Venlafaxin ratiopharm
Venlafaxin ratiopharm is a medicine that helps treat depression and anxiety by increasing certain natural substances in your brain.
Form
depotkapseli, kova
Strength
150 mg
Active Ingredient
Venlafaxine hydrochloride
Manufacturer
Teva B.V.
How to Use
Dosage
The usual starting dose for depression, generalized anxiety, and social anxiety is 75 mg once a day. For panic disorder, you start with 37.5 mg and increase gradually. Your doctor may increase your dose up to 375 mg daily for depression or up to 225 mg daily for anxiety disorders.
Method
Swallow the capsules whole with water. Do not break, crush, chew, or dissolve them. Take your medicine with food, at about the same time each day (morning or evening).
Important
Maximum daily dose for depression is 375 mg. Maximum daily dose for generalized anxiety, social phobia, and panic disorder is 225 mg.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Dizziness; headache; drowsiness
- •Insomnia
- •Nausea; dry mouth; constipation
- •Sweating (including night sweats)
- •Decreased appetite
- •Confusion; feeling detached from yourself; lack of orgasm; decreased sex drive; agitation; nervousness; unusual dreams
- •Tremor; feeling restless or unable to sit/stand still; tingling/prickling sensations; changes in taste; increased muscle tension
- •Vision problems like blurred vision; dilated pupils; difficulty focusing vision automatically
- •Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- •Rapid heartbeat; palpitations
- •Increased blood pressure; flushing
- •Shortness of breath; yawning
- •Vomiting; diarrhea
- •Mild rash; itching
- •Frequent urge to urinate; inability to hold urine; difficulty urinating
- •Irregular periods, like increased or irregular bleeding; abnormal ejaculation/orgasm (men); erection problems (impotence)
- •Weakness (asthenia); fatigue; chills
- •Weight gain; weight loss
- •Increased cholesterol levels
RARE
- •Swelling of face, mouth, tongue, throat, hands, or feet, and/or raised, itchy rash (hives), difficulty swallowing or breathing.
- •Chest tightness, wheezing, difficulty swallowing or breathing.
- •Severe rash, itching, or hives (red or pale, often itchy welts on the skin).
- •Serotonin syndrome: restlessness, hallucinations, clumsiness, fast heartbeat, high body temperature, rapid blood pressure changes, overactive reflexes, diarrhea, deep unconsciousness, nausea, and vomiting. Severe cases can resemble Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS), with fever, fast heart rate, sweating, severe muscle stiffness, confusion, and increased muscle enzymes.
- •Signs of infection, such as high fever, chills, shaking, headache, and flu-like symptoms (may be due to a blood disorder increasing infection risk).
- •Severe rash that can lead to severe blistering and skin peeling.
- •Unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness (can be a sign of rhabdomyolysis).
- •Stress-induced cardiomyopathy symptoms: chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, and irregular heartbeat.
- •Cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath, possibly with a high body temperature.
- •Black (tarry) stool or blood in stool (a sign of internal bleeding).
- •Yellow skin or whites of eyes, or dark urine (can be symptoms of liver inflammation).
- •Heart problems, e.g., fast or irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure.
- •Eye problems, e.g., vision problems, dilated pupils.
- •Nerve problems, e.g., dizziness, crawling sensation on skin, movement disorders (muscle spasms or stiffness), seizures.
- •Mental health problems, e.g., hyperactivity or unusually strong feeling of well-being.
- •Withdrawal symptoms (fatigue, dizziness, headache, nausea, diarrhea, insomnia, anxiety, electric shock-like sensations).
- •Prolonged bleeding time – it may take a little longer than usual for bleeding to stop.
- •Overactivity; racing thoughts; reduced need for sleep (mania).
- •Hallucinations; feeling detached from reality; abnormal orgasm; lack of emotion; being over-stimulated; teeth grinding.
- •Fainting; involuntary muscle movements; poor coordination and balance.
- •Dizziness (especially when standing up too quickly); drop in blood pressure.
- •Vomiting blood, black tarry stools or blood in stool, which can be signs of internal bleeding.
- •Sensitivity to sunlight; bruising; rash; abnormal hair loss.
- •Incontinence.
- •Muscle stiffness, cramps, and involuntary muscle movements.
- •Slight changes in liver enzyme levels in blood tests.
- •Prolonged bleeding time, which may indicate a low platelet count, increasing the risk of bruising and bleeding.
- •Abnormal breast milk production.
- •Unexpected bleeding, e.g., bleeding gums, blood in urine or vomit, or unexpected bruises or broken blood vessels.
- •Suicidal thoughts and behavior, reported during or soon after stopping venlafaxine treatment.
- •Aggression.
- •Very heavy vaginal bleeding soon after childbirth (postpartum hemorrhage).
Important Warnings
- Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to venlafaxine or any other ingredients.
- Do not take this medicine if you are currently taking or have taken certain other medicines called MAO inhibitors (used for depression or Parkinson's disease) in the last 14 days. You must wait at least 7 days after stopping this medicine before taking an MAO inhibitor.
- Tell your doctor if you take other medicines that could increase the risk of 'serotonin syndrome', a serious condition with symptoms like restlessness, hallucinations, fast heartbeat, or high fever.
- Tell your doctor if you have eye problems, especially a type of glaucoma (high pressure in the eye).
- Tell your doctor if you have high blood pressure, heart problems, or an abnormal heartbeat.
Show 16 more warnings
- Tell your doctor if you have had seizures.
- Tell your doctor if you have low sodium levels in your blood.
- Tell your doctor if you bruise or bleed easily, have bleeding problems, or are pregnant, especially if taking medicines that increase bleeding risk.
- Tell your doctor if you or a family member has had mania or bipolar disorder (feeling overly excited or very happy).
- Tell your doctor if you have a history of aggressive behavior.
- This medicine may cause restlessness or difficulty sitting/standing still. Tell your doctor if this happens.
- Do not drink alcohol during treatment, as it can cause extreme tiredness and unconsciousness, and worsen your depression/anxiety.
- If you have thoughts of harming yourself or suicide, contact your doctor or go to the nearest emergency room immediately, especially when starting treatment or if your dose changes.
- This medicine can cause dry mouth, which increases the risk of tooth decay. Practice good dental hygiene.
- This medicine may affect your blood sugar levels. Your diabetes medicine doses might need to be adjusted.
- This medicine may cause sexual problems that can sometimes continue even after stopping treatment. Discuss this with your doctor.
- Don't worry if you see small white pellets in your stool. These are empty capsule shells, and the medicine has already been absorbed.
- This medicine is generally not recommended for children or teenagers under 18 due to increased risks like suicidal thoughts or aggression. If prescribed for someone under 18, discuss any worsening symptoms with the doctor.
- Do not drive or use machines until you know how this medicine affects you, as it can make you drowsy or less alert.
- If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to some sugars, talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.
- If you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant, or are breastfeeding, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. Do not take it unless you have discussed the benefits and risks with your doctor. Tell your midwife or doctor if you are taking this medicine and are pregnant. Similar medicines can increase the risk of serious lung problems in newborns. If taken late in pregnancy, there's also a higher risk of very heavy bleeding after childbirth.
Use in Elderly Patients
Category C
Suitable for older adults, with specific precautions. Serotonergic. A significant adverse effect is low serum sodium level. Increases risk of falls. Consider the numerous potential interactions, especially with drugs that increase the risk of bleeding. Reduce the dose already in mild renal impairment. (updated 12.2.2024)