Effexor

ATTENTION:
Studies have shown that children and teenagers who take antidepressants (mood elevators) such as venlafaxine may be more likely to think about harming or killing themselves or to plan or try to do so than children who do not take antidepressants. Children younger than 18 years of age should not normally take venlafaxine.If your child’s physician has prescribed venlafaxine for your child, you should watch his or her behavior very carefully, especially at the beginning of treatment and any time his or her dose is increased or decreased. Your child may develop serious symptoms very suddenly, so it is important to pay attention to his or her behavior every day. Call your child’s physician right away if he or she experiences any of these symptoms: new or worsening depression; thinking about harming or killing him- or herself or planning or trying to do so; extreme worry; agitation; panic attacks; difficulty falling or staying asleep; irritability; aggressive behavior; acting without thinking; severe restlessness; frenzied, abnormal excitement; or any other sudden or unusual changes in behavior.

General Information and Indications:

Venlafaxine comes as a tablet or extended-release capsule to take by mouth. The regular capsule is usually taken two or three times a day and should be taken with food. The extended-release capsule is usually taken once daily in the morning or evening with food. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask Your physician or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take venlafaxine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by Your Health provider.

Swallow the extended-release capsule whole; do not split, chew, crush, or place it in water. If you cannot swallow the extended-release capsule, it may be carefully opened and the entire contents of the capsule sprinkled on a spoonful of applesauce. Swallow (without chewing) this mixture immediately after preparation and then drink a glass of water to make sure all of the medicine is swallowed.

Continue to take venlafaxine even if you feel well. Do not stop taking venlafaxine without talking to Your Health provider, especially if you have taken large doses for a long time. Your Health provider probably will want to decrease your dose gradually. This drug must be taken regularly for a few weeks before its full effect is felt.

Information For Users:

Call your physician or pharmacist if you are allergic to venlafaxine or any other drugs.
do not take venlafaxine if you are taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, including isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl), and tranylcypromine (Parnate), or have stopped taking them within the past two weeks. If you stop taking venlafaxine, you should wait at least a week before you start to take an MAO inhibitor.
Call your physician or pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone); antidepressants; chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton); cimetidine (Tagamet); clomipramine (Anafranil); haloperidol (Haldol); imipramine (Tofranil); indinavir (Crixivan); lithium; medications for anxiety, mental illness, or seizures; medications for migraine such as frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex), and zolmitriptan (Zomig); methadone (Dolophine); quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex); risperidone (Risperdal); ritonavir (Norvir); sedatives; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft);sleeping pills;and tranquilizers.

Call your physician if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had depression, bipolar disorder (mood that changes from depressed to abnormally excited), or mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood), or if you or anyone in your family has thought about or attempted suicide. Also Call your physician if you have or have ever had difficulty urinating; elevated intraocular pressure; or liver, kidney, or heart disease.
Call your physician if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking venlafaxine, Call your physician immediately.
if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the physician or dentist that you are taking venlafaxine.
you should know that this drug may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you.
remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this drug.you should know that your mental health may change in unexpected ways, especially at the beginning of your treatment and at any time your dose is increased or decreased. These changes may occur at any time if you have depression or other mental illness, whether or not you are taking venlafaxine or any other medication. You, your family, or your caregiver should Call your physician right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: new or worsening depression; thinking about harming or killing yourself, or planning or trying to do so; extreme worry; agitation; panic attacks; difficulty falling or staying asleep; irritability; aggressive behavior; acting without thinking; severe restlessness; and frenzied, abnormal excitement. Be sure that your family or caregiver knows which symptoms may be serious so they can call the physician when you are unable to seek treatment on your own.

special precautions:

Call your physician or pharmacist if you are allergic to latanoprost or any other drugs.
Call your physician or pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, including vitamins.
Call your physician if you have inflammation of the eye, and if you have or have ever had liver or kidney disease.
Call your physician if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while using latanoprost, Call your physician.
if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using latanoprost.

Possible Adverse Effects:

Adverse effects from venlafaxine are common:

upset stomach
drowsiness
weakness or tiredness
excitement or anxiety
insomnia
nightmares
dry mouth
skin more sensitive to sunlight than usual
changes in appetite or weight
headache
Call your physician if any of the following symptoms are severe or long lasting:

constipation
difficulty urinating
frequent urination
blurred vision
changes in sex drive or ability
excessive sweating