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Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) Venlafaxine, Desvenlafaxine, Duloxetine, Milnacipran, Levomilnacipran

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Abstract

Approved members of the selective serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) class so long are venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, milnacipran, and levomilnacipran. They differ regarding binding affinity to 5-HT/NE-transporter binding and uptake inhibition, pharmacokinetic properties (half-life, metabolism), and clinical profile (e.g., analgesic properties). Numerous randomized placebo-controlled clinical studies (RCTs) and non-interventional studies have shown efficacy and effectiveness. Some studies reported higher efficacy compared to serotonin selective antidepressants (SSRIs) proposing these drugs for severe and so-called therapy-resistant depressions. Typical side effects are nausea, trouble sleeping, and sexual dysfunction.

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Laux, G., Klimke, A. (2022). Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) Venlafaxine, Desvenlafaxine, Duloxetine, Milnacipran, Levomilnacipran. In: Riederer, P., Laux, G., Nagatsu, T., Le, W., Riederer, C. (eds) NeuroPsychopharmacotherapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56015-1_414-1

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