New treatments with rapid onset of action for affective disorders

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Many currently available antidepressant drugs can take as long as 6 weeks to demonstrate significant clinical effects. New agents, such as venlafaxine [Effexor®; Wyeth-Ayerst], and combinations of more established antidepressant agents, may have the potential for more rapid improvement of depression. Data from clinical trials investigating these new approaches were presented at the 2nd International Conference on New Directions in Affective Disorders [ Jerusalem, Israel; September 1995 ].