Venlafaxine: instructions for use, reviews from patients and doctors, analogues, price

Unfortunately, depression and other disorders are not uncommon in the modern world. Some psychological problems can be overcome on your own. On the other hand, in more severe cases, taking antidepressants is simply necessary. Velafax is considered to be a fairly effective remedy. Reviews from specialists and patients confirm that the drug really helps solve a lot of problems. Therefore, it is often used in modern medicine.

Of course, the clinic of neuroses requires appropriate measures. So what is included in the medicine and how does it affect the body? Is there any evidence of overdose? How to take pills correctly? Many readers are looking for this information.

What antidepressants can alcohol be combined with?

It is allowed to drink alcohol once a week in hangover-free doses (1 glass of vodka or cognac) only if you are taking antidepressants containing the following main active ingredients (the most popular trade names of drugs containing this active ingredient are indicated in brackets):

• ademetionine (heptor, heptral)
• St. John's wort (negrustin, deprim, life 600)

Try not to get carried away and not exceed the specified dose of alcohol, do not forget to then take a break from alcohol for at least a week. And don't take even small amounts of alcohol with any other antidepressants.

You can combine alcohol with these antidepressants in hangover-free doses, but not more than once a week.

Who is the drug prescribed for?

First of all, you need to understand the indications for use of Velaxin. The description of the drug states that it helps with various types of depression and nervous breakdowns. I think it’s clear that you shouldn’t take such pills at the first sign of ordinary anxiety, but it’s even recommended to deal with serious emotional experiences.

At first it made me laugh, but then it began to irritate and even frighten me. I talked to the doctor, described to him my symptoms (inexplicable fear, worries for no reason, uncertainty). After that I received a prescription for Velaxin.

“You are neurotic.
It’s good that the unpleasant signs of the disease are not permanent. Manifestations of pathology can be combated. Try to avoid stress, be less nervous, and during attacks, take a course of Velaxin. My patients often leave good reviews for this drug...” Sergey Petrovich, psychiatrist, Moscow

Then I read about my diagnosis on the Internet and realized that the specialist was most likely right. Many of the symptoms completely coincided with my condition. This means therapy should help.

I was wondering if the capsules would be effective in my case. Still, the drug is more “tailored” for depression, and not for anxiety. I decided to read the reviews of other patients and use them to evaluate the effectiveness of the medicine.

“I had to take Velaxin after constant internal fear began to ruin my life. I felt as if I had done something nasty and was about to get paid for it. I went to the doctor and he prescribed capsules. They really help you calm down and relax..."

The situation is very similar to mine. It turns out that the antidepressant helps with anxiety and that’s good. Such reviews put me in the right mood.

“I treated depression with Velaxin capsules. Many people think that sadness and apathy should go away on their own, but this is not always the case. Sometimes you need to help your mind return to a state of peace. The drug really helped me. Now I laugh often and feel the zest for life again...”

There were, of course, negative reviews. Unfortunately, no one has canceled the side effects))) For some people, taking Velaxin caused quite unpleasant sensations (from nausea to tremors). What can I say – anything can happen. Sometimes an allergy to analgin occurs, but this is a serious drug.

MAO inhibitors

Serotonin is a signaling substance (scientifically called a neurotransmitter). Brain cells exchange serotonin molecules to transmit information. In depression, there is an imbalance of serotonin.

Imagine that brain cells are throwing molecules around like balls. The point of contact between cell processes is called a synapse. When a cell receives a serotonin molecule, the signal is received, the cell no longer needs serotonin, and it gets rid of it. The removal of serotonin from the synapse is called reuptake.

