title: The effects of venlafaxine on cognitive functions and quantitative EEG in healthy volunteers.
abstract: Antidepressants that selectively block serotonin uptake may cause unwanted effects on cognitive functions such as impairment of vigilance and memory. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled cross-over trial was performed to examine the effects of venlafaxine, a selective serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SSNRI), on cognitive functions and quantitative EEG (qEEG) in humans. 12 healthy male subjects aged 23-32 years (26+/-3 years mean+/-sd) orally received 37.5 mg venlafaxine b.i.d. for 7 days and subsequently 75 mg b.i.d. for another 7 days. After a 14-day wash-out phase, placebo was administered to the subjects for 14 days under randomized double-blind cross-over conditions. Venlafaxine did not influence cognitive functions such as choice reaction, memory, psychomotor performance and subjective mood. Placebo resulted in an increase in slow alpha power (p<0.05) whereas venlafaxine had no effect on qEEG. In conclusion, multiple dosing with venlafaxine did not influence cognitive functions in healthy humans.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, Technical University, Dresden, Germany. martin.siepmann@tu.dresden.de
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Siepmann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mueck-Weymann
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oertel
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kirch
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pittrow
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siepmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005133:Eye Movements; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
chemical_list: D003511:Cyclohexanols; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride