Antidepressant Effexor

The generic name used for this drug is Venlafaxine. Effexor XR and Effexor are both brand names of Venlafaxine. Effexor is found in capsules that are administered to patients through the mouth. It is an antidepressant which is categorized in the serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRIs) class of antidepressant drugs. It crosses the blood brain barrier (BBB) to make some alterations in the release of neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine that are responsible to up light moods. People suffering form severe depression or anxiety issues are provided treatment through the use of this medication. The other trade names used for this medication are Lanvexin and Trevilor.

Uses of Effexor

Effexor is used for the treatment of symptoms related to several psychological as well as medical disorders.

• Social Anxiety
• Panic Disorder
• Depression
• Vasomotor symptoms
• Generalized anxiety disorder

Some of the other conditions where this drug is seen to be useful are migraine phphylaxis, diabetic neuropathy. Even when menopausal women are suffering from hot flashes, Effexor has been found to be very useful.

Side-effects of Effexor

No pharmaceutical drug is absolutely side-effect free like herbal or ayurveda medicines. They bring along some changes in the body that may not be appreciated. They range from major to minor. The patient as well as the doctor must be aware of these side-effects to minimize its effects as much as possible. They are:

Major Side-effects:

• Having thoughts related to suicide
• Blurred vision
• Having high blood pressure
• Experiencing severe headache
• A noise like sound (buzzing) heard most of the time
• Unusually pale coloured skin
• Skin irritability or rashes on the body
• Extreme difficulty experienced when urinating
• Muscle stiffness
• Having trouble in breathing
• High fever
• Mental changes
• Mood changes
• Sweating
• Losing strength in the body
• Fast heartbeat
• Changes in the menstrual cycle
• Nervousness
• Chest pain experienced
• Restlessness
• Twitching
• Abdominal pain
• Nosebleeds
• Bloody urine
• Black coloured bloody stools
• Decrease in the amount of urine release
• Shivering
• Appearance of purple coloured or red coloured spots on the skin
• Having uncontrollable shaking of the body

Minor Side-effects:

• Vomiting
• Runny and stuffy nose
• Losing body weight
• Forming a lot of gas
• Experience of abdominal pain
• Chills’
• Diarrhoea
• Trembling

Contraindications

If the patient is prescribed this medication when suffering from (or have recently suffered from) certain medical conditions, it can lead to a lot of fatal consequences. Therefore, the doctor must put a great importance on verifying the underlying conditions the patient might have. They are:

• Liver problems
• Blood clotting disorder
• Kidney impairment
• Having recurrent thoughts of suicide
• Weight loss

Effexor and Pregnancy

The FDA has allotted the pregnancy category C and B2. The category C means that the potential risks can be highly fatal to the foetus. Animal research studies have shown significant risk. Only if the benefits are far greater than the risks involved, this medication should be given.

Mode of Ingestion

Effexor is consumed by patients in a capsule or tablet form from the mouth.