Effexor belongs to a class of drugs known as SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. It is an antidepressant used to treat anxiety, panic and major depressive disorder, doing so by affecting the balance of chemicals in the brain. While effective, this drug is also accompanied by a variety of side effects all patients should be aware of before taking.
Common Side Effects
Effexor produces many side effects considered to be common; side effects that generally subside once your body becomes acclimated to the medication. While they typically do not pose any risk to your health, you should report them to your doctor if they persist or become worse.
Included in these side effects are headaches, drowsiness and dizziness. You may also experience nervousness, weakness or anxiety. Tremors (uncontrollable shaking) and blurred vision may also occur initially, along with dry mouth and excessive sweating.
Gastrointestinal Side Effects
Some of Effexor's most common side effects involve your gastrointestinal system. While unpleasant, these are usually temporary and will also subside after a short period of time. Dr. Arthur Schoenstadt of eMedTV states that 58 percent of patients suffer from nausea, while 17 percent experience a loss of appetite. Constipation is yet another digestive problem you may find yourself dealing with, as it occurs in 15 percent of patients. Diarrhea affects 8 percent, while both vomiting and indigestion are seen in approximately 6 percent of those taking Effexor.
Insomnia
Insomnia can be both a cause of mood disorders, as well as a result of the medication used to treat them. This appears to be the case with Effexor, as insomnia affects 22 percent of patients taking it. Recognizing its signs is imperative to managing it, thus improving your medical condition and enabling you to remain on a medication that may also relieve the symptoms of your medical condition.
The most obvious sign of insomnia is the inability to fall asleep. However those who suffer from it may also wake numerous times throughout the night, or wake earlier than usual in the morning. In some cases, you may sleep through the night, yet wake up feeling like you didn't sleep at all. This is because your body never fell into a deep enough sleep to become fully rested. Upon experiencing these symptoms, speak to your doctor so he can find ways to help you manage them.
Sexual Side Effects
When using Effexor to treat depression, certain sexual side effects may occur. These include impotence, problems ejaculating and a decreased libido.
Impotence is a condition resulting in the inability of a man to achieve or maintain an erection when sexually stimulated. Pharmacist Kristi Monson states that this occurs in 6 percent of men who take Effexor.
Ejaculation problems, on the other hand, occur a bit more frequently. This particular side effect is experienced by 12 percent of men; however it is typically seen in men who are taking higher doses of this medication. It may cause a simple delay in ejaculation or completely stop a man from ejaculating.
A decrease in sex drive, or libido, can occur in either men or women taking this drug. While it is happens a bit less infrequently than impotence or ejaculation problems--occurring only in 5 percent of patients--it is still considered a common side effect, Schoenstadt reports on eMedTV. This is another side effect that is more pronounced in patients who are prescribed higher doses.
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