Buy Effexor XR

What is Effexor?

Effexor (generic: venlafaxine) is one of the newer drugs available to treat depression. Structurally different from other antidepressants, it affects two neurotransmitters (chemical messengers to the brain) involved in depression: serotonin and norepinephrine. Approved for use in the United States at the end of 1993, its novel chemical action and low incidence of side effects make it a significant addition to the range of drugs used to treat depression.

How is Effexor different from other antidepressants?

Effexor is a chemically unique antidepressant drug. Like the newer class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and setraline (Zoloft), it affects the absorption of serotonin. In addition, Effexor acts on the norepinephrine system. No other available drug affects both neurotransmitters without causing the side effects of the older tricyclic antidepressants.

Are there other advantages of Effexor?

Effexor is less likely to induce seizures, to have toxic effects on the heart, and to cause lethal reactions.

For what kind of patient would Effexor be appropriate?

Effexor is recognized as a front line option (that is, first time drug for patients who have recently become ill with depression, whether they are hospitalized or treated on an outpatient basis. It can also be useful for patients who have had long-standing depressive illness and have not responded adequately to previous treatments. Almost 40 percent of so-called refractory patients (those who have not had positive results from past treatment) have had success with Effexor. Patients who have benefited from other antidepressants but have had less than complete success may want to discuss switching to Effexor with their health professionals.

How long does it take to work?

Like most other drugs used for depression, Effexor may take several weeks before it is fully effective. It is important to give the drug sufficient time before judging whether it will work for a given person. There is evidence, however, that Effexor may take effect more quickly than other antidepressants.

Can Effexor be taken with other drugs?

Effexor does not interact significantly with many other drugs, including lithium, diazepam (Valium), and cimetidine (Tagamet, an anti-ulcer drug). However, patients taking cimetidine who have high blood pressure or liver disease or are elderly should use caution in taking Effexor because the interaction can be more pronounced when these disorders are present.

Effexor definitely should not be taken at the same time as the MAOIs (such as Parnate or Nardil). Interactions with these compounds could be lethal. Patients who have been taking an MAOI and are switching to Effexor must allow sufficient time (usually 14 days) for the MAOI to clear out of the body. The same time should be allowed if changing from Effexor to an MAOI. However, switching from Effexor to other drugs is easy because Effexor is quickly removed from the body.

What is the standard dose?

The dose range is generally between 75 and 375 mg per day. The average effective dose is about 125 to 150 mg per day. Higher doses are necessary for sicker patients. It is recommended that the total dose be divided into two or three doses per day and taken with food. Dosage adjustments for elderly people are not usually necessary.

Will Effexor work for everyone?

No. Everyone responds to drugs differently. Effexor will work well for some people, and not so well for others. It is important to give the drug a trial of several weeks and to be in close communication with your health professional about signs of effectiveness, side effects, and personal factors affecting one’s response to the drug.

EFFEXOR XR

Category
Antidepressant
Anti-anxiety agent
antipanic agent
Description
Venlafaxine (ven-la-FAX-een) is used to treat mental depression. It is also used to treat certain anxiety disorders or to relieve the symptoms of anxiety. However, it usually is not used for anxiety or tension caused by the stress of everyday life. Venlafaxine is also used to treat panic disorders.
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For venlafaxine, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to venlafaxine. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy—Studies have not been done in pregnant women. However, when pregnant rats were given venlafaxine in doses much larger than the usual human dose, some of their pups died before or soon after birth. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant (especially if it is the third trimester) or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding—This medicine passes into breast milk and may cause unwanted effects. It may be necessary for you to take another medicine or to stop breast-feeding during treatment. Be sure you have discussed the risks and benefits of this medicine with your doctor.

Children—Venlafaxine must be used with caution in children with depression. Studies have shown occurrences of children thinking about suicide or attempting suicide in clinical trials for this medicine. More study is needed to be sure venlafaxine is safe and effective in children.

Older adults—In studies done to date that have included elderly people, venlafaxine did not cause different side effects or problems in older people than it did in younger adults.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking venlafaxine, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking the following:

