Is Effexor vegan? (3+ insights)
By
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii, PhD, is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drug Design and Development, Enzymes, Molecular Modelling, and Photodynamic Therapy. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii’s Highlights:
- Postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Biochemistry at the University of São Paulo, emphasizing therapy of neglected diseases using light.
- PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences focusing on drug design and development at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of São Paulo.
- Six months as an international researcher at the Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases (University of California San Diego)
- Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences focusing on drug design and development at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of São Paulo.
- Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of Mogi das Cruzes – São Paulo / Brazil
Professional Experience:
2012 – 2018 Project manager at University of São Paulo – Pharmacy Department
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii has worked with computational studies, synthesis, biological evaluation, design, and development of new inhibitor candidates for Chagas Disease and Leishmaniasis.
2017 – 2017 International research fellow at University of California San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences – Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases.
She used Virtual Screening (VS) and High-Throughput Screening (HTS) Integration in the Discovery of new drugs against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
2018 – 2019 Faculdades Oswaldo Cruz
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii was a professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy, teaching the subjects of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Drug Development.
2019 – 2021 Researcher in Biochemistry University of São Paulo – Biochemistry Department
She applied Photodynamic Therapy in Leishmaniasis Treatment, mentored undergraduate students in scientific activities, and wrote, executed, translated, and reported scientific projects with funding agencies.
2023-2023 UniPiaget – University Center.
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii was a Biology, Nutrition, Physiotherapy, and Pharmacy professor.
Education:
2018 -2021 Postdoctoral at the Department of Biochemistry at the University of São Paulo
2013 -2018 PhD of Science: Drugs and Medicines at Department of Pharmacy at University of São Paulo
2012 -2013 M.Sc. of Sciences: Drugs and Medicines at the Department of Pharmacy at the University of São Paulo
2005-2008 Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of Mogi das Cruzes
The leading publications of Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii are:
Vital-Fujii, D.G, Baptista, M.S. (2021). Progress in the photodynamic therapy treatment of Leishmaniasis. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 54, 1-11.
Gatti, F. M., Gomes, R.A., da Fonseca, A.L., Lima, E.J.C., Vital-Fujii, D.G., Taranto, A.G., Varotti, F.P., Trossini, G.H.G. (2020). Antiplasmodial activity of sulfonylhydrazones: in vitro and in silico approaches. Future medicinal chemistry, 13, 233-250.
Silva, E.J., Bezerra-Souza, A., Passero, L.F., Laurenti, M.D., Ferreira, G.M., Fujii, D.G.V., et al. (2018). Synthesis, leishmanicidal activity, structural descriptors and structure-activity relationship of quinoline derivatives. Future medicinal chemistry, 10, 2069-2085.
Leite, F.H.A., Froes, T.Q., da Silva, S.G., de Souza, E.I.M., Vital-Fuji,i D.G., Trossini, G.H.G., et al. (2017). An integrated approach towards the discovery of novel non-nucleoside Leishmania major pteridine reductase 1 inhibitors. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 132, 322-332.
Vital, D.G., Damasceno, F.S., Rapado, L.N., Silber, A.M., Vilella, F.S., Ferreira, R.S., et al. (2017). Application of bioisosterism in design of the semicarbazone derivatives as cruzain inhibitors: a theoretical and experimental study. Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, 35, 1244–1259.
Mello, J. F.R., Gomes, R.A., Vital-Fujii, D.G., Ferreira, G.M., Trossini, G.H.G. (2017). Fragment-based drug discovery as alternative strategy to the drug development for neglected diseases. Chemical Biology & Drug Design, 90, 1067-1078.
Pantaleao, S.Q., Fujii, D.G.V., Maltarollo, V.G., da C. Silva, D., Trossini, G.H.G., Weber, K.C., et al. (2017). The Role of QSAR and Virtual Screening Studies in Type 2 Diabetes Drug Discovery. Medicinal Chemistry, 13, 706-720.
Vital, D., Arribas, M., Trossini, G. (2014). Molecular Modeling and Docking Application to Evaluate Cruzain Inhibitory Activity by Chalcones and Hydrazides. Letters in Drug Design and Discovery, 11, 249-255.
Blau, L., Menegon, R.F., Trossini, G.H.G., Molino, J.V.D., Vital, D.G., Cicarelli, R.M.B., et al. (2013). Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of new aryl thiosemicarbazone as antichagasic candidates. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 67, 142-151.
You can view some of Dr Drielli’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9270-0466
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Drielli-Gomes-Vital-Fujii
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55829534000
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=F9U50AEAAAAJ&hl=pt-BR
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/driellivital
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/6101380/drielli-gomes-vital
CDIPD: https://cdipd.org/index.php/about-us/visiting-scientists
In this article, we will briefly discuss the possibility of Effexor being vegan or not. We will also focus on the ingredients of this medication, how it is manufactured and whether or not it aligns with vegan principles.
Is Effexor vegan?
