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Venlafaxine

Efectin Er, Velostad, Venlafab, Venlafaxin · ATC code N06AX16

Also known as: Venlafaxin, venlafaksin · Brand names: Efectin Er, Velostad, Venlafab, Trevilor Retard, Venlagamma Retard, Zaredrop, Bonilux, Efexor XR, Faxiven XR, Sulinex XR, Venegis XR, Venladep XR

Key facts
Active substance
Venlafaxine
Drug class
Antidepressant
ATC code
N06AX16
Authorisation
authorised nationally; no central EU authorisation
Information as of
2026-10-27

Boxed warning

Suicidality and Antidepressant Drugs

Antidepressants increased the risk compared to placebo of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in children, adolescents, and young adults in short-term studies of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders. Anyone considering the use of venlafaxine tablets or any other antidepressant in a child, adolescent, or young adult must balance this risk with the clinical need. Short-term studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults beyond age 24; there was a reduction in risk with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults aged 65 and older. Depression and certain other psychiatric disorders are themselves associated with increases in the risk of suicide. Patients of all ages who are started on antidepressant therapy should be monitored appropriately and observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, or unusual changes in behavior. Families and caregivers should be advised of the need for close observation and communication with the prescriber. Venlafaxine tablets are not approved for use in pediatric patients (see WARNINGS: Clinical Worsening and Suicide Risk, PRECAUTIONS: Information for Patients, and PRECAUTIONS: Pediatric Use).

Key facts

Venlafaxine is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). Per the US label, venlafaxine tablets are indicated for the treatment of major depressive disorder.

What it is used for

  • Major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults
  • Not approved for use in pediatric patients

Dosing

  • Start 75 mg/day in two or three divided doses with food
  • If needed, increase to 150 mg/day and up to 225 mg/day; increments of up to 75 mg/day at intervals of no less than 4 days
  • More severely depressed patients: up to a maximum of 375 mg/day, generally in three divided doses
  • Mild to moderate hepatic impairment: reduce total daily dose by 50%
  • Mild to moderate renal impairment: reduce by 25%; hemodialysis: reduce by 50%
  • Taper gradually rather than stopping abruptly

Contraindications

  • Hypersensitivity to venlafaxine hydrochloride or excipients
  • MAOIs together or within 7 days of stopping venlafaxine; venlafaxine within 14 days of stopping an MAOI
  • Starting in patients treated with linezolid or intravenous methylene blue

Important warnings

  • Boxed warning: increased risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents and young adults
  • Monitor patients of all ages for clinical worsening and suicidality
  • Sustained increases in blood pressure, especially at higher doses
  • Discontinuation symptoms on dose reduction or stopping
  • Serotonin syndrome

Side effects

  • Common: asthenia, sweating, nausea, constipation, anorexia, vomiting
  • Somnolence, dry mouth, dizziness, nervousness, anxiety, tremor, blurred vision
  • In men: abnormal ejaculation/orgasm, impotence
  • Discontinuation due to adverse events in 19% of patients in studies

Interactions

  • MAOIs (including linezolid and methylene blue): serotonin syndrome

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

  • Exposure late in the third trimester led to neonatal complications requiring prolonged hospitalization; weigh risks and benefits carefully

Summary of the official product information, written with AI (Claude, Anthropic) on 2026-10-28. Every number was checked automatically against the original text. Not reviewed by a physician – the full official text is authoritative.

Full official text →

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For patients

Patient information (US)

Patient information (US) →

Authorisation and brand names by country

Medicines with exactly this active-substance composition, as listed in the national registers – alphabetical and without ranking. Whether a product is currently available is not shown here.

Austria

  • Efectin ErViatris Healthcare Limited · 1 register entry
  • VelostadStada Arzneimittel Gmbh · 1 register entry
  • VenlafabG.L. Pharma Gmbh · 1 register entry
  • Venlafaxin1a Pharma Gmbh, Sandoz Gmbh, Aristo Pharma Gmbh (Art 57), Genericon Pharma Gesellschaft M.B.H., Actavis Group Ptc Ehf., Bluefish Pharmaceuticals Ab, +pharma Arzneimittel Gmbh, G.L. Pharma Gmbh, Krka, D.D., Novo Mesto · 11 register entries

Source: EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), as of 2026-10-28

