Active Ingredients In Effexor

Effexor is a prescription drug made by Pfizer used to treat depression, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Effexor is in a class of drugs called selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. Effexor's effectiveness is dependent on only one active ingredient.

Active Ingredient

The main active ingredient in Effexor is venlaxafine, a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, or SNRI, according to PubMed Health. Serotonin and norepinephrine are two neurotransmitters released by neurons, or brain cells. Imbalance in both serotonin and norepinephrine levels are hypothesized to play a role in depression and anxiety disorders. Venlaxafine corrects this imbalance by preventing reuptake pumps from taking the neurotransmitters back into the neuron. This allows norepinephrine and serotonin to remain in the synapse, or space between two neurons longer, and increase receptor signaling.

Uses

Venlafaxine is used to treat numerous mood disorders, including the anxiety conditions panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder as well as depression. Panic disorder is a short lived episode of extreme anxiety characterized by symptoms including chest pain, fear of dying or losing control, dizziness, sweating, shaking, and shortness of breath. Generalized anxiety disorder is a chronic state of excessive worrying and nervousness. Social anxiety disorder is anxiety and fear in social situations or performing in front of others. Depression is a chronic state of depressed mood which can have symptoms of poor concentration, sleepiness, fatigue, changes in diet, loss of pleasure in activities, and memory loss.

Side Effects

It is important to note that side effects of venlafaxine have a different frequency in patients depending on what they were taking venlafaxine for, such as depression or social anxiety disorder, according to the Venlafaxine prescribing information provided by Pfizer. For example, an inability to achieve orgasm in females only occurred in patients being treated for depression, and not any of the anxiety disorders. Venlafaxine has the common side effect of sexual dysfunction, including inability to orgasm or ejaculate, impotence, and decreased libido. Gastrointestinal side effects include dry mouth, constipation, flatulence or gas, nausea, and anorexia or decreased appetite. Cardiovascular side effects include hypertension or high blood pressure, and vasodilation, or widening of blood vessels. Neurological side effects of venlafaxine include nervousness, somnolence or sleepiness during the day, insomnia or inability to sleep, and tremors. Venlafaxine also can result in increased yawning or sweating.

It is important to note that venlafaxine may increase suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and teenagers, a recently discovered side effect among antidepressants. This is a warning for all antidepressant medications.

Venlafaxine is a category C drug which is recommended not to be taken during pregnancy if possible, because there are not enough clinical human studies verifying the safety of the drug in pregnancy.