title: Desvenlafaxine for the treatment of major depressive disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a chronic and debilitating condition often characterized by inadequate treatment. Notwithstanding the availability of more than a dozen first-line agents across disparate classes (e.g., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), the majority of individuals with MDD do not achieve and sustain a recovered state. A substantial percentage of MDD patients require a treatment change due to poor efficacy or tolerability.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review focuses on recent (≤ 5 years) literature describing the pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and tolerability of desvenlafaxine , one of the more recently approved antidepressant drugs. Published papers identified via PubMed search and congress presentations were included. Results from short-term, placebo-controlled, MDD trials and randomized withdrawal trials, as well as post hoc analyses in patient subgroups, are reviewed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Desvenlafaxine has been shown to be an effective antidepressant with a favorable safety and tolerability profile in the general MDD population and in important patient subgroups. It has several notable differences from other serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and those differences suggest populations in which it may have the most clinical benefit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Institute for Women's Health, Virginia Commonwealth University , PO Box 980319, Richmond, VA 23298-0319 , USA +1 804 827 1200 ; +1 804 827 0957 ; skornste@vcu.edu.
authors.forename: Susan G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kornstein
authors.forename: Roger S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Thase
authors.forename: Matthieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boucher
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000069468:Desvenlafaxine Succinate; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D000069468:Desvenlafaxine Succinate; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
keywords: adverse drug event; desvenlafaxine; major depressive disorder; pharmacodynamics; pharmacokinetics; treatment efficacy