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Venlafaxine and Lamotrigine
Venlafaxine inhibits reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine while lamotrigine stabilizes neuronal membranes by blocking sodium channels and modulating glutamate release, together providing antidepressant and mood-stabilizing effects.
Venlafaxine inhibits reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine while lamotrigine stabilizes neuronal membranes by blocking sodium channels and modulating glutamate release, together providing antidepressant and mood-stabilizing effects. Used for Major depressive disorder (treatment-resistant or augmentation), Bipolar depression, Anxiety disorders.
At a glance
| Generic name | Venlafaxine and Lamotrigine |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | University Health Network, Toronto |
| Drug class | SNRI + anticonvulsant combination |
| Target | Serotonin transporter, norepinephrine transporter, voltage-gated sodium channels, glutamate modulation |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Psychiatry / Neurology |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Venlafaxine is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) that increases synaptic concentrations of both neurotransmitters to alleviate depression and anxiety. Lamotrigine is an anticonvulsant that reduces excitatory glutamate transmission and stabilizes neuronal firing, providing additional mood-stabilizing and neuroprotective benefits. This combination is used off-label or in clinical practice to enhance efficacy in treatment-resistant depression and bipolar disorder.
Approved indications
- Major depressive disorder (treatment-resistant or augmentation)
- Bipolar depression
- Anxiety disorders
Common side effects
- Nausea
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Insomnia or somnolence
- Rash (lamotrigine-related)
- Sexual dysfunction
Key clinical trials
- Intensified Pharmacological Treatment for Schizophrenia, Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Depression After a First-time Treatment Failure (PHASE3)
- Longitudinal Comparative Effectiveness of Bipolar Disorder Therapies
- Pharmacovigilance in Gerontopsychiatric Patients (PHASE3)
- Venlafaxine Versus Lamotrigine in the Treatment of Bipolar I/II Depression (PHASE4)
- Effects of Drugs on Cerebral Blood Flow in Patients With Mood Disorders
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Venlafaxine and Lamotrigine CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Venlafaxine and Lamotrigine updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- University Health Network, Toronto portfolio CI