Germany

  • Trevilor RetardViatris Pharma Gmbh · 1 register entry
  • Venlafaxin1 A Pharma Gmbh, Winthrop Arzneimittel Gmbh, Neuraxpharm Arzneimittel Gmbh, Dexcel Pharma Gmbh, Betapharm Arzneimittel Gmbh, Aaa-Pharma Gmbh, Ratiopharm Gmbh, Puren Pharma Gmbh & Co. Kg, Medical Valley Invest Ab, Bluefish Pharmaceuticals Ab, Heumann Pharma Gmbh & Co. Generica Kg, Alembic Pharmaceuticals Europe Ltd, Aristo Pharma Gmbh (Art 57), Thrive Pharma Ltd, Stadapharm Gmbh, Ipca Productos Farmaceuticos Unipessoal Lda, Abz-Pharma Gmbh, Tad Pharma Gmbh, Aliud Pharma Gmbh · 34 register entries
  • Venlagamma RetardWörwag Pharma Gmbh & Co. Kg · 1 register entry
  • ZaredropItalfarmaco S.P.A. · 1 register entry

Source: EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), as of 2026-10-28

Turkey

  • BoniluxSANDOZ İLAÇ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. · 2 register entries
  • Efexor XRVİATRİS İLAÇLARI LİMİTED ŞİRKETİ · 6 register entries
  • Faxiven XRNEUTEC İLAÇ SAN. TİC. A.Ş · 3 register entries
  • Sulinex XRABDİ İBRAHİM İLAÇ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. · 8 register entries
  • Venegis XRFARMA-TEK İLAÇ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. · 3 register entries
  • Venladep XRİLKO İLAÇ SAN.VE TİC. A.Ş. · 4 register entries

