Venlafaxine ER: How It Works And Who It's For.

By Broderick Mintz


Venlafaxine er is the extended release form of the generic antidepressant Venlafaxine which is marketed as the Effexor xr brand. It is in the same drug classification as amphetamines and increases the amount of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. These compounds are the natural mood enhancers of the body and help beat depression.

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 often results in substantial weight loss. However, it is not usually prescribed for weight loss and it is not considered a weight loss medication because it tends to affect people's weight in unpredictable ways. Some patients may actually gain weight.

The usual effect Venlafaxine er will have on a patient is to give them greater mental clarity and more energy, but in a small percentage of people it may cause lethargy. This anomaly is not fully understood. It may also cause dramatic changes in mood and even extreme cycling for those diagnosed with bipolar disorder. A mood stabilizer, such as lithium, might be prescribed to balance these effects.

Venlafaxine er has several off label benefits, but the FDA has specifically noted that it is not approved for the treatment of the depressive phase of bipolar disorder. This is because it can exaggerate mood swings. It also can have deadly interactions with some medications such as MAO inhibitors. MAO inhibitors include, but are not limited to, Isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.

To avoid this possible deadly drug interaction, it is essential a patient waits at least a week after they have stopped taking Venlafaxine er before they begin treatment with MAO inhibitors. Methylene blue injections also interact with it and may cause a severe reaction. Another danger of taking this medication is suicidal ideation.

Thoughts of suicide will usually begin soon after a patient begins taking Venlafaxine er, if they occur at all. This is another reason a patient must keep their doctor aware of how the medication is affecting them. Family, friends and caregivers also need to know how the patient is processing their thoughts, particularly if they have thoughts of harming themself or others.

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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