Is Venlafaxine Effective In Treatment Of Depression?

Posted on Thu, 5 May 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 5 May 2016 Answered on

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I would like to know a littleore about venlafaxine. I have suffer from depression for years and I have been taking Lexapro 30 milagrams a day and I feel I need a change because its not really working so well anymore

I have seen DR. OVER THE YEARS AND AT FIRST I WAS 20MIL. AND THEN 2YRS. AGO I WAS GIVEN 30 MIL. IM TALKING ABOUT LEXAPRO.

I AM GOING TO SEE MY DR. TODAY AT 2;45 EST TODAY. IM HOPING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Venlafaxine is good option

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.

I read your query and understand your concerns.

The decision to change or increase dose is based on earlier response to existing antidepressant medication.

If you do not have even partial response I think this is time to change antidepressant and venlafaxine is good option.

In case you have partial response with lexapro I think you should request for add on or adjuvant therapy to current medication. The add on can be other antidepressant but adjuvants are not antidepressant but help the antidepressants in treatment.

Venlafaxine is SNRI group of medication which may work even in lexapro resistant patients. It is slightly more costly and generally need titration to reach therapeutic dose range. Regarding side effects they are like lexapro but more intense.

I hope this assists you.
Thanks and regards.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar