How an SNRI Is Thought to Work
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Prescribing Information
Medication Guide About Using Antidepressants in Children and Teenagers
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Sponsored by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc. |
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DEPRESSION RESOURCE CENTER |
How an SNRI Is Thought to Work
EFFEXOR XR® is a prescription medication used to treat depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder, allowing you to get back to your life again.
EFFEXOR XR is known as an SNRI (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) and is believed to help treat depression and the associated symptoms of anxiety by affecting the levels of two chemicals in the brain — serotonin and norepinephrine. These two chemicals are thought to play a key role in depression and the associated symptoms of anxiety. Correcting the imbalance of these two chemicals may help relieve depression symptoms and the associated symptoms of anxiety — which can be a positive step toward getting your life back.
What about weight gain or jitteriness? In studies with EFFEXOR XR, there was a low incidence of weight gain or jitteriness (agitation).
Try to be patient about the treatment process. Just as depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder do not happen overnight, it takes time to feel better. It usually takes 6 to 8 weeks to feel the full benefits of EFFEXOR XR. Results may vary among individuals. But the best way to ensure that you return to feeling like yourself again is to take your medication every day, as instructed by your doctor.
The goal is to reduce or virtually eliminate your symptoms and get back to your life again. If symptoms of depression and associated symptoms of anxiety are interfering with your life, and you're not where you want to be, ask your doctor about EFFEXOR XR, a treatment option that may help you get back to doing your favorite activities.
Important Safety Information
| Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children and adolescents. Patients who are started on therapy should be observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, or unusual changes in behavior. EFFEXOR XR® (venlafaxine HCl) is not approved for use in children and adolescents. |
People taking MAOIs should not take EFFEXOR XR. Adult and pediatric patients taking antidepressants should be watched closely for signs that their condition is getting worse or that they are becoming suicidal, especially when they first start therapy, or when their dose is increased or decreased. Patients should also be watched for becoming agitated, irritable, hostile, impulsive, or restless. Such symptoms should be reported to the patient’s doctor right away. EFFEXOR XR may raise blood pressure in some patients, so blood pressure should be monitored regularly. When people suddenly stop using or quickly lower their daily dose of EFFEXOR XR, discontinuation symptoms may occur. Talk to your doctor before discontinuing or reducing your dose of EFFEXOR XR. Pregnant or nursing women shouldn’t take any antidepressant without consulting their doctor. Before starting EFFEXOR XR, tell your doctor about any medicines you’re taking, including over-the-counter drugs and herbal supplements. Until you see how EFFEXOR XR affects you, be careful doing such activities as driving a car or operating machinery. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking EFFEXOR XR. In clinical studies, the most common side effects with EFFEXOR XR (reported in at least 10% of patients and at least twice as often as with placebo) were constipation, dizziness, dry mouth, insomnia, loss of appetite, nausea, nervousness, sexual side effects, sleepiness, sweating, and weakness. Ask your doctor if EFFEXOR XR is right for you.
Click here for Full Prescribing Information and the Medication Guide About Using Antidepressants in Children and Teenagers.
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