Safety and tolerability of extended-release venlafaxine in severe medical and surgical illness.
OBJECTIVE
This study attempted to determine if extended-release venlafaxine is safe for use in severely medically and surgically ill depressed patients.


METHODS
The charts of 16 patients who were admitted to medical and surgical inpatient services and given extended-release venlafaxine were retrospectively evaluated for dose and duration of drug treatment, blood pressure changes, medication changes, and side effects.


RESULTS
There was 50%-75% improvement in depressive symptoms, with a statistically insignificant mean elevation in blood pressure.


CONCLUSIONS
Extended-release venlafaxine appears to be a safe and tolerable agent for the medical-surgical depressed inpatient.
Schwartz
Thomas
T
Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA. schwartzresearch1@yahoo.com
Jindal
Shefali
S
Virk
Subhdeep
S
Wade
Michael
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000523:psychology*; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
D003511:Cyclohexanols; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride