If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns.Selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor antidepressants (SNRIs) have been associated with sustained increases in blood pressure. The safest way to avoid worsened psychological symptoms and side effects is only to use Effexor as prescribed and to ” Healthline, February 14, 2018. Nervousness. Accessed May 13, 2019.A Prospective Assessment of Reports of Drinking to Self-Medicate Mood Symptoms With the Incidence and Persistence of Alcohol Dependence.” JAMA Psychiatry, July 2013. That's not to good, but I have to resist because this drug has helped me out in so many ways. 1-800-721-2519 Fax: 1-314-721-0905. In addition, wait 14 days after discontinuing the MAOI drug before starting Effexor or Effexor XR, and wait at least seven days after discontinuing either form of Effexor before starting an MAOI. Patient Forums for Venlafaxine. While occasional alcohol use while taking Effexor may not be dangerous, it is generally not recommended to consume alcohol while taking any antidepressant. Like any medication, side effects may occur while taking Effexor. And Min, I'm not sure it's good advice to suggest skipping doses of effexor ever, much less in order to drink. Accessed May 13, 2019. If you miss a dose, do not take a double dose to make up. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. I'm not an expert, but everything I've heard indicates that effexor is particularly not a drug you want to miss doses of, and in any case, replacing a beneficial medication in order to take a poison is a questionable plan. The downside of all this is Effexor's side effects are horrible (famous for being so) and have effected me greatly. I had to back way off the booze and become the proverbial cheap date. Believe me when I say hubby has gone through this and there truly is a point at which I don't care if you don't think you can feel a damn thing, others can tell you are shitfaced. effexor does not increase the impairement of mental and motor skills caused by alcohol. New Years is approaching and I was told by a friend that it is safe to drink alcohol while on anti depressants, the meds just make you get drunk faster. Available for Android and iOS devices. Effexor is … The information has been screened and edited by health professionals to contain objective information on diagnosis and treatment of diseases. however, generally speaking, doctors always advise patients to not drink alcohol while on any antidepressants. Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. After finding out that others have experienced this as well, I have felt much much better, because I was baffled by where this new trend in me was coming from. I have a big history of alcoholism and other addictions in my family, so I'm pretty wary about enjoying alcohol, though I've found myself to have very very few addictive tendencies. Reduced inhibition. These include regular night sweats (absolutely soaked from head to toe), head aches, sensitive eyes, nausea - especially in the morning after I take it (which I have taken prescription medication for), extreme brain zaps and irritability when withdrawing from the drug . In fact, I rarely drank at all before taking the drug. Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles.