Patient information: uses, side effects, how to take - Venlafaxine Delayed-Release
What is the most important information I should know about VENLAFAXINE XR?
VENLAFAXINE XR and other antidepressant medicines may cause serious side effects, including:
1.Suicidal thoughts or actions:
VENLAFAXINE XR and other antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, or young adults within the first few months of treatment or when the dose is changed.
Depression or other serious mental illnesses are the most important causes of suicidal thoughts or actions.
Watch for these changes and call your healthcare provider right away if you notice:
New or sudden changes in mood, behavior, actions, thoughts, or feelings, especially if severe.
Pay particular attention to such changes when VENLAFAXINE XR is started or when the dose is changed.
Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider and call between visits if you are worried about symptoms.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms, or call 911 if an emergency, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:
attempts to commit suicide
acting on dangerous impulses
acting aggressive or violent
thoughts about suicide or dying
new or worse depression
new or worse anxiety or panic attacks
feeling agitated, restless, angry or irritable
trouble sleeping
an increase in activity or talking more than what is normal for you
other unusual changes in behavior or mood
Visual problems
eye pain
changes in vision
swelling or redness in or around the eye
Only some people are at risk for these problems. You may want to undergo an eye examination to see if you are at risk and receive preventative treatment if you are.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms, or call 911 if an emergency. VENLAFAXINE XR may be associated with these serious side effects:
2.Serotonin Syndrome
This condition can be life-threatening and may include:
agitation, hallucinations, coma or other changes in mental status
coordination problems or muscle twitching (overactive reflexes)
racing heartbeat, high or low blood pressure
sweating or fever
nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
muscle rigidity
3.Changes in blood pressure. VENLAFAXINE XR may:
increase your blood pressure. Control high blood pressure before starting treatment and monitor blood pressure regularly
4.Enlarged pupils (mydriasis).5.Anxiety and insomnia.6.Changes in appetite or weight.7.Manic/hypomanic episodes:
greatly increased energy
severe trouble sleeping
racing thoughts
reckless behavior
unusually grand ideas
excessive happiness or irritability
talking more or faster than usual
8.Low salt (sodium) levels in the blood. Elderly people may be at greater risk for this. Symptoms may include:
headache
weakness or feeling unsteady
confusion, problems concentrating or thinking or memory problems
9.Seizures or convulsions.10.Abnormal bleeding: VENLAFAXINE XR and other antidepressant medicines may increase your risk of bleeding or bruising, especially if you take the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin ®, Jantoven ®), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs, like ibuprofen or naproxen), or aspirin.11.Elevated cholesterol.12.Lung disease and pneumonia: VENLAFAXINE XR may cause rare lung problems. Symptoms include:
worsening shortness of breath
cough
chest discomfort
13.Severe allergic reactions:
trouble breathing
swelling of the face, tongue, eyes or mouth
rash, itchy welts (hives) or blisters, alone or with fever or joint pain
Do not stop VENLAFAXINE XR without first talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping VENLAFAXINE XR too quickly or changing from another antidepressant too quickly may cause serious symptoms including:
anxiety, irritability
feeling tired, restless or problems sleeping
headache, sweating, dizziness
electric shock-like sensations, shaking, confusion, nightmares
vomiting, nausea, diarrhea
What is VENLAFAXINE XR?
VENLAFAXINE XR is a prescription medicine used to treat depression. It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about the risks of treating depression and also the risks of not treating it. You should discuss all treatment choices with your healthcare provider.
VENLAFAXINE XR is also used to treat:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
Panic Disorder (PD)
Talk to your healthcare provider if you do not think that your condition is getting better with VENLAFAXINE XR treatment.
Who should not take VENLAFAXINE XR?
Do not take VENLAFAXINE XR if you:
are allergic to VENLAFAXINE XR or any of the ingredients in VENLAFAXINE XR. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in VENLAFAXINE XR.
have uncontrolled angle-closure glaucoma
take a Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI). Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take an MAOI, including the antibiotic linezolid.
Do not take an MAOI within 7 days of stopping VENLAFAXINE XR unless directed to do so by your physician.
Do not start VENLAFAXINE XR if you stopped taking an MAOI in the last 2 weeks unless directed to do so by your physician.
People who take VENLAFAXINE XR close in time to an MAOI may have serious or even life-threatening side effects. Get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms:
high fever
uncontrolled muscle spasms
stiff muscles
rapid changes in heart rate or blood pressure
confusion
loss of consciousness (pass out)
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking VENLAFAXINE XR? Ask if you are not sure.
