Venlafaxine XR is effective for generalized anxiety disorder

June 22, 2000


Venlafaxine extended release (XR) is safe and effective for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, according to a report in the June issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Dr. Alan J. Gelenberg, psychiatry department head, along with his colleagues analyzed data from 14 outpatient clinics and private psychiatric practices nationwide of 251 outpatients. The participants were randomly assigned Venlafaxine XR or a placebo for 28 weeks.

The researchers found that Venlafaxine XR was more effective at improving scores on scales used to measure anxiety and severity of symptoms. During weeks six though 28, response rates in the Venlafaxine XR group were 69 percent or higher compared with rates of 42 to 46 percent in the placebo group.

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