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Product name:
Venlaxin
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Generic name:
Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
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Dosage form:
Oral tablets
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Packaging:
Box of 5 blisters of 10 scored tablets.
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Drug Category:
Neurology and Psychiatry
Indications:
Major depressive episodes (MDD)
Panic disorder with or without agoraphobia (PD)
Social anxiety disorder (social phobia/SAD)
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
Dosage and Administration:
Adults:
The recommended starting dose for venlafaxine is 75 mg/day, administered in two or three divided doses, taken with food. Depending on tolerability and the need for further clinical effect, the dose may be increased to 150 mg/day. If needed, the dose should be further increased up to 225 mg/day. When increasing the dose, increments of up to 75 mg/day should be made at intervals of no less than 4 days. In outpatient settings there was no evidence of usefulness of doses greater than 225 mg/day for moderately depressed patients, but more severely depressed inpatients responded to a mean dose of 350 mg/day. Certain patients, including more severely depressed patients, may therefore respond more to higher doses, up to a maximum of 375 mg/day, generally in three divided doses.
Pediatric:
Venlafaxine is not recommended for use in children and adolescents.
Contraindication:
Hypersensitivity to venlafaxine or to any of the excipients.
Concomitant treatment with irreversible monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) is contraindicated due to the risk of serotonin syndrome with symptoms such as agitation, tremor and hyperthermia.
Venlafaxine must not be initiated for at least 14 days after discontinuation of treatment with an irreversible MAOI.
Venlafaxine must be discontinued for at least 7 days before starting treatment with an irreversible MAOI.
