Efficacy and tolerability of venlafaxine
in the treatment of primary dysthymia
by
Ravindran AV, Charbonneau Y, Zaharia MD,
al-Zaid K, Wiens A, Anisman H
Department of Psychiatry,
University of Ottawa, Ont.
J Psychiatry Neurosci 1998 Nov; 23(5):288-92

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Currently, there is no documentation of the efficacy of venlafaxine (a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) in the treatment of dysthymia. This open-label pilot investigation examined the efficacy and tolerability of venlafaxine in patients with primary dysthymia without concomitant major depression. METHODS: Fifteen patients were treated with venlafaxine for 12 weeks, with a dose range of 75 mg to 225 mg daily (taken orally), and symptom changes were measured using standard instruments including the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). RESULTS: Significant changes from pretreatment to posttreatment were observed (p < 0.001). Using the standard criteria of a 50% reduction in HAM-D scores, 73.3% of patients were rated as responders. About two-thirds of the patients reported adverse events, which were mostly mild and brief in duration. CONCLUSION: Venlafaxine may be useful in the treatment of primary dysthymia but placebo-controlled studies are required for confirmation.

SSRIs
NARIs
SNRIs
Tramadol
Serotonin
Dysthymia
Noradrenaline
Retarded depression
Venlafaxine compared
Venlafaxine v fluoxetine
Venlafaxine pharmacology
Venlafaxine plus bupropion
Venlafaxine and depression
Dysthymia, hyperthymia, cyclothymia
February 2008: FDA licenses antidepressant desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)

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