1. < Kidney & Bladder

Effexor and kidney stones

Posted by wendyw @wendyw, Nov 5, 2017

My son has been on Effexor for 2-3 years and during that time has developed calcium kidney stones so severe he has lithotripsys every 8 weeks. None if his doctors have ever linked the two but we have just read an FDA report that says up to 26% of males his age will develop kidney stones on Effexor. Please let me kniw your experiences, esoecially if ceasing the drug also stopped the formation of stones.

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IWantToBelieve | @IWantToBelieve | Nov 6, 2017
In reply to @IWantToBelieve "@wendyw - I was just learning what lithotrypsys is and it lead me to reread your..." + (show)
@IWantToBelieve

@wendyw - I was just learning what lithotrypsys is and it lead me to reread your original post. Assuming your son is taking Effexor to treat are many depression have you considered switching meds to see if it helps? There are many meds available for depression and although it can take awhile for them to get in your system and work well it sounds like his life is somewhat on hold anyway so now might not be the worst time to try a change. Obviously, he should speak with his prescribing doctor to make the decision that is best for him but it would at least eliminate Effexor as a variable in the possible cause of his frequent kidney stones. Otherwise, the Mayo link that was shared before gives some home remedies you can try, especially since you know what type of kidney stones he has.

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@wendyw - Sounds like you are doing everything you absolutely can. You are a good mom!

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IWantToBelieve | @IWantToBelieve | Nov 6, 2017

@wendyw - I disagree. Some parents, especially with older children, keep their distance. Give yourself a pat on the back...AND DON'T GIVE UP!

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Nov 9, 2017

@kdubois , @predictable , Do you have anything that you might be able to share with @wendyw about her sons experience with kidney stones?

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wendyw | @wendyw | Nov 9, 2017

Rosemary, after checking so many things we have accepted it seems Effexor is not known to cause kidney stones. Rather devastating as we were hoping for a reason and cure!
so what we are left with is he has medullary sponge kidney all his life but no symptoms until 3 years ago, and ulcerative colitis which developed when he was about 20 ( now 41). Both of these can cause kidney stones too.
With lithotripsy's every 8 weeks and severe pain in between we are desperate for answers. If anyone has ANY suggestions for stones, pain or cause please help. Thank you

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wendyw | @wendyw | Dec 14, 2017
In reply to @IWantToBelieve "@wendyw - So sorry to hear about your son but know that you are being a..." + (show)
@IWantToBelieve

@wendyw - So sorry to hear about your son but know that you are being a great mom pursuing answers for him. I have PKD (Polycysitc Kidney Disease) and took Effexor for several years. All I can tell you is that I have never had a kidney stone. I do know drinking a lot helps keep kidney stones at bay and I never drank much (water I mean!) until the last two years and still I have never had a kidney stone. I am a female and you said the study referred to males so I'm afraid my experience is not much use to you and my medical knowledge in this area is negligible.

I wish you all the best and I am glad you turned to the Mayo Clinic because if they can help I know they will.

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Lynn I thought I had replied to you, sorry. Earlier this year he saw an endocrinologist who ruled out parathyroid issues. It was disapponing, he really wanted it to be this and treatable!

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Dec 14, 2017
In reply to @IWantToBelieve "@wendyw - So sorry to hear about your son but know that you are being a..." + (show)
@IWantToBelieve

@wendyw - So sorry to hear about your son but know that you are being a great mom pursuing answers for him. I have PKD (Polycysitc Kidney Disease) and took Effexor for several years. All I can tell you is that I have never had a kidney stone. I do know drinking a lot helps keep kidney stones at bay and I never drank much (water I mean!) until the last two years and still I have never had a kidney stone. I am a female and you said the study referred to males so I'm afraid my experience is not much use to you and my medical knowledge in this area is negligible.

I wish you all the best and I am glad you turned to the Mayo Clinic because if they can help I know they will.

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@wendyw, I saw your message, and that you are directing your reply to a particular individual. I want to share the following directions with you. I am mentioning @lcamino for you within this reply.

To mention another Connect member:
Type "@" and member's @username.
Select a name from the list that appears.
When you mention a person, they will get an email notification that you mentioned them in a post. It will also create a link to the member’s profile in the message.
When another member mentions you in a discussion, you will be subscribed and will receive email notifications when new messages are added.
Rosemary

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newzealandmum | @newzealandmum | Jan 30, 2019

Hi Wendy. I live in New Zealand. My 19 year old son is on Enlafax and has had two excruciatingly painful kidney stones in three days. One has passed tonight and a CT scan has shown that there is another one moving and this will probably cause him huge pain at 3am when his painkilling shots wear off. He has multiple small stones in his left kidney. Having kidney stones at 19 is rare in our country. Something isn't right and I'll be in contact with you. I doubt that my son will be on this drug by the end of the week. Take care and sending you my best wishes.

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1 reply
terri672 | @terri672 | Jan 30, 2019
In reply to @wendyw "thank you so much. I'm just a mum without medical training so I hope you can..." + (show)
@wendyw

thank you so much. I'm just a mum without medical training so I hope you can explain this to me more clearly. after his last lithrotripsy his surgeon suggest kidney transplant if it gets too much !!! I am sorry but as a new member I cant post links but it is the e med site with statistics about developing stones.

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Has he weaned off the effexor?

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 30, 2019
In reply to @newzealandmum "Hi Wendy. I live in New Zealand. My 19 year old son is on Enlafax and..." + (show)
@newzealandmum

Hi Wendy. I live in New Zealand. My 19 year old son is on Enlafax and has had two excruciatingly painful kidney stones in three days. One has passed tonight and a CT scan has shown that there is another one moving and this will probably cause him huge pain at 3am when his painkilling shots wear off. He has multiple small stones in his left kidney. Having kidney stones at 19 is rare in our country. Something isn't right and I'll be in contact with you. I doubt that my son will be on this drug by the end of the week. Take care and sending you my best wishes.

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Hi @newzealandmum, Enlafax and Effexor are brand names for the drug venlafaxine (as you already know). A couple things that I've learned from discussion here on Connect.
1) Kidney calculus or kidney stones are a rare yet know side effect of venlafaxine

2) kidney stones can happen at any age. You might be interested in this video
- #AsktheMayoMom about Kidneys and Kidney Stones https://connect.mayoclinic.org/webinar/askthemayomom-about-kidneys-and-kidney-stones/

2) Venlafaxine can have serious side effects if stopped abruptly. Work with your health provider to taper off the drug slowly if you wish to discontinue it. Here is a lengthy and informative discussion on Connect about tapering:
> Tips on minimising withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine) https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tips-on-minimising-withdrawal-symptoms-from-effexor-aka-venlafaxine/

NewZealandMum, how long has your son been taking venlafaxine and at what dosage?

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clsmi32 | @clsmi32 | Jan 29, 2020
In reply to @wendyw "Thank you, just desperate to find a cause and treatment. ATM his life is on hold,..." + (show)
@wendyw

Thank you, just desperate to find a cause and treatment. ATM his life is on hold, terrible pain, and needing some hope.

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@wendyw i know this is late, but I had a large kidney stone after taking this medication for anxiety as well. I took it for around a year and got a 7 mm kidney stone that had to be removed in 2017. I was 27 at the time and I’m a female. I later found that kidney stones are a “rare” side effect of this med. It’s been 3 years and I haven’t had one since I stopped taking the medication. I strongly believe it was due to the medicine. I take “rare” side effects more seriously now as many people including me would never think to connect the side effects to the drug. Therefore most of the time it isn’t noted or recorded by doctors.

Side note: Lots of migraine medication/seizure medication causes kidney stones too. My neurologist prescribed me some after I told her I had a stone before and was more prone to them and to not give me anything that could cause them. I read the info that came with the prescription When I got home and it said to “drink a lot of water because it could cause stones”. Make sure you do lots of research before you or him takes any more meds. It’s hard to trust anything these days.

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