Venlafaxine XR Adco 37,5 mg Capsules

Venlafaxine XR Adco is an antidepressant that belongs to a group of medicines called serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). This group of medicines is used to treat depression and other conditions such as anxiety disorders. It is thought that people who are depressed and/or anxious have lower levels of serotonin and noradrenaline in the brain. It is not fully understood how antidepressants work, but they may help by increasing the levels of serotonin and noradrenaline in the brain.

Venlafaxine XR Adco is used to treat adults with depression, including depression associated with anxiety (feeling of worry or nervousness). Venlafaxine XR Adco is also used to treat severe and persistent anxiety (known as generalised anxiety disorder), social anxiety disorder also known as social phobia (fear or avoidance of social situations).

Treating depression or anxiety disorders properly is important to help you get better. If it is not treated, your condition may not go away and may become more serious and more difficult to treat. Venlafaxine XR Adco is used to prevent a relapse of an episode of depression or to prevent recurrence and your doctor will periodically re-evaluate you.

Do not take Venlafaxine XR Adco:

• if you are hypersensitive (allergic) to venlafaxine or to any of the other ingredients of Venlafaxine XR Adco (listed in section 6)
• if you are taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI’s), a medicine also used to treat depression or Parkinson’s disease, or have taken it in the last 14 days (also, you must wait at least 7 days after you stop taking Venlafaxine XR Adco before you take any MAOI)
• if you are under the age of 18
• if you are pregnant or breastfeeding your baby.

Warnings and precautions

Take special care with Venlafaxine XR Adco:

• If you use other medicines that taken together with Venlafaxine XR Adco could increase the risk of developing serotonin syndrome (see the section “Other medicines and Venlafaxine XR Adco”).
• If you have eye problems, such as certain kinds of glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye).
• If you have a history of high blood pressure.
• If you have a history of heart problems.
• If you have a history of myocardial infarction or unstable heart disease.
• If you have a history of fits (seizures).
• If you have a history of low sodium levels in your blood (hyponatraemia).
• If you have a tendency to develop bruises or a tendency to bleed easily (history of bleeding disorders), or if you are taking other medicines that may increase the risk of bleeding e.g., warfarin (used to prevent blood clots).
• If you are pregnant as there may be an increased risk of heavy vaginal bleeding shortly after birth (see ‘Pregnancy’ and Do not take Venlafaxine XR Adco).
• If you have a history of high cholesterol.
• If you are taking weight loss medicines.
• If you have a history of, or if someone in your family has had, mania or bipolar disorder (feeling over- excited or euphoric).
• If you have a history of aggressive behaviour.
• If you need to have screening tests for phencyclidine and amphetamine.

Thoughts of suicide and worsening of your depression or anxiety disorder

If you are depressed and/or have anxiety disorders, you can sometimes have thoughts of harming or killing yourself. These may be increased when you first start taking antidepressants, since these medicines all take time to work, usually about two weeks, but sometimes longer.

You may be more likely to think like this:

• If you have previously had thoughts about killing yourself or harming yourself.
• If you are a young adult. Information from clinical trials has shown an increased risk of suicidal behaviour in young adults (less than 25 years old) with psychiatric conditions who were treated with an antidepressant.

If you have thoughts of harming or killing yourself at any time, contact your doctor or go to a hospital straight away.

Do not share medicines prescribed for you with any other person. Always take Venlafaxine XR Adco exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

The usual recommended starting dose for Venlafaxine XR Adco for treatment of depression, generalised anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder is 75 mg per day. The dose can be raised by your doctor gradually, and if needed, even up to a maximum dose of 375 mg daily for depression. The maximum dose for generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder and panic disorder is 225 mg/day.

Swallow the capsule whole with fluid. Do not divide, crush, chew or place capsule in water.

Take Venlafaxine XR Adco once daily at the same time either in the morning or in the evening. Venlafaxine XR Adco should be taken with food.

If you have liver or kidney problems, talk to your doctor, since your dose of Venlafaxine XR Adco may need to be different. Your doctor will frequently assess if you need to be on long-term therapy with Venlafaxine XR Adco. Your doctor will tell you how long your treatment with Venlafaxine XR Adco will last. Do not stop treatment early because you feel better. If you have the impression that the effect of Venlafaxine XR Adco is too strong or too weak, tell your doctor or pharmacist.

If you take more Venlafaxine XR Adco than you should

In the event of overdosage, consult your doctor or pharmacist. If neither is available, contact the nearest hospital or poison centre.

The symptoms of a possible overdose may include a rapid heartbeat, changes in level of alertness (ranging from sleepiness to coma), blurred vision, seizures or fits, and vomiting.

If you forget to take Venlafaxine XR Adco

Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten individual doses.

If you stop taking Venlafaxine XR Adco

Do not stop taking your treatment or reduce the dose without the advice of your doctor even if you feel better. If your doctor thinks that you no longer need Venlafaxine XR Adco, he/she may ask you to reduce your dose slowly before stopping treatment altogether. Side effects are known to occur when people stop using Venlafaxine XR Adco, especially when it is stopped suddenly, or the dose is reduced too quickly. Some patients may experience symptoms such as tiredness, dizziness, light-headedness, headache, sleeplessness, nightmares, dry mouth, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhoea, nervousness, agitation, confusion, ringing in the ears, tingling or rarely electric shock sensations, weakness, sweating, seizures, or flu-like symptoms. Your doctor will advise you on how you should gradually discontinue Venlafaxine XR Adco treatment. If you experience any of these or other symptoms that are troublesome, ask your doctor for further advice.

