Psychiatria pre prax 4/2008

VENLAFAXINE IN LONG-TERM TREATMENT OF DEPRESSIVE DISORDER

Venlafaxine has pioneered the concept that multiple pharmacological mechanisms in a single agent may be linked to greater efficacy than a single pharmacological mechanisms, either in terms of enhanced remission rates, more robust sustained remission over long-term treatment, or greater efficacy for treatment resistant depression. Recent long-term recurrence prevention studies with venlafaxine show very low recurrence rates not only over the first year but surprisingly over the second year of maintenance treatment. The rates appear to be lower than those reported in the STAR*D study with a variety of antidepressants.

Keywords: venlafaxine, remission, efficacy, long-term treatment