How to use Effexor XR. Read the Medication Guide and, if available, the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start using venlafaxine and each time you get a refill. For the Consumer. Applies to venlafaxine: oral capsule extended release, oral tablet, oral tablet extended release. Along with its needed effects, venlafaxine (the active ingredient contained in Effexor XR) may cause some unwanted effects. Mode D’action Et Pharmacologie Clinique Mode d’action. La venlafaxine est un dérivé bicyclique de la phénéthylamine, sans parenté chimique avec les agents antidépresseurs ou anxiolytiques tricycliques, tétracycliques ou autres actuellement disponibles. DESCRIPTION. Effexor XR is an extended-release capsule for once-a-day oral administration that contains venlafaxine hydrochloride, a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). Effexor XR (venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release) is an antidepressant used to treat patients with major depressive disorders such as panic and social disorders. Effexor XR (venlafaxine ER) is an extended-release SNRI used to treat depression, anxiety, and panic disorder. It works by increasing the amount of serotonin and norepinephrine available in the brain. Effexor XR Offers Savings To Patients. If eligible, patients may pay as little as $4 for each 30-day fill of brand-name EFFEXOR XR—and could save up to $1,800 a year.* Effexor XR, the brand name of venlafaxine hydrochloride XR, is also an antidepressant and part of the class of drugs called SNRIs. However, in addition to treating depression, Effexor XR is also prescribed for panic disorders, anxiety disorders and social phobias, according to the eMedTV website. See risks & benefits. Learn about EFFEXOR XR® (venlafaxine HCl), a prescription medication for depression, anxiety, and panic disorders in adults. Major Depressive Disorder. Effexor XR (venlafaxine hydrochloride) extended-release capsules are indicated for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD).