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Functional gastrointestinal disorders

Venlafaxine is a potential therapy for functional chest pain

Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology volume 8, pages 14–16 (2011)Cite this article

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Noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) is a common condition; however, there are few treatment options for patients with NCCP. A study has recently investigated the potential benefit of using a serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (venlafaxine) to treat patients with functional chest pain, which is experienced by a subgroup of those with NCCP.

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Figure 1: The effect of treatment with venlafaxine or placebo on the symptom intensity score.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Whiteley-Martin Research Center, Discipline of Surgery, The University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School, Nepean Hospital, Level 5, South Block, PO Box 63, Penrith, 2751, NSW, Australia

    Guy D. Eslick

  2. Section of Gastroenterology, The Neuroenteric Clinical Research Group, Southern Arizona VA Health Care System and University of Arizona, Health Sciences Center, 3601 South 6th Avenue, Tucson, 85723, AZ, USA

    Ronnie Fass

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  1. Guy D. Eslick
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  2. Ronnie Fass
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Correspondence to Guy D. Eslick.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Eslick, G., Fass, R. Venlafaxine is a potential therapy for functional chest pain. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 8, 14–16 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2010.209

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