Active ingredient
- venlafaxine hydrochloride
Legal Category
POM: Prescription only medicine
POM: Prescription only medicine
The Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) is the leaflet included in the pack with a medicine. It is written for patients and gives information about taking or using a medicine. It is possible that the leaflet in your medicine pack may differ from this version because it may have been updated since your medicine was packaged.
Below is a text only representation of the Patient Information Leaflet. The original leaflet can be viewed using the link above.
The text only version may be available in large print, Braille or audio CD. For further information call emc accessibility on 0800 198 5000. The product code(s) for this leaflet are: PL14017/0120, PL14017/0121.
Venlafaxine 37.5mg, 75mg Tablets
PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER
VENLAFAXINE 37.5 mg TABLETS
VENLAFAXINE 75 mg TABLETS
IMPORTANT THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT Venlafaxine
Please read all of this leaflet before you start to take your medicine as it contains important information about Venlafaxine.
Venlafaxine is used to treat depression.
Venlafaxine is not for use in children and adolescents – see in section 2 'Children and adolescents'.
If you have any concerns about how you feel, or about this medication, it is important that you talk to your doctor – even if you feel anxious or worried about doing so.You may find it helpful to tell a friend or relative that you are depressed or suffering from an anxiety disorder, and that you have been prescribed this medication; it might be useful to show them this leaflet.
Venlafaxine may not start to work immediately. Some people taking antidepressants may feel worse before feeling better. Your doctor may ask to see you again in a couple of weeks after you start treatment and then regularly until you start to feel well again. Tell your doctor if you do not start to feel better.
Some people who are depressed may think of harming or killing themselves. If this happens you should see your doctor or go to a hospital straight away – see in section 2 'Thoughts of suicide and worsening of your depression or anxiety disorder'.
If you take too many tablets it is important to seek immediate medical attention, even if you feel well, because of the risk of serious side effects.
Do not stop taking Venlafaxine or change your dose without the advice of your doctor even if you feel better. If you stop taking Venlafaxine abruptly you may get withdrawal reactions – see in section 3 'If you stop taking Venlafaxine'.
If you have heart problems such as fast or irregular heart rate or high blood pressure you should talk to your doctor before taking Venlafaxine – see in section 2 'Before you take Venlafaxine'.
Taking certain other medicines with Venlafaxine may cause problems. You should tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines – see in section 2 'What you need to know before you take Venlafaxine'.
See your doctor without delay if you feel restless and feel like you can't keep still, feel 'high' or very over-excited, have jerky muscle movements which you can't control. See section 4 'Possible side effects' for other important information.
If you are pregnant, or intend to become pregnant, or breast-feeding, you should talk to your doctor – see in section 2 'Pregnancy and breast-feeding'.
More information on all of these points is provided in the rest of this leaflet. Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
What is in this leaflet
1. What Venlafaxine is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Venlafaxine
3. How to take Venlafaxine
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Venlafaxine
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. WHAT VENLAFAXINE IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR
The name of your medicine is Venlafaxine 37.5 mg Tablets or Venlafaxine 75 mg Tablets (referred to as Venlafaxine throughout this leaflet).
Venlafaxine contains the active substance venlafaxine.
Venlafaxine is an antidepressant that belongs to a group of medicines called serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). This group of medicines is used to treat depression and other conditions such as anxiety. It is thought that people who are depressed and/or anxious have lower levels of serotonin and noradrenaline in the brain. It is not fully understood how antidepressants work, but they may help by increasing the levels of serotonin and noradrenaline in the brain.
Venlafaxine is a treatment for adults with depression. Treating depression properly is important to help you get better. If it is not treated, your condition may not go away and may become more serious and more difficult to treat.
2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TAKE VENLAFAXINE
Do not take Venlafaxine
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Venlafaxine:
Venlafaxine may cause a sensation of restlessness or an inability to sit or stand still during the first few weeks of treatment. You should tell your doctor if this happens to you.
