Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of venlafaxine XR in generalized anxiety disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common and chronic disorder with a low rate of spontaneous remission. A complication in treatment selection is the high rates of co-morbid major depressive disorder hz this population? A number. of treatments exist to trent GAD. The most recent medication to gain an indication for GAD is venlafaxine XR, a serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor that is also approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder: More than 2,000 patients with GAD have been studied ii outpatient trials of venlafaxine XR with demonstrated efficiency, tolerability and safety of this compound. This article reviews these studies, both shots term and longer (6 month) continuation trials. The response to venlafaxine,YR ill this population, combined with good tolerability, makes this agent an appropriate first-line medication for GAD. In general, treatment with antidepressants, though associated with a longer onset of action than benzodiazepines, does not produce physiological dependency and is useful in a patient population with a high prevalence of mood disorders. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.