• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

Before taking venlafaxine, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following medicines:

• cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB);

• warfarin (Coumadin);

• ketoconazole (Nizoral);

• tryptophan (sometimes called L-tryptophan);

• haloperidol (Haldol) or risperidone (Risperdal);

• almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), sumatriptan (Imitrex), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), or zolmitriptan (Zomig); or

• any other antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Ascendin), citalopram (Celexa), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), protriptyline (Vivactil), sertraline (Zoloft), or trimipramine (Surmontil).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with venlafaxine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: skin rash or hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Contact your doctor promptly if you have any of the following side effects, especially if they are new symptoms or if they get worse: mood changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, irritability, agitation, aggressiveness, severe restlessness, mania (mental and/or physical hyperactivity), thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision);

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, fast heartbeat; hallucinations, loss of coordination, fainting, coma;

• seizure (convulsions);

• extreme thirst with headache, nausea, vomiting, and weakness; or

• easy bruising or bleeding.

Less serious side effects may include:

• drowsiness, dizziness, nervousness, or anxiety;

• dry mouth, increased sweating;

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation;

• decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm;

• headache, blurred vision;

• tremor or chills; or

• changes in appetite or weight.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.