Drug interactions
Lithium + Venlafaxine
Severity: Moderate
Lithium and Venlafaxine: 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
Lithium enhances serotonergic neurotransmission, and combining it with venlafaxine raises the risk of serotonin syndrome, though the combination is often used for augmentation. Both agents can also affect cardiac conduction, and lithium toxicity can add to neurologic effects.
What this interaction means in plain words
Lithium and Venlafaxine 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.
Lithium belongs to Central Nervous System; Venlafaxine belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive serotonergic pharmacodynamic effects.
What to do
Monitor for tremor, clonus, confusion, diaphoresis and diarrhea, especially after dose increases. Check lithium levels and renal function periodically.
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 Venlafaxine
- Isocarboxazid + Venlafaxine Contraindicated
- Methylene blue + Venlafaxine Contraindicated
- Phenelzine + Venlafaxine Contraindicated
- Procarbazine + Venlafaxine Contraindicated
- Rasagiline + Venlafaxine Contraindicated
- Safinamide + Venlafaxine Contraindicated
Other interactions of Lithium
- Lithium + Thioridazine Contraindicated
- Lithium + Vandetanib Contraindicated
- Aceclofenac + Lithium Major
- Acemetacin + Lithium Major
- Amisulpride + Lithium Major
- Amlodipine-benazepril + Lithium Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Lithium with Venlafaxine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Lithium and Venlafaxine 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. Lithium enhances serotonergic neurotransmission, and combining it with venlafaxine raises the risk of serotonin syndrome, though the combination is often used for augmentation. Both agents can also affect cardiac conduction, and lithium toxicity can add to neurologic effects.
How serious is the interaction between Lithium and Venlafaxine?
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 tremor, clonus, confusion, diaphoresis and diarrhea, especially after dose increases. Check lithium levels and renal function periodically.
What other medicines interact with Venlafaxine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Venlafaxine with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Methylene blue, Phenelzine. The full list is on the Venlafaxine page.
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