Buspirone (e.g., BuSpar) or
Bromocriptine (e.g., Parlodel) or
Certain tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline [e.g., Elavil], clomipramine [e.g., Anafranil], or imipramine [e.g., Tofranil]) or
Dextromethorphan (cough medicine) or
Levodopa (e.g., Sinemet) or
Lithium (e.g., Eskalith) or
Meperidine (e.g., Demerol) or
Nefazodone (e.g., Serzone) or
Pentazocine (e.g., Talwin) or
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (fluoxetine [e.g., Prozac], fluvoxamine [e.g., Luvox], paroxetine [e.g., Paxil], sertraline [e.g., Zoloft]) or
Street drugs (LSD, MDMA [e.g., ecstasy], marijuana) or
Sumatriptan (e.g., Imitrex) or
Tramadol (e.g., Ultram) or
Trazodone (e.g., Desyrel) or
Tryptophan—Using these medicines with venlafaxine may increase the chance of developing a rare, but very serious, unwanted effect known as the serotonin syndrome; symptoms of this syndrome include confusion, diarrhea, fever, poor coordination, restlessness, shivering, sweating, talking or acting with excitement you cannot control, trembling or shaking, or twitching; if you experience these symptoms contact your doctor as soon as possible
Clozapine (e.g., Clozaril)—Taking venlafaxine with clozapine may increase amounts of clozapine in the body which could cause serious unwanted effects including seizures.
Moclobemide (e.g., Manerex)—Taking moclobemide and venlafaxine together or less than 3 days apart may increase the chance of developing serious unwanted effects, including the serotonin syndrome, and is not recommended
Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor activity (isocarboxazid [e.g., Marplan], phenelzine [e.g., Nardil], procarbazine [e.g., Matulane], selegiline [e.g., Eldepryl], tranylcypromine [e.g., Parnate])— Do not take venlafaxine while you are taking or within 2 weeks of taking an MAO inhibitor ; if you do, you may develop confusion, agitation, restlessness, stomach or intestinal symptoms, sudden high body temperature, extremely high blood pressure, and severe convulsions; at least 14 days should be allowed between stopping treatment with an MAO inhibitor and starting treatment with venlafaxine, and at least 7 days should be allowed between stopping treatment with venlafaxine and starting treatment with an MAO inhibitor
Warfarin (e.g., Coumadin)—Taking venlafaxine with warfarin may increase the chance of developing serious unwanted effects.
Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of venlafaxine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Bipolar disorder (mood disorder with alternating episodes of mania and depression) or risk of—May make condition worse. Your doctor will check you for this condition.
Brain disease or damage, or mental retardation or
Seizures (history of)—The risk of seizures may be increased
Dehydration—Venlafaxine may cause serious problems in patients who are dehydrated.
Glaucoma or
Pressure within the eye—Venlafaxine may cause abnormal dilation of the pupil or other eye problems in these patients.
Heart disease or
High or low blood pressure—Venlafaxine may make these conditions worse
Heart attack or
Heart failure or
Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)—Venlafaxine may cause an increase in heart rate and should be used with caution in these patients.
Kidney disease or
Liver disease or
Cirrhosis of the liver—Higher blood levels of venlafaxine may occur, increasing the chance of side effects; your doctor may need to adjust your venlafaxine dose.
Mania (history of)—The risk of developing mania may be increased
Weight loss—Venlafaxine may cause weight loss; this weight loss is usually small, but if a large weight loss occurs, it may be harmful in some patients
Proper Use of This Medicine
Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor to benefit your condition as much as possible. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

You may have to take venlafaxine for 4 weeks or longer before you begin to feel better . Also, you will probably need to keep taking this medicine for at least 6 months, even if you feel better, to help prevent your depression from returning. Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits during this time.

Venlafaxine should be taken with food or on a full stomach to lessen the chance of stomach upset. However, if your doctor tells you to take the medicine a certain way, take it exactly as directed. If you are taking the extended-release capsule dosage form, swallow the capsule whole with fluid ; do not break, crush, chew, or place the capsule in liquid.

Dosing—The dose of venlafaxine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of venlafaxine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The number of capsules or tablets that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on your special needs .

For mental depression:
For oral extended-release capsule dosage form:
Adults—At first, 75 milligrams (mg) a day, taken in one dose in the morning or evening. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 225 mg a day.
Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
For oral tablet dosage form:
Adults—At first, a total of 75 mg a day, taken in smaller doses two or three times during the day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 375 mg a day.
Children up to 18 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
For anxiety:
For oral extended-release capsule dosage form:
Adults—At first, 75 mg a day, taken in one dose in the morning or evening. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 225 mg per day.
Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
For panic disorder:
For oral extended-release capsule dosage form:
Adults—At first, 37.5 mg a day, taken in one dose in the morning or evening for 7 days. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 225 mg per day.
Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
Missed dose—If you are taking the tablet form of venlafaxine and you miss a dose , take it as soon as possible. However, if it is within 2 hours of your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

If you are taking the extended-release capsule form of venlafaxine and you miss a dose , take it as soon as possible. However, if you do not remember the missed dose until the next day, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage—To store this medicine:

Keep out of the reach of children.
Store away from heat and direct light.
Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.