What is the best time to take Effexor? 

In this concise article, we will be discussing various significant aspects related to the administration of Effexor. These aspects encompass determining the most suitable timing for taking Effexor, considering factors that influence the appropriate timing, recommended actions to be taken in the event of a missed dose and potential adverse effects associated with this medication.

You can take Effexor at any time of the day, preferably with food. However you should take this medication at the same time every day.

Make sure to contact your healthcare provider to discuss the side effects of this medication and determine the best time of day for you to take Effexor. 

If you forget to take your prescribed dose of Celebrex, take it as soon as you remember. You should not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Talk to your doctor if you experience any unusual or persistent problems while taking this medication (1,2).

What is the best time to take Effexor? 

You can take Effexor (venlafaxine) at any time of the day. 

This medication does not typically have any time restrictions, so you can take it at any time of the day, preferably with food.

So, the best time to take Effexor varies from person to person, and it depends on how this antidepressant makes you feel. 

Once you know how Effexor affects your body, that’s when you can easily determine the most suitable time to take this medication.

However, you need to make sure that you take this medication at the same time every day to have a constant time gap between each dose (1,2).

Who should take Effexor in the morning? 

Effexor is associated with a number of side effects, including insomnia, nighttime wakefulness, and sexual side effects. Although these side effects do start to diminish over time, they can still impact your quality of life while they persist (1,2). 

Individuals experiencing these side effects may consider taking Effexor in the morning to reduce the intensity of these symptoms at night. While this may not completely eliminate the side effects, it may lessen their severity compared to taking this antidepressant at night. 

Who should take Effexor at night? 

Effexor is also known to cause tiredness in some individuals, who may feel exhausted after taking this medication and prefer to stay in bed. For such people, it’s advisable to take Effexor at night. 

This is because taking Effexor in the morning can affect their mental alertness, which can have a negative impact on their daytime activities (1,2). 

Make sure you reach out to your healthcare provider to discuss your side effects and the best time of the day to take Effexor. This can help you mitigate some of the side effects and make your journey with Effexor more suitable for you. 

What to do if you forget to take one dose of Effexor? 

If you forget to take your prescribed dose of Effexor, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it’s nearly time for your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Remember that, as previously described, it is recommended to take Effexor with food (1,2).

What adverse effects may Effexor cause?

The most common adverse effects of Effexor include (1,2):

  • Nausea
  • Somnolence
  • Dry mouth
  • Sweating
  • Abnormal ejaculation
  • Anorexia
  • Constipation
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Libido decreased 
  • Headache
  • Nightmares
  • Jitteriness

Some side effects can be serious, such as:

  • Rash
  • Hives
  • Itching
  • Difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • Chest pain
  • Fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
  • Seizures
  • Unusual bruising or bleeding
  • Small purple spots on the skin
  • Fever, sweating, confusion, fast or irregular heartbeat, severe muscle stiffness or twitching, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea
  • Problems with coordination
  • Hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
  • Coma (loss of consciousness for a period of time)
  • Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

Effexor also may cause other side effects. Talk to your doctor if you experience any unusual or persistent problems while taking this medication. Do not stop the medication abruptly. Doing so can lead to disturbing withdrawal symptoms.

So, make sure you take Effexor in the best possible way and at the best possible time. You can take it with or without food. Just make sure you do not crush Effexor, particularly extended-release dosage forms.

Effexor, although it is a good antidepressant, may not work for everyone. If Effexor is not the right choice of medication for you, your doctor will switch you to another SNRI, such as Pristiq, Cymbalta, etc or switch you to another class of antidepressants.

Conclusion

In this concise article, we have discussed various important aspects concerning the administration of Effexor. These included determining the optimal timing for taking Effexor, considerations for selecting the appropriate timing, actions to be taken in the event of a missed dose and potential adverse effects associated with this medication. 

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References

1.-

EFFEXOR® (venlafaxine).  U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Reference ID: 4036390 [Internet] [updated 2011 Jan; cited 2023 Jul 06]. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/020699s107lbl.pdf.

2.-

MedlinePlus [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2023. Venlafaxine; [updated 2022 Jan 15; cited 2023 Jul 06]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a694020.html.

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