Venlafaxine

Information about Venlafaxine

Venlafaxine is a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor widely used as an antidepressant. Venlafaxine therapy can be associated with transient asymptomatic elevations in serum aminotransferase levels and has been linked to rare instances of clinically apparent acute liver injury.

Venlafaxine structure

Mechanism of action of Venlafaxine

Venlafaxine (ven" la fax' een) is a both a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, that acts by blocking the reuptake of these

FDA approval information for Venlafaxine

Venlafaxine was approved for use in the United States in 1995 and is still widely used with more than 17 million prescriptions filled yearly.

Current indications include major depressive disorder, generalized and social anxiety disorder, panic disorder and bipolar mood disorder.

Dosage and administration for Venlafaxine

Venlafaxine is available as tablets of 25, 37.5, 50, 75, and 100 mg and as extended release capsules of 37.5, 75 and 150 mg in multiple generic forms and under the brand name of Effexor. The recommended dosage in adults is 75 mg daily in two or three divided doses, increasing based on tolerance and effects to a maximum of 225 mg daily.

Side effects of Venlafaxine

Common side effects are drowsiness,dyspepsia, nausea, headache, increased sweating, increased appetite, weight gain and sexual dysfunction.

• Dailymed label info on Venlafaxine
• FDA Venlafaxine

The following are antidepressant subclasses and drugs

MAO Inhibitors Isocarboxazid, Phenelzine, Tranylcypromine

SNRIs Duloxetine, Levomilnacipran, Venlafaxine

SSRIs Citalopram, Escitalopram, Fluoxetine, Fluvoxamine, Paroxetine, Sertraline, Vilazodone, Vortioxetine

Tricyclics Amitriptyline, Amoxapine, Clomipramine, Desipramine, Doxepin, Imipramine, Nortriptyline, Protriptyline, Trimipramine

Miscellaneous Bupropion, Flibanserin, Mirtazapine, Nefazodone, Trazodone