You should not take venlafaxine if you have uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma.
Do not use venlafaxine 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, such as: mood or behavioral changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Do not stop using venlafaxine without first talking to your doctor.
Do not give this medicine to anyone younger than 18 years old without the advice of a doctor. Venlafaxine is not FDA approved for use in children.
Before taking this medicine
You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to venlafaxine or desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), or if you have uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma.
Do not use venlafaxine 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 venlafaxine could cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.
To make sure venlafaxine is safe for you, 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.
Venlafaxine is 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 venlafaxine without asking your doctor.
Do not breastfeed.
How should I take venlafaxine?
Take venlafaxine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.
Take with food at the same time each day.
Swallow the extended-release capsule or tablet whole and do not crush, chew, break, or open it.
If you cannot swallow a capsule whole, open it and mix the medicine with applesauce. Swallow the mixture right away without chewing.
Your symptoms may not improve for several weeks. You may have unpleasant symptoms if you stop using venlafaxine suddenly. Ask your doctor before stopping the medicine.
Your blood pressure will need to be checked often.
This medicine may cause false results on a drug-screening urine test. Tell the laboratory staff that you use venlafaxine.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
