Can Venlafaxine cause daytime sleepiness and sweating?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am a 22-year-old male. I have a problem. When I sleep at daytime, I feel ill and sweaty the whole day. When I am not sleeping, I feel better. I want to know about this problem. I am taking Veniz XR for the past six years. Does it cause any side effect? How can I wean off this antidepressant medicine?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Yes, excessive sweating can be caused due to Veniz XR (Venlafaxine). Sweating is the most common side effect of Veniz XR. Daytime sleepiness itself is a separate side effect. Veniz XR causes drowsiness and excessive yawning. As you have been taking Veniz XR for the past six years, so it is more likely to result in side effects. These side effects are caused by autonomic activation.

This medication can be weaned off successfully. However, it requires gradual tapering. I can assist you in weaning off this medication. Kindly say some details about the condition for which it is taken. Please tell about your current status of illness, and current symptoms you have. Please tell about the number of relapses you had while taking this medicine. Please explain about the current dose. Please say about the previous attempts of weaning it and the difficulties faced while weaning it.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

It is good to know that you are currently asymptomatic. You had developed side effects when you tried to wean it. Before planning for tapering it, it is necessary to understand that sudden stoppage of a high dose of Veniz will result in the development of withdrawal symptoms. So it is always advisable to gradually taper off the drug in small increments over an extended period.

Please provide the details about the previous symptoms. Please explain about the reason for taking Veniz. Please tell about the total duration as you have been asymptomatic to this medication. It is necessary to know all these details so that a successful weaning plan can be made for you, which would not result in any relapse.

Answer 3

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

As you have been asymptomatic for a year, then we can wean it off gradually with high success. Tapering can be done slowly over a period of four to six weeks. In the first week, reduce the dose to 225 mg. In the second week, reduce the dose to 187.5 mg. In the third week, reduce it to 150 mg. In the fourth week, reduce it to 112.5 mg. In the fifth week, reduce it to 75 mg, and in the sixth week, reduce it to 37.5 mg. After taking it for a week, try to stop taking it completely.

If you develop withdrawal symptoms at any stage, then the duration needs to be extended for one week at that dose. So, the body can adjust to the change. If the problem persists, then tapering would precipitate the relapse. Then the dose is needed to be increased, and it has to be continued for a longer duration.