Thoughts of suicide and worsening of your depression or anxiety disorder
If you are depressed and/or have anxiety disorders, you can sometimes have thoughts of harming or killing yourself. These may be increased when you first start taking antidepressants, since these medicines all take time to work, usually about two weeks, but sometimes longer.
You may be more likely to think like this:
If you have thoughts of harming or killing yourself at any time, contact your doctor or go to a hospital straight away.
You may find it helpful to tell a relative or close friend that you are depressed or anxious, and ask them to read this leaflet. You might ask them to tell you if they think your depression or anxiety is getting worse, or if they are worried about changes in your behaviour.
Dry mouth
Dry mouth is reported in 10% of patients treated with venlafaxine. This may increase the risk of tooth decay (caries). Therefore, you should take special care in your dental hygiene.
Diabetes
Your blood glucose levels may be altered due to Venlafaxine. Therefore, the dosage of your diabetes medicines may need to be adjusted.
Sexual problems
Medicines like Venlafaxine (so called SNRIs) may cause symptoms of sexual dysfunction (see section 4). In some cases, these symptoms have continued after stopping treatment.
Children and adolescents
Venlafaxine should normally not be used for children and adolescents under 18 years. Also, you should know that patients under 18 have an increased risk of side effects, such as suicide attempt, suicidal thoughts and hostility (predominantly aggression, oppositional behaviour and anger) when they take this class of medicines. Despite this, your doctor may prescribe Venlafaxine for patients under 18 because he/she decides that this is in their best interests. If your doctor has prescribed Venlafaxine for a patient under 18, and you want to discuss this, please go back to your doctor. You should inform your doctor if any of the symptoms listed above develop or worsen when patients under 18 are taking Venlafaxine. Also, the long-term safety effects concerning growth, maturation and cognitive and behavioural development of Venlafaxine in this age group has not yet been demonstrated.
Other medicines and Venlafaxine
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, Do not start or stop taking any medicines, including those bought without a prescription, natural and herbal remedies, before checking with your doctor or pharmacist.
Signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome may include a combination of the following:
restlessness, hallucinations, loss of coordination, fast heartbeat, increased body temperature, fast changes in blood pressure, overactive reflexes, diarrhoea, coma, nausea, vomiting.
In its most severe form, serotonin syndrome can resemble Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS). Signs and symptoms of NMS may include a combination of fever, fast heartbeat, sweating, severe muscle stiffness, confusion, increased muscle enzymes (determined by a blood test).
Tell your doctor immediately, or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital if you think serotonin syndrome is happening to you.
You must tell your doctor if you are taking medicines that can affect your heart rhythm.
Examples of these medicines include:
The following medicines may also interact with Venlafaxine and should be used with caution. It is especially important to mention to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking medicines containing:
Venlafaxine with food, drink and alcohol
Venlafaxine should be taken with food (see section 3 “How to take Venlafaxine”).
You should avoid alcohol while you are taking Venlafaxine.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. You should use Venlafaxine only after discussing the potential benefits and the potential risks to your unborn child with your doctor.
Make sure your midwife and/or doctor know you are on Venlafaxine. When taken during pregnancy, similar drugs (SSRIs) may increase the risk of a serious condition in babies, called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), making the baby breathe faster and appear bluish. These symptoms usually begin during the first 24 hours after the baby is born. If this happens to your baby you should contact your midwife and/or doctor immediately.
If you are taking Venlafaxine during pregnancy, in addition to having trouble breathing another symptom your baby might have when it is born is not feeding properly. If your baby has these symptoms when it is born and you are concerned, contact your doctor and/or midwife who will be able to advise you. Venlafaxine passes into breast milk. There is a risk of an effect on the baby. Therefore, you should discuss the matter with your doctor, and he/she will decide whether you should stop breast‑feeding or stop the therapy with Venlafaxine.
Driving and using machines
Do not drive or use any tools or machines until you know how this medicine affects you.
