e-med-isral-ribbon

Venlafaxine may provide rapid relief of severe PMS

By Megan Rauscher

WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) – Women who experience a severe form of premenstrual syndrome known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) may be helped by venlafaxine (Effexor; Wyeth-Ayerst), a new-generation antidepressant that selectively inhibits the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine.

In a randomized, double-blind trial involving 164 such women, significantly more venlafaxine-treated subjects than placebo-treated subjects experienced a >50% improvement in baseline PMDD symptoms, 60% vs 35%, respectively (p = .003).

Forty-three percent of venlafaxine-treated subjects compared with 25% of placebo-treated subjects experienced "symptom remission, defined as reduction of daily symptom report scores to the postmenstrual level (p = .034)."

Venlafaxine was well-tolerated at doses ranging from 50 mg/day in the first treatment cycle to 130 mg/day in the fourth cycle, and response to treatment was rapid, often in the first treatment cycle.

Dr. Ellen W. Freeman of the University of Pennsylvania and colleagues report the findings in the November issue of the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology. In comments to Reuters Health, Dr. Freeman said, "Twenty percent to 30% of women of childbearing age may seek medical treatment for severe premenstrual symptoms. Venlafaxine offers a treatment that is both effective and well-tolerated."

In addition, venlafaxine adds to the possible choices for switching medication when a patient does not respond to an initial serotonergic antidepressant, Dr. Freeman said. "While the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and venlafaxine have similar efficacy, a patient may respond to one better than another. Within-drug-class switches are important for maximal improvement when the initial medication is not satisfactory," she noted.

The study was supported by Wyeth-Ayerst.

Obstet Gynecol 2001;98:737-744.

0 תגובות

השאירו תגובה

רוצה להצטרף לדיון?
תרגישו חופשי לתרום!

כתיבת תגובה

מידע נוסף לעיונך

כתבות בנושאים דומים

© ‫ אי-מד שיווק רפואי בע”מ
 כל הזכויות שמורות
09-765-8233 

 

הנך גולש/ת באתר כאורח/ת.

במידה והנך מנוי את/ה מוזמן/ת לבצע כניסה מזוהה וליהנות מגישה לכל התכנים המיועדים למנויים
עדיין לא מנוי/ה ונמנה/ת על הצוות הרפואי? מוזמן/ת לבצע הרשמה כאן
להרשמה לאתר
להמשך גלישה כאורח סגור חלון זה