Which medication is usually better to treat GAD: venlafaxine or escitalopram?

Mental health
1

Which of these two medications is usually better for treating generalized anxiety disorder: venlafaxine (Effexor XR) ou escitalopram (Lexapro)?

I see the overwhelming majority of people (who have already taken these two medications) doing better with escitalopram than with venlafaxine (I am included in this list. Venlafaxine looked like a placebo to me).

But shouldn't it be supposed to do the opposite, since venlafaxine acts on two neurotransmitters (serotonin and norepinephrine) while escitalopram acts only on serotonin?

2

I have been on venvlafaxine( Effexor xr) for about 10 years always at 75mg. Then after a series of deaths and illnesses in my family I have been increased 150mg . This is the dosage where the norepinephrine starts. Currently I am not coping too well with this increase, particlarly morning anxiety, headaches and increased blood pressure, which I already have. My two nieces are bot on escitaloproam ( lexapro) are are doing amazing.

3

Yeah, but the logic is that venlafaxine should be better (for most of the people) than escitalopram because while the former acts both on serotonin and norepinephrine, the latter acts only on serotonin.

I don't know why these stuff of getting better from the GAD by taking escitalopram rather than venlafaxine go on with me and most of people who take these two medicines (and this can be proven even by getting reviews from those drug sites where patients evaluate the drug their take for some purpose). For example:

Lexapro (reference drug for escitalopram) for generalized anxiety disorder (8.3/10): https://www.drugs.com/comments/escitalopram/lexapro-for-generalized-anxiety-disorder.html

vs

Effexor XR (reference drug for venlafaxine) for generalized anxiety disorder (6.7/10):

https://www.drugs.com/comments/venlafaxine/effexor-xr-for-generalized-anxiety-disorder.html

And the generic drugs also have a very similar score in the site:

Escitalopram for generalized anxiety disorder (8.2/10):

https://www.drugs.com/comments/escitalopram/for-generalized-anxiety-disorder.html

vs

Venlafaxine for generalized anxiety disorder (6.7/10):

https://www.drugs.com/comments/venlafaxine/for-generalized-anxiety-disorder.html

4

Yes, I have read these as well. As I mentioned earlier I have been on Effexor(venla....) for years and it has been great. The first issue I had with it was just recently, at 150mg, but I just cut down the slightest amount and the last few days have been fine. My psychiatrist told me the effexor is the most difficult to wean off of when that time comes. I would give it a try, it certainly weas benwficial to me for a very long time. Good luck!!!