Department of Pharmacy Practice, Institute of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425-0810, USA.
Venlafaxine and tramadol are relatively new compounds indicated for the treatment of depression and pain, respectively. These agents share a number of molecular and pharmacological features that may allow for broader and overlapping therapeutic indications for both drugs. Additionally, certain patient populations with coexisting depression and pain syndromes could potentially be treated with a single agent.