Effexor and Viagra: Useful Guide to Mixing Drugs

People mix different substances for various reasons, but the most frequent reason is that they desire to amplify the effects of certain meds. Some individuals may unintentionally mix some meds, but is this safe? Certainly, mixing some drugs with other meds is safe, while others can cause serious drug-drug interactions.

In this guide, we’ll explore what to expect if mixing Effexor and Viagra, the possible negative effects of this combination, the withdrawal period, and the expected interaction of Viagra plus Effexor with alcohol & food. Also, we’ll give the most remarkable places to buy these meds over the counter (OTC) at an affordable price. Let’s get started!

What Exactly Is Effexor?

Venlafaxine is an antidepressant & nerve pain drug used for treating social/generalized anxiety disorder, depression, and panic disorder. It’s a prescription med available under several brand names, including Effexor XR & Effexor. It ameliorates the user’s mood & energy levels and may aid in restoring their interest in daily living. Effexor belongs to a class of meds known as serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). It functions by restoring the balance of certain chemicals (norepinephrine & serotonin). It heightens the activity of these neurotransmitters in the brain, which helps ameliorate mood.

The med is available in the form of tablets in doses of 25 mg, 37.5 mg, 50 mg, 75 mg, & 100 mg. It’s taken by mouth, usually 2 to 3 times daily with food. The prescribed dosage is based on an individual medical condition & response to treatment. It’s advisable to keep taking Effexor even if you feel well.

Don’t stop taking it without discussing it with your physician. Some conditions may become worse when Effexor is suddenly stopped. It may take several weeks to feel the advantage of this med.

What Is Viagra Medicine?

Viagra by Pfizer is a prescription medicine approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Sildenafil citrate is its active substance. Viagra functions by relaxing muscles & arteries inside the penis, which allows more blood to reach the penis. Only when a person is sexually aroused, the combination of relaxation & heightened blood flow helps fill the penis with blood, thus giving a man a hard, strong, & fully erect penis ideal for satisfying intercourse.

It’s worth noting that Viagra has no effect without stimulation, so sexual arousal is a necessary condition for its effects to kick in. The med generally takes about 30 minutes to start functioning. Its peak effects are usually felt within an hour & last for about 4–5 hours [1].

Can You Take Effexor and Viagra Together?

Most antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and SNRIs like Effexor, work by increasing the concentrations of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a prime neurotransmitter that contributes to feelings of happiness & wellbeing, making it paramount in the treatment of anxiety, panic disorders, depression, as well as a variety of other conditions.

One study states that SSRI users notice an impact on the feelings of love & attachment they experience towards their romantic partner [2]. SSRIs, as well as SNRIs, have a direct effect on several hormones that regulate sexual behavior in men & women. For instance, many antidepressants, including SSRIs result in increased levels of prolactin — a hormone that can make it more difficult for men to orgasm & is associated with post-coital sleepiness [3]. Animal studies also suggest that this type of drugs can lessen testosterone levels, resulting in lower libido. Besides, there are numerous ways in which SSRIs & other antidepressants can affect individual sex life [4]. From low libido to difficulty orgasming, this class of meds is associated with a range of sexual negative effects that can differ from individual to individual.

Now you know. Sexual negative effects — including ED — are frequent with certain meds, including antidepressants, such as SSRIs and SNRIs [5]. If you take an antidepressant & have ED, it’s paramount to talk to your physician before you consider using meds to treat this sexual problem. For some men, taking Viagra can alleviate SSRI- and SNRI-induced ED. It counters sexual dysfunction caused by an antidepressant, heightens sexual drive & arousal, & improves the intensity or duration of an orgasm [6].

So, can you mix Effexor and Viagra? The answer is yes, you can take these drugs together to manage sexual negative effects associated with the use of the antidepressant, but first, it’s advisable to consult your doctor and get the OK from them.

Possible Side Effects of Mixing

You may ask, Can I take Viagra & Effexor without experiencing negative effects? Well, these meds can have negative effects if taken individually or mixed. The frequent adverse reactions of Viagra include headache, nausea, diarrhea, vision changes, dizziness, stomach pain, etc. [7]. Similarly, Effexor has its own side effects including nervousness, constipation, anxiety, headaches, insomnia, drowsiness, strange dreams, excessive sweating, blurred vision, dry mouth, elevated blood pressure, etc. [8]. Additionally, serotonin syndrome with symptoms, such as shivering, severe muscle tightness, diarrhea, confusion, fever, & seizures may occur if using Effexor [9].

When one mixes two or more substances, some of the side effects may be increased. Based on the drug, the negative reactions can vary from mild to severe, but they often intensify when individuals use multiple substances at a time, leading to an unpredictable reaction.

