Venlafaxine
Information about Venlafaxine
Venlafaxine uses
Venlafaxine is used in the treatment of depression and anxiety disorder.
How venlafaxine works
Venlafaxine works by increasing the levels of chemical messengers (serotonin and noradrenaline), natural substances in the brain that help maintain mental balance.
Common side effects of venlafaxine
Nausea, Dizziness, Insomnia (difficulty in sleeping), Decreased appetite, Anxiety, Constipation, Headache, Decreased libido, Sleepiness, Weakness, Anorgasmia (decreased orgasm), Dryness in mouth, Agitation, Diarrhea, Vasodilation, Dilatation of pupil, Tremors, Sweating, Dyslipidemia, Visual disturbance, Hypotension (low blood pressure), Urinary retention, SIADH (water retention due to excessive ADH), Torsade de pointes, Circulatory disorder, Lymphatic system abnormalities
Available Medicine for Venlafaxine
Expert advice for Venlafaxine
- Venlafaxine helps in treating depression and anxiety.
- It may also be used to treat nerve pain from diabetes and some other forms of chronic pain.
- It may take 2 to 4 weeks for Venlafaxine to start working. Keep taking it as prescribed.
- It may cause dizziness and sleepiness. Do not drive or do anything requiring concentration until you know how it affects you.
- Avoid consuming alcohol when taking Venlafaxine as it may cause excessive drowsiness and increase the risk of liver damage.
- It may cause an increase in blood pressure, especially during the first month of treatment. Monitor your blood pressure regularly.
- It may cause a sensation of restlessness, especially when you first start taking it. Inform your doctor if this happens to you.
- Talk to your doctor if you notice sudden mood changes or develop suicidal thoughts.
- Do not stop taking the medication suddenly without talking to your doctor.
Frequently asked questions for Venlafaxine
Venlafaxine
Q. Is Venlafaxine a psychotropic drug?
Yes. Venlafaxine is a psychotropic drug. Any medication capable of affecting the mind, emotions, and behaviour are called psychotropic drugs.
Q. Can Venlafaxine cause sedation?
Yes. Venlafaxine can cause sedation. You should inform your doctor if you are taking any other sleep inducing medicines before starting Venlafaxine.
Q. What is the difference between Venlafaxine ER and XR?
Both are same medication. Venlafaxine ER and XR both means extended release preparation which releases the medication slowly into the body and maintains a constant needed medications levels. The advantage of taking ER/XR tablets is the frequency of dosage can be decreased.