Effexor is a medication used to treat anxiety, major depression and panic disorder in those who suffer from these conditions. It helps stabilize patients' moods, thus relieving the symptoms accompanying these conditions. However effective this drug may be, it has a variety of adverse side effects one should be aware of before beginning treatment.
Effexor's Most Common Side Effects
Effexor produces a host of common side effects. These side effects typically subside once the body becomes acclimated to the medication. However, if this does not happen, or if they become worse, it may be necessary to speak to the prescribing physician.
Patients may experience drowsiness and dizziness, become nervous or lose their appetite. Constipation may also occur, as can tremors and diarrhea. Some may suffer from bouts of vomiting or indigestion, and blurred vision may also occur.
Signs of Insomnia
Pharmacist Kristi Monson and Arthur Schoenstadt, MD, both of eMedTV, state that insomnia is a side effect commonly associated with this medication. It tends to affect 22 percent of patients who take it--however, it usually can be managed.
The most common sign of insomnia is the inability to sleep. Other signs include waking multiple times through the night, waking earlier than usual and feeling like you haven't slept a wink even if you slept the whole night through.
To combat this problem, be sure your sleeping area is quiet and comfortable, try to eat your largest meal no later than two hours before bedtime and do not nap later than 3 p.m.
Sexual Side Effects
Most antidepressants, such as Effexor, are linked to sexual side effects. These generally include impotence and ejaculation problems in men, and a decreased sex drive in both genders.
Ejaculation problems may be either a delay in ejaculation, or a complete inability to ejaculate. This tends to occur more frequently in men taking higher doses of Effexor. Impotence is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection when stimulated, and is less common than problems with ejaculation, occurring in only 6 percent of patients. Decreased sex drive is seen in 5 percent of patients, and much like the ejaculation problems experienced by men, this side effect occurs more often when a higher dose of Effexor is being taken.
These side effects do not tend to subside and should therefore be reported to your doctor immediately.
High Blood Pressure
Effexor may cause high blood pressure to develop in some patients. It is estimated that one in three adults--or 65 million people--in the United States suffer from this condition. In most cases there are no symptoms, even when levels of blood pressure become dangerously high. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, some of the more common symptoms include dull headaches, frequent nosebleeds and dizzy spells. Due to the health risks long-term hypertension poses, it necessary to report these signs to the doctor when they are recognized.
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