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Effexor XR vs. Xanax

Are Effexor XR and Xanax the Same Thing?

Effexor XR (venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release) and Xanax (alprazolam) are used to treat patients with panic and anxiety disorders.

Effexor XR is also used to treat patients with major depressive disorders.

Effexor XR and Xanax belong to different drug classes. Effexor XR is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SSNRI) type antidepressant and Xanax is a benzodiazepine.

Side effects of Effexor XR and Xanax that are similar include nausea, constipation, sleep problems (insomnia), dizziness, weakness, drowsiness, dry mouth, blurred vision, changes in appetite or weight, decreased sex drive, and increased sweating.

Side effects of Effexor XR that are different from Xanax include nervousness, strange dreams, impotence, and difficulty having an orgasm.

Side effects of Xanax that are different from Effexor XR include tiredness, memory problems, poor balance or coordination, slurred speech, trouble concentrating, irritability, diarrhea, headache, vomiting, upset stomach, swelling in your hands or feet, and stuffy nose.

Both Effexor XR and Xanax may interact with alcohol, other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicines, sedatives, narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicines for seizures or anxiety), cimetidine, or antidepressants.

Effexor XR may also interact with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), ketoconazole, linezolid, lithium, haloperidol, tramadol, L-tryptophan, warfarin, or selective serotonin receptor agonists (triptans).

Xanax may also interact with birth control pills, cyclosporine, dexamethasone, ergotamine, imatinib, isoniazid, St. John's wort, antibiotics, antifungals, barbiturates, heart or blood pressure medications, or HIV/AIDS medicines.

Do not stop using Xanax suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

 

What Are Possible Side Effects of Effexor XR?

Common side effects of Effexor XR include:

  • nausea,
  • constipation,
  • insomnia,
  • dizziness,
  • asthenia,
  • drowsiness,
  • dry mouth,
  • nervousness,
  • strange dreams,
  • blurred vision,
  • changes in appetite or weight,
  • decreased sex drive,
  • impotence,
  • difficulty having an orgasm, and
  • increased sweating.

Tell your doctor if you have unlikely but serious side effects of Effexor XR including:

  • easy bruising or bleeding,
  • decreased interest in sex,
  • changes in sexual ability,
  • muscle cramps or weakness, or
  • shaking (tremors).

Serious side effects of Effexor XR include clinical worsening of symptoms and suicide risk, especially in younger patients. Tell your doctor if you experience worsening depression or thoughts of suicide while taking Effexor XR.

What Are Possible Side Effects of Xanax?

Common side effects of Xanax include:

  • Drowsiness
  • Tiredness
  • Dizziness
  • Sleep problems (insomnia)
  • Memory problems
  • Poor balance or coordination
  • Slurred speech
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Irritability
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Increased sweating
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Upset stomach
  • Blurred vision
  • Appetite or weight changes
  • Swelling in your hands or feet
  • Muscle weakness
  • Dry mouth
  • Stuffy nose
  • Loss of interest in sex

What Is Effexor XR?

Effexor XR (venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release) is an antidepressant used to treat patients with major depressive disorders such as panic and social disorders. Effexor XR is available as a generic.

What Is Xanax?

Xanax (alprazolam) is indicated for the management of anxiety disorders and the short-term relief of symptoms of anxiety in adults. Xanax is also indicated for the treatment of panic disorder in adults with or without a fear of places and situations that might cause panic, helplessness, or embarrassment (agoraphobia).

 

What Drugs Interact With Effexor XR?

Effexor XR may interact with other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicines, sedatives, narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicines for seizures or anxiety), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), cimetidine, ketoconazole, linezolid, lithium, haloperidol, tramadol, L-tryptophan, warfarin, almotriptan, frovatriptan, sumatriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, zolmitriptan, other antidepressants, or other drugs.

What Drugs Interact With Xanax?

Xanax may interact with cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, medicine for depression or anxiety, antibiotics, antifungal medicines, antidepressants, and barbiturates. Xanax may also interact with birth control pills, cimetidine, cyclosporine, dexamethasone, ergotamine, imatinib, isoniazid, St. John's wort, heart or blood pressure medications, HIV/AIDS medicines, and seizure medications.

Do not take Xanax if you are allergic to alprazolam, other benzodiazepines, or any of the ingredients in Xanax. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in Xanax. you are taking antifungal medicines including ketoconazole and itraconazole.

 

How Should Effexor XR Be Taken?

The recommended dose of Effexor XR for most patients is 5 mg taken orally twice daily.

How Should Xanax Be Taken?

Take Xanax exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much Xanax to take and when to take it. If you take too much Xanax, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

Xanax is a benzodiazepine medicine. Taking benzodiazepines with opioid medicines, alcohol, or other central nervous system depressants (including street drugs) can cause severe drowsiness, breathing problems (respiratory depression), coma and death.

Xanax can make you sleepy or dizzy, and can slow your thinking and motor skills.

Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how Xanax affects you.

Do not drink alcohol or take other drugs that may make you sleepy or dizzy while taking Xanax without first talking to your healthcare provider. When taken with alcohol or drugs that cause sleepiness or dizziness, Xanax may make your sleepiness or dizziness much worse.

Do not take more Xanax than prescribed.