Change in pain severity with open label venlafaxine use in patients with a depressive symptomatology: an observational study in primary care

Begré, Stefan; Traber, Martin; Gerber, Martin; von Känel, Roland (2008). Change in pain severity with open label venlafaxine use in patients with a depressive symptomatology: an observational study in primary care. European psychiatry, 23(3), pp. 178-86. Paris: Elsevier Masson SAS 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2008.01.001

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PURPOSE: Venlafaxine has shown benefit in the treatment of depression and pain. Worldwide data are extensively lacking investigating the outcome of chronic pain patients with depressive symptoms treated by venlafaxine in the primary care setting. This observational study aimed to elucidate the efficacy of venlafaxine and its prescription by Swiss primary care physicians and psychiatrists in patients with chronic pain and depressive symptomatology. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We studied 505 patients with depressive symptoms suffering from chronic pain in a prospective naturalistic Swiss community based observational trial with venlafaxine in primary care. These patients have been treated with venlafaxine by 122 physicians, namely psychiatrists, general practitioners, and internists. RESULTS: On average, patients were treated with 143+/-75 mg (0-450 mg) venlafaxine daily for a follow-up of three months. Venlafaxine proved to be beneficial in the treatment of both depressive symptoms and chronic pain. DISCUSSION: Although side effects were absent in most patients, physicians might have frequently omitted satisfactory response rate of depression by underdosing venlafaxine. Our results reflect the complexity in the treatment of chronic pain in patients with depressive symptoms in primary care. CONCLUSION: Further randomized dose-finding studies are needed to learn more about the appropriate dosage in treating depression and comorbid pain with venlafaxine.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Head Organs and Neurology (DKNS) > Clinic of Neurology > Centre of Competence for Psychosomatic Medicine

UniBE Contributor:

Begré, Stefan, von Känel, Roland

ISSN:

0924-9338

ISBN:

18328675

Publisher:

Elsevier Masson SAS

Language:

English

Submitter:

Factscience Import

Date Deposited:

04 Oct 2013 15:01

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:19

Publisher DOI:

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2008.01.001

PubMed ID:

18328675

Web of Science ID:

000254884100003

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/26560 (FactScience: 73497)

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