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Venlafaxine (Effexor XR) Improves Somatic and Psychic Symptoms in General Anxiety Disorder: Presented at CPA

By Steve Pridgeon

VANCOUVER, CANADA -- November 9, 2005 -- Venlafaxine (Effexor XR), an extended release serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), produces improvements in a range of symptoms associated with general anxiety disorder (GAD), according to results presented here at the 55th annual conference of the Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA).

GAD is characterized by a broad range of symptoms, both psychic (including uncontrollable, excessive and pervasive worry) and somatic (aches and pains, palpitations and gastro-intestinal disturbances). These symptoms, which involve pathways regulated by both serotonin and norepinephrine, are ameliorated by venlafaxine XR, said Stephen Stahl MD, Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, California, United States.

Researchers led by Dr. Stahl investigated the effects of venlafaxine XR on individual symptoms of GAD and colleagues undertook a post-hoc analysis of five placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized studies in patients with GAD.

Subjects were treated with either venlafaxine XR or placebo for 8 weeks (3 studies, n = 1839) or 6 months (2 studies, n = 689).

The daily dosage range used was 75 to 225 mg. At each visit, researchers analysed the individual components of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A), in what Dr. Stahl stated was the first evaluation of venlafaxine XR treatment effects on individual symptoms of GAD.

At 8 weeks, venlafaxine XR was significantly superior to placebo for all seven psychic components of HAM-A, and for 4 of the 7 somatic components. At 6 months, venlafaxine XR maintained its superiority over placebo in the psychic symptoms, and was significantly better than placebo in all but one (genitourinary) of the somatic symptoms.

The researchers concluded that venlafaxine XR was associated with sustained improvement in both psychic and somatic symptoms, and that the drug acted faster than placebo on the psychic component of the disorder. He noted that, although the somatic symptoms of GAD are known to be difficult to treat, long-term treatment with venlafaxine XR appears to be a promising option.

This presentation was funded by Wyeth Research.


[Presentation title: Improvement of Specific Physical and Emotional Symptoms of General Anxiety Disorder during Treatment with Venlafaxine XR. Abstract P-24]

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