What is Effexor?

Effexor is the brand name for the drug venlafaxine. Venlafaxine is a prescription drug approved by US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) [1] to treat and manage depression, social anxiety disorder, and cataplexy symptoms. This drug was discontinued in the U.S. but a newer, time-released Effexor XR formula is said to cause less nausea and is available with a valid prescription.

Effexor is in a class of selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). It works by increasing the amounts of norepinephrine and serotonin, natural substances in the brain that help maintain mental balance. This medication may be used independently or as part of combination therapy with other drugs [2].

Effexor is prescribed only for those 18 years and older and should not be used in children under 18. It should be consumed with food, and patients should not take it with alcohol as combining alcohol and Effexor can lead to increased sedation. 

Street name of Effexor

The following terms are street names or slang for antidepressants like Effexor:

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) [3], mental illnesses are common in the United States. Nearly one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness (51.5 million in 2019). Mental illnesses include many different conditions that vary in severity, ranging from mild to moderate to severe.

Major depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States. Major depression can result in severe impairments that interfere with or limit one’s ability to carry out major life activities for some individuals. In 2019, an estimated 13.1 million U.S. adults aged 18 or older had at least one major depressive episode with severe impairment in the past year. This number represented 5.3% of all U.S. adults.

Signs and Symptoms of Effexor Abuse

Effexor dependency and abuse are extremely dangerous in the sense that they may result in undesirable social effects. An individual misusing Effexor may isolate themselves, labeling themselves as “misunderstood.” This almost always damages relationships with loved ones and at work, creating financial problems and a loss of social life.

If a person is addicted, he or she may display some of the following signs and symptoms of Effexor addiction:

Side Effects of Effexor Abuse

Abusing Effexor may produce some uncomfortable side effects, such as:

Physical side effects

Psychological side effect

Psychological responses to overuse:

Social Side Effects

Effexor dependency social effects include:

Effexor Detox Withdrawal 

When someone stops taking antidepressants like Effexor, they may develop a condition that doctors call antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. This condition happens in about 20 percent of people who have been using antidepressant medication for at least six weeks and then suddenly stop.

Due to Effexor’s half-life of about four hours, withdrawal symptoms occur quickly, even after missing just one dose. Half-lives are determined based on the length of time it takes for the body to metabolize one-half of the medication [4]. 

This means that if a person takes short-acting venlafaxine, they may start to develop Effexor detox withdrawal symptoms the same day or the next day after their last dose. Also, if they miss a dose of long-acting Effexor, they may start to develop Effexor detox withdrawal symptoms within a day or two.  

Signs & Symptoms of Effexor Detox Withdrawal

When reducing or stopping an antidepressant, a neurochemical change takes place in the brain. As the brain readjusts to the new conditions, symptoms of withdrawing from Effexor (or another antidepressant) may include:

Effexor Detox Withdrawal Timeline

Dangers of Mixing Alcohol & Effexor

Many individuals who struggle with depression, especially people who have not been properly diagnosed, usually turn to alcohol to escape. And a lot of time, alcohol use can lead to increased long-term mood symptoms, such as anxiety and depression [6]. In fact, alcohol abuse is prevalent among people who suffer from depression. People who suffer from depression use the numbing and pleasurable effects of alcohol for that purpose. 

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA) |5|, given that symptoms of depression co-occur with alcohol dependence in about 80 percent of patients and that 30 to 40 percent of alcohol-dependent men and women struggle from an independent major depressive episode during their lifetime.

Sometimes individuals consume alcohol to help symptoms of depression. However, it is important to know that using alcohol often makes depression worse in the long run and is also associated with other health risks. These risks may be elevated by using alcohol with other antidepressants such as Effexor. Since many antidepressants, including Effexor, can be connected with side effects that are similar to those of alcohol, these effects can be increased while taking both substances together.

Moreover, combining drugs and alcohol with Effexor can increase the risk of side effects and complicate the Effexor detox withdrawal period. It is therefore advised that to avoid the use of alcohol while on Effexor. Not only does taking Effexor or any other antidepressants with alcohol increase the risk of overdose, but it can also lead to side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, impaired judgment, and trouble concentrating. Some other-the-counter and prescription medications may interact with Effexor poorly as well. Consult a doctor before taking any of the following: 

Alcohol and Effexor Side Effects

Side effects of mixing alcohol and Effexor may include:

Effexor and Alcohol can cause Bleeding

Effexor, like other antidepressants, can cause bleeding problems by increasing the time it takes platelets to form normal clots. Alcohol also functions as a blood thinner, so consuming alcohol and Effexor in combination can lead to an increased risk of the following bleeding conditions:

Alcohol and Effexor Effects on Mental Health 

In addition to the dangerous effects of mixing Effexor and alcohol, it is vital to understand that alcohol use by itself has been known to worsen the symptoms of mental health problems. Furthermore, an individual who uses both of these substances may encounter even worse symptoms of mental disorders, including the following:

Alcohol is a CNS depressant that can inhibit the efficacy of Effexor. It’s not known precisely how much alcohol any given person would need to drink to neutralize the Effexor in their body because many factors are involved. For some, even one or two drinks could be a problem.

Alcohol essentially counteracts Effexor, meaning that it will worsen the symptoms of a mental health disorder. Because of this, using alcohol with Effexor is counterproductive. In other words, drinking alcohol while using this prescription antidepressant defeats the whole purpose.

Treatment for Effexor Detox Withdrawal

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) [6], the co-occurrence of alcohol and depression is relatively common. Sometimes, individuals taking antidepressants also abuse substances like alcohol if their medication isn’t working. Polydrug use like this can worsen symptoms of depression and increase the risk of addiction.

Medically-Assisted Effexor Detox

Detox is the first step to quitting antidepressants like Effexor. Drug and alcohol detox flushes a person’s system of the drugs they have consumed. People who are addicted to drugs typically have a very high tolerance for those substances.  If you or someone you know is dependent on Effexor, it is important to make sure they detox comfortably and safely. Safe and comfortable  Effexor detox includes assistance from a medical professional, either as part of a prescription plan or in a supervised Effexor detox setting. A doctor can slowly taper off and reduce the dosage to eliminate or ease the person’s Effexor detox withdrawal symptoms.

Counseling and Therapy

After the medically-assisted Effexor detox, the treatment can then progress to involve counseling and therapy. A therapist can help users understand and move past the underlying causes of their depression. For co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders counseling can be of real value in the treatment process. Most of the problems being dealt with likely have underlying emotional and mental stress-related issues that have not been adequately handled.

Once the root of these issues is fleshed out, building healthy thought processes and coping mechanisms can be accomplished. It can be more challenging for a person to move forward in treatment successfully if they don’t deal with their demons and do the internal self-work needed. Therapy can be individual, group, or family, giving support, advice, and accountability.

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