SNRIs: When and How Do I Take Them?
Some general considerations for when and how to take SNRI medications include:
- SNRIs are taken by mouth, usually one to three times per day, depending on the specific SNRI.
- If your SNRI makes you drowsy, try taking it at night. If you experience insomnia due to your SNRI, try taking in the morning.
- In general, it is usually best to take SNRIs with food.
- SNRIs should be taken at the same time(s) each day to maintain an even level of the drug in your blood.
- For SNRIs to work properly, they must be taken as prescribed. The medication will not work if you stop taking it.
The dose of SNRI that your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
- The specific type of SNRI
- The medical condition being treated
- Other medical conditions you may have
- Other medications you may currently be taking.
As is always the case, do not adjust your SNRI dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
(The SNRI side effects listed below are NOT a complete list of possible side effects of SNRIs. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of SNRI side effects with you. You can also read about specific side effects for each type of SNRI by going to the specific drug within eMedTV.)
As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with SNRIs. However, not everyone who takes SNRIs will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate them well. When SNRI side effects do occur, in most cases they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
The most common side effects of SNRIs include:
(Click SNRI Side Effects to learn about the specific side effects of SNRIs, including some of the more serious side effects that you should report to your healthcare provider.)
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