Why does effexor have to be taken with food

You'll usually need to keep taking venlafaxine every day for several months, and for at least six months after you feel better. You should keep taking it for as long as your doctor asks you to. This may be for several months. With depression it's normal for your doctor to ask you to keep taking your antidepressants for at least six months after you feel better at least two years if you've had several bouts of depression , as this has been shown to reduce the risk of your depression coming back.

With anxiety it's usually recommended that you keep taking your antidepressant for at least 12 months after you feel better. These may include headaches, tremor, agitation or anxiety, feeling sick, vomiting, sweating, dizziness, palpitations, diarrhoea, pins and needles or electric shock sensations, emotional instability, difficulty sleeping and abnormal dreams.

Withdrawal symptoms are temporary and are not due to addiction or dependence on the medicine. They can usually be avoided by stopping the medicine gradually, usually by reducing the dose slowly over a period of weeks or months, depending on your individual situation. Follow the instructions given by your doctor when it's time to stop treatment with venlafaxine. Patients, their families, and caregivers should be alert to the emergence of anxiety, restlessness, irritability, aggressiveness and insomnia.

All patients being treated with antidepressants for any indication should watch for and notify their health care provider for worsening symptoms, suicidality and unusual changes in behavior, especially during the first few months of treatment.

Last Updated: January This information is being provided as a community outreach effort of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists. This information is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

This information contains a summary of important points and is not an exhaustive review of information about the medication. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified medical professional with any questions you may have regarding medications or medical conditions. Never delay seeking professional medical advice or disregard medical professional advice as a result of any information provided herein.

The College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists disclaims any and all liability alleged as a result of the information provided herein. Search Close Menu. Sign In About Mental Illness. About Mental Illness Treatments. About Mental Illness Research. Your Journey Individuals with Mental Illness. Your Journey Family Members and Caregivers. Your Journey Identity and Cultural Dimensions.

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After that week, they may recommend that you stop taking Effexor XR. If you want to stop taking Effexor XR, talk with your doctor. They can discuss with you the safest way to do it. You may be able to switch from a short-acting form of venlafaxine to Effexor XR if your doctor recommends that you do. A short-acting form of a drug releases the active ingredient quickly for a faster effect.

An extended-release form of a drug, such as the drug in Effexor XR, is released slowly for a more lasting effect. The short-acting form of venlafaxine comes as a tablet. If your doctor advises you to switch to Effexor XR, they may recommend a different dosage than you were taking of the short-acting form of venlafaxine. Animal studies did show harm to the fetus when the mother received Effexor XR.

There have been reports of complications in newborns who were born to mothers who took Effexor XR. These symptoms were most commonly seen in newborns who were exposed to Effexor XR during the third trimester the last few months before birth. The complications are generally considered withdrawal symptoms because the baby is no longer receiving Effexor XR after birth. Complications and withdrawal symptoms included the need for tube feeding or breathing support, and an extended stay in the hospital.

Other problems included constant crying, poor feeding, tense or shaky muscles, and vomiting. These complications and symptoms can be treated by healthcare professionals. They typically go away within a few days or weeks. Talk with your doctor if you are pregnant or considering becoming pregnant and want to take an antidepressant.

They can discuss the safest options with you. Effexor XR does pass into human breast milk. This could cause side effects in nursing children, including unusual sleepiness and trouble gaining weight. Effexor XR contains the active drug venlafaxine. Drugs in the SNRI class treat depression and other related conditions by affecting the activity of serotonin and norepinephrine.

These are two neurotransmitters chemical messengers that play a role in regulating your mood. An imbalance of serotonin and norepinephrine levels can lead to conditions like depression, anxiety , and panic disorder.

This allows the two neurotransmitters to stay active longer, which helps balance communication between nervous system cells in your brain.

Restoring the balance of serotonin and norepinephrine is thought to improve symptoms of depression, anxiety, and panic disorder. It may take several weeks before you begin to see your symptoms improve. This is because it takes time for the neurotransmitter levels in your brain to become stable. Talk with your doctor about how long you should wait to know whether or not Effexor XR is working for you.