No, Effexor is not vegan because of the inactive ingredient gelatin and lactose. Venlafaxine is the active ingredient used in Effexor and it is produced synthetically and is not derived from plants or animals.
Venlafaxine was first produced by Yardley and coworkers. It belongs to the class of serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI). It is used for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders. It works by helping to maintain the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmitters in the brain.
A vegan lifestyle is characterised by a commitment which is to not use any product that is derived from animals. They would abstain from including such products in their daily life, whether that be in the form of diet, personal care products, clothing etc. To determine if the medication consists of any animal-derived material depends on where the manufacturing company gets their raw material from.
Why does Effexor contain non-vegan ingredients?
The inactive ingredients or excipients used in the formulation are decided by the manufacturer depending on several factors such as bioavailability, stability and manufacture process.
Gelatin is mainly used in the manufacturing of capsules whereas lactose is used as a filler for many drug products. Effexor XR extended-release is available in the form of capsules. The capsule shell is made up of gelatin. Effexor tablets consist of lactose which is derived from milk and is used as a filler.
The liquid form of Effexor is not yet available but pharmacists can prepare oral solutions of venlafaxine tablets. This means that the same ingredients will be present in the oral solution making it non-vegan.
Are the ingredients in Effexor vegan?
Some of the ingredients in Effexor are not vegan. Effexor consists of venlafaxine as an active ingredient. The inactive ingredients include cellulose, gelatin, ethylcellulose, iron oxide, hypromellose and titanium dioxide.
Non-vegan ingredients: Gelatin is derived mainly from animal collagen obtained from the bones, skin and collagen of bovine and porcine sources. It can also be obtained from fish and poultry sources. (3) Lactose is derived from milk and is non-vegan.
Vegan ingredients: Hypromellose and ethyl cellulose are mostly derived from plant sources but they should be verified by the manufacturer. Apart from gelatin, the rest of the inactive ingredients are derived from plants mostly and are vegan-friendly.
What are the ethical considerations for vegans?
The ethical considerations for Effexor involve the pharmaceutical industry and its manufacturing practices. It is important for people who follow a vegan lifestyle to weigh the benefits of the medication against their vegan lifestyle as according to their principle veganism should be followed as far as practicable and possible.
Most pharmaceutical products, including Effexor, undergo animal testing in the preclinical stage to assess their safety and efficacy before they can enter the human trial phase. Animal testing is a controversial practice with the leading concerns being the welfare of animals, the reliability of testing on animal models for the drug to pass to the human trial phase and the possibility of developing alternative methods for testing.
No medications currently have written if the medications are vegan or not on the packaging or inserts. To find out the vegan status, it is recommended to consult with the manufacturing company, healthcare provider or pharmacist for a knowledgeable answer.
Are there any alternative vegan-friendly medications?
Yes, there are alternative medications available for Effexor but it is always necessary to consult with your healthcare provider and not switch the medication on your own. Healthcare providers can assess the case on an individual basis and recommend a solution that is most suitable for you.
The alternative medications can be from the classes of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) or serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI).
Examples of SSRIs include:
- Prozac (fluoxetine)
- Lexapro (escitalopram)
- Zoloft (sertraline)
Examples of SNRIs include:
- Cymbalta (Duloxetine)
- Pristiq (desvenlafaxine)
It should be noted that these alternative medications do not have any animal-derived ingredients in them but the material used for coating or other inactive components such as those used in the manufacturing of capsules may have been derived from animal sources. Therefore, it is recommended to see the package insert for a list of ingredients, ask the manufacturing company or consult with a healthcare professional.
Conclusion
In my opinion, Effexor is not a vegan-friendly medication as it contains gelatin which is derived from animal sources. Pharmaceutical companies are striving to make alternative options available for vegans as well.
Therefore, patients who are concerned about their medication being vegan-friendly or not should forward their concerns to healthcare providers or pharmacists so they can provide them with suitable solutions.
Was this helpful?
References
1.-
Singh D, Saadabadi A. Venlafaxine. [Updated 2022 Oct 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535363/
2.-
EFFEXOR XR- venlafaxine hydrochloride capsule, extended release
Viatris Specialty LLC [Medication guide] https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/medguide.cfm?setid=c848a5d8-ba94-4c84-80e3-0bf35fb8e32e
3.-
I.J. Haug, K.I. Draget, 5 – Gelatin, Editor(s): G.O. Phillips, P.A. Williams,
In Woodhead Publishing Series in Food Science, Technology and Nutrition, Handbook of Food Proteins, Woodhead Publishing, 2011, Pages 92-115, ISBN 9781845697587. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9781845697587500058
Find a supportive therapist who can help with Depression.
Discover the convenience of BetterHelp, an online therapy platform connecting you with licensed and accredited therapists specialized in addressing issues such as depression, anxiety, relationships, and more. Complete the assessment and find your ideal therapist within just 48 hours.
AskYourPharm is user-supported. We may earn a commission if you sign up for BetterHelp’s services after clicking through from this site