Before starting VENLAFAXINE XR, tell your healthcare provider if you:
Are taking certain drugs such as:
Medicines used to treat migraine headaches such as:
triptans
Medicines used to treat mood, anxiety, psychotic or thought disorders, such as:
tricyclic antidepressants
lithium
SSRIs
SNRIs
antipsychotic drugs
Medicines used to treat pain such as:
tramadol
Medicines used to thin your blood such as:
warfarin
Medicines used to treat heartburn such as:
Cimetidine
Over-the-counter medicines or supplements such as:
Aspirin or other NSAIDs
Tryptophan
St. John's Wort
have heart problems
have diabetes
have liver problems
have kidney problems
have thyroid problems
have or had seizures or convulsions
have bipolar disorder or mania
have low sodium levels in your blood
have high blood pressure
have high cholesterol
have or had bleeding problems
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if VENLAFAXINE XR will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of treating depression during pregnancy
are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. Some VENLAFAXINE XR may pass into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while taking VENLAFAXINE XR.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines that you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. VENLAFAXINE XR and some medicines may interact with each other, may not work as well, or may cause serious side effects.
Your healthcare provider or pharmacist can tell you if it is safe to take VENLAFAXINE XR with your other medicines. Do not start or stop any medicine while taking VENLAFAXINE XR without talking to your healthcare provider first.
If you take VENLAFAXINE XR, you should not take any other medicines that contain (venlafaxine) including: venlafaxine HCl.
How should I take VENLAFAXINE XR?
Take VENLAFAXINE XR exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of VENLAFAXINE XR until it is the right dose for you.
VENLAFAXINE XR is to be taken with food.
If you miss a dose of VENLAFAXINE XR, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of VENLAFAXINE XR at the same time.
If you take too much VENLAFAXINE XR, call your healthcare provider or poison control center right away, or get emergency treatment.
When switching from another antidepressant to VENLAFAXINE XR your doctor may want to lower the dose of the initial antidepressant first to avoid side effects
What should I avoid while taking VENLAFAXINE XR?
VENLAFAXINE XR can cause sleepiness or may affect your ability to make decisions, think clearly, or react quickly. You should not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how VENLAFAXINE XR affects you. Do not drink alcohol while using VENLAFAXINE XR.
What are the possible side effects of VENLAFAXINE XR?
VENLAFAXINE XR may cause serious side effects, including:
See "What is the most important information I should know about VENLAFAXINE XR?"
Increased cholesterol- have your cholesterol checked regularly
Newborns whose mothers take VENLAFAXINE XR in the third trimester may have problems right after birth including:
problems feeding and breathing
seizures
shaking, jitteriness or constant crying
Angle-closure glaucoma
Common possible side effects in people who take VENLAFAXINE XR include:
unusual dreams
sexual problems
loss of appetite, constipation, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, or dry mouth
feeling tired, fatigued or overly sleepy
change in sleep habits, problems sleeping
yawning
tremor or shaking
dizziness, blurred vision
sweating
feeling anxious, nervous or jittery
headache
increase in heart rate
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of VENLAFAXINE XR. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
CALL YOUR DOCTOR FOR MEDICAL ADVICE ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS. YOU MAY REPORT SIDE EFFECTS TO THE FDA AT 1-800-FDA-1088.
How should I store VENLAFAXINE XR?
Store VENLAFAXINE XR at room temperature between 68°F and 77°F (20°C to 25°C).
Keep VENLAFAXINE XR in a dry place.
Keep VENLAFAXINE XR and all medicines out of the reach of children.
General information about VENLAFAXINE XR
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use VENLAFAXINE XR for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give VENLAFAXINE XR to other people, even if they have the same condition. It may harm them.
This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about VENLAFAXINE XR. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You may ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about VENLAFAXINE XR that is written for healthcare professionals.
What are the ingredients in VENLAFAXINE XR?
Active ingredient: (venlafaxine)
Inactive ingredients:
Extended-Release Capsules: cellulose, ethylcellulose, gelatin, hypromellose, iron oxide, and titanium dioxide
This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for all antidepressants.
This product's label may have been updated. For current full prescribing information, please visit www.pfizer.com
Distributed by:
Apotex Corp.
Weston, Florida 33326
LAB-0544-4.0
May 2014