Your insurance company may require you to get prior authorization before they approve coverage for Effexor XR. This means that your doctor will need to send a request to your insurance company asking them to cover the drug. The insurance company will review the request and let you and your doctor know if your plan will cover Effexor XR. If you need financial support to pay for Effexor XR, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.

Pfizer, Inc. Effexor XR is taken once a day. You can take it in the morning or evening, but try to take it at the same time each day. However, if you have trouble swallowing Effexor XR capsules, you can open the capsule and sprinkle the contents onto applesauce.

You can mix it together or leave the contents on top. Be sure to empty the entire contents of the capsule. Swallow the applesauce with Effexor XR contents without chewing. Drink a full glass of water after you swallow the applesauce. This will help make sure that you get your full dose of Effexor XR. This drug has a boxed warning.

A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. Effexor XR has been linked to an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children and young adults who are 24 years old and younger. This increased risk has been found for all antidepressants , not just Effexor XR. Caregivers of young people who take Effexor XR should closely watch for signs of worsening depression and suicidal thoughts and behavior. Effexor XR is not approved for use in children.

Before taking Effexor XR, talk with your doctor about your health history. Effexor XR may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

These include:. You can also call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at or use their online tool. But if your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away. When you get Effexor XR from the pharmacy, the pharmacist will add an expiration date to the label on the bottle. This date is typically 1 year from the date they dispensed the medication.

The expiration date helps guarantee the medication is effective during this time. If you have unused medication that has gone past the expiration date, talk to your pharmacist about whether you might still be able to use it. How long a medication remains good can depend on many factors, including how and where you store the medication.

Avoid storing this medication in areas where it could get damp or wet, such as bathrooms. This helps prevent others, including children and pets, from taking the drug by accident.

It also helps keep the drug from harming the environment. The FDA website provides several useful tips on medication disposal. You can also ask your pharmacist for information on how to dispose of your medication. Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional.

You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication.

The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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Strategies are available to help people avoid triggers and get their anxiety…. Previous research has shown that some natural supplements — including vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and herbal remedies such as valerian and…. Your doctor may start you on a low dosage and monitor you closely if they increase your dosage. For people with hyperthyroidism: Hyperthyroidism can increase your heart rate.

Venlafaxine can also increase your heart rate. If you have hyperthyroidism and take venlafaxine, your heart rate may increase to a dangerous level. You are especially at risk if you take venlafaxine doses greater than mg per day. For people with a history of seizures: Venlafaxine raises your risk of seizures.

If you have a seizure, stop taking venlafaxine and call your doctor right away. For people with increased eye pressure glaucoma : Venlafaxine can widen your pupils and block the flow of fluid in your eye. These effects can increase the pressure in your eyes.

People with a history of increased eye pressure or glaucoma should have their eye pressure checked regularly while taking venlafaxine. Do not take venlafaxine if you have uncontrolled angle-closure glaucoma.

For pregnant women: Venlafaxine is a category C pregnancy drug. That means two things:. This drug should only be used if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Call your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking this drug. For women who are breastfeeding: Venlafaxine may pass into breast milk and cause side effects in a child who is breastfed.

Talk to your doctor about breastfeeding your child. You may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medication. For seniors: The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to.

This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects. Older adults may be at higher risk than younger people for low sodium levels in their blood when taking venlafaxine. For children: This drug should not be used in people younger than 18 years of age. All possible dosages and drug forms may not be included here. Your dosage, drug form, and how often you take the drug will depend on:.

People with liver problems: People with mild to moderate liver problems should take about half of the typical dose. People with severe liver disease or cirrhosis may need an even lower dosage. Your doctor can tell you more. People who are on dialysis should take half of the typical dosage.

However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. Always to speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you. Venlafaxine oral tablet is used for long-term treatment. Do not stop venlafaxine without talking to your doctor. Stopping venlafaxine too quickly can cause serious symptoms such as:.

If this happens, your doctor may have you start taking venlafaxine again and decrease your dosage slowly. For this drug to work well, a certain amount needs to be in your body at all times. If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body.

This can lead to death.