SSRIs are drugs containing the following active substances (the most popular trade names of drugs containing this active substance are indicated in brackets):

• fluoxetine (deprex, portal, prozac, profluzac, fluval)
• sertraline (Aleval, Asentra, Deprefolt, Zoloft, Serenata, Sirlift, Stimuloton, Thorin)
• paroxetine (adepress, actaparoxetine, paxil, plisil, rexetine, sirestill)
• citalopram (Oprah, Pram, Siozam, Tsipramil, Citol)
• escitalopram (lenuxin, miracitol, selectra, cipralex, esipi)
• fluvoxamine (fevarin)
• venlafaxine (Velaxin, Velafax, Newelong, Efevelon)
• duloxetine (Cymbalta)

Alcohol cannot be combined with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors because alcohol itself prolongs (extends) the action of intracerebral serotonin to a certain point, and is also an inducer of dopamine synthesis (like MAO inhibitors (monoamine oxidase inhibitors), also antidepressants and also incompatible with alcohol) .

Read interesting and funny articles on our blog!* Popular Chardonnay.

* About the Chabasse cognac house.

* Little "alcoholic". Story.

These side effects, indicated in the instructions for use, can also develop with standard administration and dosage of antidepressants: due to the polymorphism of serotonin receptors, effects opposite to those expected can develop (depending on which receptors the antidepressant acts on - those it targets, or the opposite .

But potentially much more dangerous is the possibility of severe autonomic disorders: pressure surges, blood clotting disorders, secretory disorders, arrhythmia.

English scientist Andrew Herxheimer and New Zealand scientist David B. Menkes published an article in the Pharmaceutical Journal noting that many patients do not take seriously the warning that alcohol should not be combined with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Manufacturers of antidepressants explicitly do not recommend doing this on the instructions that are included in the boxes with medicines, but they rely on the results of studies on healthy volunteers in whose bodies their medicine does not interact with alcohol in any way.

It turns out that these warnings had not previously been confirmed by scientific research, and therefore did not convince either doctors or patients. Herxheimer and Menses described specific manifestations of pathological intoxication syndrome, which often causes serious consequences in patients taking SSRIs or similar antidepressants.

MAO inhibitors are active substances that can inhibit (that is, slow down the enzymatic reaction) the enzyme monoamine oxidase. These include drugs containing the following active ingredients (the most popular trade names of drugs containing this active substance are indicated in brackets):

• moclobemide (Aurorix)
• pirlindole (pyrazidol)

Alcohol should be avoided while taking MAO inhibitors to prevent the occurrence of tyramine syndrome and serotonin syndrome. Consumption of strong alcoholic beverages in combination with MAO inhibitors threatens depression of the respiratory center. When taking antidepressants of this class, you should adhere to a strict diet, because there are many foods and medications with which these drugs cannot be combined.

Pharmacological interaction of Velaxin and special instructions

The combination of venlafaxine with other medications can provoke negative consequences. It should not be taken simultaneously with MAO inhibitors. Their appointment is possible 7 days after stopping the use of Velaxin.

It is contraindicated to combine Velaxin with the following substances:

• clozapine;
• haloperidol;
• imipramine;
• products containing lithium.

The combination of venlafaxine with these substances often provokes an increase in their concentration in the blood, which leads to a number of complications (increased side effects, the development of negative consequences). Concomitant use with alcoholic beverages can lead to central nervous system depression.

During treatment, the following precautions should be taken:

1. Patients who take the medicine are prone to thoughts of suicide. Therefore, they must be under the supervision of a psychiatrist.
2. The drug is not used to treat pregnant and lactating women, young children and adolescents under 18 years of age.
3. At the beginning of treatment, the patient may experience psychomotor agitation or other reactions, which often go away on their own.
4. Velaxin should be used with caution if you are prone to seizures or have mania.
5. When taken concomitantly with antipsychotics, signs of neuroleptic malignant syndrome may occur.
6. The drug should not be taken for weight loss.
7. The antidepressant provokes a decrease in mental and physical activity. Drivers of vehicles need to take this into account.

See also:

Tizercin - instructions for use, indications, reviews and analogues

Contraindications and analogues of Velaxin

The doctor wrote me a prescription, but before purchasing the drug, I decided to study the information and reviews about it. I was going to “treat my brain,” so I wasn’t going to take any risks. It’s good that now there is the Internet - any information is available to the average person. So, I went online and started looking for a description of the drug.

