What You Need to Know About Effexor
If you’ve been diagnosed with depression, someone may have suggested that you try Effexor. Before you starting taking this, or any other drug, you should learn all you can about it.
What is Effexor? What does it do?
Effexor is a brand name of the drug venlafaxine, a type of drug called a serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, or SNRI.1
SNRIs are thought to prevent two compounds, serotonin and norepinephrine, which are believed to affect mood, from being transferred between cells.2
Effexor is made and sold in the United States by Pfizer, Inc.3
Does Effexor work?
Some patients have reported that Effexor was effective in reducing their symptoms of depression and other patients reported that they noticed no improvement, that Effexor did nothing for them.4
A review of drug trials concluded that venlafaxine (Effexor) was more effective in reducing symptoms of depression than other comparative antidepressants.5
What should I go over with my doctor before deciding to take Effexor?
Medications that interrupt serotonin may also cause a potentially fatal condition called Serotonin Syndrome, which causes the body to have too much serotonin and, if untreated, can be fatal.6
Some patients taking Effexor have reported side effects including headaches, nausea, constipation, inability to achieve orgasm (inorgasmia) or increased libido, loss of interest in sex, weight gain, “brain zaps” (loud noises inside head), sweating, disorientation, fatigue, anxiety, racing heart rate, vivid dreams and nightmares, twisting and contraction of neck muscles, mood swings, inability to sleep, skin disorders, heart palpitations and withdrawal symptoms. In some cases, adverse effects occurred even after short periods on the drug.7
The FDA warns that antidepressants, including Effexor, increase the risk of suicide, especially among children and adolescents.8
Other serious side effects have occurred, including sustained high blood pressure, mydriasis (widening of the pupil), discontinuation symptoms (withdrawal), abnormal bleeding and a decrease in growth rate in children and adolescents.9
What if I’m already taking Effexor?
Never stop taking a prescription medication without talking to your doctor. Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about Effexor or experience any adverse effects.
The FDA warns that patients taking Effexor have reported discontinuation symptoms, or withdrawal, when stopping Effexor. Withdrawal symptoms have included “agitation, anorexia, anxiety, confusion, coordination impaired, diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, dysphoric mood (feeling depressed, sad, dissatisfied), fasciculation (twitching muscles), fatigue, headaches, insomnia, nausea, nervousness, nightmares, sensory disturbances (including shock-like electrical sensations), somnolence, sweating, tremor, vertigo, and vomiting” and seizures.10
Learn everything you can about Effexor before you start taking it.
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1 PubMed Health, “Venlafaxine” (revised 15 January 2012, retrieved 30 October 2012), http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000947/
2 Michael W King, PhD,”Discover what is serotonin,” http://www.whatisserotonin.com; J Clin Psychiatry, Nutt DJ, “Relationship of neurotransmitters to the symptoms of major depressive disorder.” (2008), http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18494537?dopt=Abstract; themedicalbiochemistrypage.org, LLC, “Table of Neurotransmitters,” (last modified 25 June 2012) http://themedicalbiochemistrypage.org/nerves.php#5ht; Search Medica, (retrieved 1 November 2012), http://www.mims.com/USA/drug/info/norepinephrine/?type=full&mtype=generic#Actions
3 https://www.effexorxr.com/default.aspx?source=google&HBX_PK=s_+effexor+xr&HBX_OU=50&o=47359615|223598636|0&skwid=43100000383960017
4 MedHelp, patient forums (retrieved 1 November 2012), http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Depression/Does-Effexor-XR-really-work-for-anybody/show/1956; topic.com, patient forums (1 November 2012), http://www.topix.com/forum/drug/effexor/TH16QTUSVSF33AQE5;
5 The British Journal of Psychiatry, Smith D. et al., “Efficacy and tolerability of venlafaxine compared with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and other antidepressants: a meta-analysis” (2002), http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/180/5/396
6 A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia, “Hyperserotonemia; Serotonergic syndrome” (last reviewed: July 8, 2012, retrieved 6 October 2012), http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004531/
7 Ask A Patient, Patient Forums (retrieved 1 November 2012), http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=20151&name=effexor
8 Food and Drug Administration, “Effexor” (revised June 2006, retrieved 1 November 2012), http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2006/020151s044,020699s071lbl.pdf
9 Ibid.
10 Ibid.