What is the difference between zoloft and effexor

Talk with your doctor if you are pregnant or considering becoming pregnant and want to take an antidepressant. They can discuss the safest options with you. Effexor XR does pass into human breast milk. This could cause side effects in nursing children, including unusual sleepiness and trouble gaining weight.

Effexor XR contains the active drug venlafaxine. Drugs in the SNRI class treat depression and other related conditions by affecting the activity of serotonin and norepinephrine.

These are two neurotransmitters chemical messengers that play a role in regulating your mood. An imbalance of serotonin and norepinephrine levels can lead to conditions like depression, anxiety , and panic disorder. This allows the two neurotransmitters to stay active longer, which helps balance communication between nervous system cells in your brain.

Restoring the balance of serotonin and norepinephrine is thought to improve symptoms of depression, anxiety, and panic disorder. It may take several weeks before you begin to see your symptoms improve. This is because it takes time for the neurotransmitter levels in your brain to become stable. Talk with your doctor about how long you should wait to know whether or not Effexor XR is working for you.

Your insurance company may require you to get prior authorization before they approve coverage for Effexor XR. This means that your doctor will need to send a request to your insurance company asking them to cover the drug. The insurance company will review the request and let you and your doctor know if your plan will cover Effexor XR.

If you need financial support to pay for Effexor XR, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.

Pfizer, Inc. Effexor XR is taken once a day. You can take it in the morning or evening, but try to take it at the same time each day. However, if you have trouble swallowing Effexor XR capsules, you can open the capsule and sprinkle the contents onto applesauce. You can mix it together or leave the contents on top. Be sure to empty the entire contents of the capsule. Swallow the applesauce with Effexor XR contents without chewing. Drink a full glass of water after you swallow the applesauce.

This will help make sure that you get your full dose of Effexor XR. This drug has a boxed warning. A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. Effexor XR has been linked to an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children and young adults who are 24 years old and younger.

This increased risk has been found for all antidepressants , not just Effexor XR. Caregivers of young people who take Effexor XR should closely watch for signs of worsening depression and suicidal thoughts and behavior. Effexor XR is not approved for use in children. Before taking Effexor XR, talk with your doctor about your health history. Effexor XR may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

These include:. You can also call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at or use their online tool. But if your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away. When you get Effexor XR from the pharmacy, the pharmacist will add an expiration date to the label on the bottle.

This date is typically 1 year from the date they dispensed the medication. The expiration date helps guarantee the medication is effective during this time. If you have unused medication that has gone past the expiration date, talk to your pharmacist about whether you might still be able to use it. How long a medication remains good can depend on many factors, including how and where you store the medication.

Avoid storing this medication in areas where it could get damp or wet, such as bathrooms. This helps prevent others, including children and pets, from taking the drug by accident. It also helps keep the drug from harming the environment. The FDA website provides several useful tips on medication disposal. You can also ask your pharmacist for information on how to dispose of your medication. Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date.

However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

Panic attacks can be sudden and overpowering. Knowing what to do can help people regain control. This article looks at 13 ways to stop a panic attack. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a compound that comes from the cannabis plant.

It is gaining popularity as a natural treatment for many mental health…. Certain situations and events can be anxiety triggers for some people. Strategies are available to help people avoid triggers and get their anxiety…. Previous research has shown that some natural supplements — including vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and herbal remedies such as valerian and…. Antidepressants are a commonly used drug in the United States, but some people find they gain or lose weight when using specific types.

The link is…. Effexor XR venlafaxine. What is Effexor XR? Effexor XR uses. Effexor XR generic. Effexor XR contains the active drug ingredient venlafaxine. Effexor XR side effects. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following: Seizures.

Serotonin syndrome high levels of serotonin, a chemical in your brain. Symptoms can include: anxiety shakiness fever diarrhea fast heartbeat seizures High blood pressure. Symptoms can include: headache shortness of breath Abnormal bleeding.

Symptoms can include: bruising easily and often nosebleeds coughing up blood producing vomit that looks like coffee grounds blood in your stool black or tarry stool Hyponatremia low sodium levels. Symptoms can include: headache trouble focusing weakness feeling unsteady fainting seizures Lung disease and pneumonia. Symptoms can include: shortness of breath cough pain in your chest fever Withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking the drug suddenly.

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and young adults. Side effect details You may wonder how often certain side effects occur with this drug. Allergic reaction As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking Effexor XR. Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include: skin rash itchiness flushing warmth and redness in your skin A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include: swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat trouble breathing Call your doctor right away if you have a severe allergic reaction to Effexor XR.

