{"ok":true,"entry":{"slug":"venlafaxine","kind":"medication","name":"venlafaxine","aliases":["Efexor"],"brands_sg":["Efexor XR","ViePax XR","Venlex XR","Deprevix"],"class":"SNRI antidepressant","tags":["mental-health"],"use_for":"prescribed for depression, anxiety and panic attacks","use_after":"nhs: slow-release once a day; other forms twice a day","use_duration":null,"take_with":"food · nhs and healthhub: swallowed whole, not crushed","pros":["nhs: slow-release forms are taken once a day","healthhub: capsules may be opened onto applesauce","nhs: sometimes used for menopausal hot flushes"],"cons":["nhs: nausea, dry mouth, insomnia, weight changes","healthhub: mood or suicidal thoughts risk under 25","nhs: stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal"],"dose_note":"the us fda label for effexor xr tabulates 'Maximum Dose … 225 mg/day' for major depressive disorder, generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder, and 75 mg/day for social anxiety disorder, adding that patients not responding to 75 mg per day 'may benefit from dose increases to a maximum of 225 mg per day'. sg-registered strengths are 75 mg and 150 mg. in singapore the prescriber sets the dose.","dosage":null,"ul_status":null,"sg_class":"prescription-only","cautions":["nhs: epilepsy, heart disease, glaucoma or diabetes","nhs: a bleeding disorder, or a history of mania","pregnancy or breastfeeding — nhs: tell your doctor","healthhub: it may raise blood pressure"],"clashes":[{"src":["fda_effexor_contra","nhs_venla_mix"],"note":"fda label: contraindicated while taking one or within 14 days of stopping — serotonin syndrome risk; nhs lists maois too","with":"maois (moclobemide, selegiline, linezolid)"},{"src":["nhs_venla_mix","fda_effexor_inter"],"note":"nhs: do not use it with venlafaxine; the fda label groups it with other serotonergic drugs","with":"st john's wort"},{"src":["nhs_venla_mix"],"note":"nhs lists anticoagulants among medicines that may not mix well","with":"anticoagulants (warfarin, apixaban)"},{"src":["nhs_venla_mix"],"note":"nhs lists nsaids among medicines that may not mix well","with":"nsaids (aspirin, ibuprofen)"},{"src":["hh_venla_food"],"food":true,"note":"healthhub: it can worsen depressive symptoms and cause excessive sleepiness","with":"alcohol"}],"sources":[{"id":"hsa_register","url":"https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_767279312753558cbf19d48344577084/view","label":"HSA — Listing of Registered Therapeutic Products (data.gov.sg open dataset, 5,511 rows, cached in full and filtered locally)","quote":"All 7 registered venlafaxine products carry Forensicclassification 'Prescription Only' — SIN11435P EFEXOR XR CAPSULE 75 mg · SIN13478P ViePax XR 75mg Tablet · SIN15038P VENLEX XR · SIN15520P DEPREVIX. Strengths registered: 75 mg and 150 mg.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_venla_about","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/venlafaxine/","label":"NHS Medicines A-Z — Venlafaxine: what venlafaxine is for","quote":"Venlafaxine is an antidepressant used to treat depression and other mental health conditions. It's only available with a prescription … sometimes used to treat anxiety, panic attacks and menopause symptoms such as hot flushes","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_venla_howto","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/venlafaxine/","label":"NHS Medicines A-Z — Venlafaxine: how to take venlafaxine","quote":"take slow-release tablets or capsules once a day – ideally at the same time each day … take other venlafaxine tablets or capsules twice a day … swallow tablets and capsules whole with water … take it with food","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_venla_side","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/venlafaxine/","label":"NHS Medicines A-Z — Venlafaxine: side effects","quote":"Common side effects of venlafaxine include: headaches; feeling sick (nausea) and being sick (vomiting); feeling dizzy or drowsy (sleepy); dry mouth; diarrhoea or constipation; sexual problems …; problems sleeping (insomnia); weight changes","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_venla_stop","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/venlafaxine/","label":"NHS Medicines A-Z — Venlafaxine: how to stop taking venlafaxine","quote":"do not suddenly stop taking it because it may cause withdrawal symptoms. If you want to stop taking venlafaxine, speak to your doctor first. Your doctor will gradually reduce your dose over several weeks or months.