Stress and anxiety
Not recommended
Venlafaxine is an SNRI antidepressant. It is prescribed for depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety ( 2022 and NG222 guidelines). For acute stress or productivity improvement, venlafaxine does not work: no clinical studies of such use exist. The drug has serious risks: dose-dependent blood-pressure elevation, QT-interval prolongation, one of the most severe discontinuation syndromes among antidepressants (abrupt stopping causes brain-zaps, dizziness, nausea, anxiety), sexual dysfunction, and increased suicide risk in young adults ( boxed warning). If venlafaxine was prescribed for stress, consider seeking a second opinion.