Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives AS Pharmacy Effexor (Venlafaxine Hydrochloride)

BRAND NAMES

Efexor (Australia, New-Zealand; Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Republic-of-Yemen, Saudi-Arabia, Syria, United-Arab-Emirates, Sweden, England, Denmark, Austria, Greece, Netherlands, Switzerland, Colombia, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Hong-Kong, Korea, Philippines, Thailand, South-Africa); Efexor XR (Australia, New-Zealand, Canada, Philippines, Thailand); Effexor (US); Trevilor (Germany, Switzerland); Trewilor (US); Venix-XR (India)

DRUG CLASS

Venlaflaxine is an antidepressant.

MECHANISM OF ACTION

Venlafaxine differs structurally and pharmacologically from other commercially available antidepressants, including tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants,and also differs from other commercially available agents used to treat generalized anxiety disorder. The exact mechanisms of antidepressant and anxiolytic actions of venlafaxine have not been fully elucidated but appear to be associated with the drug’s potentiation of neurotransmitter activity in the CNS. Venlafaxine and its active metabolite, O-desmethylvenlafaxine (ODV), are potent inhibitors of neuronal serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake and weak inhibitors of dopamine reuptake.In vitro studies have demonstrated that venlafaxine and ODV do not possess any significant affinity for muscarinic cholinergic, H1-histaminergic, or alpha1-adrenergic receptors.

USES

Depression, generalized anxiety disorder.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Potential for Interaction With Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors

Adverse reactions, some of which were serious, have been reported in patients who have recently been discontinued from a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) and started on venlafaxine, or who have recently had venlafaxine therapy discontinued prior to initiation of an MAOI. These reactions have included tremor, myoclonus, diaphoresis, nausea, vomiting, flushing, dizziness, hyperthermia with features resembling neuroleptic malignant syndrome, seizures, and death. The effects of combined use of venlafaxine and MAOIs have not been evaluated in humans or animals. Therefore, because venlafaxine is an inhibitor of both norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake, it is recommended that venlafaxine HCl extended-release capsules not be used in combination with an MAOI, or within at least 14 days of discontinuing treatment with an MAOI. Based on the half-life of venlafaxine, at least 7 days should be allowed after stopping venlafaxine before starting an MAOI.

Significant - bepridil, droperidol, halofantrine, levomethadyl, mesoridazine, pimozide, sibutramine, sparfloxacin, furazolidone, thioridazine, ziprasidone, hepatitic disease, hepatitis, hypertension.

Possibly Significant - lithium, SSRIs, St. John's Wort, seizures with epilepsy, manic disorders, pregnancy, lactation (effects on fetus/infant unknown)

SIDE EFFECTS

Frequent - Abnormal dreams, accomodation disorder, anorexia, anxiety, asthenia, blurred vision, change in taste, chills, constipations, diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, dyspepsia, gas, headache, increased sweating, insomnia, nausea, nervousness, paresthesia, rhinitis, sexual dysfunction, stomach pain, tremors, visual disturbances, vomiting, weight loss.

Less Frequent - Agitation, cardiovascular effects, chest pain, confusion, depersonalization, worsening depression, dysuria/difficulty urinating, emotional lability, hypertension, itching, mental changes, mood changes, palpitations, skin rash, tachycardia, tinnitis, twitching, urinary frequency, urinary retention.

Rare or Very Rare - dyspnea, hypomania, mania, menstrual disorders, orthostatic hypotention, peripheral edema, seizures, trismus.

SOURCES

http://www.medscape.com
http://www.mdconsult.com; Mosby's Drug Consult

Edited by Strutsy on 03/20/02 08:23 AM (server time).

Greetings Kickers,

I searched the AS Pharmacy for posts on the antidepressant drug called Effexor and only found 5 references to it. I am surprised, I thought perhaps more people would have tried it. I want to suggest to any of you who have tried all the NSAIDS with little or no results, that you discuss with your doctor the use of Effexor for Pain Relief. It really works well for me. Here is my brief case history.

