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Analyzing Cardiovascular Effects & Risks of Newer Antidepressants

Depression is a prevalent and serious condition in older adults and those with cardiovascular disease. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly used to treat depression, but when they’re ineffective, alternative antidepressants must be considered. Key Facts: Depression in Older Adults and Cardiovascular Patients: Affects 15-20% of patients with coronary heart disease. Limitations of SSRIs: While …

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Effexor (Venlafaxine) For Hot Flashes: A Non-Hormonal Therapy

Effexor (Venlafaxine) is a medication that was originally approved by the FDA in 1993 for the treatment of major depression.  Upon ingestion, Effexor functions as an SNRI (or dual-reuptake inhibitor) by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin, and to a lesser extent, norepinephrine.  As a result of serotonergic and noradrenergic reuptake inhibition, concentrations of serotonin and …

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Effexor (Venlafaxine) For Anxiety Disorders: An Effective Anxiolytic?

Effexor (Venlafaxine) is a drug that was introduced in 1993 as a pharmaceutical antidepressant by Wyeth; its marketing rights are now owned by Pfizer.  Pharmacodynamically, it functions primarily as a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) and is understood to be the first-ever “dual reuptake inhibitor” approved by the FDA for the treatment of major depressive disorder.  …

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How Long Does Effexor Stay In Your System After Stopping It?

Effexor (Venlafaxine) is a SNRI (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) medication prescribed primarily for the treatment of major depressive disorder.  It was initially introduced to the market by Wyeth in 1993 when it became the first dual-reuptake inhibitor to attain FDA approval for depression.  It differed from the SSRIs in that in addition to solely inhibiting reuptake …

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California Rocket Fuel: Remeron and Effexor Combination

Unless a person is dealing with treatment-resistant depression, it’s relatively uncommon for a person to be taking multiple antidepressants. If a person ends up taking multiple antidepressants, they are generally from different classes such as an SSRI (e.g. Prozac) with an atypical (e.g. Wellbutrin). Prescribing multiple antidepressants of the same class such as multiple SSRIs …

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Effexor and Weight Gain: Causes & Individual Variation

Effexor (Venlafaxine) is a common antidepressant medication that is classified as an SNRI. It functions by preventing reuptake of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. It differs from standard SSRI medications in that it also targets norepinephrine, which often elicits a stimulatory effect on the user. Some believe that increasing norepinephrine in addition to serotonin makes …

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