Vandral Retard 75 mg prolonged-release hard capsules
Vandral Retard 150 mg prolonged-release hard capsules
Vandral Retard 225 mg prolonged-release hard capsules
venlafaxine
Vandral Retard contains the active substance venlafaxine.
Vandral Retard is an antidepressant that belongs to a group of medicines called serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). This group of medicines is used to treat depression and other conditions such as anxiety disorders. It is not fully understood how antidepressants work, but they may help to increase the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain.
Vandral Retard is a treatment for adults with depression. It is also a treatment for adults with the following anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder (fear or avoidance of social situations), panic disorder (panic attacks). Treating depression and anxiety disorders properly is important to help you feel better. If left untreated, your condition may not improve or may get worse and become more difficult to treat.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist beforestarting treatment with Vandral Retard:
Vandral Retard may cause a feeling of restlessness or difficulty sitting or standing still during the first few weeks of treatment. You should consult your doctor if this happens to you.
Do not drink alcohol while being treated with Vandral Retard, as it may cause extreme drowsiness and unconsciousness. Taking Vandral Retard with certain medicines or alcohol may worsen the symptoms of depression and other conditions, such as anxiety disorders.
If you are depressed and/or have an anxiety disorder, you may sometimes have thoughts of harming or killing yourself. These thoughts may be more frequent when you first start taking antidepressants, as all these medicines take time to work, usually about 2 weeks, but sometimes longer. These thoughts may also occur when your dose is reduced or when you stop taking Vandral Retard.
This is more likely to happen:
If you have thoughts of harming or killing yourself at any time, contact your doctor or go to a hospital straight away.
You may find it helpful to tell a relative or close friend that you are depressed or have an anxiety disorder and ask them to read this leaflet. You might ask them to tell you if they think your depression or anxiety is getting worse, or if they are worried about changes in your behavior.
Dry mouth
Dry mouth has been reported in 10% of patients treated with venlafaxine. This may increase the risk of tooth decay (caries). Therefore, you should be careful with your dental hygiene.
Diabetes
Sexual problems
Some medicines of the same group as Vandral Retard (called SNRIs) may cause symptoms of sexual dysfunction (see section 4). In some cases, these symptoms have persisted after stopping treatment.
Vandral Retard should not normally be used in the treatment of children and adolescents under 18 years of age. Also, you should know that in patients under 18 years of age, there is an increased risk of side effects such as suicide attempt, suicidal thoughts, and hostility (predominantly aggression, confrontation, and irritability) when they take this class of medicines. Despite this, your doctor may prescribe this medicine to patients under 18 years of age when he decides that it is the best option for the patient. If your doctor has prescribed this medicine to a patient under 18 years of age and you want to discuss this, please go back to your doctor. You should inform your doctor if any of the above symptoms occur or worsen when these patients under 18 years of age are taking Vandral Retard.
Furthermore, long-term safety data on growth, maturation, and cognitive and behavioral development in children and adolescents treated with SNRIs are not available.
Taking Vandral Retard with other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Your doctor will decide whether you can take Vandral Retard with other medicines.
Do not start or stop taking any medicines, including those bought without a prescription, herbal or plant-based remedies, before checking with your doctor or pharmacist.
A potentially life-threatening condition, or reactions similar to Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) (see section “Possible side effects”) may occur with venlafaxine treatment, particularly when taken with other medicines.
Examples of these medicines include:
The signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome may include a combination of the following:
restlessness, hallucinations, loss of coordination, rapid heartbeat, increased body temperature, rapid changes in blood pressure, overactive reflexes, diarrhea, coma, nausea, vomiting.
In its most severe form, serotonin syndrome can resemble Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS). The signs and symptoms of NMS may include a combination of fever, rapid heartbeat, sweating, severe muscle stiffness, confusion, increased muscle enzymes (determined by a blood test).
Tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department of the nearest hospital if you think you are experiencing serotonin syndrome.
Tell your doctor if you are taking medicines that may affect your heart rhythm.
Some examples of these medicines include:
The following medicines may also interact with Vandral Retard and should be used with caution. It is especially important to mention to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking medicines containing:
Vandral Retard should be taken with food (see section 3 “How to take Vandral Retard”).
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. You should only take Vandral Retard after discussing the potential benefits and risks with your doctor.
Make sure your midwife and/or doctor knows you are taking Vandral Retard. When similar medicines (SSRIs) are taken during pregnancy, they may increase the risk of a serious condition in babies, called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), which makes the baby breathe faster and turn blue. These symptoms usually start during the first 24 hours after the baby is born. If this happens to your baby, you must contact your midwife and/or doctor immediately.
If you take Vandral Retard during the late stage of pregnancy, there may be an increased risk of heavy vaginal bleeding shortly after delivery, especially if you have a history of bleeding disorders. Your doctor or midwife should know that you are taking Vandral Retard so they can advise you.
If you are taking this medicine during pregnancy, in addition to breathing problems, another symptom your baby may have when born is feeding problems. If your baby has these symptoms when born and you are concerned, contact your doctor and/or midwife who can advise you.
