FDA Approves Wyeth Pharm's Effexor

Effexor is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs). Effexor works by restoring the balance of certain natural substances in the brain, which helps to improve certain mood problems.

Effexor is used to treat major depressive disorder, anxiety, and panic disorder.

Effexor is used in the treatment of a number of mental illnesses, including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. The medication is an antidepressant included in a group of drugs known as selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors which correct imbalances in the brain to treat mental illnesses.

Effexor (venlafaxine, a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) was introduced in 1993 by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals to treat major depressive disorder (MDD). It has since been approved to treat generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic disorder in adults. By 1997, it was the sixth most prescribed drug in the United States for major depression. As early as 1993, Wyeth executives were warning physicians about the potential risks--including suicidal thoughts, hostility and self-aggressive tendencies--of using Effexor in children aged 6 to 17 years.

Effexor (venlafaxine) is used to treat depression. Effexor XR (venlafaxine hydrochloride; extended release capsules) is used to treat depression, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and social anxiety disorder (SAD). Effexor is made by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1993.