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What Are The Side Effects Of Effexsor?
Question: I'm a 41 yr old femaIe. I take Effexsor 150 mg for anxiety and .5 klonopin at night to help with sleep for over a year. This morning after waking up very early i was resting in bed about to get up and i started to break out in a cold sweat. I thought i should start my day and got up to brush my teeth and while doing that my blood pressure dropped, I felt woozy and heart started beating fast. I quickly went to lay down and had to lay there for awhile until my wooziness passed. What could have happened? Thank you!My therapist, who I called because I was very shaken, says drops in blood pressure happens sometimes with anti-anxiety medication
Brief Answer:
Side effect of Effexor or a panic attack
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome HCM
Effexor is used to treat major depressive disorder, anxiety and panic disorder.
Alteration of blood pressure and palpitation, lack or loss of strength headache,sweating, blurred vision and chest pain are recognized side effects.
Another possibility is that you had a panic attack.
If it recurs, it would be good to have your blood pressure checked at that time.
Have a good day
Dr Noble Zachariah
Side effect of Effexor or a panic attack
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome HCM
Effexor is used to treat major depressive disorder, anxiety and panic disorder.
Alteration of blood pressure and palpitation, lack or loss of strength headache,sweating, blurred vision and chest pain are recognized side effects.
Another possibility is that you had a panic attack.
If it recurs, it would be good to have your blood pressure checked at that time.
Have a good day
Dr Noble Zachariah
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
could the episode have been caused by the klonopin also? it seems strange that side effects could occer after being on both medications for over a year, and being at the 150 mg dose of the effexsor for two months
Brief Answer:
Less likely from Klonopin
Detailed Answer:
Effexor and Klonopin belong to different groups of medicines.
Effexor (venlafaxine) is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs).Clonazepam is in a group of drugs called benzodiazepines.
Your symptoms are due to an increased sympathetic ( norepinephrine and epinephrine) activity and it is more common with an SSNRI. You have also noticed that the symptoms occurred after stepping up the dose of effexor. Benzodiazepines are anti anxiety medicines and do not increase sympathetic nervous system activity.
If you are not depressed, a reduction of Effexor dose to the previous dose which you were tolerating well, might solve the problem. Please discuss with your doctor and follow his/her advice.
Less likely from Klonopin
Detailed Answer:
Effexor and Klonopin belong to different groups of medicines.
Effexor (venlafaxine) is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs).Clonazepam is in a group of drugs called benzodiazepines.
Your symptoms are due to an increased sympathetic ( norepinephrine and epinephrine) activity and it is more common with an SSNRI. You have also noticed that the symptoms occurred after stepping up the dose of effexor. Benzodiazepines are anti anxiety medicines and do not increase sympathetic nervous system activity.
If you are not depressed, a reduction of Effexor dose to the previous dose which you were tolerating well, might solve the problem. Please discuss with your doctor and follow his/her advice.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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