Venlafaxine, brand name Effexor, is categorized as an antidepressant drug and has many other psychological benefits. According to MedlinePlus, more than 20 million Americans suffer depression and its effects. The drug Effexor works in the brain, boosting the natural chemicals that are known to balance and elevate mood.
Reduce Anxiety
Anyone can suffer anxiety given the appropriate stimulus; work problems, familial discord and illness can all cause anxiety. When this worried, frightened or concerned mental state persists beyond the stimulus or has no obvious cause at all, that can be an indication of a generalized anxiety disorder. A benefit of Effexor is the ability to reduce anxious conditions, such as social anxiety disorder or the fear of social settings and general anxiety disorders. Effexor is also used to treat panic attacks by stopping the anxiety that leads up to the actual physical effects of the attack.
Alleviate Depression
Although there is no cure for depression, antidepressant medications such as Effexor can alleviate the debilitating effects of the psychological condition. According to MedlinePlus, depression pervades life with sadness and a general loss of pleasure. Effexor is commonly prescribed to treat depressive disorders such as the major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. Although bipolar disorder is not a depression diagnosis, this condition harbors a depressive component that can be relieved with Effexor.
Fewer Side Effects
Traditional antidepressants, such as Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft, alter the chemical structure within the brain and can elicit serious side effects. Effexor does not harbor as many debilitating side effects and reactions. A 2007 meta-analysis by the Boston Medical Journal showed that Effexor was more effectual in treating major depressive disorders than the group of drugs including Prozac and Zoloft.
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