Withdrawal Period

Viagra leaves the system after 2—3 hours. Nonetheless, depending on individual metabolism, the med can take 5—6 hours to fully leave the system. A higher dose of the drug takes longer to leave the body. A 25 mg pill of Viagra may wear off after a couple of hours, but a 100 mg tab may take nearly 4 times as long to leave the system.

A vast majority of men who use Viagra can suddenly halt its usage without any major problems. It’s not an addictive substance. There are no true withdrawal symptoms of Viagra. However, negative effects are possible & can last as long as the med stays in the person’s system.

The Effexor withdrawal timeline can be variable. Symptoms typically begin as early as 12 hours after the last dose & generally resolve within several weeks. Because Effexor has a half-life of only 4 hours, it’s completely out of the system within a day [10]. Common withdrawal symptoms of this drug include vertigo, nausea, anxiety, nightmares, flu-like symptoms, & insomnia [11]. They usually occur if an antidepressant is halted suddenly. If the intake of the med needs to be stopped, a physician may recommend reducing the dose gradually to help you avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Interaction of Viagra Plus Effexor with Alcohol & Food

Mixing Effexor with alcohol can cause the nervous system’s negative effects of the drug, such as drowsiness, dizziness, & difficulty concentrating. Some individuals may also experience impairment in thinking & judgment. On the other hand, sildenafil can lower blood pressure, & mixing it with alcohol may further heighten this effect. You may experience symptoms such as lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting, flushing, heart palpitations, & headache. Avoid or limit the use of alcohol while taking Viagra, Effexor, or their combination.

If you are using sildenafil, avoid the regular consumption of large amounts of grapefruit & grapefruit juice. Grapefruit can increase the levels of this substance in the body & delay the time it takes for the med to start functioning [12].

Also, be sure not to mix either of the meds with other pills you might be using. Drug-drug interaction can exist. Besides, let the physician examine your health to determine if these meds are safe to use.

What Are the Best Places to Buy These Drugs OTC?

You can easily shop for Viagra & Effexor via the Internet. But be very careful if you decide to do this, as many websites sell fake drugs. Online meds aren’t always regulated, & the ingredients in them can vary from one pack to another. That means if you use a fake product, it can cause unpleasant negative effects or may not be suitable for you. Shop for Viagra from the best e-pharmacies recommended in this guide.

Brand-name Viagra is indeed very expensive. Buying a generic version from your local pharmacy with a prescription is somewhat expensive as well. Get the same generic product at an extremely low cost by ordering it online from a reliable e-pharmacy that doesn’t require an Rx. The following recommended e-drugstores are indeed cheap & reliable.

ViaBestBuys.com

There are no risks if buying from ViaBestBuys.com (VBB). You can get quality Viagra pills at the most favorable price, but bear in mind the online shopping tip: the more tabs added to the shopping cart, the lower the cost per tab!

How much does generic Viagra cost? At VBB, Viagra 100 mg only costs $0.99 per tab for a supply of 100 tabs. Besides, VBB assists its customers to further lessen the total cost by giving insanely great coupon codes. Keep examining the website of the e-pharmacy for discounts, offers, & coupon codes. By exploring the most viable ways to save more, you will surely discover the best deal that’s worth your buck!

VBB accepts orders without requesting a prescription but encourages its customers to consult a doctor before purchasing. It offers free trial samples of Viagra & other ED meds, such as Levitra & Cialis. This enables buyers to try these various types of ED products before deciding to buy them in bulk.

Furthermore, the vendor provides a complete satisfaction guarantee in case a package gets lost or stuck at customs. It accepts payments made using cryptocurrencies (a 25% discount), the major credit cards (MasterCard, AmEx, etc.), & PayPal.

The vendor sends packages using 2 shipping methods: Express Mail Service (EMS) & Registered Airmail (standard shipping). Parcels shipped with EMS to the US, Canada, the UK, the EU, & Australia get delivered within 7–12 days. Orders shipped to other countries typically take 14–30 working days. EMS deliveries are trackable, & customers receive their tracking numbers within 24 to 72 hours after their payment is approved. The EMS shipping method costs $39 but is free on all orders worth $180. If using Registered Airmail, shipping time to the said destinations is about 10–18 days. Parcels shipped to other countries across the globe get delivered within 14–30 working days. This parcel shipping plan costs $29 & becomes free on all purchases worth $80, but it’s non-trackable.

VBB doesn’t ship to some countries listed on its site due to stringent customs laws. Nonetheless, it urges its buyers to use parcel forwarding services like Skypax.

