Does a missed dose of Effexor cause nightmares?
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
Does a missed dose of Effexor cause nightmares?
A missed Effexor dose may cause nightmares. Nightmares or violent, vivid, and unusual dreams are common with antidepressants, even if you don’t miss a dose.
Antidepressants like Effexor can alter your brain chemistry and change the way your brain responds to things (1). They can also alter your sleep architecture, which may result in unusual dreams or nightmares.
A majority of people experience these nightmares even if they don’t miss a dose. People who don’t commonly experience nightmares may report them after missing a dose.
Antidepressants make your brain dependent on them with time, especially if you have been using them for a long period of time. This can trigger weird dreams about missing a dose. It’s always in your best interest to never skip your Effexor dose.
If you find it difficult to remember and you often get too busy and lose track of time, try setting a daily reminder. This will alert you every day when it’s time to take your Effexor and prevent you from missing a dose.
If you’re concerned about any side effects and skip taking Effexor for some relief, this is not the right way to deal with such a condition (1,2). Always make sure to report your side effects to your healthcare provider and follow your doctor’s directions.
Antidepressants are not supposed to be taken intermittently and should be properly used to make the most out of them.
If, for some reason, your current antidepressant does not suit you, talk to your doctor. He/she will switch you to another antidepressant properly. Don’t ever make such changes on your own.
What are the dangers associated with skipping Effexor doses?
Skipping doses of Effexor can have several potential dangers and risks. Effexor is an antidepressant medication that affects the balance of certain chemicals in the brain.
When doses are missed or discontinued abruptly, it can disrupt the balance of these chemicals and lead to various issues. Here are some of the dangers associated with skipping Effexor doses (3):
Withdrawal symptoms
Effexor withdrawal can cause a range of physical and psychological symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, headache, irritability, anxiety, mood swings, and insomnia. These symptoms can be distressing and may interfere with your daily functioning (3).
Worsening of depression or anxiety
Effexor is often prescribed to manage symptoms of depression and anxiety. When doses are missed, it can result in a decrease in the medication’s effectiveness, potentially leading to a recurrence or worsening of depressive or anxious symptoms.
Rebound effects
Abruptly stopping Effexor can cause a rebound effect, where the symptoms being treated may return even stronger than before starting the medication. This can be particularly concerning if you were taking Effexor to manage severe depression or anxiety (3).
Disruption of treatment progress
Consistency is important when taking psychiatric medications like Effexor. Skipping doses or inconsistent medication use can disrupt the treatment progress and make it challenging to achieve the desired therapeutic effects.
To avoid these dangers, it is essential to follow the prescribed dosage schedule and not skip doses without consulting your healthcare provider.
If you are experiencing difficulties taking your medication regularly or have concerns about side effects or effectiveness, it’s important to discuss it with your healthcare provider.
Final words
To sum up, missing Effexor doses may cause nightmares and other side effects. Missing your dose once or twice won’t necessarily harm your health or your therapeutic goals. However, inconsistent doses can negatively affect your treatment in more ways than you can imagine.
This is why it’s crucial to follow your doctor’s directions and ensure the safe and effective use of your prescription medications. If you have forgotten to take your Effexor, take it as soon as you remember. If you are concerned about anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
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References
1.-
Singh D, Saadabadi A. Venlafaxine. 2022 Oct 10. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 30570984. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535363
2.-
Holliday SM, Benfield P. Venlafaxine. A review of its pharmacology and therapeutic potential in depression. Drugs. 1995 Feb;49(2):280-94. doi: 10.2165/00003495-199549020-00010. PMID: 7729333. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7729333/
3.-
Parker G, Blennerhassett J. Withdrawal reactions associated with venlafaxine. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 1998 Apr;32(2):291-4. doi: 10.3109/00048679809062742. PMID: 9588310. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9588310/
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