Effexor XR approved for GAD

Drug Store News,  April 26, 1999  

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Effexor XR (venlafaxine HCI) extended-release capsules, which are approved for the treatment of depression, have been approved for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, the first antidepressant approved for this indication. GAD is characterized by excessive anxiety and worry about everyday routine life events and often is present with depression; it is estimated to affect about 5 percent of the population, nearly two-thirds of whom are women.

Effexor XR, a once-daily formulation, is marketed by American Home Products and its Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories division. Unlike selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which selectively inhibit the reuptake of serotonin in the brain, Effexor XR is a potent inhibitor of the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine.

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