Rapid Onset of Antidepressant Activity With Venlafaxine

Letter to the Editor

Sir: In their recent article, "How Fast Are Antidepressants?" Drs. Gelenberg and Chesen rightly acknowledged the benefits of novel, fast-acting antidepressants. These benefits include alleviating patient suffering, reducing hospital stay length, and, most importantly, preserving life by decreasing the risk of suicide. The availability of venlafaxine may reduce the severalweek therapeutic delay associated with other available antidepressants.