"i couldn&#039;t understand where all this bloating was coming from. along with joint pain and blurred vision since my hypertension has been treated and under cover for years.  well, i found out that the generic version of venlafaxine er included a hydrochloride extended release that was also in the brand.  thought i was in menopause - but i&#039;m not.  the increase in my blood pressure is causing quite a bit of other problems.  i don&#039;t know which is worse, uncontrollable hypertension with complications for my thyroid medicine because of the iodine from the sodium or the depression from the hypothyroidism.  either way - my doctor is working on the problem because i just can&#039;t take myself off my medicines."