Drug interactions
Desvenlafaxine + Zuranolone
Severity: Moderate
Desvenlafaxine and Zuranolone: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Zuranolone causes somnolence and impaired driving ability, and combining it with other CNS-active drugs may increase the effect. Desvenlafaxine is commonly prescribed in depression, and concurrent use may be intended in some patients.
What this interaction means in plain words
Desvenlafaxine and Zuranolone can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Desvenlafaxine belongs to Central Nervous System; Zuranolone belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depressant effects from GABA-A positive modulation plus antidepressant effects.
What to do
Monitor for excess sedation and consider reducing the zuranolone dose if somnolence or confusion occurs. Warn patients not to drive for at least 12 hours after each dose.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Desvenlafaxine
- Desvenlafaxine + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Desvenlafaxine + Methylene blue Contraindicated
- Desvenlafaxine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Desvenlafaxine + Rasagiline Contraindicated
- Desvenlafaxine + Safinamide Contraindicated
- Desvenlafaxine + Selegiline Contraindicated
Other interactions of Zuranolone
- Alprazolam + Zuranolone Major
- Amobarbital + Zuranolone Major
- Apalutamide + Zuranolone Major
- Asenapine + Zuranolone Major
- Brexpiprazole + Zuranolone Major
- Butorphanol + Zuranolone Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Desvenlafaxine with Zuranolone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Desvenlafaxine and Zuranolone can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Zuranolone causes somnolence and impaired driving ability, and combining it with other CNS-active drugs may increase the effect. Desvenlafaxine is commonly prescribed in depression, and concurrent use may be intended in some patients.
How serious is the interaction between Desvenlafaxine and Zuranolone?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor for excess sedation and consider reducing the zuranolone dose if somnolence or confusion occurs. Warn patients not to drive for at least 12 hours after each dose.
What other medicines interact with Desvenlafaxine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Desvenlafaxine with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Methylene blue, Phenelzine. The full list is on the Desvenlafaxine page.
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