List of adverse effects of venlafaxine explained

The following list shows the rates of adverse symptoms seen in people taking venlafaxine.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Very common (>10% incidence)

• Headache — an often transient side effect that is common to most serotonin reuptake inhibitors and that most often occurs at the beginning of therapy or after a dose escalation.
• Nausea — an adverse effect that is more common with venlafaxine than with the SSRIs. Usually transient and less severe in those receiving the extended release formulations.
• Insomnia
• Asthenia (weakness)
• Dizziness
• Ejaculation disorder — sexual side effects can be seen with virtually any antidepressant, especially those that inhibit the reuptake of serotonin (including venlafaxine).^[4]
• Somnolence
• Dry mouth
• Sweating
• Withdrawal

Common (1–10% incidence)

• Constipation
• Nervousness
• Abnormal vision
• Anorgasmia
• Hypertension
• Impotence
• Paresthesia
• Tremor
• Vasodilation
• Vomiting
• Weight loss
• Chills
• Palpitations
• Confusion
• Depersonalization
• Night sweats
• Menstrual disorders associated with increased bleeding or increased irregular bleeding (e.g. menorrhagia, metrorrhagia)
• Urinary frequency increased
• Abnormal dreams
• Decreased libido
• Increased muscle tonus
• Yawning
• Abnormality of accommodation
• Abnormal ejaculation/orgasm (males)
• Urinary hesitancy
• Serum cholesterol increased (especially when treatment is prolonged and it may be dose-dependent)

Uncommon (0.1-1% incidence)

• Face edema (Swelling)
• Intentional injury (Self-injury)
• Malaise
• Moniliasis (Candidiasis/Thrush)
• Neck stiffness
• Pelvic pain
• Photosensitivity reaction
• Suicide attempt
• Withdrawal syndrome
• Hypotension (Low blood pressure)
• Postural hypotension
• Syncope (Fainting)
• Tachycardia (High heart rate)
• Bruxism (Teeth grinding)
• Ecchymosis (Bruising)
• Mucous membrane bleeding
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Abnormal liver function tests
• Hyponatraemia (Low blood sodium)
• Weight gain
• Apathy
• Hallucinations
• Myoclonus (Twitching or Muscle spasm)
• Rash
• Abnormal orgasm (females)
• Urinary retention (Inability to pass urine)
• Angioedema (Swelling of skin or mucus membranes)
• Agitation
• Impaired coordination & balance
• Alopecia (Hair loss)
• Tinnitus (Ringing in the ears, Hearing sounds)
• Proteinuria (Protein in urine)

Rare (0.01–0.1% incidence)

• Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH)
• Thrombocytopenia
• Prolonged bleeding time
• Seizures
• Mania
• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)
• Serotonin syndrome
• Akathisia/psychomotor restlessness
• Urinary incontinence

Very rare (<0.01% incidence)

• Anaphylaxis
• QT prolongation
• Ventricular fibrillation
• Ventricular tachycardia (including torsades de pointes)
• Pancreatitis
• Blood dyscrasias (including agranulocytosis, aplastic anaemia, neutropenia and pancytopenia)
• Elevated serum prolactin
• Delirium
• Extrapyramidal reactions (including dystonia and dyskinesia)
• Tardive dyskinesia
• Pulmonary eosinophilia
• Erythema multiforme
• Stevens–Johnson syndrome
• Pruritus
• Urticaria
• Toxic epidermal necrolysis
• Angle closure glaucoma

Notes and References

1. Web site: APO-VENLAFAXINE XR CAPSULES . TGA eBusiness Services . Apotex Pty Ltd . Macquarie Park, NSW . 13 April 2012 . 6 November 2013 . PDF.
2. Web site: VENLAFAXINE (venlafaxine hydrochloride) tablet [Aurobindo Pharma Limited] ]. DailyMed . Aurobindo Pharma Limited . February 2013 . 6 November 2013 .
3. Web site: Effexor, Effexor XR (venlafaxine) dosing, indications, interactions, adverse effects, and more . Medscape Reference . WebMD . 6 November 2013 .
4. Book: The Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines in Psychiatry . David Taylor . Carol Paton . Shitij Kapur . illustrated . John Wiley & Sons . 2012 . 978-0-470-97948-8.