Experience of the use of velaxin (venlafaxine) in anxious depression

Thirty patients (seven men and 23 women, mean age 35.3 +/- 7.8 years) with anxious and anxious-apathic depression were studied. Of these, 24 patients were treated in hospital and six in out-patient clinics. Patients were treated for eight weeks with venlafaxine at doses of 225-375 mg/day. Mental state was assessed using a series of scales (CGI, HDRS, BDI, HADS-21). A total of 27 patients (90%) completed treatment. There were 25 (83.3%) responders on the CGI scale: "improvement" in mental state occurred in 16 (59.3%) of patients and "marked improvement" occurred in nine (33.3%). "Insignificant improvement" was seen in two cases (7.4%). Complete elimination of symptoms of depression occurred in 33.3% of cases. Velaxin was found to be safe at intermediate therapeutic doses and there were improvements in laboratory results characterizing patients' somatic status.