Introduction

The following list shows the rates of adverse symptoms seen in people taking venlafaxine.

Very Common (>>10% Incidence)

• Headache:
  • An often transient side effect that is common to most serotonin reuptake inhibitors and that most often occurs at the beginning of therapy or after a dose escalation.
• Nausea:
  • An adverse effect that is more common with venlafaxine than with the SSRIs.
  • Usually transient and less severe in those receiving the extended release formulations.
• Insomnia.
• Asthenia (weakness).
• Dizziness.
• Ejaculation disorder:
  • Sexual side effects can be seen with virtually any antidepressant, especially those that inhibit the reuptake of serotonin (including venlafaxine).
• Somnolence.
• Dry mouth.
• Sweating.
• Withdrawal.

Common (1-10% incidence)

• Constipation.
• Nervousness.
• Abnormal vision.
• Anorgasmia.
• Hypertension.
• Impotence.
• Paraesthesia.
• Tremor.
• Vasodilation.
• Vomiting.
• Weight loss.
• Chills.
• Palpitations.
• Confusion.
• Depersonalisation.
• Night sweats.
• Menstrual disorders associated with increased bleeding or increased irregular bleeding (e.g. menorrhagia, metrorrhagia).
• Urinary frequency increased.
• Abnormal dreams.
• Decreased libido.
• Increased muscle tonus.
• Yawning.
• Sweating.
• Abnormality of accommodation.
• Abnormal ejaculation/orgasm (males).
• Urinary hesitancy.
• Serum cholesterol increased (especially when treatment is prolonged and it may be dose-dependent).

Uncommon (0.1-1% incidence)

• Face oedema.
• Intentional injury (self-injury).
• Malaise.
• Moniliasis.
• Neck rigidity.
• Pelvic pain.
• Photosensitivity reaction.
• Suicide attempt.
• Withdrawal syndrome (Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome).
• Hypotension.
• Postural hypotension.
• Syncope.
• Tachycardia.
• Bruxism.
• Ecchymosis.
• Mucous membrane bleeding.
• Gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Abnormal liver function tests.
• Hyponatraemia.
• Weight gain.
• Apathy.
• Hallucinations.
• Myoclonus.
• Rash.
• Abnormal orgasm (females).
• Urinary retention (the inability to pass urine).
• Angioedema.
• Agitation.
• Impaired coordination & balance.
• Alopecia (hair loss).
• Tinnitus (hearing bells).
• Proteinuria (protein in urine).

Rare (0.01-0.1% incidence)

• Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH).
• Thrombocytopenia.
• Prolonged bleeding time.
• Seizures.
• Mania.
• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).
• Serotonin syndrome.
• Akathisia/psychomotor restlessness.
• Urinary incontinence.

Very Rare (<0.01% incidence)

• Anaphylaxis.
• QT prolongation.
• Ventricular fibrillation.
• Ventricular tachycardia (including torsades de pointes).
• Pancreatitis.
• Blood dyscrasias (including agranulocytosis, aplastic anaemia, neutropenia and pancytopenia).
• Elevated serum prolactin.
• Delirium.
• Extrapyramidal reactions (including dystonia and dyskinesia).
• Tardive dyskinesia.
• Pulmonary eosinophilia.
• Erythema multiforme.
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
• Pruritus.
• Urticaria.
• Toxic epidermal necrolysis.
• Angle closure glaucoma.