Venlafaxine Drugs (Research Paper Sample)

Venlafaxine Drugs
Student’s Name
Learning Institution
Assignment 1
Evaluation of Venlafaxine Drugs
Pre-clinical Testing
During pre-clinical testing feasibility, iterative testing, and drug safety data is collected (Pre-Clinical Testing, 2014). Pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, toxicity testing by use of animal testing will be done on Venlafaxine drugs. The pre-clinical testing will give information on the safe dose of Venlafaxine drugs to be administered to depressed patients.
Clinical Testing
During phase one trial of clinical testing, the safety of Venlafaxine drugs will be tested. Few healthy volunteers will be given the drug and its side effects tested. The right dose for treatment will also be determined. To minimize the risk of harm, volunteers will take smaller doses at the beginning. During phase two of the clinical testing, venlafaxine drugs will be given to depressed patients to get information on the short-term effects.
Phase three will last for one or more years where venlafaxine drugs will be administered to thousands of depressed patients. A comparison will be done with existing treatment to determine whether it is better and if venlafaxine drugs have important side effects. During the fourth and final phase that takes place once venlafaxine drugs have passed the first three steps, venlafaxine drugs will be given a marketing licence. Now the drugs will be available for prescription.
Registration
Registration of the drug for sale is done according to the regulations Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDA Act). The Act requires that firms that manufactures and process drugs register with FDA. Thus, before releasing venlafaxine for sale, it will be registered with FDA.
Assignment 3
Comparative Study on the Effectiveness of Venlafaxine Drugs with Alternative antidepressants in the Treatment of Depression
Section 1
The group carried out a comparative research on the effectiveness of venlafaxine drugs with alternative antidepressants in the treatment of depressed patients. Each group member was assigned individual task of comparing the effectiveness of venlafaxine with any of the alternative antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and later a compilation of the finding and conclusions was done. In the presentation, I undertook the part of market researcher where I conducted a study on the effectiveness of venlafaxine with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors among different depressed patients. After all members have done their studies, the group compiled the findings and concluded that venlafaxine drugs are more efficient in the treatment of depression compared with other antidepressants.
Section 2
Introduction
I conducted a comparative research on the effectiveness of venlafaxine drugs and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). A research that was conducted by Paris (2010) indicates that although new antidepressants with greater tolerability and safety benefits have replaced older tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), their efficacy is still low. Research indicates that antidepressants with dual-action of inhibiting reuptake noradrenalin and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) are more effective than those using single monoamine notably selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Venlafaxine has both noradrenalin and 5-HT reuptake thus more effective in the treatment of depression. The researcher carried out a systematic review of venlafaxine efficacy and tolerability compared with an alternative antidepressant.
Method
The researcher carried out trials using existing database and systematic searches of the electronic databases. A total of 1273 trials were identified. If trails were double-blind or randomized comparing the effectiveness venlafaxine with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors they were included. Data was abstracted based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria of each study, dose, and regimen of the venlafaxine, a number of patients, form of analysis, reported clinical outcomes, and length of follow-up of the participants.
Clinical outcome
Mean severity of depression measure done by Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Remission and response rates outcomes were also measured. Tolerability data was abstracted by indicating all cause withdrawals from the treatment groups in addition to the attributed reason of withdrawal from the therapy.
Statistical Analysis
In order to determine the effectiveness, pooled standardized difference in the mean treatment effect was determined. Remission and response rates were also computed.
Results
Based on the pooling data, venlafaxine has an advantage of 1.2 HRSD points over selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This indicates that venlafaxine is more efficient in inhibiting 5-HT and noradrenalin reuptake compared to SSRIs.
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