Important information about some of the ingredients of Venlafaxine
This product contains lactose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
3. HOW TO TAKE VENLAFAXINE
Always take Venlafaxine exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
The usual recommended starting dose is 75 mg per day in divided doses. The dose can be raised by your doctor gradually and, if needed, even up to a maximum dose of 375 mg daily for depression. Take Venlafaxine at approximately the same time each day, in the morning and in the evening. Venlafaxine should be taken with food.
If you have liver or kidney problems, talk to your doctor, since your dose of Venlafaxine may need to be different.
The 37.5mg tablets and 75mg tablets come in special "calendar" packs which help you remember to take your tablets when you should.
The following instructions will help you:
1. Remove a card.
2. Go to the correct day of the week.
3. Take the tablet from the card or part of the card, marked "AM", in the morning.
4. Your next tablet should be taken in the evening from the card or part of the card, marked "PM".
5. Continue taking a tablet every morning and evening.
6. When you have finished a card, move on to the next one.
Do not stop taking Venlafaxine without talking to your doctor (see the section “If you stop taking Venlafaxine”).
If you take more Venlafaxine than you should
Call your doctor or pharmacist immediately if you take more than the amount of Venlafaxine prescribed by your doctor.
The symptoms of a possible overdose may include a rapid heart beat, changes in level of alertness (ranging from sleepiness to coma), blurred vision, seizures or fits, and vomiting.
If you forget to take Venlafaxine
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only a single dose as usual. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Do not take more than the daily amount of Venlafaxine that has been prescribed for you in one day.
If you stop taking Venlafaxine
Do not stop taking your treatment or reduce the dose without the advice of your doctor even if you feel better. If your doctor thinks that you no longer need Venlafaxine, he/she may ask you to reduce your dose slowly before stopping treatment altogether. Side effects are known to occur when people stop using Venlafaxine, especially when Venlafaxine is stopped suddenly or the dose is reduced too quickly. Some patients may experience symptoms such as tiredness, dizziness, light-headedness, headache, sleeplessness, nightmares, dry mouth, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhoea, nervousness, agitation, confusion, ringing in the ears, tingling or rarely electric shock sensations, weakness, sweating, seizures, or flu-like symptoms.
Your doctor will advise you on how you should gradually discontinue Venlafaxine treatment. If you experience any of these or other symptoms that are troublesome, ask your doctor for further advice.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, Venlafaxine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If any of the following happen, do not take more Venlafaxine. Tell your doctor immediately, or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital:
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
Frequency not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)
Other side effects that you should tell your doctor about include (The frequency of these side effects are included in the list “Other side effects that may occur” below):
Other side effects that may occur
Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people
Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people
Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people
Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
Frequency not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)
Venlafaxine sometimes causes unwanted effects that you may not be aware of, such as increases in blood pressure or abnormal heartbeat; slight changes in blood levels or liver enzymes, sodium or cholesterol. More rarely, Venlafaxine may reduce the function of platelets in your blood, leading to an increased risk of bruising or bleeding. Therefore, your doctor may wish to do blood tests occasionally, particularly if you have been taking Venlafaxine for a long time.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. HOW TO STORE VENLAFAXINE
Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use Venlafaxine after the expiry date, which is stated on the packaging.
This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. CONTENTS OF THE PACK AND OTHER INFORMATION
What Venlafaxine contains
The active substance is venlafaxine.
Each tablet contains either 37.5 mg or 75 mg venlafaxine as venlafaxine hydrochloride.
Other ingredients in these tablets are: lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium starch glycolate, povidone, magnesium stearate, ferric oxide yellow (E-172), ferric oxide red (E-172) and ferric oxide black (E-172).
What Venlafaxine looks like and contents of the pack
Venlafaxine 37.5 mg and Venlafaxine 75 mg are mottled-beige, round tablets.
Venlafaxine 37.5 mg and Venlafaxine 75 mg come in calendar packs of 28 and 56 tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer:
This leaflet was last revised in June 2020.
7, Sopwith Way, Drayton Fields, Daventry, Northamptonshire, NN11 8PB, UK
+44 (0)1327 312 266
+44 (0)1327 312 262
+44 (0) 1748 828 784
+44 (0) 1748 828 784