Does Effexor have a short half-life? (3+ facts)
By
Ivan Kahwa
Author bio
Mr Ivan Kahwa is a chemist and phytopharmaceutical scientist with expertise in chemistry, pharmacology, phytochemistry, and Nanobiotechnology. He writes and reviews content on these topics.
Mr Ivan Kahwa’s Highlights:
Guest Researcher at the University of Leipzig, Senior Research Fellow/Scientist, and Lecturer at the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
Professional Experience:
Mr Ivan joined PHARMBIOTRAC as a research fellow/scientist during his master of science tenure. He contributed to the development of most of the phytopharmaceutical products in the project. Furthermore, he participated in carrying out the pharmacological activities of the developed products in laboratory animals such as mice and rats in order to develop proper doses hence leading to pre-clinical studies.
With the above relevant research experience, Ivan started to work with the University of Leipzig on collaborative projects with Mbarara University to develop the chemistry of Ugandan Medicinal plants and their pharmacological activities. This was coupled with several consultative positions by different German NGOs. Mr. Kahwa is also a supporting in the teaching and learning at the Departments of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
With the increase in antimicrobial resistance globally, Ivan retooled his thinking towards developing new naturally derived antibiotic regimens from Ugandan propolis with the assistance of nanotechnology to improve their delivery to microbial cells. Kahwa has also published over 28 articles in peer-reviewed journals and he is currently reviewing for many journals.
Education:
2023-2027: PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences (ongoing) with a focus on Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Nanobiology at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
2022: 2Msc. in Pharmacognosy and Natural Medicine Science at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
2018: Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
Publications:
▪ Iqbal, S., Jabeen, F., Kahwa, I., & Omara, T. 2023. Suberosin Alleviates Thiazolidinedione-Induced Cardiomyopathy in Diabetic Rats by Inhibiting Ferroptosis via Modulation of ACSL4-LPCAT3 and PI3K-AKT Signaling Pathways. Cardiovascular Toxicology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12012-023-09804-7
▪ Gupta, A. K., Yadav, R., Sharma, S., Sawale, J., & Kahwa, I. 2023. Anti-ageing Activity and Antioxidant Activity of Methanol Extracts of Leaves and Flowers of Salvia officinalis and Rosmarinus officinalis. Journal of Young Pharmacists, 15(3), 448–455. https://doi.org/10.5530/jyp.2023.15.60
▪ Tolo, C.U., Kahwa, I., Nuwagira, U., Weisheit, A. and Ikiriza, H., 2023. Medicinal plants used in treatment of various diseases in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 25, pp.1-16.
https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/4683
▪ Kahwa, I., Ajayi, C.O., Yadav, R., Chauhan, N.S., Shah, K., Abdelgadir, A.A., Shegena, E.A., Daniel, S., Omara, T., Asiimwe, J.B. and Ikiriza, H., 2023. Pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies as an invaluable approach for correct identification of medicinal plants: The case of Artemisia vulgaris L. substituted for Artemisia annua L. in Western Uganda. TMR Integr Med, 7, p.e23004.
https://doi.org/10.53388/TMRIM202307004
▪ Nalimu, F., Oloro, J., Kahwa, I. and Ogwang, P.E., 2021. Review on the phytochemistry and toxicological profiles of Aloe vera and Aloe ferox. Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 7, pp.1-21.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s43094-021-00296-2
▪ Elamin, O.H.S., Ali, M.A., Elgezuli, I.A.A., Bashir, M.A. and Kahwa, I., 2021. Diagnosis of pre-and post-treatment of echinococcus granulosus with counter current immune electrophoresis and bacterial co-agglutination. Journal of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 11(02), pp.88-94.
https://doi.org/10.5799/jmid.951600
Published book Chapter
▪ Kahwa, I., Ayesiga, I., Nakalema, S., Alinaiswe, R., Mbabazi, R. and Iqbal, S., 2023. Natural products in the management of onchocerciasis. In Natural Products in Vector-Borne Disease Management (pp. 63-80). Academic Press. Book Chapter.
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91942-5.00012-4
Submitted manuscripts Under Review:
▪ Comparison of the Wound Healing Activity of the Leaf and Leaf Ash Extracts of Vernonia amygdalina in Rats. Journal name: Clinical Phytoscience
▪ Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal plants used in the management of cancer in Uganda. Journal name: Journal of Herbal Medicine
▪ Ethnobotanical survey and phytochemical screening of medicinal plants used in treatment of epilepsy by PROMETRA-Uganda Traditional Health Practitioners in Mpigi District, Uganda. Journal name: Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Submitted book chapters under review
1.Book title: Algae as a Natural Solution for Water-Food-Energy Nexus, Section 4: Microalgae and cyanobacteria for food applications, Chapter 4.6: Safety, toxicological and allergenic aspects of using algae for food. Authors: Christine Kyarimpa, Tom Omute, Caroline K. Nakiguli, Alice V. Khanakwa4, Christopher Angiro, Ivan Kahwa, Fortunate Ahumuza, Timothy Omara*. Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 152 Beach Road, #21-01/04 Gateway East, Singapore 189721, Singapore.
2.Book title: Nutraceuticals Inspiring the Contemporary Therapy for Lifestyle Diseases. Chapter: Nutraceutical applications of Seaweeds and their Phytocompounds in Nutrition and Treatment of Diseases. Authors: Ivan Kahwa, Timothy Omara , Innocent Ayesiga , Gael Noel Neh Neba Ambe , Zehbanaz Javidbhai Panwala , Rachel Mbabazi , Shabnoor Iqbal , Christine Kyarimpa , Christine Betty Nagawa , Kamal Shah ,Nagendra Singh Chauhan* Publisher: CRC Press
You can view my works on the following professional sites:
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ivan-Kahwa
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=tOwrvqoAAAAJ&hl=en
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6440-3437
Linkedin: https://de.linkedin.com/in/ivan-kahwa-865450159
In this article, we will talk about the half-life of Effexor as well as other pharmacokinetic and dynamic properties. We will also talk about the pros and cons of having a short half-life.
Does Effexor have a short half-life?
Yes, Effexor has a short half-life of 5-7 hours. (1) Half-life of a drug is defined as the time required to decrease the drug by 50% of its initial amount. (2) 50% of Effexor is eliminated from the body in 5-7 hours after ingestion.
The half-life of Effexor is 5-7 hours, and the half-life of its metabolite O-desmethylvenlafaxine is about 11-12 hours. Venlafaxine reaches the maximum blood concentration within 5.5 hours.
The half-life of Effexor is short, which means that the drug leaves the body relatively quickly. Effexor is an antidepressant which acts by increasing the level of neurotransmitters and is used to treat depression and anxiety.
Are there pros and cons of Effexor’s short half-life?
The short half-life of Effexor makes it reach the therapeutic levels in the body more quickly and faster compared to other antidepressants. This can be beneficial for individuals who seek quick relief from depression and anxiety.
There is more flexibility in dosing with a drug having a short half-life. The drug is cleared from the body quickly, which can be beneficial in situations where rapid dose adjustment is needed.
Drugs which have shorter half-life tend to exacerbate withdrawal symptoms when compared to drugs with longer half-life. Withdrawal symptoms may occur when a drug is stopped abruptly or when there is a sudden reduction in dosage.
With a short half-life, there comes frequent dosing to maintain the therapeutic levels. There may be chances of missing the doses, which can lead to fluctuations in the drug level.
Tapering Effexor is an essential step during withdrawal of the drug, but it can be challenging due to the short half-life of the drug. Hence, tapering Effexor requires careful monitoring to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
It is important that you take the medication at the same time every day; some people may find it challenging to adhere to the medication schedule. If you miss a dose, you may experience withdrawal symptoms the next day.
What are the factors affecting the half-life of Effexor?
The half-life of Effexor can be influenced by many factors, such as:
Age: Elderly people have reduced liver and renal function, which affects the metabolism and elimination of the drug, prolonging the half-life of the drug.
Individual variability: Each individual responds to the drug differently, and factors like body weight also influence the half-life of the drug.
Dose: The higher the dose of the drug, the longer its metabolism and elimination.
Genetic factors: Any generic defect in the enzyme CYP450, which helps the metabolism of the drug, can impact the clearance and metabolism.
Metabolism: Effexor is metabolized in the liver by an enzyme called CYP450. The activity of this enzyme can vary based on genetic factors, liver condition and interaction with other drugs, which can affect the half-life of Effexor.
Drug formulation: Fromulatioins of drugs such as immediate-release to extended-release (XR) can change the pharmacokinetics of the drug and alter the course of drug elimination. Extended-release tends to have a longer duration of action when compared to immediate release.
Liver function: The liver plays an important role in the metabolism and elimination of the drug. If a patient has any disease affecting the liver or a damaged liver, it will alter the metabolism of the drug and can also cause toxicity.
Renal function: Effexor is eliminated in urine through the kidney. Kidneys filter the blood and remove the metabolized drug from the body. Individuals with impaired renal function can have decreased drug clearance, and the drug stays in the body for a long which can be toxic.
Drug interaction: Concurrent use of other medication which competes with Effexor for the binding site on the enzyme can affect the half-life of the drug.
Conclusion:
In my perspective, Effexor has a short half-life, which means that it is metabolized and eliminated from the body quickly. This property of Effexor allows it to reach therapeutic levels more rapidly, leading to faster relief of depression and anxiety symptoms.
Effexor can be an effective solution for those seeking quick relief from the symptoms of depression and anxiety.
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References
1.-
Effexor [Package Insert]; Philadelphia, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc. 2017. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2005/020699s054,057lbl.pdf
2.-
Hallare J, Gerriets V. Half Life. [Updated 2023 Jun 20]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554498/
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