Vandral Retard passes into breast milk. There is a risk of an effect on the baby. Therefore, you should discuss this with your doctor and he will decide whether you should stop breastfeeding or stop treatment with this medicine.
Do not drive or use tools or machines until you know how this medicine affects you.
Follow exactly the administration instructions given by your doctor. If you are unsure, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
The usual recommended starting dose for the treatment of depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder is 75 mg once daily. Your doctor may gradually increase the dose and, if necessary, up to a maximum of 375 mg per day for depression. If you are being treated for panic disorder, your doctor will start you on a lower dose (37.5 mg) and then gradually increase the dose. The maximum dose for generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder is 225 mg/day.
Take Vandral Retard at approximately the same time each day, either in the morning or in the evening. The capsules should be swallowed whole with fluid and should not be opened, crushed, chewed, or dissolved.
Vandral Retard should be taken with food.
If you have liver or kidney problems, talk to your doctor, as you may need a different dose of this medicine.
Do not stop taking this medicine without talking to your doctor (see the section “If you stop taking Vandral Retard”).
In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, contact your doctor, pharmacist, or call the Toxicology Information Service, telephone 91 562 04 20, indicating the medicine and the amount taken.
Overdose can put your life in danger, especially when taken with certain medicines and/or alcohol (see Taking Vandral Retard with other medicines).
The symptoms of a possible overdose may include palpitations, changes in the level of consciousness (ranging from drowsiness to coma), blurred vision, seizures or fits, and vomiting.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is already the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only a single dose as usual. Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses. Do not take more than the daily dose of Vandral Retard that has been prescribed for you in one day.
Do not stop taking your treatment or reduce the dose without the advice of your doctor, even if you feel better. If your doctor thinks you no longer need Vandral Retard, he may ask you to reduce the dose gradually before stopping treatment completely. It is known that side effects occur when people stop using this medicine, especially when it is stopped abruptly or the dose is reduced too quickly. Some patients may experience symptoms such as suicidal thoughts, aggression, tiredness, dizziness, unsteadiness, headache, insomnia, nightmares, dry mouth, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, nervousness, agitation, confusion, ringing in the ears, tingling, or, in rare cases, sensations of electric shock, weakness, sweating, seizures, or symptoms similar to flu, vision problems, and increased blood pressure (which may cause headache, dizziness, ringing in the ears, sweating, etc.).
Your doctor will advise you how to gradually stop taking Vandral Retard. This may take several weeks or months. In some patients, the withdrawal may need to be very gradual over several months or more. If you experience any of these or other symptoms that are troublesome for you, consult your doctor for advice.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause adverse effects, although not all people suffer from them.
If any of the following effects occur, do not take more Vandral Retard. Tell your doctor immediately, or go to the emergency room of the nearest hospital:
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
In its most severe form, serotonin syndrome can resemble neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). The signs and symptoms of NMS may include a combination of fever, rapid heartbeat, sweating, severe muscle stiffness, confusion, increased muscle enzymes (determined by a blood test).
Frequency not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)
Other adverse effects that you should inform your doctor aboutare (the frequency of these adverse effects is included in the list below "other adverse effects that may occur"):
Do not worry if you notice small white balls or granules in your stools after taking this medicine. Inside the Vandral Retard capsules, there are spheroids (small white balls) that contain the active ingredient (venlafaxine). These spheroids are released from the capsule in the stomach. As they circulate through the stomach and intestines, venlafaxine is slowly released. The "shell" of the spheroid does not dissolve and is eliminated in the stools. Therefore, even if you see spheroids in the stools, the dose of the medicine has been absorbed.
Very Common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
Very Rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
Frequency not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)
Vandral Retard sometimes produces unwanted effects that you may not be aware of, such as increased blood pressure or an abnormal heartbeat; changes in blood levels of liver enzymes, sodium, or cholesterol. Less frequently, Vandral Retard may reduce the function of blood platelets, leading to an increased risk of bruising or bleeding. Therefore, your doctor may want to perform occasional blood tests, especially if you have been taking Vandral Retard for a long time.
Reporting of Adverse Effects
If you experience any type of adverse effect, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, even if it is a possible adverse effect that is not listed in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Human Use Medicines: http://www.notificaram.es. By reporting adverse effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiration date that appears on the packaging. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
Do not store above 30°C.
Medicines should not be thrown away through wastewater or household waste. Deposit the packaging and medicines you no longer need in the SIGRE collection point at the pharmacy. In case of doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and medicines you no longer need. This will help protect the environment.
Composition of Vandral Retard
The active ingredient is venlafaxine.
Each prolonged-release capsule contains 84.85 mg of venlafaxine hydrochloride, equivalent to 75 mg of venlafaxine base.
The other ingredients are:
Capsule content:microcrystalline cellulose, ethylcellulose, hypromellose, talc.
Capsule shell:gelatin, iron oxide red and yellow (E172), titanium dioxide (E171).
Capsule printing ink:shellac, iron oxide red (E172), ammonium hydroxide, simethicone, propylene glycol.
Each prolonged-release capsule contains 169.7 mg of venlafaxine hydrochloride, equivalent to 150 mg of venlafaxine base.