I have had mild AS symptoms as early as high school, but it went unrecognized and untreated until 1991, when I had a severe back attack that made me start seeking serious help. At the time I was rowing very competitively in national and international competitions, so I naturally thought my sport was the cause of my back pain.

I made the rounds of all sorts of doctors, practitioners, chiropractors, shamen, acupuncturists, etc...finding neither a cause of my pain nor a cure for it.

I found the KickAS site in 2001 and ordered the Road Back by Dr. Brown plus all the subsequent books and articles I could find on the subject of AS. My GP doctor offered the diagnosis of AS, and approved of my taking Tetracycline. I took it for two years in the recommended protocol, and I can't say exactly what its effect on my body was.

XRays from 2001 and 2005 when compared show very little progression of bone deformation in the spine, although the bamboo deformation is evident. For years, I have felt unhealthy and in pain, although all my blood tests, etc. are nearly normal. The doctor prescribed every type of NSAID, looking for one that helped relieve the pain.

Only in 2005, when I complained that none of the NSAIDs worked well or for any length of time, he prescribed Effexor. I was surprised, because I have not been especially depressed, except on the really bad days and the pain would depress anyone.

He started me at an unusually high dosage of 900mg per day. Within two days I was feeling almost no pain. I stayed on the high dose for several months during which my pain level remained very low, although I still had stiffness and some restricted movement in my right shoulder.

I am now taking only 75mg every other day, and an occasional dyclofenac tablet to manage the pain on one of my bad days, but for the most part my life has been restored to normalcy. I have been able to row again, and have participated in 4 regattas this year.

Just thought some of you should maybe give Effexor a try. There are side effects such as dizziness, sexual disfunction, and others you can read about in the small print, but believe me the pain was worse.

I hope this helps.

Rowr

I'm having a hard time with the withdrawal effects of Venlafaxine. I thought I post this here in case someone is thinking of using it for AS pain. Just something else to know.

I'm following advice from theroadback.org, tapering 10% every two weeks. I was on 150mg, now I'm taking 75mg. They strongly recommend 2 supplements, besides omega-3, to help with the withdrawal symptoms but the site that sells them don't ship to Mexico, I've found one of them in another site but that site doesn't accept International Cards lol.

I was not in Venlafaxine for the pain, I was on it for depression, which I think was caused by my view of life on pain and my bad eating habits.

I've read in a few websites that venlafaxine is particularly hard to stop for some people, and I swear the physician that prescribed it to me told me that antidepressants are not hard to stop.

Also, it's kind of expensive, like 120 USD a month, and I'm not insured.

I took Effexor XR for 5-6 years for depression and stopped it back in 2002ish. At the worst, I was taking 450mg/day because I was in a bad way. Took a long time to get off it. There is a 37.5mg cap, I believe, which would be the last step before stopping. It's been a while, but I think I was taking it 75mg/37.5/75/etc for two weeks before dropping to 37.5 daily...sort of like a pred taper. Doctors who say it's not hard to stop an SSRI or SNRI are nuts. Good luck on your taper.

I have been on Effexor for many many years. It has been a lifesaver. However, if I even miss one day, the withdrawal effects are bad. And, if I try to take less, I am extremely sick. So, I figure since it works, I take it. Just be wary if you go off of it, and do a taper according to your doc.

Just an update and a tip for anyone trying to taper down Effexor:

What helped me is high quality Omega-3, but it has to be most of it EPA. I take 6000mg of EPA and 2200mg of DHA daily on an empty stomach. Vitamin E is also necessary for Omega-3 absorption so if you find a supplement with Omega-3 and Vitamin E it's better.

I tried getting the other supplements recomended on theroadback.org but I wasn't able to get them in Mexico.

Every time I taper down another 10% (every 2 weeks) I feel funny for a 3 or 4 days but not as bad as when I started tapering down without the Omega-3.

As rumble said "Doctors who say it's not hard to stop an SSRI or SNRI are nuts".

I have a lot of respect for my psychiatrist, he was the great in everything, he would give me up to 3 hours of consult if I was the last of the day, but the fact that I specifically told him I was reluctant to take antidepressants for the fear of being dependant on them and that he specifically told me that antidepressants were by no means addictive makes me reconsider his morals.