Effexor is prescribed to patients suffering from depression. However, Effexor, which is a selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), taken with an anti-migraine drug, or triptan, can cause serotonin syndrome and can be fatal.
Serotonin syndrome occurs when the body receives too much seratonin, which is a chemical produced by nerve cells. Serotonin controls moods, emotions, sleep cycles and appetite. SSRI drugs and SNRI drugs and migraine headache drugs containing triptan both work to retain serotonin in the brain and to increase serotonin. The two drugs combined can lead to serotonin levels that are extremely dangerous.
Untreated serotonin syndrome can be fatal. The syndrome can occur within minutes or hours of taking the drugs. Symptoms include:
- restlessness
- hallucinations
- loss of coordination
- increased heart beat
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- fever
- shivering
- tremor
- muscle spasms
If you experience any of these symptoms, and you take Effexor and a headache medicine, contact your doctor immediately.
Effexor is used to treat depression. Depression is often accompanied by anxiety. Depression affects as many as one in four women and one in 10 men, and can make it difficult to work, rest, or complete many daily functions. Depression can also lead to suicide.
Depression can be caused by an imbalance of seratonin and norepinephrine in the brain, which are chemicals that allow nerve cells to communicate. When these nerve cells don’t communicate correctly, it can cause heightened sadness, moodiness, worry, fatigue, and general feelings of unhappiness. Effexor works by rebalancing these chemicals.
However, Effexor is not approved for used in children or teens, or people taking MAOIs. Other side effects include:
- increased blood pressure
- aggression, hostility, restlessness
- may increase suicidal thoughts
- mydriasis, which is prolonged dilation of the pupils
- withdrawal symptoms if the medication is stopped suddenly
- pregnancy or nursing complications and harm to unborn and nursing babies