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_venla_who","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/venlafaxine/","label":"NHS Medicines A-Z — Venlafaxine: who can and cannot take it","quote":"it may not be suitable if: you've ever had an allergic reaction to venlafaxine or another SNRI antidepressant; you have diabetes; you have epilepsy; you have heart disease; you have glaucoma; you have a bleeding disorder","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_venla_mix","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/venlafaxine/","label":"NHS Medicines A-Z — Venlafaxine: taking it with other medicines","quote":"anticoagulants, such as warfarin and apixaban; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen; other antidepressants called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) … Do not use the herbal supplement St John's wort when taking venlafaxine.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_venla_uses","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/venlafaxine","label":"HealthHub (Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore) — Venlafaxine: what is this medication for","quote":"Venlafaxine belongs to a class of medications known as Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRI). It is used to treat symptoms of depression … It may also be used to treat symptoms of anxiety","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_venla_admin","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/venlafaxine","label":"HealthHub — Venlafaxine: how should I take or use this medication","quote":"Venlafaxine should be taken with food. Swallow the tablet or capsule whole, do NOT chew or crush it … you may open the capsule and sprinkle the medication on a spoonful of applesauce/yogurt and swallow immediately","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_venla_bp","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/venlafaxine","label":"HealthHub — Venlafaxine: precautions","quote":"Venlafaxine may increase your blood pressure. It is important to keep regular check-ups with your doctor.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_venla_u25","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/venlafaxine","label":"HealthHub — Venlafaxine: important safety note","quote":"The following changes have been observed in some patients particularly below the age of 25 years taking this medication: New or worsening thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_venla_food","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/venlafaxine","label":"HealthHub — Venlafaxine: what food or medication should I avoid","quote":"Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Venlafaxine as it can worsen the symptoms of your depression and cause excessive sleepiness.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_effexor_dose","url":"https://api.fda.gov/drug/label.json?search=openfda.brand_name:%22EFFEXOR%20XR%22&limit=1","label":"US FDA label for Effexor XR (venlafaxine hydrochloride), section 2 Dosage and Administration, via openFDA drug/label.json (effective 2023-08-15)","quote":"Maximum Dose MDD (2.2) … 225 mg/day GAD (2.3) … 225 mg/day SAD (2.4) … 75 mg/day PD (2.5) … 225 mg/day … may benefit from dose increases to a maximum of 225 mg per day","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_effexor_contra","url":"https://api.fda.gov/drug/label.json?search=openfda.brand_name:%22EFFEXOR%20XR%22&limit=1","label":"US FDA label for Effexor XR, section 4 Contraindications, via openFDA","quote":"Effexor XR is contraindicated in patients … taking, or within 14 days of stopping, MAOIs (including the MAOIs linezolid and intravenous methylene blue) because of the risk of serotonin syndrome","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_effexor_inter","url":"https://api.fda.gov/drug/label.json?search=openfda.brand_name:%22EFFEXOR%20XR%22&limit=1","label":"US FDA label for Effexor XR, section 7 Drug Interactions, via openFDA","quote":"Concomitant use of Effexor XR with other serotonergic drugs (including other SNRIs, SSRIs, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, opioids, lithium, buspirone, amphetamines, tryptophan, and St. John's Wort) increases the risk of serotonin syndrome.","accessed":"2026-08-27"}],"brand_certs":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-29T16:16:34.039038+08:00"},"disclaimer":"kozen-x is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. it lists what published sources have written down. absence of a record is not the same as safe."}