effexor xl and hives

ramel · Newbie Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 18

Is it possible that I have developed a reaction to effexor xl in form of hives? I have a rash all over my back, it itches like crazy!!!! I looked for the photos of hives, looks just like mine! How are hives treated? Do I need a doctor?

gannaway · Newbie Joined: 02 Jun 2005 Posts: 14

Yes, hives often appear as a reaction to a medication, and effexor is one of the medications that has hives as a side effect, so that must be it. If the hives are not severe, treatment is not necessary, but if there is swelling especially in the throat area then you may need a shot of epinephrine. However, you do need to talk to the doctor who prescribed effexor to you in order to check if you need to change treatment.

skippnrcks · Newbie Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 1

I took effexor for 3 years and had hives each time I got the least bit hot or was in the sun or tanning bed. I mentioned it to my doc. I even had alllergy tests run. They all said the hives were of 'undertermined etiology'. I was hospitalized for my depression, and meds were changed. No more effexor...no more hives. I don't think that was a coincidence! I'm happy to be rid of the hives AND the brain shivers.

morganne · Newbie Joined: 07 May 2007 Posts: 3

Praise God someone else is mentioning hives!!! I took effexor for 2 years and did find sensitivity to the sun and my skin just got more sensitive in general..but a strange thing. I weaned off of it 2 weeks ago and am experiencing the effects most people talk about but NOW I have the hives! I never put the two together but I've never had allergies to any foods and this comes and goes......anyone experience this in withdrawal???
It's miserable!!!!![/b]

morehives · Newbie Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 1

I came down with hives in 12/05, they lasted until 9/06. I was on several allergy medications, went through numerous test, nothing. I recently sarted having them again and I finalized realized that they have to have something to do with me getting off of Effexor. I started Effexor after the birth of my daugter in 3/06 and got off of it around 12/05. Went back on Effexor in 9/06, after the sudden death of a family member. Now I'm trying to get off the Effexor and I've been waking up every morning with itching welts all over. I have some relief from finding similar posts, but I'd like to get off of Effexor without the pain and itching of hives.

kathyba · Newbie Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 2

I feel bad for all of us experiencing hives. My issue is that I was on Effexor for 4 YEARS and it was wonderful. All I had was dry eye, and lack of sex drive. I figured it was time to wean off to see if I could have a normal sex life. It took me 4 months to get off it. I was occasionally dizzy but knew that I was weaning off too quickly then. It's been 3 days without Effexor now.

I tried getting of it quicker once and had terrible withdrawal symptoms (vomiting, flu-like symptoms). So I have been off it completely for 3 days now and suddenly I get hives all over. What gives? I'll talk to my doctor but she didn't even know that weaning off Effexor is horrible for some. Good luck to you all while we itch to death. This forum was helpful.

Guest · Guest

Starting in September of 2006 I was put on Effexor for the obvious reasons. Everything was going fine, I then was placed on Gabapentin to aid along with the Effexor. February 1st of 2008 the Gabapentin dose was increased and that same day hives occured.

I have had hives in the past that was due to an allergy, but this time around the hives seemed different. I assumed the cause of the hives was the increase in the gabapentin, I was wrong. However, I was taken off the medication and then had the dose taken back to it's original dose, still hives occured.

Also this time no anti-histamine would seem to aid in treating the hives more so the itch which wasn't the cause when I had an actual allergy. My GP was dumber than a bucket of nails, so I was sent off to my Allergy specialist and he was also caught of guard. I had all the testing done to mankind and nothing appeared.

He gave me three different medications to take together at one time, and no affect whatsoever, not even the drowiness they should all cause.

I thought something just doesn't seem right and for awhile often thought of going off Effexor due to the withdrawal affects. However, a day ago I went online and started looking up Effexor and hives, BINGO!

For some the hives occur on the medication, or while trying to wean off the medication. Often the hives are not treatable as they are not an allergy it is damage to the immune system that Effexor can do to some, like myself and some of you.

I am now weaning off the Effexor slowly and the hives will likely last anywhere from another six months to two years as everyone has a different immune system.

It sucks having nothing to treat the itch, and knowing the hives will be here for some time, but at least I now know that I am not the only human being going through this.

Guest · Guest

I have been broken out in hives now for nine days. I have been on effexor for four months (225mg). I wake up with hives, they fade and come back usually in the early evening. And they itch like crazy. Two days ago was the first time my face and neck had hives and I have this strange dry sensation in the back of my throat. I have never had allergies of any kind before. I am seeing my doctor on Friday and I am going to ask to be weaned off this stuff. I hear that the withdrawal is pretty horrible too.

Guest · Guest

ooh my gosh...i have been having severe hives for the last year straight...my throat has swelled closed and they cant find anything wrong with me so i stopped taking my effexor xr and holy crap after the withdrawal stuff went away i have not had any hives or angioedema and no more trips by ambulance to the e.r.

effexor xl and hives

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