|
Venlafaxine
hydrochloride
Brand Name: Effexor
Overview
Effexor
is a bicyclic antidepressant that is not chemically related
to tricyclic antidepressants or to other commonly prescribed
antidepressants. This drug is often used to treat depression
which has not responded to other medications.
Why
is this drug prescribed?
Effexor
is used to treat major depressive disorder with melancholia
that has not responded to other medications.
This
drug is also occasionally used to treat OCD (obsessive-compulsive
disorder) or Fibromyalgia (FMS).
Warnings
and Precautions
Effexor
is not known to be addictive, but withdrawal symptoms may
be present when this drug is discontinued in patients who
have taken it for a long time. Dosage should be gradually
tapered to avoid withdrawal.
It is
recommended that patients receiving Effexor regularly monitor
blood pressure. Patients whose blood pressure increases
while taking Effexor should discontinue or reduce the dosage.
Effexor
may cause drowsiness, dizziness or blurred vision. Patients
using Effexor should not drive, use machinery, until the
effects of Effexor on that patient are known. Alcohol may
increase dizziness or drowsiness.
For
Nursing Mothers: It is not known whether Effexor is excreted
in breast milk, but as with all drugs, caution should be
used.
The
safety and effectiveness in children and adolescents under
18 are not known — Effexor should not be used in children
for either OCD or depression.
Contraindications
Dosage
of Effexor will probably have to be altered in patients
with high blood pressure, heart, liver, or kidney disease.
Adverse
Reactions
Effexor
may cause the following reactions:
- headache
- weight
loss
- nausea
- dizziness
- sleepiness
- abnormal
ejaculation
- anorexia
- constipation
- nervousness
or anxiety
- excessive
sweating
- dry
mouth
- blurry
vision
- diarrhea
- insomnia
- hypomania
- increased
blood pressure
- seizures
- weakness
- difficulty
breathing
Interactions
with Drugs and Other Substances
Drugs
or substances that may interact with Effexor are:
- alcohol
- cimetidine
- medications
for weight control or appetite
- MAO
inhibitors-phenelzine (Nardil®), tranylcypromine (Parnate®),
isocarboxazid (Marplan®) - serious, even fatal, interactions
can occur when these medications are taken with Effexor.
- other
medicines for mental depression, mania, or anxiety
- medicines
for heart rhythm or blood pressure
- St.
John's wort, Hypericum perforatum
- sumatriptan
Sources
http://www.health-center.com/db/PageReq?SessionID=3179&TopicID=377&PageID=1459&Action=view
http://www.rxlist.com/scripts/patient/piumore.pl?mononum=857&dc_category=&order=0&type=&item=
http://www.fairlite.com/ocd/medications/effexor.shtml
http://www.psyweb.com/Drughtm/venlaf.html
|
