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Effexor and Seizures

There are a number of rare but possible serious side effects that may develop with Effexor, and seizures are one of these side effects. Seizures occur in less than 1 percent of patients taking the antidepressant. They are also a potential complication for newborns who were exposed to Effexor during pregnancy. If you have a seizure while taking Effexor, your healthcare provider should take you off the drug, and you should never take it again.

Effexor and Seizures: An Overview

Side effects can occur during treatment with Effexor® (venlafaxine hydrochloride), and seizures are a rare but possible side effect. In previous studies, seizures occurred in 0.26 percent of people taking the medicine. If you have a seizure while taking Effexor, your healthcare provider should take you off Effexor, and you should not take Effexor in the future.
 

Effexor, Seizure, and Newborns

Effexor is a pregnancy category C medicine, meaning that the medication could potentially cause harm to an unborn child.
 If you are pregnant, you should take Effexor only if your healthcare provider believes the benefits outweigh the possible risks to your unborn child.
 
Also, it is strongly recommended that you not take Effexor during the third trimester. This is because newborns can develop a number of complications that require a prolonged hospital stay after being exposed to drugs like Effexor -- and seizures can be one of those potential complications.
 
(Click Effexor and Pregnancy for more information on the risks of taking Effexor during pregnancy, especially during the third trimester.)

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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