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Question: my son has been dealing with anxiety and depression for months now he was given venlafaxine some months ago but never took them, tried to deal with it with conscelling but still feels the same, he feels he needs the meds now but have been scared off with the reviews ie suicidal, and addiction dont know what to do are 75mg of this drug safe he is 20 yrs old
Brief Answer:
Venlafaxine is safe antidepressant drug
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries
Your son is 20 years old and has anxiety and depressive disorder. He has been advised to take Venlafaxine but didn't take because of fear of side effects. Now he wants to take the medicines for his symptoms.
Venlafaxine is a drug of SNRI group and it acts by increasing serotonin and nor epinephrin neurotransmission in brain. Over all the drug is safe to use and it is free of serious side effects. The drug can cause nausea, insomnia, headache, restlessness, dizziness, dry mouth, constipation etc side effects. Usually these side effects are not seen commonly and are observed for short periods only or with high doses. I prescribe the drug to a number of patients in my clinic and they are tolerating the drug without any significant adverse event. The drug results in improvement of depressive symptoms.
It is also free of addiction potential. When stopped abruptly after prolonged use withdrawal symptoms are seen. This can be minimised by gradually tapering the doses of drug over 6-8 weeks. When drug is tapered properly no significant withdrawal symptoms are seen.
Regarding suicide risk- Initial studies reported that the drug increases risk of suicide in some susceptible individuals. But further studies comparing venlafaxine to placebo in patients of depression found that the drug resulted in decreased risk of suicidal attempts and it decreases the risk of suicide. No need to worry about this.
You can go with the prescribed doses 75 mg and the dose is adequate for him at his age. Continue to give the drug as per prescription.
Thanks, hope this helps you. Please ask again if you have more doubts.
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi
Consultant Psychiatrist
Venlafaxine is safe antidepressant drug
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries
Your son is 20 years old and has anxiety and depressive disorder. He has been advised to take Venlafaxine but didn't take because of fear of side effects. Now he wants to take the medicines for his symptoms.
Venlafaxine is a drug of SNRI group and it acts by increasing serotonin and nor epinephrin neurotransmission in brain. Over all the drug is safe to use and it is free of serious side effects. The drug can cause nausea, insomnia, headache, restlessness, dizziness, dry mouth, constipation etc side effects. Usually these side effects are not seen commonly and are observed for short periods only or with high doses. I prescribe the drug to a number of patients in my clinic and they are tolerating the drug without any significant adverse event. The drug results in improvement of depressive symptoms.
It is also free of addiction potential. When stopped abruptly after prolonged use withdrawal symptoms are seen. This can be minimised by gradually tapering the doses of drug over 6-8 weeks. When drug is tapered properly no significant withdrawal symptoms are seen.
Regarding suicide risk- Initial studies reported that the drug increases risk of suicide in some susceptible individuals. But further studies comparing venlafaxine to placebo in patients of depression found that the drug resulted in decreased risk of suicidal attempts and it decreases the risk of suicide. No need to worry about this.
You can go with the prescribed doses 75 mg and the dose is adequate for him at his age. Continue to give the drug as per prescription.
Thanks, hope this helps you. Please ask again if you have more doubts.
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi
Consultant Psychiatrist
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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