From the Guidelines
Venlafaxine can cause cognitive side effects, including memory issues, although the current evidence does not specifically quantify the risk of memory problems associated with this medication. The available study from [2003@] [@1
From the FDA Drug Label
Symptoms may include: • headache • weakness or feeling unsteady • confusion, problems concentrating or thinking or memory problems
Venlafaxine may cause memory issues, as it can lead to symptoms such as confusion, problems concentrating or thinking, or memory problems, especially in elderly people with low salt (sodium) levels in the blood 1.
From the Research
Venlafaxine and Memory Issues
- Venlafaxine, an antidepressant, has been studied for its potential effects on cognitive functions, including memory 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- A case study reported a case of dementia after an overdose of venlafaxine, suggesting a possible association between venlafaxine and cognitive deterioration 2.
- However, a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled cross-over trial found that venlafaxine did not influence cognitive functions, including memory, in healthy volunteers 3.
- In contrast, a study found a significant positive association between the serum level of venlafaxine and verbal memory in patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia spectrum disorders 4.
- An animal study suggested that venlafaxine can improve learning and memory dysfunction in rats with post-stroke depression, possibly through the enhancement of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level in the hippocampus 5.
- A study on the neurocognitive effects of combined electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and venlafaxine in geriatric depression found that venlafaxine was tolerable, but the combination therapy was associated with some acute declines in neurocognitive performance, including short-term verbal recall and recognition of learned words 6.
Key Findings
- The evidence suggests that venlafaxine may have both positive and negative effects on memory, depending on the context and population studied 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- More research is needed to fully understand the relationship between venlafaxine and memory issues, particularly in different patient populations and treatment contexts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.