Source: TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, as of 2026-10-16

Brand names in 27 more European countries
Belgium
Efexor-Exel, Venlafaxin Retard Sandoz, Venlafaxine Eg, Venlafaxine Eurogenerics, Venlafaxine Retard Ab, Venlafaxine Teva
Bulgaria
Eфектин Er, Алвента, Велаксин, Ланвексин, Лароксин Xr, Тифаксин Mr
Croatia
Alventa, Velafax
Cyprus
Efaxine, Efexor Xr, Venlafaxin Tad, Venlaxin
Czechia
Argofan, Efectin Er, Olwexya, Velaxin, Venlafaxin Viatris
Denmark
Efastad, Efexor Depot, Panofen, Vefamyl, Venlafaxin "sandoz", Venlafaxin Bluefish, Venlafaxin Krka, Venlafaxin Medical Valley, Venlafaxin Orion, Venlafaxin Pharmathen, Venlafaxin Teva
Estonia
Alventa, Efexor Xr, Venlafaxine Elvim, Venlafaxine Liconsa, Venlafaxine Wörwag Pharma
Finland
Efexor Depot, Venlafaxin Krka, Venlafaxin Orion, Venlafaxin Ratiopharm, Venlafaxin Sandoz, Venlafaxine Ipca, Venorion
France
Effexor L.P., Venlafaxine Biphar, Venlafaxine L.P. Krka, Venlafaxine L.P. Teva, Venlafaxine Lp Almus, Venlafaxine Lp Arrow Generiques, Venlafaxine Lp Biogaran, Venlafaxine Lp Bluefish, Venlafaxine Lp Cristers, Venlafaxine Lp Eg Labo, Venlafaxine Lp Evolugen Pharma, Venlafaxine Lp Sandoz, Venlafaxine Lp Zentiva, Venlafaxine Teva, Venlafaxine Viatris, Venlafaxine Zydus France
Greece
Deprevix, Efexor Xr, Memomax-S, Norezor, Serosmine, Velept Xr, Velpine Xr, Ven-Fax, Venlaxin, Zacalen
Hungary
Falven, Faxinev, Faxiprol, Olwexya, Velaxin, Venlafaxin Teva
Iceland
Efexor Depot, Velocin, Venlafaxin Krka, Venlafaxin Medical Valley, Venlafaxin Teva, Venlafaxine Alvogen, Venlafaxine Bluefish
Ireland
Efexor Xl, Ireven, Majoven Xl, Vedixal, Venex Xl, Venlablue Xl, Venlafex Xl, Venlatev, Venlofex, Vensir Xl
Italy
Efexor, Ixilania, Venlafaxina Alter, Venlafaxina Aurobindo, Venlafaxina Doc Generici, Venlafaxina Eg Stada Italia, Venlafaxina Krka, Venlafaxina Mylan Generics, Venlafaxina Sandoz, Venlafaxina Teva, Venlafaxina Viatris, Venlafaxina Zentiva, Zaredrop, Zarelis
Latvia
Venlaxor
Lithuania
Alventa, Efexor Xr, Lanvexin
Luxembourg
Efexor-Exel, Venlafaxin Ratiopharm, Venlafaxine Eg, Venlafaxine Eurogenerics
Malta
Efexor Xl, Venlafaxine Aurobindo, Venlafaxine Clonmel, Vensir Xl
Netherlands
Efexor Xr, Venfalex Xr, Venlafaxine Focus, Venlafaxine Hcl Retard Alembic, Venlafaxine Hcl Sandoz, Venlafaxine Hydrochloride Aurobindo, Venlafaxine Retard Krka, Venlafaxine Retard Teva, Venlafaxine Retard Viatris, Venlafaxine Sun, Venlafaxine Teva, Venlafaxine Xr Viatris
Norway
Efastad, Efexor Depot, Venlafaxin Bluefish, Venlafaxin Krka, Venlafaxin Sandoz, Venlafaxin Teva, Venlazid
Poland
Alventa, Axyven, Efectin Er, Faxigen Xl, Faxolet Er, Lafactin, Oriven, Prefaxine, Symfaxin Er, Velaxin Er, Venlafaxine Actavis, Venlafaxine Xl Bluefish, Venlectine
Portugal
Efexor Xr, Genexin, Milven, Venlafaxin Mylan, Venlafaxina Alter, Venlafaxina Aurovitas, Venlafaxina Azevedos, Venlafaxina Bluepharma, Venlafaxina Ciclum, Venlafaxina Desinax, Venlafaxina Generis, Venlafaxina Krka, Venlafaxina Mepha, Venlafaxina Mylan, Venlafaxina Pharmakern, Venlafaxina Ratiopharm, Venlafaxina Sandoz, Venlafaxina Teva, Venlafaxina Tolife, Venlafaxina Xr Bluefish, Venlafaxina Zentiva, Zaredrop, Zarelix
Romania
Alventa, Efectin Ep, Fobiless, Velaxin, Venlafaxină Arena, Venlafaxină Ep Arena
Slovakia
Alventa, Velaxin
Slovenia
Alventa, Efectin Er
Spain
Dislaven Retard, Dobupal, Vandral Retard, Venlabrain Retard, Venlafaxina Bluefish, Venlafaxina Combix, Venlafaxina Kern Pharma, Venlafaxina Normon, Venlafaxina Retard Alter Genéricos, Venlafaxina Retard Aurovitas, Venlafaxina Retard Cinfamed, Venlafaxina Retard Farmalider, Venlafaxina Retard Kern Pharma, Venlafaxina Retard Krka, Venlafaxina Retard Mabo, Venlafaxina Retard Normogen, Venlafaxina Retard Normon, Venlafaxina Retard Pensa Pharma, Venlafaxina Retard Pharma Combix, Venlafaxina Retard Qualigen, Venlafaxina Retard Stada, Venlafaxina Retard Stadagen, Venlafaxina Retard Teva, Venlafaxina Retard Viatris, Venlafaxina Sandoz, Venlafaxina Stada, Venlafaxina Sun, Venlafaxina Vir, Venlafaxinaretard Tarbis, Venlapine Retard, Zarelis Retard
Sweden
Efastad, Efexor Depot, Trevilor, Venlafaxin, Venlafaxine Bluefish

EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-28

Medelix receives no money from pharmaceutical companies. Brand names are listed alphabetically and without ranking.

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Sources

  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Venlafaxine (BluePoint Laboratories) – Prescribing Information, 2023-08-31. DailyMed (NLM), 2026-10-27. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=172b3d3d-bdae-47bf-8fba-edd6da1a8649
  2. EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-28. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/data-medicines-iso-idmp-standards-post-authorisation/public-data-article-57-database
  3. EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-28. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/data-medicines-iso-idmp-standards-post-authorisation/public-data-article-57-database
  4. TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, 2026-10-16. https://www.titck.gov.tr/dinamikmodul/85
  5. Wikidata (CC0): ATC N06AX.

Editorial: Medelix editorial team · last updated 2026-10-27 · How these pages are made · Report an error

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), prescribing information, via DailyMed (NLM); public domain. Not advertising, not a treatment recommendation. For questions about your own treatment, ask your doctor or pharmacist.