EFFEXOR XR may help you get back to feeling the way you used to-before the symptoms of depression started to interfere with your life.

Doctors have been prescribing EFFEXOR XR for years. EFFEXOR XR is used to treat depression, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and social anxiety disorder (SAD). EFFEXOR XR works on both serotonin and norepinephrine-two chemicals in the brain linked to depression.

Correcting the imbalance of these two chemicals may help relieve symptoms of depression-which can be a positive step toward getting your life back.

By relieving your symptoms of depression, you may:

 
• Feel more like yourself again  
• Regain interest in your favorite activities  
• Become involved with family and friends the way you used to

EFFEXOR XR has also been proven to keep depression from coming back. Over a 52-week period, a large majority of patients in studies did not see their symptoms return.

What about weight gain or jitteriness? In studies with EFFEXOR XR, there was a low incidence of weight gain or jitteriness (agitation).

Try to be patient about the treatment process. Just as depression, GAD, and SAD do not happen overnight, it takes time to feel better. It usually takes 6 to 8 weeks to feel the full benefits of EFFEXOR XR. Results may vary between individuals. But the best way to ensure that you return to feeling like yourself again is to take your medication every day, as instructed by your doctor.

Important Safety Information

Before starting EFFEXORreg; XR (venlafaxine HCl), tell your doctor about any medicines you’re taking, including over-the-counter drugs and herbal supplements. People taking MAOIs should not take EFFEXOR XR. Patients taking antidepressants should be watched closely for signs that their condition is getting worse or that they are becoming suicidal, especially when they first start therapy, or when their dose is increased or decreased. Patients should also be watched for becoming agitated, irritable, hostile, impulsive, or restless. Such symptoms should be reported to the patient’s doctor right away. EFFEXOR XR may raise blood pressure in some patients, so blood pressure should be monitored regularly. When people suddenly stop using or quickly lower their daily dose of EFFEXOR XR, discontinuation symptoms may occur. Talk to your doctor before discontinuing or reducing your dose of EFFEXOR XR. Pregnant or nursing women shouldn’t take any antidepressant without consulting their doctor. Until you see how EFFEXOR XR affects you, be careful doing such activities as driving a car or operating machinery. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking EFFEXOR XR. Common side effects with EFFEXOR XR include anorexia, constipation, dizziness, dry mouth, insomnia, nausea, nervousness, sexual side effects, sleepiness, sweating, and weakness. EFFEXOR XR is for adults 18 and over. Ask your doctor if EFFEXOR XR is right for you.

To learn more about how you may be able to benefit from EFFEXOR XR, see Can EFFEXOR XR Make a Difference for Me?.