Weight gain or weight loss Weight gain and weight loss have occurred in clinical studies of Effexor XR. Nausea Nausea is a common side effect of Effexor XR. Insomnia Insomnia trouble sleeping is a common side effect of Effexor XR. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young people There is an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in young people up to 24 years old who take antidepressants, including Effexor XR.

Note: Effexor XR is not approved for use in children younger than 18 years old. Side effects in children Effexor XR is not approved for use in children under 18 years old. Weight loss in children In clinical studies lasting 8 to 16 weeks, many children who took Effexor XR had a lack of appetite.

Slowed growth in children In clinical studies , children who took Effexor XR grew in height more slowly than typical children in their age group. Effexor XR dosage. The Effexor XR dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. You take it with food.

It comes in three strengths: Dosage for generalized anxiety disorder The usual starting dosage of Effexor XR for generalized anxiety disorder GAD is 75 mg once daily. Dosage for social anxiety disorder The standard dosage of Effexor XR for social anxiety disorder is 75 mg once daily. Dosage for panic disorder The usual starting dosage of Effexor XR for panic disorder is What if I miss a dose? Will I need to use this drug long term? Effexor XR withdrawal. These symptoms can include: anxiety feeling agitated confusion flu-like symptoms insomnia trouble sleeping shakiness diarrhea nausea vomiting To avoid withdrawal symptoms, your dosage of Effexor XR should be tapered gradually decreased over several weeks.

Effexor XR and alcohol. Alternatives to Effexor XR. Effexor XR interactions. Taking Effexor XR with St. Tryptophan also called 5-HTP is a supplement used to improve mood and sleep quality. Effexor is indicated for depression and GAD, and rumor has it that social anxiety may be awarded soon. One double blind study of Effexor for panic disorder had pretty positive results 4 , and probably suffered from too small a sample size.

One double blind study of OCD 5 showed no differences between Effexor and placebo, but a recent single blind study showed it to be as effective as clomipramine 6. Bottom-line: Effexor has a robust spectrum of anti-anxiety activity, though probably not as broad as the SSRIs. So, should we be using Effexor XR first-line? For patients who suffer from the disorders for which it is approved depression and GAD , it would be hard to argue against its first-line use.

TCR would be even more enthusiastic about Effexor if its higher remission rate can be shown to hold up over the long term, like 6 months to a year. Incorporating small changes into your day can help boost mood and ease symptoms of depression. If you've heard of unipolar depression you may wonder how it's different from regular depression or bipolar depression.

Here's what you need to know. You two are close. So you might pick up on the signs of a depressive episode. If they reach out to you, here's how to help someone with depression. Antidepressants have been used for many years to help manage symptoms of depression.

But they may not work for every person. Newer ones may help meet…. Living with depression can be overwhelming, but there may be positive aspects of the condition. When you constantly prioritize the needs of others above your own, it's not uncommon to experience feelings of depression. Some cases of serotonin syndrome can be life-threatening. If you're taking Effexor and experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor as soon as possible. You should always avoid drinking or using other drugs while you're taking Effexor.

These substances may decrease the benefits of the medication, or they can result in a toxic overdose. The most common Effexor overdose effects include:. To reduce your risk of overdose, your doctor will only prescribe you the lowest possible dose in the smallest quantity.

Children and adolescents up to age 25 may experience increased suicidal thoughts and behaviors when taking antidepressant medications. The danger is greatest the first few months of treatment or when changing the dose. Though this warning is true for all antidepressants, taking Effexor may increase your risk even more. A major study found that Effexor was associated with a higher risk of both completed and attempted suicide compared with other antidepressants, including Celexa citalopram , Prozac fluoxetine , and Prothiaden dothiepin.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.

Stopping Effexor abruptly may result in one of more of the following withdrawal symptoms :. It's important to not stop taking Effexor on your own. If you and your doctor decide it's best for you to stop Effexor, they can provide you with a tapering strategy to minimize any withdrawal symptoms.

Before prescribing Effexor, your doctor will take a thorough medical history. Even so, it's important for you to play an active role in your care. Be sure to share every detail of your health history, regardless of whether or not you think it's important.

Overall, Effexor is a well-tolerated medication that has helped many people cope with a variety of mental health conditions. You deserve to get well. The good news is that if Effexor doesn't help, there are lots of other options to try. Dealing with racing thoughts? Always feeling tired? Our guide offers strategies to help you or your loved one live better with bipolar disorder. Sign up for our newsletter and get it free. Shelton RC. Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.

Handb Exp Pharmacol. Food and Drug Administration. Effexor label.