Elavil vs. Effexor

• Are Elavil and Effexor the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Elavil?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Effexor?
• What Is Elavil?
• What Is Effexor?
• What Drugs Interact with Elavil?
• What Drugs Interact with Effexor?
• How Should Elavil Be Taken?
• How Should Effexor Be Taken?

Elavil (amitryptiline) and Effexor (venlafaxine) are used to treat depression.

Elavil may also be used to treat other conditions including mood disorders, nerve pain, eating disorder, anxiety, and panic disorder.

Elavil and Effexor are different types of antidepressants. Elavil is a tricyclic antidepressant and Effexor is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressant.

The brand name Elavil is no longer available in the U.S. It is available as a generic.

Side effects of Elavil and Effexor that are similar include drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness, blurred vision, constipation, weight changes, and headache.

Side effects of Elavil that are different from Effexor include trouble urinating, increased hunger, and changes in taste.

Side effects of Effexor that are different from Elavil include nervousness, nausea, anxiety, insomnia, strange dreams, increased sweating, changes in appetite, decreased sex drive, impotence, difficulty having an orgasm, increased blood pressure, and seizures.

Both Elavil and Effexor may interact with other products that cause drowsiness (alcohol, antihistamines, drugs for sleep or anxiety, muscle relaxants, and narcotics), aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), cimetidine, blood thinners, or other antidepressants.

Elavil may also interact with arbutamine, disulfiram, thyroid supplements, other drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising, anticholinergics, high blood pressure medicines, terbinafine, drugs to treat irregular heart rate, amiodarone, cisapride, dofetilide, pimozide, procainamide, quinidine, sotalol, macrolide antibiotics, isoniazid, phenothiazines, or theophylline.

Effexor may also interact with ketoconazole, linezolid, lithium, haloperidol, risperidone, tramadol, L-tryptophan, or migraine headache medicines (triptans).

Abrupt discontinuation of Effexor may cause withdrawal symptoms including dizziness, headache, nausea, changes in mood, or changes in the sense of smell, and taste.

Common side effects of Elavil include:

• drowsiness,
• dry mouth,
• dizziness,
• blurred vision,
• constipation,
• weight gain,
• trouble urinating,
• headache,
• increased hunger, and
• changes in taste.

Common side effects of Effexor include:

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

Abrupt discontinuation of Effexor may cause dizziness, headache, nausea, changes in mood, or changes in the sense of smell, and taste.

Elavil (amitryptiline) is a tricyclic antidepressant used to treat depression and mood disorders. Elavil may also be used to treat other conditions including nerve pain, eating disorder, anxiety, and panic disorder. The brand name Elavil is no longer available in the U.S.

Effexor (venlafaxine) is an antidepressant used for treatment of major depression.

Elavil may also interact with MAO inhibitors, arbutamine, disulfiram, thyroid supplements, other drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising (antiplatelet drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs], blood thinners), anticholinergic drugs, and certain drugs for high blood pressure.

Effexor may interact with cold or allergy medicines, sedatives, narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, medicines for seizures or anxiety, other antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), blood thinners, cimetidine, tramadol, L-tryptophan, or medicines to treat migraines.

Effexor may also interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), ketoconazole, linezolid, lithium, haloperidol, or risperidone.

Elavil is taken by mouth in tablet form. The medication may take up to four weeks to take full effect.

The usual dose of Effexor is 37.5-375 mg daily.