Effexor is a type of prescription medication called an antidepressant. Because both anxiety and its symptoms are closely related to depression, Effexor can also help with that condition as well. There are certain chemicals in the brain that carry messages to nerve cells. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters and include:

• serotonin
• norepinephrine
• dopamine

Doctors believe that when these chemicals get out of balance in the brain, it can lead to depression and sometimes anxiety. Effexor works directly on two of these chemicals: serotonin and norepinephrine. By bringing these chemicals back into balance, Effexor relieves the symptoms and helps a person to start enjoying life once again.