Doctors warned of Effexor overdose risk

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Doctors should limit the number of Effexor pills they prescribe patients to reduce the risk of overdose, the antidepressant's manufacturer and federal health officials said Wednesday.

There have been reports of deaths and serious injuries in patients who overdosed on Effexor, also called venlafaxine, predominantly when taken with alcohol and/or other drugs, Wyeth and the Food and Drug Administration said.

To limit the risk of overdose, doctors should prescribe the "smallest quantity of capsules consistent with good patient management," Wyeth wrote in a letter to doctors dated Oct. 17 and released Wednesday by the FDA.

Overdosing on any antidepressant can be fatal. But there may be a greater risk of deadly overdose associated with Effexor than with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors -- antidepressants like Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil and Lexapro, Wyeth said. The risk may be less than that with older antidepressants called tricyclics, it added.

Wyeth, based in Madison, N.J., said it was unclear whether the increased risk of deadly overdose can be attributed to Effexor or to the characteristics of patients treated with the drug.

I know from expericence that taking an overdose of Efexor and mixing it with alcohol or other drugs can cause seizures.

I just overdosed on effexor. I only took 8 though, so I didn't have any serious injuries.

what size were they?

I took 7 at once, once when I was on Effexor. Boy did I feel sick and shaky, but no seizure or anything.

taking more than your normal dose is not recommended. If you do take more you should at least phone your dr and see what she recommends.

Eileen

Hi, I am on 20mg of paxil and I complained about being tired all day so he gave me 75mg of effexor to take as well. I am not sure if it is from the medication or not but I am a little shaky and the back of my head really hurts and I am taking short breaths so with that is anxiety. Perhaps I should not be on this med combo?

I know from experience it definitely can make you sicker than others.
I overdosed in the past on over 20 of Zoloft and it did not a thing to me. Not tired or anything. I took 4 extra Effexor and I was nausious, fainting and really dizzy.