Do not use within 7 days before or 14 days after you have used an MAO inhibitor, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, or tranylcypromine.
Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking an antidepressant. Stay alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor.
Before taking this medicine
You should not take  Effexor XR if you are allergic to venlafaxine or desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), or if you have uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma.
Do not use Effexor XR within 7 days before or 14 days after you have used an MAO inhibitor, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, or tranylcypromine. A dangerous drug interaction could occur.
Tell your doctor if you also take stimulant medicine, opioid medicine, herbal products, or medicine for depression, mental illness, Parkinson's disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or prevention of nausea and vomiting. An interaction with Effexor XR could cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
bipolar disorder (manic depression);
liver disease;
kidney disease;
heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol;
diabetes;
glaucoma;
a thyroid disorder;
a seizure;
bleeding problems; or
low blood levels of sodium.
Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking an antidepressant. Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.
Not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.
Taking this medicine during pregnancy could harm the baby, but stopping the medicine may not be safe for you. Do not start or stop Effexor XR without asking your doctor.
Do not breastfeed.