How does the medicine work? Everything is complicated here too. I tried to understand pharmacology for a long time and now I will describe what I understood. So, Velaxin is able to influence the transmission of impulses in the central nervous system. Provided that the drug is taken in the correct dose:

• suppresses dopamine uptake by neurons;
• works with serotonin and norepinephrine;
• reduces beta-adrenergic reactions.

Reading the reviews, I realized that the antidepressant really improves the emotional state, eliminating anxiety, irritability and apathy.

It is necessary to mention the prohibitions. It is not for nothing that Velaxin is sold by prescription. This drug has a fairly large list of side effects. Under certain conditions (individual intolerance to components), weakness, increased fatigue, insomnia, dizziness, sweating, tachycardia and even erectile dysfunction may occur.

The description of the medicine states that treatment is strictly prohibited:

• with parallel therapy with MAO inhibitors;
• the presence of kidney and liver diseases;
• during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

My doctor asked me if I was complaining of angina, increased intraocular pressure or bleeding. In this case, you can take Velaxin, but with great caution.

If for some reason an antidepressant is not suitable for you, then you can consider analogues. The closest in composition are “Dapfix”, “Efevelon” and “Alventa”.

Overdose and its symptoms

What happens if you take too much Velafax? Overdose is possible and is accompanied by characteristic symptoms. First, dizziness occurs and a decrease in blood pressure is observed. As the active components penetrate into the blood, ventricular and sinus tachycardia develops. Convulsive seizures are also possible. Some patients experience various disturbances of consciousness, ranging from drowsiness and fatigue to coma. If the patient is not given help in time, an overdose can be fatal. By the way, similar symptoms occur not only when the dose of the drug is increased, but also when the tablets are taken together with ethanol (alcoholic drinks).

As for therapy, in this case it is symptomatic, since there is no specific antidote. Treatment is aimed at maintaining the basic functions of the human body and should be carried out in a hospital setting.

Tricyclic antidepressants

All tricyclic antidepressants have a similar chemical structure: three ring-shaped molecules joined together (though the molecules themselves can be completely different from one antidepressant to another). These include drugs containing the following active ingredients (the most popular trade names of drugs containing this active substance are indicated in brackets):

• amitriptyline (tryptisol, Elivel)
• clomipramine (anafranil, clominal, clofranil)
• imipramine (melipramine)
• tianeptine (coaxil)
• pipofezin (azafen)

Tricyclic antidepressants themselves are too toxic to also poison the body with alcohol when taken. Tricyclics have many side effects, including quite severe ones, and the presence of alcohol in the blood can increase the likelihood of these undesirable effects or intensify existing side effects.

Use during pregnancy and lactation

The safety of venlafaxine during pregnancy has not been proven, so use during pregnancy (or intended pregnancy) is only possible if the potential benefit to the mother outweighs the possible risk to the fetus. Women of childbearing age should be warned about this before starting treatment and should immediately consult a doctor if they become pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment with the drug.

Venlafaxine and EDV are excreted into breast milk. The safety of these substances for newborns has not been proven, so taking venlafaxine during breastfeeding is not recommended. If it is necessary to take the drug during lactation, the issue of stopping breastfeeding should be decided. If maternal treatment was completed shortly before delivery, the newborn may experience drug withdrawal symptoms.

Other groups of antidepressants

You can also mention antidepressants and other, less extensive groups, which are also often prescribed by doctors. For example, agomelatine (Valdoxan) stimulates melatonin receptors and blocks serotonin receptors.

Monoamine receptor agonists:

• mianserin (lerivon, miansan)
• mirtazapine (calixta, mirtazen, mirtazonal, remeron)
• trazodone (azona, trittico)

There are so many other antidepressants that it is impossible to list them all here. Be sure to read the instructions for the medications you plan to take. And if in the instructions for your drug in the “Pharmacological group” section you see the inscription “antidepressant”, then remember, while you are taking it, you should stop drinking alcohol.

