What precautions are necessary when switching between venlafaxine and an MAO inhibitor?
When switching from an MAO inhibitor to venlafaxine, there should be a 14-day interval between the discontinuation of the MAOI and the initiation of venlafaxine therapy. When switching from venlafaxine to an MAOI, a 7-day interval is adequate because of venlafaxine’s short half-life. • What does venlafaxine cost? Venlafaxine is supplied in tablets ranging from 25 to 100 mg in strength. The 25 mg tablets cost pharmacies nearly as much as the 100 mg tablets ($0.71 vs. $0.83). It is expected that all strengths of venlafaxine will be sold for between $1.00 and $1.50 per tablet. • Might venlafaxine be effective when a person has not responded to other antidepressants? In patients who have not responded to three antidepressants from at least two of the major classes of antidepressants, venlafaxine was found to be effective in nearly one-half of the people with depression who took it.
