Studies Show it Might Not Be Worth Risking Effexor Side Effects

Springfield, MORecent studies indicate that it may not be worth risking Effexor side effects when battling depression, as talk therapy can be just as effective.

span itemprop="image" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="display:block">It is estimated that severe depression affects 14 percent of Americans, who spend $10 billion annually on antidepressants like Effexor, according to KY3, an NBC affiliate. However, a recent study by the a Journal of the American Medical Association discovered that such drugs might not be any more effective than a placebo.

"Some recent data shows it's only in the most severe cases of depression when you start to see benefits of medication, and even then they can be subtle or small," Dr Michael Leftwich of the Forest Institute told the news source.

Leftwich also told the news provider that he agreed with the results of a recent Consumer Reports survey that found antidepressants work best when paired with talk therapy.

Antidepressants like Effexor can have serious side effects as well. A recent Danish study linked the medication to an increased risk of birth defects among children whose mothers took the drugs while pregnant.