Skip to content

Drug interactions

Sevoflurane + Venlafaxine

Severity: Moderate

Sevoflurane 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

Sevoflurane can prolong the QT interval, and venlafaxine has a small QT effect, so together the arrhythmia risk may rise during anaesthesia in susceptible patients.

What this interaction means in plain words

Sevoflurane 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.

Sevoflurane belongs to Central Nervous System; Venlafaxine belongs to Central Nervous System.

Evidence level: Low

Why it happens

Additive effects on cardiac repolarisation.

What to do

Continue venlafaxine perioperatively to avoid withdrawal, with a baseline ECG and normal electrolytes. Monitor the ECG during anaesthesia in high-risk patients.

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?

Bring a full list of your medicines, including over-the-counter products, supplements and herbal remedies, to every pharmacy visit.

Pro+ members

Unlock the full page

Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Sevoflurane and Venlafaxine, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.

  • Full clinical management advice
  • Additional notes
  • Evidence detail
  • Interaction checker for a whole prescription

Try Pro+ free for 14 days on the web. No card needed.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take Sevoflurane with Venlafaxine?

MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Sevoflurane 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. Sevoflurane can prolong the QT interval, and venlafaxine has a small QT effect, so together the arrhythmia risk may rise during anaesthesia in susceptible patients.

How serious is the interaction between Sevoflurane 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: Continue venlafaxine perioperatively to avoid withdrawal, with a baseline ECG and normal electrolytes. Monitor the ECG during anaesthesia in high-risk patients.

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.

Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app

Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.

Browse A–Z · Drug interactions

Get the app Sign in