Venlafaxine is an antidepressant medication. It affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause depression or anxiety.

Venlafaxine is used to relieve symptoms of depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder (social phobia).

Venlafaxine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Special precautions

Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you have

• liver disease;

• kidney disease;

• heart disease or high blood pressure;

• seizures or epilepsy;

• a history of mania or bipolar disorder;

• increased pressure in the eye(s) or narrow-angle glaucoma;

• bleeding or blood clotting problems; or

• Increased level of cholesterol in the blood.

You may not be able to take venlafaxine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Venlafaxine is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether

Venlafaxine will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

Venlafaxine passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing baby. Do not take venlafaxine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Venlafaxine may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.

Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness, dizziness, and confusion

Do not stop taking venlafaxine without first talking to your doctor. Your doctor may need to gradually reduce the dose before stopping the medication completely. Stopping the medication suddenly may cause unpleasant side effects to occur.

Side effects

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking venlafaxine and contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment:

• an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

• seizures; or

• An irregular heartbeat or severely high blood pressure (blurred vision, headache).

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take venlafaxine and talk to your doctor if you experience

• nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, abdominal pain, or loss of appetite or weight;

• dry mouth;

• drowsiness or dizziness;

• mild tremor, anxiety, or agitation;

• insomnia;

• abnormal dreams;

• sexual problems such as impotence, abnormal ejaculation, difficulty reaching orgasm, or decreased libido;

• sweating;

• yawning; or

• Increase in blood cholesterol levels (detected by blood tests).

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Keep all appointments with your doctor.

Don’t let anyone else take your medicines.