Venlafaxine: indications for use

In order to get the desired result of therapy, it is important to follow all the specialist’s recommendations. The doctor told me that Velaxin should be taken with meals, without chewing the capsule. You can take the medicine with water. The daily dose is best taken once in the morning or evening.

The instructions for use indicated that you should try to treat gradually. I started with one capsule per day of 75 mg. After 2 weeks I increased the dosage to 150 mg. I read in reviews that the maximum allowable amount of the drug is 350 mg per day. I think that serious psychosis can be suppressed in this way.

Now a few words about the unpleasant - therapy is long. In my case, it was necessary to take capsules for 6 months until all symptoms of a neurotic condition were completely eliminated (maintenance therapy). Therefore, calculate your budget in advance.

One package (28 pieces at a dosage of 75 mg) will cost approximately 1,150 rubles. You can multiply this price by six months of admission, and you get a serious blow to the family wallet.

What did I get in the end? Now I can safely write that the positive reviews of Velaxin did not lie. The drug really helps. I finally began to fall asleep normally, stopped worrying about trifles and returning home to double-check the iron was turned off and the gas was turned off. Friends say that he has become more open and cheerful.

• Depression, especially long-term and poorly responsive to other medications
• Generalized anxiety disorder (when you not only worry periodically, but live with this very anxiety around the clock)
• Panic disorder (you are afraid to leave the house in case you have a panic attack, you are afraid of stuffy small rooms and the subway, as well as certain situations - for example, being alone at home)
• Social phobias (you are afraid to communicate with people, do not want social contacts, and in general, would like to go into the forest as a hermit)

Depression (including in the presence of anxiety), treatment and relapse prevention.

Pharmacodynamic information

This drug is quite well absorbed by the walls of the gastric tract. The maximum concentration of the active substance in the blood ranges from 25 to 150 mg. These values ​​are observed 2 hours after administration. By the way, if you take a tablet during or before a meal, the maximum effect will be observed 20-30 minutes later.

The active substance binds to plasma proteins by approximately 27-30%. Intensive metabolism of the drug occurs in liver cells. The half-life ranges from 5 to 11 hours. Metabolites, as well as unchanged venlafaxine, are excreted from the body by the kidneys. The gender and age of the patient do not affect pharmacokinetics in any way.

Venlafaxine is an SSRI antidepressant.

In the article about the types of antidepressants, I already told you what they are, and scared you with the abbreviations SSRI, TCA, SNRI, etc. Let me briefly remind you what and how.

The body of a depressed person is very talented at harming itself. He produces serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, which would be very useful for depression, but he hops them! - and quickly disposed of it. So much so that we didn’t even have time to notice whether we had them or not. Antidepressants “give the body a hand” so that it does not become willful, they take away hormones that are already preparing to go into the trash, and send them where they need to be - into the blood, so that they do not allow us to drink away from melancholy.

SSRIs (escitalopram, paroxetine) take away only serotonin, tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline) take away all three hormones, but at the same time they also hit the body in the head so that it doesn’t become willful, which is why we then become dull and constantly want to sleep and eat at the same time. Eat a lot.

So - if serotonin alone is not enough for you, and without its faithful brothers you get apathy, and tricyclics make you sleepy on the move, then there are also SNRIs - selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. This is our Velaxin.

This is by no means a first-line drug. It will be prescribed when everything else has been tried and it does not have the desired effect. Kind of like what happened to me. Since I’m becoming a vegetable from SSRIs, and from tricyclics I’m gaining 20 kg.

Venlafaxine: dosage

The drug is available in dosages of 37.5, 75 and 150 mg (there are also some rare generics, which, in my opinion, contain 225 mg).

Both tablets and capsules with a slow release of the substance are produced (the drug may have an addition to the name such as “prolong” or “retard”). Capsules are better because the substance is distributed there so that it enters the body gradually, without sudden attacks. It is best to take regular tablets twice, or even better, three times a day to maintain a stable concentration of the substance in the blood.

The biggest problem with venlafaxine is its rapid elimination from the body. Therefore, tablets must be taken several times a day, and it is not recommended to skip them - withdrawal symptoms may begin in just a couple of hours.

