Effexor (Venlafaxine) Dosages for Adults: Your GoodRx Guide

Effexor (venlafaxine) is a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). It’s approved for depression and other mental health conditions, and it comes in several different dosage forms. So it may be hard to know which dose and dosage form is right for you.

Here, we’ll review the typical Effexor dosages for adults and when adjustments are recommended. Effexor isn’t approved for children at this time. Keep in mind that your mental health care team will determine the right form and dose of Effexor based on your personal medical history. So it may differ from what’s outlined below.

What forms does Effexor come in?

Venlafaxine hydrochloride, the active ingredient in Effexor, comes in four different dosage forms:

• Immediate-release (IR) tablets

• Extended-release (ER) tablets

• ER capsules

• ER tablets in the form of venlafaxine besylate (a different salt form of venlafaxine)

Each form of Effexor also comes in a different range of doses, as outlined in the table below.

It’s recommended that you take Effexor with food. This can help prevent nausea. If you’re taking an ER form of Effexor, you’ll take it just once a day in the morning or in the evening. You may prefer the morning if Effexor keeps you awake, but nighttime may be better if Effexor makes you sleepy.

The ER capsule can be opened and sprinkled onto a spoonful of applesauce. You should consume the mixture right away without chewing, followed by a full glass of water. This is a helpful option if you or your child have trouble swallowing pills. The ER tablets should not be broken, chewed, or crushed.

What’s the typical Effexor dosage for adults?

The typical Effexor dosage for adults depends on what you’re taking it for. It also varies based on what form of Effexor you’re taking. In most cases, you’ll start with a low dose and slowly increase it over time. This helps keep side effects to a minimum.

Promotion disclosure

Effexor (Venlafaxine)

Avg retail price

$8.25(Save Free%)

GoodRx discount

$8.25

See all discounts

How it works

Use GoodRx to find medications, pharmacies, and discounts.

GoodRx discounts can help you pay less for your prescription.

Bring your free coupon or savings card to the pharmacy.

Depression

To treat depression, it’s recommended to start with an Effexor dosage of 75 mg daily. For the IR tablets, this is usually divided into two or three smaller doses throughout the day. For the ER tablets or capsules, it’s a once daily dosage.

In some cases, your mental health care team may decide to start with a lower Effexor dosage of 37.5 mg daily for 4 to 7 days before increasing you to 75 mg daily. This can help your body adjust to the medication.

If 75 mg daily isn’t working well enough for your symptoms, your prescriber may raise your dosage. In most cases, you’ll increase the dose by 75 mg per day, and there will be at least 4 days between each increase. Most people won’t need doses over 225 mg daily. But for severe depression, Effexor dosages up to 375 mg daily are sometimes needed.

Good to know: Venlafaxine besylate ER tablets are only prescribed once you’re taking at least 75 mg daily of another form of Effexor. That’s because they’re only available in a 112.5 mg dose, which is higher than the recommended starting Effexor dosage.

General anxiety

The Effexor dosages for general anxiety are the same as for depression. However, only the ER capsule and venlafaxine besylate are approved for anxiety. The IR tablets are only approved for depression.

Social anxiety

The usual Effexor dosage for social anxiety is 75 mg daily. Only the ER dosage forms (with the exception of venlafaxine besylate) are approved for social anxiety, and higher doses aren’t recommended.

Panic disorder

For panic disorder, the usual Effexor dosage starts at 37.5 mg once daily for 7 days. Only the ER capsules are approved for panic disorder.

After 7 days, your dose may be increased by 75 mg at a time up to a maximum of 225 mg daily. It’s recommended to wait at least 7 days between each dose increase.

Effexor dosages for hot flashes

Effexor isn’t FDA approved to treat hot flashes, it’s an off-label use of the medication. This means there aren’t standard dosages that have been proven effective for menopause symptoms.

In clinical studies, Effexor dosages of 37.5 mg to 75 mg daily helped with menopause symptoms. But your healthcare team will determine the best dose for you based on your medical history and the other medications you’re taking.

How do you switch from Effexor to Effexor ER?

If you’re switching from Effexor to Effexor XR, in most cases your total daily dosage will stay the same. For example, if you’re taking a 37.5 mg IR tablet twice a day, you would switch to a 75 mg ER tablet or capsule once daily.

Talk to your mental health care team if you’d like to switch the form of Effexor you’re taking. They can help make sure you do so safely and make any adjustments needed based on your medical history.

Are there any dosage adjustments for health conditions?

Having kidney or liver problems can change how fast your body can process and remove Effexor. This can raise Effexor levels and raise your risk of side effects. So you may need a different Effexor dosage to adjust for this. Your prescriber will make Effexor dosage adjustments based on your specific needs.

Dosage for people with kidney problems

If you’re living with mild to moderate kidney disease, a 25% to 50% lower Effexor dosage is recommended. A dose decrease of 50% or more is recommended for severe kidney disease or if you’re receiving dialysis.

Dosage for people with liver problems

If you have liver problems, you may need a lower dose of Effexor. In general, the more severe your liver problems are, the lower your Effexor dosage should be. Your prescriber will make any dose adjustments if they’re needed.

What happens if you miss a dose of Effexor?

If you miss a dose of Effexor, take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s close to your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as usual. Don’t take two doses of venlafaxine at the same time to make up for a missed dose.

If you miss several Effexor doses in a row, it’s possible that you may start feeling withdrawal symptoms. This may include flu-like symptoms, nausea, and trouble sleeping. It can also cause more severe problems in some cases. So it’s best to try to avoid missing doses. Keep your medication in a place you’ll see it often to help remind you to take it. You can also try setting an alarm or trying a medication reminder app on your phone. 

What should you do if you take too much Effexor?

If you take an extra dose of Effexor by mistake, it’s unlikely to be a serious issue. You may notice more side effects, such as dizziness, nausea,and headache.

But large doses of Effexor can have more serious effects. Changes to your heartbeat, muscle and liver damage, and seizures are possible. And an Effexor overdose can be fatal in some cases. The risk is higher if you combine Effexor with other substances, such as alcohol.

If you or someone you know has taken too much Effexor, contact your healthcare team or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. If any symptoms appear that seem life-threatening, call 911 or seek emergency care right away.

How to save on Effexor

There are many ways to save on Effexor, which is available as both a brand-name and generic medication. 

• Immediate-release tablets: The immediate-release tablets are only available as a lower-cost generic (brand-name Effexor is no longer made). Generic venlafaxine’s price is as low as $21.52 with a free GoodRx discount.

• Extended-release tablets: The extended-release tablets (including venlafaxine besylate) are only available as lower-cost generics. GoodRx can help you save over 80% off the average retail price of the generic version.

• Extended-release capsules: GoodRx can help you pay as little as $12.75 per month for generic venlafaxine XR capsules  If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $4 per month for brand-name Effexor XR capsules using a savings card from the manufacturer..

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Jill Barat, PharmD

Jill Barat, PharmD has nearly 10 years of experience as a pharmacist, including serving as the pharmacist in charge at an independent sterile and non-sterile compounding pharmacy. She also worked as the head of medical content for a telemedicine company.

Edited by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

Reviewed by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts