Which class does Venlafaxine belong to?

• A. SSRI
• B. SNRI
• C. TCA
• D. MAOI

Answer: (B)

Venlafaxine works by blocking the reuptake of two key neurotransmitters, serotonin and norepinephrine, which increases their levels in the brain. This dual inhibition makes it an SNRI. At lower doses it mainly affects serotonin, and as the dose goes up it also inhibits norepinephrine reuptake more substantially. That pattern distinguishes it from an SSRI, which targets only serotonin, from a TCA, which tends to affect multiple neurotransmitter systems and often causes more broad side effects, and from an MAOI, which works by inhibiting the enzyme that breaks down monoamines rather than blocking their reuptake. Clinically, venlafaxine is used for depression and anxiety disorders, with the norepinephrine effect becoming more pronounced at higher doses, which also explains some dose-related effects like increased blood pressure.