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Venlafaxine Study Shows Greater Complete Symptom Resolution Rates Than With Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors: Presented at AAFP

By Ric Susman

ORLANDO, FL -- October 18, 2004 -- Because the antidepressant venlafaxine (Effexor) appears to be able to relieve more symptoms than selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors or placebo, researchers suggest that is why more depressed patients achieve remission with venlafaxine.

Venlafaxine differs from selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) not only structurally but also in its inhibition of both the serotonin and the norepinephrine reuptake process.

"These results suggest that the higher the remission rates achieved with venlafaxine are due to complete symptom resolution of a broad range of physical, emotional and functional symptoms of depression," said Richard Entsuah, PhD, director of the Department of Global Clinical Biostatistics, Wyeth Research, Collegeville, Pennsylvania.

In a poster presentation here October 16th at the 17^th World Conference of Family Doctors, held in conjunction with the American Academy of Family Physicians Scientific Assembly, Dr. Entsuah explained that the idea behind this research was to compare the antidepressant efficacies of venlafaxine, SSRI agents, and placebo.

The research team pooled results from 31 randomized, double blind studies and scrutinizing the original patient data. The cohort represented 7422 patients diagnosed with depression who were treated for 8 weeks. Of those, 3,273 were randomized to receive either venlafaxine or the venlafaxine extended release formulation; 3,217 patients were randomized to receive one of the available SSRI agents; the remaining 932 patients were assigned to placebo.

End point was a score of 0 on the standard Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.

The advantage provided by venlafaxine was statistically significant over the other treatments (P <.05). Compared to placebo or any of the SSRIs, more patients on venlafaxine reported relief of depressed mood, anxiety, gastrointestinal somatic complaints, feelings of guilt, suicidal ideation and other symptoms associated with major depression.

The study was supported by Wyeth, Inc.


[Presentation title: "Complete Symptom Resolution Rates Among Patients Treated with Venlafaxine or SSRIs." Poster 3375]

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