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Venlafaxine

Medication SNRI antidepressant mental health
Aka: Efexor
Brands seen in Singapore: Efexor XR, ViePax XR, Venlex XR, Deprevix
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
Prescribed for depression, anxiety and panic attacks
When to take
NHS: slow-release once a day; other forms twice a day
Take with
Food · NHS and HealthHub: swallowed whole, not crushed
Pros & cons
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
Sources
  1. HSA — Listing of Registered Therapeutic Products (data.gov.sg open dataset, 5,511 rows, cached in full and filtered locally) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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.”
  2. NHS Medicines A-Z — Venlafaxine: what venlafaxine is for · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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”
  3. NHS Medicines A-Z — Venlafaxine: how to take venlafaxine · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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”
  4. NHS Medicines A-Z — Venlafaxine: side effects · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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”
  5. NHS Medicines A-Z — Venlafaxine: how to stop taking venlafaxine · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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.”
  6. NHS Medicines A-Z — Venlafaxine: who can and cannot take it · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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”
  7. NHS Medicines A-Z — Venlafaxine: taking it with other medicines · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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.”
  8. HealthHub (Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore) — Venlafaxine: what is this medication for · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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”
  9. HealthHub — Venlafaxine: how should I take or use this medication · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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”
  10. HealthHub — Venlafaxine: precautions · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Venlafaxine may increase your blood pressure. It is important to keep regular check-ups with your doctor.”
  11. HealthHub — Venlafaxine: important safety note · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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”
  12. HealthHub — Venlafaxine: what food or medication should I avoid · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Venlafaxine as it can worsen the symptoms of your depression and cause excessive sleepiness.”
  13. US FDA label for Effexor XR (venlafaxine hydrochloride), section 2 Dosage and Administration, via openFDA drug/label.json (effective 2023-08-15) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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”
  14. US FDA label for Effexor XR, section 4 Contraindications, via openFDA · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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”
  15. US FDA label for Effexor XR, section 7 Drug Interactions, via openFDA · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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.”
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Updated 2026-08-29. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.