Effexor, made by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, is the brand name for the generic drug venlafaxine. According to Wyeth, Effexor is approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder. Though multiple clinical trials have established the efficacy of Effexor in treating these disorders, taking this medication comes with the risk of certain common side effects.
CNS Side Effects
MedlinePlus, an online medical encyclopedia from the National Institutes of Health, lists the following Effexor side effects that affect the central nervous system (CNS): drowsiness, weakness or tiredness, dizziness, headache and changes in vision, including blurry vision. According to Wyeth, some people taking Effexor reported vision disturbances that included "difficulty focusing."
Digestive System
Effexor may also cause side effects that affect the digestive system. According to MedlinePlus, these side effects include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, gas, heartburn and burping. Some people report a loss of appetite associated with taking Effexor. Loss of appetite also occasionally let to unwanted weight loss.
Sexual Side Effects
Effexor may have negative side effects on sexual desire and/or function. Wyeth reports that, during clinical trial testing of Effexor, some people reported a decrease in libido. MedlinePlus confirms this side effect, reporting that Effexor may cause a decrease in sexual desire or ability. According to Wyeth, this sexual side effect affected both men and women. However, Effexor caused sexual dysfunction (abnormal ejaculation) in a much higher incidence of men (16 percent) than it caused sexual dysfunction (anorgasmia or delayed orgasm) in females (3 percent).
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