Can You Take Xanax and Venlafaxine Together?5 min read
When it comes to anxiety disorders, many people have a limited understanding and awareness of these conditions. This can impact the availability of support, treatment, and care options.
However, thanks to greater knowledge and information available online, this has begun to shift in recent years. Rather than being feared or misunderstood as a weakness or character flaw, the prevalence of anxiety is better understood and accepted as a treatable medical condition.
Depending on your individual symptoms, personal challenges and other factors that impact your overall health status, there are several types of medication that may be helpful for treating anxiety.
One common option is taking xanax along with venlafaxine together or using them separately as part of an integrated treatment plan.
What is Xanax?
Xanax is a prescription medication that is used to treat anxiety. It belongs to a class of medications known as benzodiazepines, which are known for their anti-anxiety properties. The first-generation version of Xanax was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the 1970s and has remained an effective treatment option in the decades since. The current version of Xanax is known as alprazolam.
Xanax is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance because it has a high potential for abuse and misuse, although it also has a recognized medical use. It can be used to treat a range of conditions, including anxiety, panic attacks, and PTSD. It’s also sometimes used to treat insomnia or symptoms related to withdrawal from certain drugs.
Venlafaxine
Venlafaxine is a prescription medication used to treat anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders. It’s a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), which means it blocks the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. This leads to an increase in the amount of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain.
When serotonin and norepinephrine are out of balance, it can lead to feelings of anxiety and depression. Venlafaxine is used to treat these mood disorders by restoring these chemicals to a healthy level.
Venlafaxine is approved to treat generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, panic disorder, major depressive disorder, and other conditions. It’s also sometimes used to treat cognitive impairment, chronic pain, and other medical conditions. Venlafaxine can be taken as a single daily dose or divided into two doses (a dose-finding method). Some people may need to take a higher than recommended dose or multiple doses per day to see results.
How Do Xanax and Venlafaxine Work?
The Xanax and Venlafaxine combination is often used with patients who suffer from anxiety disorders that are not responding to standard treatment. The two medications may be used together to increase the effectiveness of treatment for people who experience frequent or severe anxiety attacks.
Xanax is a benzodiazepine and is classified as a GABA agonist, which is a type of medication that works by increasing the amount of the neurotransmitter GABA in the brain.
GABA is associated with reducing anxiety and promoting a feeling of calm. When GABA levels in the brain are low, an individual may feel anxious or stressed. By increasing GABA levels in the brain, Xanax reduces feelings of anxiety and promotes a feeling of calm.
When Xanax is taken alone, it may take two or three weeks before you begin to experience a reduction in symptoms. However, when used in combination with Venlafaxine, you may begin to notice a reduction in symptoms in one or two weeks.
When to Take Xanax and Venlafaxine Together
If you’re taking Xanax and Venlafaxine together, it’s recommended that you take the Xanax first. Research indicates that when Xanax is taken before Venlafaxine, it limits the amount of serotonin in the brain.
When Xanax and Venlafaxine are taken together, they work synergistically to help reduce symptoms of anxiety. When combined, Xanax and Venlafaxine are better able to cross the blood-brain barrier, which means they are more effective at reducing symptoms like anxiety, panic attacks, and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
When to Use Xanax Separately
If you are prescribed Xanax and Venlafaxine, you will likely be prescribed a certain amount of each medication every month. Before you are given a prescription, your doctor will review your symptoms and medical history to determine the best treatment option. In many cases, your doctor will start you off on a low dose of Xanax.
Over time, your doctor may increase your dosage. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may recommend that you start taking Xanax before Venlafaxine. If you are prescribed a Xanax and Venlafaxine combination, you may notice that the effectiveness of the two medications starts to decrease after a few months. If you find that you need to increase your dosage or if you need to take multiple doses each day, it may be best to take a Xanax prescription separately.
When to Use Venlafaxine Separately
If you take both Xanax and Venlafaxine, it’s important to take them at different times of the day. Taking
Xanax and Venlafaxine simultaneously can cause you to experience side effects, such as headache, drowsiness, dizziness, and nausea. These side effects may be severe enough to cause you to miss work or school.
Because these two medications work best when they are taken at different times of the day, it’s best to take them separately.
Conclusion
When used together, Xanax and Venlafaxine can be an effective treatment option for anxiety. When taking these medications, it’s important to take them at different times of the day and to follow your doctor’s dosing instructions. With continued treatment, you may notice a reduction in symptoms and an improvement in your quality of life.
