Antidepressant Medications Anti-depressant Drugs Antidepressant: venlafaxine, Effexor, Dobupal

Antidepressant: venlafaxine, Effexor, Dobupal

Generic Name: venlafaxine
Brand Name(s): Effexor, Dobupal
Common Use: Antidepressant

Venlafaxine is a phenethylamine bicyclic derivative, chemically unrelated to tricyclic, tetracyclic or other available antidepressant agents.

The mechanism of venlafaxine's antidepressant action in humans is believed to be associated with its potentiation of neurotransmitter activity in the CNS.

For the symptomatic relief of depressive illness.

The effectiveness of venlafaxine in long-term use (i.e., for more than 4 to 6 weeks) has not been systematically evaluated in controlled trials. Therefore, the physician who elects to use venlafaxine for extended periods should periodically reevaluate the long-term usefulness of the drug for the individual patient.

Contraindications

Patients with known hypersensitivity to venlafaxine or to any of the components of the formulation.

MAO Inhibitors:
There have been reports of serious, sometimes fatal reactions in patients receiving antidepressants with pharmacological properties similar to those of venlafaxine in combination with a MAO inhibitor. Therefore, venlafaxine should not be used in combination with MAO inhibitors or within two weeks of terminating treatment with MAO inhibitor's. Treatment with MAO inhibitors should not be started until two weeks after discontinuation of venlafaxine therapy.

Adverse Effects

Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions:
The most commonly observed adverse events associated with the use of venlafaxine (incidence of 5% or greater) and not seen at an equivalent incidence among placebo-treated patients (i.e., incidence for venlafaxine at least twice that for placebo), were asthenia, sweating, nausea, constipation, anorexia, vomiting, somnolence, dry mouth, dizziness nervousness, anxiety, tremor, blurred vision, and abnormal ejaculation/orgasm and impotence in men.
Adverse Reactions Associated with Discontinuation of Treatment: Nineteen percent (537/2897) of venlafaxine-treated patients in Phase II and III depression studies discontinued treatment due to an adverse reaction.
Other adverse effects noted were:
Body as a whole: accidental injury, malaise, neck pain.
Cardiovascular: migraine.
Digestive: dysphagia, eructation.
Hemic and lymphatic: ecchymosis.
Metabolic and nutritional: peripheral edema, weight gain.
Nervous: emotional lability, trismus, vertigo.
Respiratory: bronchitis, dyspnea.
Special senses: abnormal vision, ear pain.
Urogenital: anorgasmia, dysuria, hematuria, metrorrhagia*, urination impaired, vaginitis*.
* Based on the number of male or female patients as appropriate.

Overdose

Treatment should consist of those general measures employed in the management of overdosage with any antidepressant. Ensure an adequate airway, oxygenation, and ventilation. Use of activated charcoal, induction of emesis, or gastric lavage should be considered. No specific antidotes for venlafaxine are known.
In managing overdosage, consider the possibility of multiple drug involvement.

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