Effexor (venlafaxine) Disease Interactions

There are 5 disease interactions with Effexor (venlafaxine):

The use of venlafaxine is associated with dose-dependent, sustained increases in blood pressure, mostly in the range of 10 to 15 mm Hg for supine diastolic blood pressure. The incidence reported for immediate-release venlafaxine in a premarketing study ranged from 3% for dosages < 100 mg/day to 13% for dosages > 300 mg/day. Therapy with venlafaxine should be administered cautiously in patients with preexisting hypertension. Blood pressure should be monitored regularly, and the dosing reduced or discontinued if necessary.

Venlafaxine is metabolized by the liver, and both the parent drug and metabolites are excreted by the kidney. Patients with renal and/or liver disease may be at greater risk for adverse effects from venlafaxine due to decreased drug clearance. Therapy with venlafaxine should be administered cautiously in patients with impaired renal and/or hepatic function. A reduction in the total daily dosage is recommended. The manufacturer suggests a 50% reduction in patients with moderate hepatic impairment (possibly more in patients with cirrhosis), a 25% reduction in patients with mild to moderate renal impairment, and a 50% reduction in patients undergoing hemodialysis (to be administered after dialysis treatment).

All antidepressants may occasionally cause mania or hypomania, particularly in patients with bipolar disorder. Therapy with antidepressants should be administered cautiously in patients with a history of mania/hypomania.

Venlafaxine, like many other antidepressants, may trigger seizures in approximately 0.3% of patients. Therapy with venlafaxine should be administered cautiously in patients with a history of seizures and discontinued in patients who develop seizures from it.

The use of venlafaxine may occasionally cause significant, dose-dependent weight loss, which may be undesirable in patients suffering from anorexia, malnutrition or excessive weight loss. The loss of at least 5% of body weight occurred in 6% to 7% of treated patients in premarketing studies, compared to 1% to 2% for placebo. Anorexia may occur in approximately 10% of patients. Weight change should be monitored during therapy if venlafaxine is used in malnourished or underweight patients.

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Effexor (venlafaxine) drug Interactions

There are 846 drug interactions with Effexor (venlafaxine)

Effexor (venlafaxine) food/lifestyle Interactions

There are 2 food/lifestyle interactions with Effexor (venlafaxine)

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