TUESDAY, Aug. 8, 2006 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first generic version of the Wyeth antidepressant Effexor (venlafaxine), the agency said Tuesday.
The drug, whose brand name was approved in 1993, is sanctioned to treat major depressive disorder. Generic tablets in 25 mg., 37.5 mg., 50 mg., 75 mg., and 100 mg. strengths will be produced by TEVA Pharmaceuticals. The product will carry the same "black box" warning as the original drug, advising of risk of suicide among users of Effexor and similar antidepressants, the FDA said.
On Monday, HealthDay reported that a Columbia University study found that venlafaxine -- a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) -- was associated with 2.3 times the risk of suicide attempts compared with no drug treatment at all.
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To learn more about venlafaxine, visit the National Library of Medicine.
