Can venlafaxine cause health problems?

Taking venlafaxine and an MAOI too close together in time may cause serious or life threatening side effects. These side effects can include high fever, uncontrolled muscle spasms, and stiff muscles. Other side effects can include sudden changes in your heart rate or blood pressure, confusion, and passing out.

What does venlafaxine do to your brain?

Venlafaxine works by increasing serotonin levels, norepinephrine, and dopamine in the brain by blocking transport proteins and stopping its reuptake at the presynaptic terminal. This action leads to more transmitter at the synapse and ultimately increases the stimulation of postsynaptic receptors.

How long can you stay on venlafaxine?

Once you’re feeling better it’s likely that you will continue to take venlafaxine for several more months. Most doctors recommend that you take antidepressants for 6 months to 1 year after you no longer feel depressed. Stopping before that time can make depression come back.

Why has venlafaxine been discontinued in the US?

and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1993. Effexor has been discontinued from marketing, but Effexor XR is available by prescription. Effexor was discontinued because the newer time-released Effexor XR formula can be taken once daily and causes less nausea than the original formula.

Can Effexor cause liver damage?

Venlafaxine is a widely used antidepressant with relatively low occurrence of adverse side effects. Increasing evidence suggests that venlafaxine may cause severe liver damage. Until now, 10 cases of venlafaxine-related liver injuries have been reported.

Does venlafaxine affect memory?

Venlafaxine and buspirone typically are prescribed for anxiety or anxious depression: Mood disorders themselves can cause difficulty with concentration, which often is perceived as a short-term memory disorder. However, both of these medicines are reported to cause memory problems.

Can you stay on Effexor forever?

Can I stay on Effexor for life?

For most people, venlafaxine is safe to take for a long time. A few people may get sexual side effects, such as problems getting an erection or a lower sex drive. In some cases these can continue even after stopping the medicine.

Is Effexor bad for your kidneys?

Venlafaxine is metabolized by the liver, and both the parent drug and metabolites are excreted by the kidney. Patients with renal and/or liver disease may be at greater risk for adverse effects from venlafaxine due to decreased drug clearance.

When to take venlafaxine?

Venlafaxine should be taken once daily with food, either in the morning or in the evening. Do not crush, chew, or split the capsules. Depression: The recommended dose of venlafaxine for people with depression is 75 mg once daily.

Does the venlafaxine side effects go away?

It usually takes 4 to 6 weeks for venlafaxine to work.

Side effects such as feeling sick,headaches,sweating,and dry mouth are common.

If you and your doctor decide to take you off venlafaxine,your doctor will probably recommend reducing your dose gradually to help prevent extra side effects.

Does venlafaxine cause weight loss?

Using venlafaxine with drugs such as phentermine may lead to excessive weight loss, serotonin syndrome, and heart problems such as rapid heart rate and high blood pressure. Taking venlafaxine with certain medications raises your risk of side effects.