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EFEXOR XL is a brand name for Venlafaxine. The medicine, its uses, side effects and dosage are the same regardless of brand.
Used for: Treatment of major depressive episodes. For prevention of recurrence of major depressive episodes. Treatment of generalised anxiety disorder. Treatment of social anxiety disorder. Treatment of panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia.
Verbatim from this product's MHRA label. Tap a section to expand.
Posology Major depressive episodes The recommended starting dose for prolonged-release venlafaxine is 75 mg given once daily. Patients not responding to the initial 75 mg/day dose may benefit from dose increases up to a maximum dose of 375 mg/day.
Dosage increases can be made at intervals of 2 weeks or more. If clinically warranted due to symptom severity, dose increases can be made at more frequent intervals, but not less than 4 days. 4). The lowest effective dose should be maintained.
Patients should be treated for a sufficient period of time, usually several months or longer. Treatment should be reassessed regularly on a case-by-case basis. Longer-term treatment may also be appropriate for prevention of recurrence of major depressive episodes (MDE).
In most of the cases, the recommended dose in prevention of recurrence of MDE is the same as the one used during the current episode. Antidepressive medicinal products should continue for at least six months following remission. Generalised anxiety disorder The recommended starting dose for prolonged-release venlafaxine is 75 mg given once daily.
Patients not responding to the initial 75 mg/day dose may benefit from dose increases up to a maximum dose of 225 mg/day. Dosage increases can be made at intervals of 2 weeks or more. 4). The lowest effective dose should be maintained.
Patients should be treated for a sufficient period of time, usually several months or longer. Treatment should be reassessed regularly, on a case-by-case basis. Social anxiety disorder The recommended dose for prolonged-release venlafaxine is 75 mg given once daily.
There is no evidence that higher doses confer any additional benefit. However, in individual patients not responding to the initial 75 mg/day, increases up to a maximum dose of 225 mg/day may be considered. Dosage increases can be made at intervals of 2 weeks or more.
4). The lowest effective dose should be maintained. Patients should be treated for a sufficient period of time, usually several months or longer. Treatment should be reassessed regularly, on a case-by-case basis. 5 mg/day of prolonged-release venlafaxine be used for 7 days.
Dosage should then be increased to 75 mg/day. Patients not responding to the 75 mg/day dose may benefit from dose increases up to a maximum dose of 225 mg/day. Dosage increases can be made at intervals of 2 weeks or more. 4). The lowest effective dose should be maintained.
Summary of the safety profile Adverse reactions reported as very common (>1/10) in clinical studies were nausea, dry mouth, headache and sweating (including night sweats). Tabulated list of adverse reactions Adverse reactions are listed below by system organ class, frequency category and decreasing order of medical seriousness within each frequency category.
Frequencies are defined as: very common (≥1/10), common (≥1/100 to <1/10), uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100), rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000), very rare (<1/10,000), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data). 4). 4 c In pooled clinical trials, the incidence of headache with venlafaxine and placebo were similar.
6). Discontinuation of treatment Discontinuation of venlafaxine (particularly when abrupt) commonly leads to withdrawal symptoms. Dizziness, sensory disturbances (including paraesthesia), sleep disturbances (including insomnia and intense dreams), agitation or anxiety, nausea and/or vomiting, tremor, vertigo, headache, flu syndrome, visual impairment and hypertension are the most commonly reported reactions.
Generally, these events are mild to moderate and are self-limiting; however, in some patients, they may be severe and/or prolonged. It is therefore advised that when venlafaxine treatment is no longer required, gradual discontinuation by dose tapering should be carried out .
4). Paediatric population In general, the adverse reaction profile of venlafaxine (in placebo-controlled clinical trials) in children and adolescents (ages 6 to 17) was similar to that seen for adults. 4). In paediatric clinical trials the adverse reaction suicidal ideation was observed.
There were also increased reports of hostility and, especially in major depressive disorder, self-harm. Particularly, the following adverse reactions were observed in paediatric patients: abdominal pain, agitation, dyspepsia, ecchymosis, epistaxis, and myalgia.
5). 9). 9) Suicide/suicidal thoughts or clinical worsening Depression is associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts, self-harm and suicide (suicide-related events). This risk persists until significant remission occurs. As improvement may not occur during the first few weeks or more of treatment, patients should be closely monitored until such improvement occurs.
It is general clinical experience that the risk of suicide may increase in the early stages of recovery. Other psychiatric conditions for which venlafaxine is prescribed can also be associated with an increased risk of suicide-related events.
In addition, these conditions may be co-morbid with major depressive disorder. The same precautions observed when treating patients with major depressive disorder should therefore be observed when treating patients with other psychiatric disorders.
Patients with a history of suicide-related events, or those exhibiting a significant degree of suicidal ideation prior to commencement of treatment, are known to be at greater risk of suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts, and should receive careful monitoring during treatment.