At the time of writing this useful guide, VBB doesn’t stock Effexor. If you need this med, consider getting it from the e-pharmacy that stocks it, such as HighStreetPharma (mentioned below) that also has guaranteed delivery.

CialisBit.com

CialisBit.com (CB) is another legit online pharmacy that operates similarly to VBB. It also offers generic Viagra & other ED meds at a favorable price coupled with great discounts & coupon codes. Like VBB, it sources its health products from certified Indian pharmaceutical companies & distributes them to shoppers across the globe, except for a few countries it doesn’t ship to due to strict customs laws.

By using CB, every buyer order is accepted without a physician’s prescription, & free trial samples of generic Viagra, Cialis, & Levitra are also available. Also, if there’s any problem with parcel shipping, CB offers a full refund or another reshipment. The vendor also accepts a variety of payment options including cryptocurrency, major credit cards, & PayPal. It offers a 25% discount if payment is made via Bitcoin.

CB fulfills deliveries using the same shipping methods as VBB with similar waiting periods, but at CialisBit, the EMS shipping method costs $49 (free on all orders worth $180) and Registered Airmail costs $39 (free on all purchases worth $130+).

HighStreetPharma.com

HighStreetPharma (HSP) is a legit e-drugstore that connects shoppers with the most trusted sources of generic & branded medicine suppliers globally. Shopper satisfaction is HSP’s top priority. Unlike VBB & CB that specialize only in the sale of ED meds & modafinil, the most popular nootropic, the HSP e-pharmacy offers a large selection of remedies for other health conditions, including generic Effexor.

By using HSP, you get a secure shopping experience, flexible payment options, & super-fast parcel delivery. It fulfills orders via EMS, which takes 7–14 business days, & Airmail, which takes 14–21 working days. Parcels sent by the latter method aren’t trackable & take a maximum of 30 days to be delivered – based on your country. Consider that due to strict country-specific customs laws, HSP e-drugstore doesn’t provide refunds or reshipments for several destinations listed on its website including Algeria, Austria, Armenia, Belgium, & some more. Please before placing an order, check if your country is on the list.

HSP also offers free Airmail shipping on orders costing $150+. Regarding the payment options, the vendor accepts credit cards, Amazon/Walmart gift cards, e-Check, PayPal, & cryptocurrency.

Conclusion

Viagra & Effexor are safe if combined. If you’ve decided to stack these effective meds, it’s highly advisable to first consult a physician for safe drug use. Note that mixing meds without a physician’s approval is always a risk. This experience can be very dangerous to your health since it can cause severe drug-drug or drug-disease interactions.

If you’re looking for the best e-pharmacy to get cheap generic Viagra, consider sourcing it from ViaBestBuys or CialisBit. If you need generic Effexor, HighStreetPharma is the best place to get it. The recommended vendors offer guaranteed delivery, low drug prices, and excellent customer support.

References:

1. How Long Does Viagra Last? Duration and Effects. By Aaron Kandola. Medically reviewed by Zara Risoldi Cochrane, Pharm.D., M.S., FASCP. Published: August 13, 2019. Medicalnewstoday.com.
2. Dimorphic changes of some features of loving relationships during long-term use of antidepressants in depressed outpatients. By Donatella Marazziti, Hagop S. Akiskal, Mieko Udo, et al. Published: September 2014. Sciencedirect.com.
3. Serum Prolactin Levels in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder Receiving Selective Serotonin-Reuptake Inhibitor Monotherapy for 3 Months: A Prospective Study. By Young-Min Park. Published: May 16, 2017. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
4. Effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on sperm and male fertility. By Lauren Riggin, MD, and Gideon Koren, MD, FRCPC, FACMT. Published: June 2015. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
5. Which Antidepressants Are Least Likely to Cause Erectile Dysfunction? By Joshua Murdock, PharmD. Reviewed by Christina Aungst, PharmD. Published: July 2, 2021. Goodrx.com.
6. When an SSRI medication impacts your sex life. Published: October 22, 2019. Health.harvard.edu.
7. Side Effects of Viagra (Sildenafil Citrate), Warnings, Uses. Last updated: June 1, 2020. Rxlist.com.
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9. Venlafaxine (Effexor). By The College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP). Published: December 2020. Nami.org.
10. Venlafaxine and Serious Withdrawal Symptoms: Warning to Drivers. By Daniel M. Campagne. Published: July 6, 2005. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
11. Antidepressant Withdrawal: Why Stop, Symptoms, and More. By Claire Sissons and Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA. Medically reviewed by Alex Brewer. Updated: September 29, 2020. Medicalnewstoday.com.
12. Drug Interaction Report. Retrieved: November 1, 2021. Drugs.com.