Effexor, also known by the generic name venlafaxine hydrochloride, is a medication prescribed for major depression and generalized anxiety disorder. The Food and Drug Administration has shown that Effexor and extended release Effexor, known as Effexor ER, were more effective than a placebo for symptoms of anxiety and tension. Obsessive thoughts, excessive worry and fear related to generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, were decreased despite Effexor's original clinical trials for the treatment of major depression.
Merck Manual Effexor and Anxiety
Some people experience daily worries such as work and family responsibilities, bills, children's health and safety or housing chores, but anxiety that requires medication often includes obsessive worries that restrict a person's ability to function or over which they have little control. According to the Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals, Effexor decreases anxiety symptoms including restlessness, fatigue, difficulty with concentration, muscle tension, labored or restless sleep and irritability. The Merck Manual recommends dosages of a minimum 37.5 mg, one time per day for several weeks. They note that this medication is most effective once integrated into the bloodstream.
Obsessive Worry Decreased by Effexor
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders IV notes that obsessive and compulsive behaviors associated with generalized anxiety disorder respond well to Effexor or generic venlafaxine hydrochloride as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Serotonin is found in the central nervous system and controls mood including anxiety, obsession, fear, overstimulation from noise and stress, appetite, sleep and other body functions. By limiting the amount of serotonin in the brain, Effexor specifically effects neurotransmitters in the brain that send messages about behavior. Specific and regular dosages of Effexor can decrease the obsessive worries and overstimulation caused by overactivation of neurotransmitters for serotonin.
Effexor Decreases Serotonin Lessening Anxiety
Generalized anxiety symptoms are worries, fears and obsessions that are beyond the control of a person or are exacerbated by daily living. These symptoms can produce a sense of feeling out of control. Effexor has been effective in the treatment of these symptoms, as noted by the Merck Manual. They differ from daily worries and fears in that they may appear without any sign of stress and may seem to occur all of a sudden. These anxiety symptoms can be hormonal and chemical. Effexor decreases the amount of serotonin that encourages the central nervous system to respond to stimuli. As a result, clients taking Effexor appear to be less susceptible to these sudden releases of excessive serotonin.
Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders
The Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders IV notes that Effexor is a result-based treatment for major depression and GAD. The manual notes that symptoms related to mood disorders or resulting from excessive neurotransmission are modified through dosages of 37.5 mg, 75 mg, and 150 mg of Effexor over a period of several weeks.
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