Interactions : אינטראקציות

4.5     Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI)
Irreversible non-selective MAOIs
Venlafaxine must not be used in combination with irreversible non-selective MAOIs. Venlafaxine must not be initiated for at least 14 days after discontinuation of treatment with an irreversible non- selective MAOI. Venlafaxine must be discontinued for at least 7 days before starting treatment with an irreversible non-selective MAOI (see sections 4.3 and 4.4).

Reversible, selective MAO-A inhibitor (moclobemide)
Due to the risk of serotonin syndrome, the combination of venlafaxine with a reversible and selective MAOI, such as moclobemide, is not recommended. Following treatment with a reversible MAO-inhibitor, a shorter withdrawal period than 14 days may be used before initiation of venlafaxine treatment. It is recommended that venlafaxine should be discontinued for at least 7 days before starting treatment with a reversible MAOI (see section 4.4).

Reversible, non-selective MAOI (linezolid)
The antibiotic linezolid is a weak reversible and non-selective MAOI and should not be given to patients treated with venlafaxine (see section 4.4).

Severe adverse reactions have been reported in patients who have recently been discontinued from an MAOI and started on venlafaxine, or have recently had venlafaxine therapy discontinued prior to initiation of an MAOI. These reactions have included tremor, myoclonus, diaphoresis, nausea, vomiting, flushing, dizziness, and hyperthermia with features resembling neuroleptic malignant syndrome, seizures, and death.
Serotonin syndrome

As with other serotonergic agents, serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition, may occur with venlafaxine treatment, particularly with concomitant use of other agents that may affect the serotonergic neurotransmitter system (including triptans, SSRIs, SNRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, amphetamines, lithium, sibutramine, St. John's Wort [Hypericum perforatum], opioids [e.g., buprenorphine, fentanyl and its analogues, tramadol, dextromethorphan, tapentadol, pethidine, methadone and pentazocine]), with medicinal agents that impair metabolism of serotonin (such as MAOIs e.g., methylene blue), with serotonin precursors (such as tryptophan supplements) or with antipsychotics or other dopamine antagonists (see sections 4.3 and 4.4).

If concomitant treatment with venlafaxine and an SSRI, an SNRI or a serotonin receptor agonist (triptan) is clinically warranted, careful observation of the patient is advised, particularly during treatment initiation and dose increases. The concomitant use of venlafaxine with serotonin precursors (such as tryptophan supplements) is not recommended (see section 4.4).

CNS-active substances

The risk of using venlafaxine in combination with other CNS-active substances has not been systematically evaluated. Consequently, caution is advised when venlafaxine is taken in combination with other CNS-active substances.

Ethanol

Patients should be advised not to use alcohol, considering its CNS-effects and potential of clinical worsening of psychiatric conditions, and the potential for adverse interactions with venlafaxine including CNS depressant effects.

Drugs that Prolong the QT Interval

The risk of QTc prolongation and/or ventricular arrhythmias (e.g., TdP) is increased with concomitant use of other medicinal products which prolong the QTc interval. Co-administration of such medicinal products should be avoided (see section 4.4).

Relevant classes include:
• class Ia and III antiarrhythmics (e.g. quinidine, amiodarone, sotalol, dofetilide) • some antipsychotics (e.g. thioridazine)
• some macrolides (e.g. erythromycin)
• some antihistamines
• some quinolone antibiotics (e.g. moxifloxacin)

The above list is not exhaustive and other individual medicinal products known to significantly increase QT interval should be avoided.

Effect of other medicinal products on venlafaxine

Ketoconazole (CYP3A4 inhibitor)
A pharmacokinetic study with ketoconazole in CYP2D6 extensive (EM) and poor metabolisers (PM) resulted in higher AUC of venlafaxine (70% and 21% in CYP2D6 PM and EM subjects, respectively) and O-desmethylvenlafaxine (33% and 23% in CYP2D6 PM and EM subjects, respectively) following administration of ketoconazole. Concomitant use of CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., atazanavir, clarithromycin, indinavir, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, ketoconazole, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, telithromycin) and venlafaxine may increase levels of venlafaxine and O-desmethylvenlafaxine. Therefore, caution is advised if a patient’s therapy includes a CYP3A4 inhibitor and venlafaxine concomitantly.

Effect of venlafaxine on other medicinal products

Lithium
Serotonin syndrome may occur with the concomitant use of venlafaxine and lithium (see Serotonin syndrome).

Diazepam
Venlafaxine has no effects on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of diazepam and its active metabolite, desmethyldiazepam. Diazepam does not appear to affect the pharmacokinetics of either venlafaxine or O-desmethylvenlafaxine. It is unknown whether a pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic interaction with other benzodiazepines exists.

Imipramine
Venlafaxine did not affect the pharmacokinetics of imipramine and 2-OH-imipramine. There was a dose-dependent increase of 2-OH-desipramine AUC by 2.5 to 4.5-fold when venlafaxine 75 mg to 150 mg daily was administered. Imipramine did not affect the pharmacokinetics of venlafaxine and O-desmethylvenlafaxine. The clinical significance of this interaction is unknown. Caution should be exercised with co-administration of venlafaxine and imipramine.

Haloperidol
A pharmacokinetic study with haloperidol has shown a 42% decrease in total oral clearance, a 70% increase in AUC, an 88% increase in Cmax, but no change in half-life for haloperidol. This should be taken into account in patients treated with haloperidol and venlafaxine concomitantly. The clinical significance of this interaction is unknown.

Risperidone
Venlafaxine increased the risperidone AUC by 50%, but did not significantly alter the pharmacokinetic profile of the total active moiety (risperidone plus 9-hydroxyrisperidone). The clinical significance of this interaction is unknown.

Metoprolol
Concomitant administration of venlafaxine and metoprolol to healthy volunteers in a pharmacokinetic interaction study for both medicinal products resulted in an increase of plasma concentrations of metoprolol by approximately 30-40% without altering the plasma concentrations of its active metabolite, α-hydroxymetoprolol. The clinical relevance of this finding in hypertensive patients is unknown. Metoprolol did not alter the pharmacokinetic profile of venlafaxine or its active metabolite, O-desmethylvenlafaxine. Caution should be exercised with co-administration of venlafaxine and metoprolol.

Indinavir
A pharmacokinetic study with indinavir has shown a 28% decrease in AUC and a 36% decrease in Cmax for indinavir. Indinavir did not affect the pharmacokinetics of venlafaxine and O-desmethylvenlafaxine. The clinical significance of this interaction is unknown.

Drugs Metabolized by Cytochrome P450 Isoenzymes
In vivo studies indicate that venlafaxine is a relatively weak inhibitor of CYP2D6. Venlafaxine did not inhibit CYP3A4 (alprazolam and carbamazepine), CYP1A2 (caffeine), and CYP2C9 (tolbutamide) or CYP2C19 (diazepam) in vivo.

Oral contraceptives
In post-marketing experience unintended pregnancies have been reported in subjects taking oral contraceptives while on venlafaxine. There is no clear evidence these pregnancies were a result of drug interaction with venlafaxine. No interaction study with hormonal contraceptives has been performed.