Usually doctors start with a dosage of 75 mg, but if you have previously found yourself having trouble withstanding the first days of taking antidepressants, then you should start with 37.5 mg - half a tablet 2 times a day. Increase once every 5-7 days.

Next we have an interesting dose-dependent feature of venlafaxine. Remember its duality - it preserves both serotonin and norepinephrine for you? Well, the latter begins to persist at a dosage of 150 mg and above, so at 75 mg you will get a regular SSRI drug. And if you raise it to 225 mg, then there will also be a bonus of dopamine added. That is, you will not only be cheerful and cheerful, but you will also begin to dream, strive for something and make plans.

There is only one problem - dosages above 150 mg are difficult to obtain from modern doctors. But if they prescribe it, don’t be afraid, try it. It's never too late to roll back if something goes wrong.

In a hospital, you may be prescribed 350 mg, but while at home, it is better not to take such doses. Although I know people who reached 450 mg and drank like that for months. But we won’t take an example from psychos, and clinical studies suggest that the most effective dose range for treatment is 75-225 mg.

The duration of use is standard - a year at an effective dosage, and then we look at the situation. You can quit completely, you can stay on a maintenance dose (37.5-75 mg), you can continue drinking for the rest of your life. It is better to discuss these issues with your doctor.

Venlafaxine

Venlafaxine is a drug prescribed for the treatment of depression , anxiety and neurotic conditions.

Venlafaxine is available in the form of tablets of a classic flattened shape with a score in the middle. The tablet consists of a white or yellowish substance. The tablets are packaged in containers, which are placed in cardboard boxes from 1 to 5 in each box.

• Pharmacological properties of Venlafaxine
• Indications for the use of Venlafaxine
• Contraindications for taking Venlafaxine
• How to take medicine correctly
• Side effects
• Reviews from patients and doctors

The dosage of tablets can be 37.5 or 75 milligrams. The main active substance is venlafaxine. In addition to the main component, the tablet contains excipients.

Analogs of the drug are Velaxin, Velafax, Alventa, Venlift OD, Newvelong, Efevelon. Compared to the drug Venlafaxine, analogues may differ slightly in price and therapeutic effect. It is not recommended to buy and take analogues on your own without first consulting with your doctor.

The price of the drug depends on its dosage. In particular, the price of a package with a dosage of 75 mg ranges from 470–520 rubles, and the cost of a package with a dose of 37.5 mg ranges from 200 to 350 rubles.

Pharmacological properties of Venlafaxine

The main therapeutic effect of the drug is antidepressant.

The main active component and its metabolites are classified in their chemical structure as dopamine and serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

In addition, the drug potentiates the effects of other neurotransmitters. Venlafaxine has no affinity for opioid, histamine and benzodiazepine receptors. The product is not a MAO inhibitor.

Upon entering the body, the drug is quickly absorbed. Eating does not affect the absorption of the drug in any way. Entering the gastrointestinal tract, the drug is partially metabolized in the liver. Equilibrium concentration is achieved three days from the start of administration. In the blood, Venlafaxine is 30% protein bound. The drug is eliminated through the kidneys.

Indications for the use of Venlafaxine

The drug is prescribed for the following diseases and disorders:

1. Depressive disorders of various forms and degrees of severity.
2. Relapse prevention in the treatment of recurrent depressive disorders.
3. Anxiety and panic attacks.
4. Neuroses and neurotic reactions.
5. Comprehensive treatment of migraine and diabetic polyneuropathy.

Contraindications for taking Venlafaxine

It is strictly forbidden to take the drug if you have the following conditions:

1. Hypersensitivity and individual intolerance to the components of the drug.
2. Concomitant use of MAO inhibitors.
3. Severe liver pathology.
4. The period of pregnancy and breastfeeding.
5. Childhood and adolescence

The following is a list of conditions in which the drug must be taken with great caution:

1. Condition after a recent myocardial infarction .
2. Unstable angina.
3. Arterial hypertension with a history of seizures.
4. Increased intraocular pressure.
5. Increased tendency to bleed.
6. Glaucoma is a closed-angle form.
7. The patient has suicidal tendencies.
8. Hyponatremia.

