How much effexor is too much

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.

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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. Back to Medicines A to Z. Venlafaxine is a type of antidepressant often used to treat depression. It is also sometimes used to treat anxiety and panic attacks. Venlafaxine helps many people recover from depression, and has fewer unwanted side effects than older antidepressants.

It comes as tablets and capsules which are available only on prescription. Take our survey. Venlafaxine can be taken by adults for depression, anxiety and panic attacks. If you have diabetes , venlafaxine can make it more difficult to keep your blood sugar stable. Monitor your blood sugar more often for the first few weeks of treatment with venlafaxine and adjust your diabetes treatment if necessary.

Take venlafaxine once or twice a day as recommended by your doctor. It's best to take venlafaxine with food so it doesn't make you feel sick.

The usual starting dose of venlafaxine is 75mg a day. This might be gradually increased to a maximum dose of mg. If you have problems with your liver or kidneys your doctor might prescribe a lower dose. Venlafaxine tablets and capsules can be either immediate release or extended release. How you take them depends on the type you've been prescribed.

Immediate release tablets release the venlafaxine into your system as soon as you swallow them. You will usually take Extended release tablets and capsules are released into your system gradually. You will usually take 75mg extended release tablets or capsules once a day.

You can choose to take them at any time as long as you stick to the same time every day. If you have trouble sleeping, it's best to take it in the morning. If you occasionally forget to take a dose, don't worry. Take your next dose at the usual time. Never take 2 doses at the same time to make up for a forgotten one. If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you.

You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine. The amount of venlafaxine that can lead to an overdose varies from person to person.

You've taken too much venlafaxine by accident and experience symptoms such as:. Take the venlafaxine packet, or the leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine with you.

Like all medicines, venlafaxine can cause side effects in some people, but many people have no side effects or only minor ones. Some of the common side effects of venlafaxine will gradually improve as your body gets used to it. These side effects happen in more than 1 in people. Keep taking the medicine, but tell your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or don't go away:. It is not common, but some people less than 1 in may have serious side effects when taking venlafaxine.

In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to venlafaxine. You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

These are not all the side effects of venlafaxine. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme. It's important for you and your baby that you stay well during your pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking venlafaxine speak to your doctor.

A previous study showed that antidepressant discontinuation in depressed patients sometimes correlated with worsening depression and increased suicidality. Venlafaxine overdose is associated with sedation, sinus tachycardia, seizures, hypertension, hypotension, diaphoresis, and hyponatremia. Researchers have observed a dose-related increase in mean blood pressure with venlafaxine use, especially with doses of more than mg daily.

Our patient experienced both discontinuation syndrome and venlafaxine overdose symptoms, along with symptoms of major depressive disorder. He could not help but continue his self-medication, in spite of the discontinuation syndrome. This patient did not visit any clinics until his suicide attempt, because he regarded his venlafaxine overdose and withdrawal symptoms as depressive symptoms.

As a physician, he had confidence that he could treat his depression without any assistance. Another explanation for venlafaxine abuse is its amphetamine-like effect with large dosages, which mimics amphetamine-like highs. In conclusion, venlafaxine discontinuation syndrome has symptoms similar to those of major depressive disorder, depending on each patient's experience, and an overdose may produce suicidality or a fatal outcome.

Therefore, self-medication with venlafaxine should be avoided, and careful monitoring is needed when using it to treat patients with major depressive disorder. National Center for Biotechnology Information , U. Journal List Psychiatry Investig v. Psychiatry Investig. Published online Dec Find articles by Ji-Hye Song.

Find articles by Bum-Hee Yu. Find articles by Dongsoo Lee. Find articles by Se Chang Yoon. Find articles by Hong Jin Jeon. Author information Article notes Copyright and License information Disclaimer. Corresponding author. Abstract Antidepressants are known to have no significant ability to cause addiction. Keywords: Venlafaxine, Major depressive disorder, Discontinuation syndrome, Suicide attempt.

CASE A male physician in his mids presented to an emergency center with his first suicide attempt, which he had performed by inhaling some drugs, including venlafaxine. Open in a separate window. Figure 1. The patient's mood chart. Figure 2. References 1. Haddad P. According to one review of U.

In one clinical trial, the lowest fatal dose of imipramine was just mg. For a person who weighs 70 kg about pounds , this translates to about mg.

For a person who weighs 70 kg, this translates to about mg. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants because they tend to have fewer side effects. If taken alone, an SSRI overdose is rarely fatal. The risk of toxicity and death is much higher when a high dose of an SSRI is taken with alcohol or other drugs. A typical dose of the SNRI venlafaxine is between 75 and mg per day, taken in two or three divided doses.

Lethal outcomes have been seen at doses as low as 2, mg 2 g. Most cases of fatal overdoses involve more than one drug. Most cases of MAOI toxicity happen when large doses are taken along with alcohol or other drugs.

Severe symptoms of an overdose can occur if you take more than 2 mg per kg of your body weight. Overdosing on antidepressants can cause mild to severe symptoms.

In some cases, death is possible. People who overdose on antidepressants may also experience serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome is a serious negative drug reaction that occurs when too much serotonin builds up in your body.