Effexor |
13) Effexor
Venlafaxine
hydrochloride is a synthetic derivative of phenethylamine[1] and a
prescription antidepressant first introduced by Wyeth in 1993, and marketed
under the trade names Effexor® for tablets and Effexor XR® for
extended-release capsules. Efexor® / Efectin® and Efexor XR® /
Efexor® Depot / Efectin ER® are alternate trade name spellings used in
some countries. Since venlafaxine is under patent, under current United States
law, a generic will not be available to U.S. citizens until 2008. The European
patent on the drug will hold until 2017.
Common side effects include:
Nausea
Dizziness
Sleepiness
Insomnia
Vertigo
Dry mouth
Sexual dysfunction
Sweating
Vivid dreams
Increased blood
pressure
Rare to very rare side-effects include:
Cardiac arrhythmia
Increased serum cholesterol
Gas or stomach pain
Abnormal vision
Nervousness,
agitation or increased anxiety
Depressed feelings
Confusion
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Loss of appetite
Constipation
Tremor
Drowsiness
Allergic skin reactions
External bleeding
Serious bone marrow damage
(thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis)
Hepatitis Pancreatitis Seizure Tardive dyskinesia
Discontinuation
syndrome
Venlafaxine
is notorious for its potentially severe withdrawal symptoms upon sudden
discontinuation (the recommended discontinuation is a drop of 35 mg per week;
sudden stops are usually advised only in emergencies). Wyeth-Ayerst
euphemistically refers to these severe withdrawal symptoms in its product
literature as a "severe discontinuation syndrome". These have a tendency to be
significantly stronger than the withdrawal effects of other antidepressants
including the tricyclic antidepressants, but are similar in nature to those of
SSRIs such as Paroxetine (Paxil® or Seroxat®).
These effects may include irritablility, hostility, headache,
nausea, fatigue, dysphoria and "brain shivers". Rarer withdrawal symptoms
include shaking legs, tremor, Vertigo, dizziness and parasthesia. Other
non-specific mental symptoms may include; impaired concentration, bizarre
dreams, agitation and suicidal thoughts.
The "brain shivers" have been described as electric-like shocks
in the brain causing pounding headaches and disorientation, increasing over
time before abating. Although "brain shivers" are not painful per se, they are
disturbing or can become severe enough to be disabling. Antidepressant
withdrawal effects do not indicate addiction, but are rather the results of the
brain attempting to reach neurochemical stability. These can be minimalized or
avoided by tapering off of the medication over a period of
weeks.
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