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Effexor

Brand- Name Effexor Generic Name Venlafaxine Company Wyeth Disease/Medical Use Depression, Anxiety disorders First Approval Date Dec-1993

Venlafaxineis an arylalkanolamine serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). First introduced by Wyeth in 1993, it is licensed for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), as an anxiolytic, and comorbid indications. In 2007, venlafaxine was the sixth most commonly prescribed antidepressant on the U.S. retail market, with 17.2 million prescriptions. In children and adolescents, venlafaxine has a potential to increase suicidal thoughts, attempts and actions of self-harm.

Venlafaxine is in a new class of anti-depressant medications that affects chemical messengers within the brain. These chemical messengers are called neurotransmitters, and some examples are serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Neurotransmitters are manufactured by nerve cells and are released by the cells. The neurotransmitters travel to nearby nerve cells and cause the cells to become more or less active. Many experts believe that an imbalance in these neurotransmitters is the cause of depression and also may play a role in anxiety. Venlafaxine is believed to work by inhibiting the release or affecting the action of these neurotransmitters. Venlafaxine is available in an extended release formulation (Effexor XR).