List of adverse effects of venlafaxine

Incidence of adverse effects^{[1] [2][3]}

The following list shows the rates of adverse symptoms seen in people taking venlafaxine. Many of these effects were seen at rates that were similar or only slightly less in people taking a placebo.

Very common (>10% incidence) adverse effects include:

• 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

Common (1–10% incidence) adverse effects include:

• Constipation
• Nervousness
• Abnormal vision
• Anorgasmia
• Hypertension
• Impotence
• Paresthesia
• Tremor
• Vasodilation
• Vomiting
• Weight loss
• Chills
• Palpitations
• Confusion
• Depersonalisation
• 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
• Sweating
• 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) adverse effects include:

• Face oedema
• Intentional injury (self-harm)
• Malaise
• Moniliasis
• Neck rigidity
• Pelvic pain
• Photosensitivity reaction
• Suicide attempt
• Withdrawal syndrome
• Hypotension
• Postural hypotension
• Syncope
• Tachycardia
• Bruxism
• Ecchymosis
• Mucous membrane bleeding
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Abnormal liver function tests
• Hyponatraemia
• Weight gain
• Apathy
• Hallucinations
• Myoclonus
• Rash
• Abnormal orgasm (females)
• Urinary retention (the inability to pass urine)
• Angioedema
• Agitation
• Impaired coordination & balance
• Alopecia (hair loss)
• Tinnitus (hearing bells)
• Proteinuria (protein in urine)

Rare (0.01–0.1% incidence) adverse effects include:

• 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) adverse effects include:

• 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

References

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