Documentation concerning nightmares as a side-effect to venlafaxine is requested./nA 35-year-old wo

Fråga: Documentation concerning nightmares as a side-effect to venlafaxine is requested. A 35-year-old woman with a severe depression is treated with venlafaxine and has improved. However, she has developed nightmares. Can this be a transient problem?

Sammanfattning: Nightmares have been reported with venlafaxine treatment, but not more frequently than with placebo.

Svar: Nightmares are mentioned as a common side-effect in the Swedish catalogue of approved medical products (1). However, a literature search, including Medline and pharmacological handbooks, has not revealed any information on this subject. A total of 93 side-effects to venlafaxine has been reported to the Swedish Adverse Drug Reactions Advisory Committee (SADRAC). Skin reactions and neurological side-effects are most commonly reported (25 reports each). Ten cases of psychological side-effects, including for example hallucinations and confusion, have been judged as possibly related to venlafaxine treatment. There are no reports concerning nightmares and venlafaxine.

According to the manufacturer, nightmares have occurred in venlafaxine clinical trials in a frequency of about 3 per cent, but this is comparable to the frequency (4 per cent) in matched placebo groups.