, crush or chew it. Extended release capsules: swallow whole or sprinkle onto food, such as applesauce or pudding and eat immediately.
Miss a dose? If you miss a dose of venlafaxine ER, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is closer to the time of your next dose. Discuss this with your healthcare provider. Do not double your next dose or take more than what is prescribed.
Take as prescribed Do not abruptly stop taking venlafaxine without first checking with your healthcare provider, even when you feel better. Abruptly stopping your medication can cause significant discontinuation symptoms including: vomiting, irritability, dizziness, headaches, sensation of tingling skin, or nightmares. Studies have shown that a taper can reduce possible discontinuation symptoms. Due to the increased probability of experiencing discontinuation symptoms when stopping venlafaxine, it's highly recommended that you message your provider for individualized guidance on tapering your medication to minimize these symptoms. However, if you choose to stop treatment without consulting your provider, guidelines recommend a short taper of your medication between 2 weeks and 4 weeks, reducing your dose in half each week until you are out of medication. If you are taking 37.5 mg, you do not need to taper the medication. If you are taking a higher dose, you’ll need your provider to write you a prescription for 37.5 mg pills that you can use for a taper plan, since venlafaxine ER comes in capsules that can’t be split. Please note, this medication is more likely to cause discontinuation side effects than other antidepressants, so it’s important to work with your provider to develop a safe plan.
Monitor for improvements Sleep, energy, or appetite may show some improvement within the first 1-2 weeks. Improvement in these physical symptoms can be an important early signal that the medication is working. Depressed mood and lack of interest in activities may need up to 6-8 weeks to fully improve.
Venlafaxine ER and other antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or actions, especially in some people 24 years of age and younger within the first few months of treatment or when the dose is changed. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call or text 988 to be connected with help, or go to your nearest hospital emergency department. Pay particular attention to such changes when Venlafaxine ER is started or when the dose is changed.
Patients, their families, and caregivers should be alert to the emergence of anxiety, restlessness, irritability, aggressiveness and insomnia. If these symptoms emerge, they should be reported to the patient’s prescriber or healthcare professional. All patients being treated with antidepressants for any indication should watch for and notify their healthcare provider for worsening symptoms, suicidality and unusual changes in behavior, especially during the first few months of treatment.
Are allergic to venlafaxine, or any of the ingredients in venlafaxine
Take any medication for Parkinson’s Ddisease or depression called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI), or if you have stopped taking an MAOI in the last 14 days as they may cause a dangerous increase in blood pressure. MAOIs include, but are not limited to: isocarboxazid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine
Take St John’s Wort or 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)
Are drinking alcohol
Are using or abusing recreation drugs or prescription medications
Have thoughts of suicide or harming yourself
Have a history of psychiatric or medical problems, including bipolar disorder
Have taken any medication in the past for your condition, whether effective or not
Have suffered adverse or side effects from previous medication therapies
Drink alcohol or use/abuse recreational or prescription drugs
Are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbal supplements, and recreational drugs.
Any other serotonergic medications including: trazodone, migraine medications (triptans), pain medications (tramadol), antibiotic linezolid, amphetamines
Aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. ibuprofen, naproxen, celecoxib, diclofenac)
Warfarin or other anticoagulants
Venlafaxine ER may increase the risk of bleeding when taking blood thinners or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). If you are currently taking blood thinners or NSAIDs, we strongly recommend that you inform your primary care provider that you have started taking this mental health medication and be sure to report any signs of abnormal bleeding to your provider, such as bleeding gums, unexplained bruising, or black, tarry stools.
If you no longer need your medication, the best way to dispose of most types of old, unused, unwanted, or expired medicines (both prescription and over the counter) is to drop off the medicine at a drug take back site, location, or program immediately. You can use the DEA DIVERSION CONTROL DIVISION LOOKUP to find your nearest drug disposal site.
Mix medicines (liquid or pills; do not crush tablets or capsules) with an unappealing substance such as dirt, cat litter, or used coffee grounds;
Place the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag;
Throw away the container in your trash at home; and
Delete all personal information on the prescription label of empty medicine bottles or medicine packaging, then trash or recycle the empty bottle or packaging.
Increased heart rate, increased blood pressure
Low sodium (symptoms of low sodium levels may include headache, weakness, difficulty concentrating and remembering)
Teeth grinding
Angle closure glaucoma (symptoms of angle closure glaucoma may include eye pain, changes in vision, swelling or redness in or around eye)
Serotonin syndrome (symptoms may include shivering, diarrhea, confusion, severe muscle tightness, fever, seizures, and death)
Increased risk of bleeding events when combined with use of aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. ibuprofen, naproxen), warfarin, and other anticoagulants
Headache
Dizziness
Shakiness
Nausea
Diarrhea
Constipation
Gas
Upset stomach
Dry mouth
Weight Loss
Loss of appetite
Increased sweating
Feeling nervous
Anxiety
Restlessness
Fatigue
Yawning
Unsual dreams
Sleepiness or having trouble sleeping (insomnia)
Sexual side effects, such as problems with orgasm or ejaculatory delay, or increased blood pressure often do not improve over time.
For more information, read the drug information that comes with your medication, ask your healthcare provider, or ask your pharmacist.
The safety of this medication during pregnancy has not been evaluated. If you become pregnant or decide to try to conceive, please alert your provider who will direct you to follow up with your primary care provider or OBGYN for continued management.
Drinking alcohol while taking mental health medication is not advised. While many people use alcohol to try to help with anxiety and depression, research shows that over time alcohol actually worsens anxiety and depression. It can also increase the side effects of some medications, such as drowsiness, dizziness and coordination problems. It is recommended to avoid drinking alcohol while taking your medication, especially if you will be driving, operating dangerous machinery, or participating in dangerous activities. If you find that you are binge drinking on a daily or almost daily basis, our recommendation is to try to cut back on alcohol use to a healthier level.
Using cannabis products can worsen depression and increase the side effects of some medications, such as drowsiness, dizziness and coordination problems. It is recommended to avoid cannabis use while taking your medication, especially if you will be driving, operating dangerous machinery, or participating in dangerous activities.
If you are taking a benzodiazepine (Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, etc) and you start feeling better, you should talk to your prescriber about tapering down from the benzodiazepine. Abruptly stopping the daily use of a benzodiazepine can lead to dangerous side effects such as seizures, so careful monitoring by your primary care provider is recommended.
Medication for anxiety and depression can increase the blood level of medications used to treat ADHD (Adderall, Vyvanse, Concerta, or other stimulants). Please monitor closely for side effects such as anxiety and insomnia and make sure the provider prescribing your ADHD medication is aware of all medications you are taking.