How to take medicine correctly

The medication must be taken while eating. The tablet should not be chewed . It is advisable to take the tablets at the same time every day and take them with plenty of liquid.

The initial therapeutic dose of the drug is 75 mg per day . It must be divided into 2 doses - 37.5 mg in the morning and evening. Gradually, the average daily dose is increased to 150 mg. The dose should be increased by 37.5 mg every 2 weeks. Sometimes a faster dose increase is allowed, but not more often than once every 4 days.

The drug Venlafaxine retard can be taken 1 tablet (75 mg) in the morning . If after 2 weeks of use there is a need to increase the dose, you can switch to Retard capsules of 150 mg and take them once a day - in the morning or in the evening.

In some cases, the instructions for use allow a maximum therapeutic dose of 225 mg per day .

If the patient has signs of renal failure with decreased glomerular filtration rate, the recommended dosage may be reduced by 25 to 50 percent. In this case, it is better to take the entire dosage once a day. The dosage should also be reduced during hemodialysis.

In the presence of moderate liver failure, the dosage can be reduced by 50 percent. If the deficiency is mild, there is no need to reduce the dosage. There is no information on the use of the drug against the background of severe deficiency.

The drug should also be prescribed to elderly and elderly patients with caution.
It is necessary to increase the dosage of the drug in elderly patients with great caution and under the close supervision of a specialist.
The drug should also be discontinued gradually to minimize any risks of deterioration in health associated with withdrawal. If the full therapeutic course exceeded 6 weeks, the duration of withdrawal should be at least 2 weeks.

Side effects

Common side effects include increased weakness and fatigue, photosensitivity, angioedema and anaphylaxis. Possible changes in body weight in one direction or another, increased prolactin levels, hyponatremia, impaired ADH synthesis .

From the nervous system, headache, dizziness, sleep disturbances, increased mental excitability, confusion or stupor, depersonalization, tremor, paresthesia are possible. Less common are agitation, hallucinosis, apathy, akathisia and impaired coordination of movements. There are also epileptiform seizures and manic syndrome.

In the rarest cases, the development of serotonin syndrome, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, extrapyramidal syndrome, and tardive dyskinesia may begin. Aggression and suicidal intentions may occur.

From the digestive tract, dry mouth, nausea, appetite disturbances, constipation, diarrhea, stomach and intestinal bleeding may occur. Hepatitis and pancreatitis are less common.

Respiratory disorders can manifest themselves in the form of shortness of breath, yawning, bronchitis and pneumonia.

Cardiovascular disorders can be expressed in the development of arterial hypertension, tachycardia, and fainting. Sometimes the development of ventricular fibrillation is noted.

The hematopoietic organ system may respond to the drug with skin ecchymosis, thrombocytopenia, increased bleeding duration, anemia and pancytopenia.

From the genitourinary system, sexual dysfunction in men, anorgasmia, menstrual irregularities in women, urinary disturbances or urinary incontinence are observed.

Venlafaxine

While taking Venlafaxine, it is possible to develop mydriasis, accommodation disturbances, ringing and noise in the ears, and disturbances in taste perception.

Skin manifestations include rash, hyperhidrosis, erythema, and toxic epidermal necrolysis.

If you try to abruptly stop taking the drug, withdrawal syndrome may develop. Its clinical manifestations may be as follows:

1. Increased weakness and fatigue, headache, dizziness.
2. Sleep disorders: drowsiness, insomnia.
3. Increased excitability and irritability.
4. Confusion and paresthesia.
5. Dry mouth, thirst, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

In the vast majority of cases, according to reviews from doctors and patients, all these reactions are mild and do not require additional drug intervention.

Venlafaxine: side effects

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fainting, anaphylactic shock and sudden death are standard, almost any antidepressant gives this, and nervous individuals, after reading the instructions, then refuse to take it.

