Venlafaxine: study card

Venlafaxine — Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). Study the mechanism, listed uses and warnings from the US label on one sourced card.

Generic name
Venlafaxine
Class
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI)
Mechanism
Thought to potentiate serotonin and norepinephrine in the CNS by inhibiting their reuptake.
Used for
Major depressive disorder in adults; Generalized anxiety disorder in adults; Social anxiety disorder in adults; Panic disorder in adults
Common side effects
Nausea; Somnolence; Dry mouth; Sweating; Abnormal ejaculation
Boxed warning
Antidepressants increased suicidal thoughts and behaviors in pediatric and young adult patients; not approved in children.
Warnings
Serotonin syndrome; Elevated blood pressure; Discontinuation syndrome
Interactions
MAO inhibitors; Other serotonergic drugs; Antiplatelets / anticoagulants

Brand questions use only name pairings verified against the linked product source. Unverified pairings are withheld from these questions; the other study content remains available.

Drug class families: Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors

Read the source label ↗

Label date: 20260827 · For learning, not clinical decisions. US label and brand information; always consult the current source.

Source snapshot checked: 2026-10-21. The source document and selected fields were compared. The complete card has not had an independent clinical review.

Pronunciation

Venlafaxine: ven-la-FAX-een

Pronunciation is shown for the US English generic name.

Other drugs in the same class

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors: Desvenlafaxine, Duloxetine

Body system

Psychiatry · 30 Drug cards

Compare with related cards

Duloxetine

Same class family: Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors

Mechanism: Exact mechanism unknown; believed to potentiate serotonergic and noradrenergic activity in the CNS.

On both cards: Used for — Major depressive disorder in adults · Common side effects — Nausea; Somnolence; Dry mouth · Warnings — Serotonin syndrome

Only on the Duloxetine card: Used for — Generalized anxiety disorder in adults and children aged 7 years and older; Diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain in adults; Fibromyalgia in adults and adolescents aged 13 years and older; Chronic musculoskeletal pain in adults · Common side effects — Constipation; Hyperhidrosis · Warnings — Hepatotoxicity; Orthostatic hypotension, falls, syncope · Interactions — Potent CYP1A2 inhibitors; Potent CYP2D6 inhibitors; MAOIs

Desvenlafaxine

Same class family: Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors

Mechanism: Thought to potentiate serotonin and norepinephrine in the CNS by inhibiting their reuptake; a potent, selective SNRI.

On both cards: Common side effects — Nausea · Warnings — Serotonin syndrome; Elevated blood pressure · Interactions — Other serotonergic drugs

Only on the Desvenlafaxine card: Used for — Major depressive disorder (adults) · Common side effects — Dizziness; Insomnia; Hyperhidrosis; Constipation · Warnings — Increased bleeding risk · Interactions — MAO inhibitors (contraindicated); Aspirin, NSAIDs, anticoagulants

Paroxetine

Same body system: Psychiatry

Mechanism: Presumed to potentiate CNS serotonergic activity by inhibiting neuronal reuptake of serotonin (5-HT).

On both cards: Used for — Major depressive disorder in adults · Common side effects — Nausea; Somnolence; Dry mouth; Sweating; Abnormal ejaculation · Warnings — Serotonin syndrome

Only on the Paroxetine card: Used for — Obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic disorder in adults; Social anxiety disorder and generalized anxiety disorder in adults; Posttraumatic stress disorder in adults · Warnings — Embryofetal toxicity; Increased risk of bleeding · Interactions — MAOIs (contraindicated); Thioridazine / pimozide (contraindicated); Anticoagulants / NSAIDs

An item counts as shared only when both cards use the same wording. If a card does not list an item, that is not a statement that the effect never occurs.

Boxed warnings on related cards

Duloxetine: Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, adolescents and young adults.

Desvenlafaxine: Antidepressants increased suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, adolescents, and young adults; monitor closely for worsening.