[Pharma-Clinics. The drug of the month. Venlafaxine (Efexor)]

Abstract

Venlafaxine (Efexor) is the first representative of a new class of antidepressants: serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors. Its usual dose is 75 mg/d in two intakes but can be progressively increased until a maximal daily dose of 375 mg/d in severe or resistant depression, particularly among inpatients. The efficacy of venlafaxine is at least equivalent to reference antidepressants. At high doses, venlafaxine could even exhibit a better efficacy and a shorter latency than current compounds. Its profile of side-effects is quite similar to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors with mainly nausea, with the exception if an increase in blood pressure which can appear at high doses. In total, venlafaxine represents an interesting innovation in the pharmacological treatment of depression.