Effexor ER, also known as extended-release venlafaxine, is an antidepressant classified as a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, or SNRI. Effexor is approved to treat major depressive disorder, or MDD, generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, social phobia and panic disorder, according to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, or NAMI. Patients should always discuss Effexor ER's negative side effects with a doctor prior to taking the drug.
Suicidal Thoughts and Actions
Antidepressants, including Effexor ER, increase the risk suicidal thoughts and actions in children, adolescents and young adults, according to the National Institute of Health's website, DailyMed. When started on antidepressant therapy, patients of all ages should be watched closely for anxiety, difficulty sleeping, irritability, agitation, panic attacks, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsive behavior, psychomotor restlessness and unusual excitement. These symptoms may indicate emerging suicidal behavior and should be reported to a physician promptly.
Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome
According to DailyMed, if the decision has been made to discontinue Effexor ER, the dose should be tapered as rapidly as possible, but with knowledge that sudden discontinuation can be related to certain symptoms. The American Academy of Family Physicians, or AAFP, warns of antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, which can be mistaken for other medical and psychiatric disorders. Symptoms include numbness, burning or tingling, electric shock sensations, flu-like symptoms, headaches, difficulty sleeping, bad dreams, low mood, muscle jerks, delusions and hallucinations.
Serotonin Syndrome
According to NAMI, the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, issued an alert in July 2007 warning of serotonin syndrome, a life-threatening condition caused by taking Effexor or certain other antidepressants in combination with medications used to treat migraine headaches, called triptans. Imitrex, known generically as sumatriptan, is a commonly used triptan. Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include fast heart beat, increased body temperature, loss of coordination, restlessness, hallucinations, rapid changes in blood pressure, hyperactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and coma.
Additional Side Effects
NAMI reports that common side effects from Effexor include nausea, dry mouth, diarrhea, headache, increased sweating, nervousness, difficulty sleeping, tremor, weight gain or loss, gassiness, yawning and dizziness. These side effects usually diminish over the first few weeks of use. Sexual side effects, such as delayed orgasm, may occur and will not diminish with use. Effexor may cause an increased blood pressure, so patients should have their blood pressure checked regularly.
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