The other ingredients are:
Capsule content:microcrystalline cellulose, ethylcellulose, hypromellose, talc.
Capsule shell:gelatin, iron oxide red and yellow (E172), titanium dioxide (E171).
Capsule printing ink:shellac, sodium hydroxide (see section 2), povidone, titanium dioxide (E171), propylene glycol.
Each prolonged-release capsule contains 254.52 mg of venlafaxine hydrochloride, equivalent to 225 mg of venlafaxine base.
The other ingredients are:
Capsule content:microcrystalline cellulose, ethylcellulose, hypromellose, talc.
Capsule shell:gelatin, iron oxide black, red, and yellow (E172), titanium dioxide (E171).
Capsule printing ink:shellac, sodium hydroxide (see section 2), povidone, titanium dioxide (E171), propylene glycol.
Vandral Retard 75 mg is a hard (gelatin) prolonged-release capsule, opaque, and peach-colored, 19.4 mm x 6.91 mm, with a 'W' and the dose '75' printed in red.
Vandral Retard 75 mg is available in:
Packages with blisters of 7, 10, 14, 15, 20, 28, 30, 50, 56, 60, 98, 100 hard capsules and clinical packages of 500 (10x50) and 1,000 (10x100) hard capsules or in HDPE plastic bottles of 14, 20, 50, 100 hard capsules and clinical packages of 500 and 1,000 hard capsules.
Unit-dose blister packages of 14, 28, 84, and 100 hard capsules.
Vandral Retard 150 mg is a hard (gelatin) prolonged-release capsule, opaque, and orange-colored, 23.5 mm x 7.65 mm, with a 'W' and the dose '150' printed in white.
Vandral Retard 150 mg is available in:
Packages with blisters of 7, 10, 14, 15, 20, 28, 30, 50, 56, 60, 98, 100 hard capsules and clinical packages of 500 (10x50) and 1,000 (10x100) hard capsules or in HDPE plastic bottles of 14, 20, 50, 100 hard capsules and clinical packages of 500 and 1,000 hard capsules.
Unit-dose blister packages of 14, 28, 84, and 100 hard capsules.
Vandral Retard 225 mg is an opaque capsule with a light gray shell and dark orange body, with "W" and "225" in white print
Vandral Retard 225 mg is available in:
Packages with blisters of 7, 10, 14, 15, 20, 28, 30, 50, 56, 60, 98, 100 and clinical packages of 500 (10x50) and 1,000 (10x100).
Unit-dose blister packages of 14, 28, 84, and 100 hard capsules.
Not all package sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorization Holder
Viatris Healthcare Limited
Damastown Industrial Park
Mulhuddart, Dublin 15
Dublin
Ireland
Manufacturer
Pfizer Manufacturing Deutschland GmbH
Mooswaldallee 1
79108 Freiburg Im Breisgau
Germany
or
Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals
Little Connell
Newbridge
County Kildare
Ireland
You can request more information about this medicine by contacting the local representative of the marketing authorization holder:
Viatris Pharmaceuticals, S.L.U.
Calle General Aranaz, 86
28027 Madrid
Spain
Austria | Efectin ER 37.5 mg capsules Efectin ER 75 mg capsules Efectin ER 150 mg capsules |
Belgium, Luxembourg | Efexor-Exel 37.5 Efexor-Exel 75 Efexor-Exel 150 Efexor-Exel 225 |
Bulgaria | Efectin ER 75 mg Efectin ER 150 mg |
Czech Republic | Efectin ER 37.5 mg Efectin ER 75 mg Efectin ER 150 mg |
Cyprus, Greece, Estonia, Lithuania, Portugal | Efexor XR |
Latvia | Efexor XR Efexor XR 75 Efexor XR 150 |
Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden | Efexor Depot |
France | Effexor L.P. |
Germany | Trevilor retard 37.5 mg Trevilor retard 75 mg Trevilor retard 150 mg |
Ireland, Malta, United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) | Efexor XL |
Netherlands | Efexor XR 37.5 Efexor XR 75 Efexor XR 150 |
Italy | Efexor Faxine |
Poland | Efectin ER 37.5 Efectin ER 75 Efectin ER 150 |
Romania | Efectin EP 37.5 mg Efectin EP 75 mg Efectin EP 150 mg |
Slovenia | Efectin ER 37.5 mg prolonged-release capsules Efectin ER 75 mg prolonged-release capsules Efectin ER 150 mg prolonged-release capsules |
Spain | Vandral Retard 75 mg prolonged-release hard capsules Vandral Retard 150 mg prolonged-release hard capsules Vandral Retard 225 mg prolonged-release hard capsules |
*[Please note that not all products and concentrations listed may be marketed].
Date of the last revision of this leaflet: July 2023
Detailed and updated information on this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.gob.es
The average price of VANDRAL RETARD 225 mg PROLONGED-RELEASE HARD CAPSULE in October, 2025 is around 28.74 EUR. Prices may vary depending on the region, pharmacy, and whether a prescription is required. Always check with a local pharmacy or online source for the most accurate information.