Side Effects of Venlafaxine

Common Side Effects

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry reports that gastrointestinal effects, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal discomfort, dry mouth, and decreased appetite, are frequently reported, with nausea being the most common reason for discontinuation in clinical trials 1, 2
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry also notes that neurological effects, such as dizziness, headache, tremor, insomnia, somnolence, and nervousness, are common 1, 3
Autonomic effects, including diaphoresis, occur more frequently with venlafaxine than with many other antidepressants, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 1, 3
Sexual dysfunction, including abnormal ejaculation/orgasm in men and sexual dysfunction in both men and women, has been reported, as noted in the Annals of Internal Medicine 2
Decreased appetite and weight loss can occur during treatment, as reported by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 1

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry states that venlafaxine can cause dose-dependent increases in blood pressure, with higher risk at doses above 300 mg/day 3
Sustained clinical hypertension requiring monitoring, especially at higher doses, is a potential side effect, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 1, 3

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry warns of an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior, particularly in children, adolescents, and young adults up to age 24 years 1
Serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition, can occur, as reported by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 1
Discontinuation syndrome, characterized by withdrawal symptoms when stopping venlafaxine abruptly, requires slow tapering when discontinuing, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 1, 3
Seizures, though uncommon, may be triggered by venlafaxine, as noted in the Annals of Internal Medicine 2

Overdose risk is associated with venlafaxine, and concomitant use with MAOIs is contraindicated due to risk of serotonin syndrome, as reported by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 1
Regular monitoring of blood pressure, pulse, and weight is recommended, especially when initiating treatment or adjusting dosage, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 1, 3

Venlafaxine has a higher incidence of nausea and vomiting than other SSRIs, as compared in the Annals of Internal Medicine 2, 4

A slow discontinuation taper is essential to minimize withdrawal symptoms, as recommended by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 1, 3

The American Diabetes Association notes that venlafaxine's use in diabetes is limited due to cardiovascular adverse events 5

Higher doses of venlafaxine (>300 mg/day) increase the risk of sustained hypertension, affecting 13% of patients, according to the Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews 5