What are the side effects of an accidental overdose of Effexor-XL? 

What are the side effects of an accidental overdose of Effexor-XL? 

If you have accidentally overdosed on Effexor-XL, you are not likely to experience significant or life-threatening side effects. Common side effects associated with mild overdose include:

  • Nausea 
  • Numbness in arms and legs 
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness 
  • Extreme drowsiness 
  • Restlessness 
  • Anxiety 
  • Sweating 
  • Agitation 
  • Abdominal pain

These side effects are considered mild symptoms of an overdose and they won’t necessarily affect your health significantly. However, overdosing on a high amount of Effexor-XL can cause a number of serious side effects, including (1):

  • Impaired consciousness 
  • Bradycardia or low heartbeat
  • Tachycardia or fast heartbeat
  • Palpitations 
  • Chest pain  
  • Low blood pressure 
  • Skin rash
  • Convulsions 
  • Serotonin syndrome 

These rare and serious side effects depend on the sensitivity of the individual taking it and the amount of medication taken. 

According to research studies, taking more than 2000 mg of Venlafaxine can cause life-threatening cardiac side effects, including QT elongation and abnormal functioning of the heart. 

What to do if you have taken an extra dose of Effexor XR?

Although you are not likely to experience any dangerous side effects with just taking one extra tablet, higher doses can cause far more damage. 

As people respond to meds differently, if you think your symptoms are severe or unbearable after taking a dose or two extra, reach out to the hospital or call your local emergency helpline as soon as you can. 

There are many reasons associated with accidental overdose, one of which is forgetfulness. You have to make sure that you only take this antidepressant once. You can either set a reminder on your phone or maintain a pill box to avoid such an accidental administration. 

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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. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535363/

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