ven-la-FAX-een 
Unlabeled Use:
Absorption: 92–100% absorbed after oral administration.
Distribution: Extensive distribution into body tissues.
Metabolism/Excretion: Extensively metabolized on first pass through the liver (primarily through CYP2D6 enzyme pathway); the CYP2D6 enzyme system exhibits genetic polymorphism (7% of population may be poor metabolizers and may have significantly ↑ venlafaxine concentrations and an ↑ risk of adverse effects). One metabolite, O-desmethylvenlafaxine (ODV), has antidepressant activity. 5% of venlafaxine is excreted unchanged in urine; 30% of the active metabolite is excreted in urine.
Half-life: Venlafaxine — 3–5 hr; ODV — 9–11 hr (both are ↑ in hepatic/renal impairment).
Contraindicated in:
Use Cautiously in:
CV: chest pain, hypertension, palpitations, tachycardia.
Derm: ecchymoses, itching, photosensitivity, skin rash.
EENT: rhinitis, visual disturbances, epistaxis, tinnitus.
GI: abdominal pain, altered taste, anorexia, constipation, diarrhea, dry mouth, dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting, weight loss.
GU: ↓libido, delayed/absent orgasm, ejaculatory delay/failure, erectile dysfunction, urinary frequency, urinary retention.
Hemat: bleeding.
Neuro: paresthesia, twitching, NEUROLEPTIC MALIGNANT SYNDROME, SEIZURES, SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, abnormal dreams, anxiety, dizziness, headache, insomnia, nervousness, weakness, abnormal thinking, agitation, confusion, depersonalization, drowsiness, emotional lability, worsening depression.
Misc: SEROTONIN SYNDROME, chills, yawning.
Drug-Drug:
Drug-Natural Products:
Major Depressive Disorder
General Anxiety Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder
Panic Disorder
Hepatic Impairment
Renal Impairment
Effexor, Effexor XR
Therapeutic Classification: antidepressants, antianxiety agents
Pharmacologic Classification: selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors-SSNRIs
(Generic available)
24 yr.NDC Code*
