Effexor Side Effects Can Include Life-Threatening Syndrome

Washington, DCThe rash of potential health issues that have been associated with antidepressants has concerned physicians around the world, and Effexor side effects are just another example.

While Effexor is considered a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI)—different from Paxil and Celexa, which are SSRIs—the medication and others like it have still been linked to side effects for patients as well as birth defects.

In fact, such issues have been known for a number of years, as a 2004 release from the US Food and Drug Administration indicated that the federal agency, along with manufacturer Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, had notified health care professionals about specific safety issues related to the drug.

According to the release, newborn children exposed to Effexor or other SNRIs toward the end of the third trimester of pregnancy were found to be more susceptible to developing complications leading to hospitalizations. Later studies have determined that the use of Effexor in pregnancy has been linked to heart defects in the newborn in some cases.

In addition to the potential for birth defects in pregnant women taking Effexor and other SNRIs, the FDA release suggested that patients suffering from major depressive disorder could experience a worsening of their conditions when taking the medications.

Likewise, a more recent alert from the FDA suggested that combining SNRIs like Effexor with triptan medications can potentially lead to the development of life-threatening serotonin syndrome, based on reports from patients.

According to the Mayo Clinic, serotonin syndrome typically develops when patients take medications that cause high levels of the serotonin chemical to accumulate in the body. Symptoms of the illness can range from mild issues such as shivering to more serious problems like fevers and seizures, the Clinic says.

Just as these side effects are concerning for patients taking SNRIs, the FDA has also warned that there have been reports of overdose associated with patients taking Effexor, often with alcohol or other drugs.

In a release from 2006, the FDA pointed out that studies conducted following Effexor's introduction to the market found that an SNRI overdose may lead to a more elevated death risk than an overdose of SSRIs.

As such, the FDA advised doctors to prescribe Effexor in the lowest quantity possible, according to the release.

The National Center for Biotechnology Information reports that there are a number of other less serious side effects associated with Effexor use. Such issues can include drowsiness, weakness, stomach pain, ringing in the ears or sweating.