If you are taking Effexor you may be at a greater risk of a fatal overdose, compared with other antidepressants?

Effexor XR (venlafaxine HCl) Extended-Release Capsules and Effeor (venlafaxine HCl) tablets are used to treat depression.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Wyeth, the maker of the prescription drug Effexor, are warning that the antidepressant may pose a risk of fatal overdose. It states that patients are mainly at risk when taking Effexor with alcohol and/or other drugs.

According to a letter from Wyeth, the drug manufacturer, doctors should prescribe the "smallest quantity of capsules consistent with good patient management," to limit the risk of overdose. 

An overdose on any antidepressant can be fatal however, there may be a greater risk of deadly overdose associated with Effexor than with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors -- antidepressants like Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil and Lexapro, Wyeth said.

Wyeth stated that the most commonly reported Effexor overdose effects include fast heart rate, changes in consciousness (ranging from sleepiness to coma), seizures, vomiting, and eye pupil dilation.

Wyeth also noted that death, electrocardiogram (EKG) changes, slow heart rhythms, low blood pressure, vertigo, toxic buildup of chemicals from dying muscle cells, and liver cell death have also been reported with Effexor overdoses.

Click here for additional information about other side effects associated with Effexor.

At Brown & Crouppen our experienced team of prescription drug lawyers provides tough, aggressive representation for victims and their families. When you choose us to handle your Effexor lawsuit, our entire team becomes fully committed to your cause. We’ll find answers, hold negligent companies responsible and get you the compensation you deserve.

Brown & Crouppen can help you make informed decisions about your legal rights, so please call Brown & Crouppen at Toll-Free: 866-991-4700 for your free legal consultation or save time with our online Contact Form.

Additional Information About Effexor

Effexor is most frequently prescribed for patients with symptoms of depression, generalized anxiety disorder or social anxiety disorder.  Effexor is believed to help treat depression by affecting the levels of 2 chemicals in the brain — serotonin and norepinephrine. Correcting the imbalance of these 2 chemicals is believed to help relieve symptoms of depression.

Patients taking Effexor should be watched closely for signs that their condition is getting worse or that they are becoming suicidal, especially when they first start therapy, or when their dose is changed. Patients should also be watched for behavioral changes such as becoming agitated, irritable, hostile, aggressive, impulsive, or restless. Such symptoms should be reported to the patient's doctor right away.

Do not stop taking Effexor without talking with your doctor first. Your doctor may want to slowly decrease your dose of Effexor to help avoid these kinds of symptoms.

Effexor in the News

Medwatch: Effexor (Venlafaxine Hcl) Overdosage May Be Associated With an Increased Risk of Fatal Outcome
Wyeth and FDA notified healthcare professionals of revisions to the OVERDOSAGE/Human Experience section of the prescribing information for Effexor (venlafaxine HCl), indicated for treatment of major depressive disorder.

Common side effects associated with Effexor include:

In clinical studies, the most common side effects included:

When people suddenly stop using Effexor, they can experienced serious side effects associated with the discontinuation of the medication. Some of these symptoms include:

Do not stop taking Effexor without talking with your doctor first. Your doctor may want to slowly decrease your dose of Effexor to help avoid these kinds of symptoms.

Call Brown & Crouppen at Toll-Free: 866-991-4700 for your free
legal consultation or save time with our online Contact Form.

Toll-Free: 866-991-4700