Due to the stimulating effect of venlafaxine, insomnia, increased blood pressure, tachycardia, aggression, and anxiety may occur. This usually goes away as you get used to the drug.

Venlafaxine reduces appetite, so if you are underweight, make sure that the wind does not blow it away, and do not forget to eat. At the beginning, you may feel weak and drowsy, so you should not take the drug and immediately go to work - there is a risk of falling asleep with your face on the keyboard.

The nausea will stop quickly, but if it bothers you, take Motilium, for example. Or ask your doctor for a tranquilizer for the first time, and you won’t be afraid of anxiety and insomnia. Sweating and trembling of the limbs are possible. Sweating, by the way, may not go away later (I had it the entire time I took it).

Well, the standard side effects of blood pressure are constipation and “incontinence” in males specifically. The first is treated by regular consumption of prunes (believe me, I myself never thought that this was such an effective remedy, but when nothing helps at all, and prunes do the trick in one go, you can’t help but believe it). The second does not happen to everyone, so I don’t recommend getting too scared in advance.

These instructions can be used to cover yourself at night instead of a blanket!

Other side effects are less common and are well described in the instruction sheet. You can read it in your spare time if you haven’t had anxiety attacks or panic attacks for a long time.

Are there any possible side effects?

Naturally, like any other antidepressant, this drug can lead to some side effects. Complications are quite varied, here are the most common ones:

• Quite often there are disturbances in the functioning of the digestive system, in particular nausea and loss of appetite, abdominal pain, dry mouth, constipation, and dyspepsia. It is extremely rare that pancreatitis and hepatitis develop during therapy.
• Symptoms from the cardiovascular system are also possible, including a decrease or increase in blood pressure, arrhythmia, tachycardia, and hyperemia of the skin. Ventricular fibrillation and tachycardia occasionally develop.
• Metabolic disorders are possible, for example, a decrease or sharp increase in body weight, an increase in cholesterol levels. Rarely, while taking pills, a decrease in the secretion of antidiuretic hormone and an increase in prolactin levels are observed.
• Common side effects include weakness, dizziness, severe yawning, drowsiness, nightmares, muscle hypertonicity, and increased nervous excitability. Nervous system disorders also include asthenia, tremor, apathy, fainting, and hallucinations. Occasionally, therapy leads to the development of mania, coordination problems, convulsions, delirium, and psychomotor restlessness.
• Possible changes in the lymphatic system and hematopoiesis, including hemorrhagic syndrome, minor hemorrhages in the skin and mucous membranes, thrombocytopenia, and less commonly, aplastic anepia, pancytopenia and agranulocytosis.
• Some patients complain of problems with urination.
• There is a possibility of disruption of the senses, which is expressed by the appearance of tinnitus, changes in taste, problems with accommodation, and decreased vision.
• Therapy can affect the quality of sexual life, causing decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, problems with ejaculation, changes in the menstrual cycle, and inability to achieve orgasm.
• Tablets can provoke an allergic reaction, which is accompanied by the appearance of a skin rash, redness, hives, and swelling. Erythema and anaphylactic shock occur less frequently.
• There are some other side effects that may occur during treatment. Sometimes patients complain of increased sweating, hair loss (extremely rare), severe shortness of breath, and pulmonary eosinophilia. Sometimes muscle spasms, myalgia, and arthralgia are observed.

It is worth noting that the occurrence of side effects is sometimes due to the fact that the daily dose is too high. However, in other cases, complete discontinuation of the medication may be necessary. If you notice any deterioration, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Venlafaxine: patient reviews

I wrote my review in as much detail as possible here. I also talked with other “patients”. They generally tolerate the drug well - especially after apathy from SSRIs. They talk about vivid cinematic dreams (I confirm - this happens). Velaxin pulls many people out of long-term depression when nothing helped.

But both men and women also complain about a decrease or complete absence of desire to have sex, and even if men do succeed, they then cannot finish for two hours. For some, this bothers them so much that they stop taking the drug. I agree with them - what is the joy of life worth without good sex?