Clinical drug-drug interactions: focus on venlafaxine

Drug Metab Pers Ther. 2015 Mar;30(1):3-17. doi: 10.1515/dmdi-2014-0011.

Abstract

Venlafaxine (VEN) is an antidepressant agent widely used nowadays as an alternative to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), particularly for the treatment of SSRI-resistant depression. As the co-administration of antidepressant drugs with other medications is very common in clinical practice, the potential risk for pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic drug interactions that may be clinically meaningful increases. Bearing in mind that VEN has exhibited large variability in antidepressant response, besides the individual genetic background, several other factors may contribute to those variable clinical outcomes, such as the occurrence of significant drug-drug interactions. Indeed, the presence of drug interactions is possibly one of the major reasons for interindividual variability, and their anticipation should be considered in conjugation with other specific patients' characteristics to optimize the antidepressant therapy. Hence, a comprehensive overview of the pharmacokinetic- and pharmacodynamic-based drug interactions involving VEN is herein provided, particularly addressing their clinical relevance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / pharmacokinetics
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / pharmacology
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / therapeutic use*
  • Depressive Disorder / drug therapy*
  • Drug Interactions
  • Humans
  • Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors / pharmacokinetics
  • Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Venlafaxine Hydrochloride / pharmacokinetics
  • Venlafaxine Hydrochloride / pharmacology
  • Venlafaxine Hydrochloride / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
  • Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors
  • Venlafaxine Hydrochloride