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Diagnosed With Breast Cancer. Prescribed Effexor To Help Form Tamoxifen Side Effects. Continue Medication With Claritin?
I have been prescribed Effexor to help with side effect from tamoxifen as I was diagnosed with breast cancer. The Effexor has helped me in so many ways..with depression, with sleeping and with nueropathy pain. Unfortunately when my dose was increased from 37.5 to 75 I broke out in hives (some 3 inches in diameter) more like itchy welts. Started on my stomach, within 15 minutes all over my back and beginning on my arms. I took Claratin and they went away. The next dose I did not have the reaction. The third dose I had hives again. I believe this is because I was taking 24 hour Claritin and the antihistamine was out of my system.
Is it safe to continue takin Effexor if I take claritin with it?
Thank you
Is it safe to continue takin Effexor if I take claritin with it?
Thank you
Wed, 15 May 2013
Hello
Welcome to HCM
Effexor is venlafexine and it is a SNRI drug. It works by increasing the concentration of serotonin and nor epinephrin in brain. It is used in anxiety, depression and a lot of other conditions. When your dose is increased to 75 mg then you developed the hives. Most likely they occurred due to some drug interaction or due to serotonin syndrome (serotonin toxicity). I would advise you to consult your psychiatrist for expert evaluation for these rashes. They may prove dangerous, don't self medicate yourself and visit your doctor.
Thanks
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi, MD
Welcome to HCM
Effexor is venlafexine and it is a SNRI drug. It works by increasing the concentration of serotonin and nor epinephrin in brain. It is used in anxiety, depression and a lot of other conditions. When your dose is increased to 75 mg then you developed the hives. Most likely they occurred due to some drug interaction or due to serotonin syndrome (serotonin toxicity). I would advise you to consult your psychiatrist for expert evaluation for these rashes. They may prove dangerous, don't self medicate yourself and visit your doctor.
Thanks
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi, MD
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