LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Effexor: Taking Effexor
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The popular antidepressant drug Effexor should not be started in children under the age of 18, according to a statement released September 19, 2003 by the British Committee on Safety of Medicines. They reported that recent tests in children showed no benefit from Effexor in treating childhood depression, but did show an increase in undesirable outcomes, including at least twice as many reports of hostility, suicidal thoughts, and episodes of self-harm in those taking the medicine compared to depressed children who were taking a placebo. If your child is taking Effexor, do not stop the medicine abruptly; rather, discuss options with your child's physician. Effexor has been shown to be effective in adults, and to have fewer side effects in adults. Childhood depression is different from adult depression; their developing brains are different from adult brains. They think differently than adults (even though both groups often lose sight of this).
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Effexor may be a good choice for treatment-resistant depression or depression with anxiety. When taking this medication... report anything unusual to your doctor, as side effects have been reported that are not listed in the patient insert. These additional side effects are said to be rare, but it's best to be cautious.
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While using Effexor, patients are advised to keep a minute track of the body's reactions to the drug. It is important to have your doctor informed about your condition as much as possible. Effexor should be used as scheduled. Missing a dose... doesn't mean patients should double-up the next dose, but taking it as soon as they remember or skipping it if too close to the next scheduled dose.
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If your doctor tells you to stop taking Effexor , you will need to wait for a period of time before beginning to take certain other medicines (eg, MAOIs, nefazodone, thioridazine). Ask your doctor when you should start to take your new medicines after you have stopped taking Effexor .
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Suicidal thoughts or actions: Persons taking Effexor may be more likely to think about killing themselves or actually try to do so, especially when Effexor is first started or the dose is changed. People close to persons taking Effexor can help by paying attention to changes in user’s moods or actions. Contact your healthcare professional right away if someone using Effexor talks about or shows signs of killing him or herself. If you are taking Effexor yourself and you start thinking about killing yourself, tell your healthcare professional about this side effect right away.
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Effexor definitely should not be taken at the same time as the MAOIs (such as Parnate or Nardil). Interactions with these compounds could be lethal. Patients who have been taking an MAOI and are switching to Effexor must allow sufficient time (usually 14 days) for the MAOI to clear out of the body. The same time should be allowed if changing from Effexor to an MAOI. However, switching from Effexor to other medications is easy because Effexor is quickly removed from the body.
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Taking Effexor