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Clinical data | |
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Pronunciation | /ˌvɛnləˈfæksiːn/ |
Trade names | Effexor, Efexor, others [1] |
AHFS/ Drugs.com | Monograph |
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Routes of administration | By mouth |
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Pharmacokinetic data | |
Bioavailability | 42±15% [3] |
Protein binding | 27±2% (parent compound), 30±12% (active metabolite, desvenlafaxine) [4] |
Metabolism | Extensively metabolised by the liver [3] [4] |
Elimination half-life | 5±2 h (parent compound for immediate release preparations), 15±6 h (parent compound for extended release preparations), 11±2 h (active metabolite) [3] [4] |
Excretion | Kidney (87%; 5% as unchanged drug; 29% as desvenlafaxine and 53% as other metabolites) [3] [4] |
Identifiers | |
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Chemical and physical data | |
Formula | C17H27NO2 |
Molar mass | 277.408 g·mol−1 |
3D model ( JSmol) | |
Chirality | Racemic mixture |
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Venlafaxine, sold under the brand name Effexor among others, is an antidepressant medication of the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) class. [6] It is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and social phobia. [6] It may also be used for chronic pain. [7] It is taken by mouth. [6]
Common side effects include loss of appetite, constipation, dry mouth, dizziness, sweating, and sexual problems. [6] Severe side effects include an increased risk of suicide, mania, and serotonin syndrome. [6] Antidepressant withdrawal syndrome may occur if stopped. [6] There are concerns that use during the later part of pregnancy can harm the baby. [6] How it works is not entirely clear but it is believed to involve alterations in neurotransmitters in the brain. [6]
Venlafaxine was approved for medical use in the United States in 1993. [6] It is available as a generic medication. [6] In the United States the wholesale cost per dose is less than US$0.20 as of 2018. [8] In 2017, it was the 49th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States with more than 16 million prescriptions. [9] [10]
brands
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