Symptoms such as these may be associated with an increased risk for suicidal thinking and behavior and indicate a need for very close monitoring Advise patients taking Effexor XR not to use concomitantly other products containing venlafaxine or desvenlafaxine. In the randomized phase following the 12-week open-label period, patients receiving continued Effexor XR experienced a statistically significantly longer time to relapse.Two placebo-controlled studies in 766 pediatric patients with MDD and two placebo-controlled studies in 793 pediatric patients with GAD have been conducted with Effexor XR, and the data were not sufficient to support a claim for use in pediatric patients.The unit-of-use package is intended to be dispensed as a unit.The appearance of these capsules is a trademark of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.Prescribers or other healthcare professionals should inform patients, their families, and their caregivers about the benefits and risks associated with treatment with Effexor XR and should counsel them in its appropriate use. The use of Effexor XR within 14 days of discontinuing treatment with an MAOI (intended to treat psychiatric disorders) is also contraindicated Starting Effexor XR in a patient who is being treated with an MAOI such as linezolid or intravenous methylene blue is also contraindicated, because of an increased risk of serotonin syndrome Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), both adult and pediatric, may experience worsening of their depression and/or the emergence of suicidal ideation and behavior (suicidality) or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking antidepressant medications, and this risk may persist until significant remission occurs. Effexor XR treatment for up to 12 weeks in premarketing placebo-controlled panic disorder trials was associated with mean final on-therapy increases in serum cholesterol concentration of approximately 5.8 mg/dL compared with a mean final decrease of 3.7 mg/dL for placebo.Patients treated with Effexor (immediate release) for at least 3 months in placebo-controlled 12-month extension trials had a mean final on-therapy increase in total cholesterol of 9.1 mg/dL compared with a decrease of 7.1 mg/dL among placebo-treated patients. The prescriber or healthcare professional should instruct patients, their families, and their caregivers to read the Medication Guide and should assist them in understanding its contents. False positive test results may be expected for several days following discontinuation of venlafaxine therapy. The Brand name Effexor XR is manufactured by phillser company. EFFEXOR XR (venlafaxine hydrochloride - capsule, extended release;oral) Manufacturer: UPJOHN A second 8-week study evaluating doses of 75 and 150 mg per day and placebo showed that both doses were more effective than placebo on some of these same outcomes; however, the 75 mg per day dose was more consistently effective than the 150 mg per day dose (study 2). Dose increases should be in increments of up to 75 mg per day, as needed, and should be made at intervals of not less than 7 days.Depressed patients who are currently being treated at a therapeutic dose with Effexor (immediate release) may be switched to Effexor XR at the nearest equivalent dose (mg per day), e.g., 37.5 mg venlafaxine twice a day to 75 mg Effexor XR once daily. If intolerable symptoms occur following a decrease in the dose or upon discontinuation of treatment, then resuming the previously prescribed dose may be considered.

However, individual dosage adjustments may be necessary.The total daily dose should be reduced by 50% in patients with mild (Child-Pugh=5–6) to moderate (Child-Pugh=7–9) hepatic impairment. I've been on 75 mg for almost 6 weeks. People may think Effexor is the same as Paxil, Wellbutrin Prozac, Zoloft, Fluoxetine, Cymbalta or Celexa, but these are separate products with separate uses and outcomes and are not generic names for the drug. Effexor XR treatment for up to 8 weeks and up to 6 months in premarketing placebo-controlled GAD trials was associated with mean final on-therapy increases in serum cholesterol concentration of approximately 1.0 mg/dL and 2.3 mg/dL, respectively while placebo subjects experienced mean final decreases of 4.9 mg/dL and 7.7 mg/dL, respectively. Capsules contain venlafaxine hydrochloride equivalent to 37.5 mg, 75 mg, or 150 mg venlafaxine. Routine testing revealed the strength of the drug was low. There was no evidence that higher doses confer any additional benefit.The recommended starting dose is 37.5 mg per day of Effexor XR for 7 days. Venlafaxine was originally marketed as Effexor in most of the world; generic venlafaxine has been available since around 2008 and extended release venlaxafine has been available since around 2010. Effexor was discontinued because the newer time-released Effexor XR formula can be taken once daily and causes less nausea than the original formula. However, it is not possible to predict on the basis of premarketing experience the extent to which a CNS-active drug will be misused, diverted, and/or abused once marketed. Venlafaxine is an anti-depressant of the SNRI (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) class. Cases with serum sodium lower than 110 mmol/L have been reported. Patients receiving continued Effexor treatment experienced statistically significantly lower relapse rates over the subsequent 52 weeks compared with those receiving placebo (study 5).The efficacy of Effexor XR as a treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) was established in two 8-week, placebo-controlled, fixed-dose studies (75 to 225 mg per day), one 6-month, placebo-controlled, flexible-dose study (75 to 225 mg per day), and one 6-month, placebo-controlled, fixed-dose study (37.5, 75, and 150 mg per day) in adult outpatients meeting DSM-IV criteria for GAD.In one 8-week study, Effexor XR demonstrated superiority over placebo for the 75, 150, and 225 mg per day doses as measured by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A) total score, both the HAM-A anxiety and tension items, and the Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) scale.