Venlafaxine XR Adco can have side effects. Not all side effects reported for Venlafaxine XR Adco are included in this leaflet. Should your general health worsen or if you experience any untoward effects while taking Venlafaxine XR Adco, please consult your doctor, pharmacist or other healthcare provider for advice.

If any of the following happens, stop taking Venlafaxine XR Adco and tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital:

• Swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, face, lips and mouth or throat, which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing,
• rash or itching,
• fainting.

These are all very serious side effects. If you have them, you may have had a serious reaction to Venlafaxine XR Adco. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.

Tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:

• Heart problems, such as fast or irregular heart rate, increased blood pressure.
• Chest tightness, wheezing, trouble swallowing or breathing.
• Severe skin rash, itching or hives (elevated patches of red or pale skin that often itch).
• Signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome which may include restlessness, hallucinations, loss of coordination, fast heartbeat, increased body temperature, fast changes in blood pressure, overactive reflexes, diarrhoea, coma, nausea, vomiting.

In its most severe form, serotonin syndrome can resemble Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS). Signs and symptoms of NMS may include a combination of fever, fast heartbeat, sweating, severe muscle stiffness, confusion, increased muscle enzymes (determined by a blood test).

Signs of infection, such as high temperature, chills, shivering, headaches, sweating, flu-like symptoms. This may be the result of a blood disorder which leads to an increased risk of infection.

Severe rash, which may lead to severe blistering and peeling of the skin.

Unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness. This may be a sign of rhabdomyolysis.

Thoughts of harming or killing yourself.

These are all serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following:

Frequent side effects:

• decreased appetite
• difficulty sleeping
• abnormal dreams, nervousness
• decreased libido, abnormal ejaculation/orgasm (males)
• dizziness, drowsiness, shaking
• paraesthesia (abnormal sensation, typically tingling or pricking)
• altered taste
• blurred vision, dilated pupils, vision loss, inability of the eye to automatically change focus from distant to near objects
• hot flushes
• yawning
• nausea, dry mouth, constipation, vomiting, stomach pain
• an abnormally high level of muscle tone or tension, back pain
• inability to pass urine; difficulties passing urine
• impotence
• tiredness, lack of energy, pain
• weight gain, weight loss
• increased cholesterol

Less frequent side effects:

• over activity, racing thoughts and decreased need for sleep (mania)
• feeling over-excited (hypomania)
• hallucinations
• derealisation (feeling that one’s surroundings are not real), apathy (lack of interest)
• abnormal orgasm
• involuntary muscle jerks or twitches; fits
• feeling dizzy (particularly when standing up too quickly)
• sensitivity to sunlight; bruising

Frequency unknown:

• sensation of whirling and loss of balance
• blood disorders such as granulocytes in the blood, deficiency of all types of blood cell caused by failure of bone marrow development, red cells, white cells, and platelets deficiency (pancytopaenia), platelets deficiency in the blood (thrombocytopaenia) (will be determined by a blood test)
• excessive water retention (known as SIADH)
• abnormal breast milk production
• decrease in blood sodium levels
• increased appetite
• confusion, feeling separated (or detached) from yourself
• agitation
• grinding of teeth (especially during sleep)
• headache
• a sensation of restlessness or an inability to sit or stand still
• involuntary movements of the muscles
• balance disorder
• muscular spasm and abnormal posture
• angle-closure glaucoma
• ringing in the ears
• low blood pressure
• inflammation of the lungs
• coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath which may be accompanied by a high temperature
• sore throat, runny nose, sneezing
• vomiting blood, black tarry stools (faeces) or blood in stools which can be signs of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract
• severe abdominal or back pains, feeling sick and vomiting which could indicate inflammation of the pancreas
• diarrhoea
• severe weight loss (anorexia)
• indigestion, burping, wind (flatulence)
• increased liver function tests (determined by a blood test)
• itchiness, yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, or flu-like symptoms, which are symptoms of inflammation of the liver (hepatitis)
• excessive sweating (including night sweats)
• hives, hair loss, swelling of the legs and arms
• bulging, rash-like lesion that is red, pink, purple, or brown
• muscle pain
• increased frequency in urination
• involuntary leakage of urine
• menstrual irregularities such as increased bleeding or increased irregular bleeding
• chills
• unexpected bleeding, e.g. bleeding gums, blood in the urine or in vomit, or the appearance of unexpected bruises or broken blood vessels (broken veins)
• extended bleeding - if you cut or injure yourself, it may take slightly longer than usual for bleeding to stop
• heavy vaginal bleeding shortly after birth (postpartum haemorrhage)

If you notice any side effects not mentioned in this leaflet, please inform your doctor or pharmacist.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. You can also report side effects to SAHPRA via the “6.04 Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Form”, found online under SAHPRA’s publications: https://www.sahpra.org.za/Publications/Index/8. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of Venlafaxine XR Adco.

STORE ALL MEDICINES OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

Store at or below 25 °C. Store in original packaging until required for use. Protect from light and moisture. Keep HDPE containers tightly closed. Return all unused medicine to your pharmacist. Do not dispose of unused medicine in drains or sewerage systems (e.g. toilets).