A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled clinical trials of antidepressant drugs in adult patients with psychiatric disorders showed an increased risk of suicidal behaviour with antidepressants compared to placebo in patients less than 25 years old.
Close supervision of patients, and in particular those at high risk, should accompany drug therapy, especially in early treatment and following dose changes. Patients (and caregivers of patients) should be alerted about the need to monitor for any clinical worsening, suicidal behaviour or thoughts and unusual changes in behaviour, and to seek medical advice immediately if these symptoms present.
Paediatric population Efexor XL should not be used in the treatment of children and adolescents under the age of 18 years. Suicide-related behaviours (suicide attempt and suicidal thoughts) and hostility (predominantly aggression, oppositional behaviour and anger) were more frequently observed in clinical trials among children and adolescents treated with antidepressants compared to those treated with placebo.
1. Concomitant treatment with irreversible monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) is contraindicated due to the risk of serotonin syndrome with symptoms such as agitation, tremor and hyperthermia. Venlafaxine must not be initiated for at least 14 days after discontinuation of treatment with an irreversible MAOI.
5).
Not medical advice. Always read the patient information leaflet and follow your prescriber or pharmacist.
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Patients should be treated for a sufficient period of time, usually several months or longer. Treatment should be reassessed regularly, on a case-by-case basis. Elderly patients No specific dose adjustments of venlafaxine are considered necessary based on patient age alone.
, due to the possibility of renal impairment, the potential for changes in neurotransmitter sensitivity and affinity occurring with aging). The lowest effective dose should always be used, and patients should be carefully monitored when an increase in the dose is required.
Paediatric population Venlafaxine is not recommended for use in children and adolescents. 8). The efficacy and safety of venlafaxine for other indications in children and adolescents under the age of 18 have not been established. Patients with hepatic impairment In patients with mild and moderate hepatic impairment, in general a 50% dose reduction should be considered.
However, due to inter-individual variability in clearance, individualisation of dosage may be desirable. There are limited data in patients with severe hepatic impairment. Caution is advised, and a dose reduction by more than 50% should be considered.
The potential benefit should be weighed against the risk in the treatment of patients with severe hepatic impairment. Patients with renal impairment Although no change in dosage is necessary for patients with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) between 30-70 ml/minute, caution is advised.
For patients that require haemodialysis and in patients with severe renal impairment (GFR < 30 ml/min), the dose should be reduced by 50%. Because of inter-individual variability in clearance in these patients, individualisation of dosage may be desirable.
Withdrawal symptoms seen on discontinuation of venlafaxine Abrupt discontinuation should be avoided. 8). However, the time period required for tapering and the amount of dose reduction may depend on the dose, duration of therapy and the individual patient.
In some patients, discontinuation may need to occur very gradually over periods of months or longer. If intolerable symptoms occur following a decrease in the dose or upon discontinuation of treatment, then resuming the previously prescribed dose may be considered.
Subsequently, the physician may continue decreasing the dose, but at a more gradual rate. Method of administration For oral use. It is recommended that venlafaxine prolonged-release capsules be taken with food, at approximately the same time each day.
Capsules must be swallowed […]
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
If, based on clinical need, a decision to treat is nevertheless taken, the patient should be carefully monitored for the appearance of suicidal symptoms. In addition, long-term safety data in children and adolescents concerning growth, maturation and cognitive and behavioural development are lacking.
5). , nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea). Serotonin syndrome in its most severe form, can resemble NMS, which includes hyperthermia, muscle rigidity, autonomic instability with possible rapid fluctuation of vital signs and mental status changes.
If concomitant treatment with venlafaxine and other agents that may affect the serotonergic and/or dopaminergic neurotransmitter systems is clinically warranted, careful observation of the patient is advised, particularly during treatment initiation and dose increases.
The concomitant use of venlafaxine with serotonin precursors (such as tryptophan supplements) is not recommended. Narrow-angle glaucoma Mydriasis may occur in association with venlafaxine. It is recommended that patients with raised intraocular pressure or patients at risk for acute narrow-angle glaucoma (angle-closure glaucoma) be closely monitored.
Blood pressure Dose-related increases in blood pressure have been commonly reported with venlafaxine. In some cases, severely elevated blood pressure requiring immediate treatment has been reported in postmarketing experience. All patients should be carefully screened for high blood pressure and pre-existing hypertension should be controlled before initation of treatment.
Blood pressure should be reviewed periodically, after initiation of treatment and after dose increases. , those with impaired cardiac function. Heart rate Increases in heart rate can occur, particularly with higher doses. Caution should be exercised in patients whose underlying conditions might be compromised by increases in heart rate.
Cardiac disease and risk of arrhythmia Venlafaxine has not been evaluated in patients with a recent history of myocardial infarction or unstable heart […]