Venlafaxine

• Venlafaxine (Effexor XR) is an antidepressant medicine.
• It is used to treat depression.
• It is also used to treat generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder.

• Swallow the capsule whole with a glass of water. Do not crush, chew, or split it open.
• Take this medicine with food, either in the morning or evening, at the same time every day.
• Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare professional tells you. The amount and how often you take it will be on your prescription label.
• It may take several weeks to feel the full benefit; keep taking it even if you don't notice a difference right away, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

If you miss a dose

• If you miss a dose, skip it and take your next dose at the regular time.
• Do not take two doses at once to make up for a missed one.

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant; this medicine should be used in pregnancy only if clearly needed.
• Babies born to mothers who took this medicine late in pregnancy may have breathing, feeding, or temperature problems after birth that usually improve over time; tell your baby's doctor if you took this medicine during pregnancy.
• This medicine passes into breast milk, so breastfeeding is not usually recommended. Talk to your doctor about the safest way to feed your baby.

• Tell your doctor or another healthcare professional if you have high blood pressure, heart problems, glaucoma, seizures, liver or kidney problems, or a bleeding disorder.
• Tell your doctor if you have taken a medicine called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) recently, since combining it with this medicine can be dangerous.
• Tell your doctor about all medicines and supplements you take, especially other antidepressants, migraine medicines (triptans), blood thinners, or St. John's wort.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

Important warnings

• Antidepressant medicines can increase thoughts of suicide or self-harm, especially in the first weeks of treatment or after a dose change, particularly in children, teens, and young adults. Watch closely for new or worsening depression or agitation and contact your doctor right away if these occur.
• This medicine can raise your blood pressure. Your doctor will check it regularly while you take it.
• Combining this medicine with certain other medicines can cause a rare but serious reaction called serotonin syndrome, with symptoms like agitation, a fast heartbeat, high fever, and muscle stiffness.
• Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly. Stopping abruptly can cause uncomfortable withdrawal-like symptoms. Your doctor will help you lower the dose gradually.

• Nausea or an upset stomach.
• A dry mouth.
• Feeling drowsy or dizzy.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Feeling nervous or restless.
• Sweating more than usual.
• Constipation.
• Reduced appetite.
• Shaky hands (tremor).
• Vivid or unusual dreams.
• Blurred vision.
• Changes in sexual desire or difficulty with sexual function.
• Headache or tiredness.

When to get emergency help

• Get emergency help right away for thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or if you feel like you might hurt yourself.
• Get emergency help for agitation, a racing heartbeat, high fever, muscle stiffness, or loss of coordination, which can be signs of a serious reaction called serotonin syndrome.
• Get emergency help for a seizure.
• Get emergency help for signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face or throat, hives, or trouble breathing.
• Get emergency help for chest pain, a fast or irregular heartbeat, or a severe headache with vision changes.

When to contact a healthcare professional

• Contact your doctor if your mood, thoughts, or behaviour change in a way that worries you or people around you.
• Contact your doctor if you notice unusual bruising or bleeding.
• Contact your doctor if you feel unusually dizzy or faint when standing up.
• Contact your doctor if you develop eye pain or vision changes.
• Contact your doctor before stopping this medicine, even if you feel better.

• Take this medicine with food.
• Avoid alcohol while taking this medicine, since it can add to drowsiness and increase the risk of serious side effects.
• Tell the Care365 care team about all other medicines you take, especially other antidepressants, migraine medicines, blood thinners, or pain relievers like aspirin or ibuprofen, since combining them can increase your risk of bleeding or other serious reactions.
• Avoid St. John's wort or other herbal products without checking with the Care365 care team first.

• Store this medicine at room temperature, in a dry place.
• Keep it out of the reach and sight of children.
• Return unused or expired medicine to your pharmacy for safe disposal.