To investigate the efficacy and adverse effects of venlafaxine in the treatment of depression, patients were given venlafaxine or amitriptyline for 6 weeks. The efficacy of the drugs were assessed by using HAMD and HAMA at the 4th, 7th, 14th and 42nd day before and after the medication. The adverse effects were evaluated by TESS. Our results showed that the effect time of venlafaxine was (8.52±4.47) d, which was fasler the that of amitriptyline. The effective rate of venlafaxine was 83%, which was faster the that of amitriptyline. but venlafaxine caused less dry mouth, constipation, blurred vusion, tachycardia and anorexia etc. It is concluded that venlafaxine worked faster with less side effect in the treatment of depression as compared with amitriptyline.