Venlafaxine ER: Who Needs It?

By Hollis Risner


The generic form of Effexor xr is Venlafaxine er. Both are extended release formulations of the medication. It's in the same drug class as amphetamines and is prescribed to treat depression. It works by keeping serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain longer. The result is usually more energy and an elevated mood.

Venlafaxine is typically used as a treatment for major depression, but it is often also prescribed for off label uses. These off label uses may include treating migraines and some forms of nerve damage.

Venlafaxine er can cause weight loss in some people. This is probably due to its stimulating and energizing effect. However, the weight loss phenomenon is inconsistent among patients. For this reason, the medication is not approved as a weight loss prescription.

Not surprisingly, many people have increased energy when taking Venlafaxine er or otherwise find it stimulating. A small percentage of patients will have the opposite experience and find it sedating instead. In addition to increasing energy, it may cause extreme mood swings, psychosis and hyper cycling through all phases of bipolar disorder. To counter these extremes, a doctor may prescribe a mood stabilizer such as lithium.

The off label benefits of Venlafaxine er are well known. However, the FDA has directly noted that it is not to be prescribed to treat bipolar disorder while the patient is depressed. Mixing it with MAO inhibitors can be deadly as well. MAO inhibitors have a plethora of names, both brand names and generic names. Here are a few; Isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine

It is important for a patient to wait a week after they have stopped taking Venlafaxine er before they take an MAO inhibitor. It also interacts negatively with Methylene blue injections and might result in a severe drug interaction. An additional danger is possible thoughts of suicide or other means of self-harm.

Thoughts of suicide, if they result from the use of Venlafaxine er, will usually occur soon after beginning the treatment, if at all. This is one of many reasons it is important that a patient keep their doctor informed of their moods and thoughts. It is equally important that the people in the life of the patient are aware of changes in behavior, moods and thinking.

Some people are allergic to Venlafaxine er in any form and also to its close relative desvenlafaxine, known commercially as Pristig. Under no circumstances should these people use these medications. During drug screening, these meds may test positive for amphetamines.




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