Course Summary

Venlafaxine is an FDA-approved first-line treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety disorders. Therapeutic effects result from its action as a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), strongly inhibiting serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake while exerting weaker effects on dopamine reuptake. Venlafaxine is also commonly prescribed off-label for conditions such as neuropathic pain, migraine prophylaxis, vasomotor menopausal symptoms, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and fibromyalgia, with its effectiveness, tolerability, and dosing regimen contributing to its widespread clinical use.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

• Introduction
• Pharmacological Profile
  • Neurochemical and Therapeutic Mechanisms of Venlafaxine
  • FDA Labeled Dosing Guidelines
  • Hepatic and Renal Impairment: Dosing Adjustments
  • Geriatric Patients: Dosing Adjustments
• Clinical Applications: Primary Indications and Efficacy
  • Major Depressive Disorder
  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder
  • Social Anxiety Disorder
  • Panic Disorder
• Precautions, Contraindications, and Adverse Effects
  • Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
  • Drug-Drug Interactions
• Toxicity and Monitoring
  • Clinical Presentation
  • Management and Treatment
  • Drug Therapy Monitoring
• Clinical Pearls
• Role of the Interprofessional Healthcare Team
• Case Study: Prolonged Discontinuation Syndrome Following Tapering of Venlafaxine
  • Differential Diagnosis and Treatment
• Summary

Authors

Richard Daniels, PharmD, BCPS

Richard “Cole” Daniels earned his Doctor of Pharmacy(PharmD) from the Skaggs School of Pharmacy at the University of Montana in 2018. Throughout pharmacy school he completed a 3-year internship at Community Medical Center in Missoula, Montana in which he gained valuable experience in an acute care setting. Cole currently serves as a psychiatric clinical staff pharmacist at the Montana State Hospital. He has over 11 years of pharmacy experience having worked in several settings including retail, acute care, and inpatient psychiatric care. Cole has a diverse set of interests. However, acute care medicine, infectious disease, pain management, and asthma/COPD are a primary focus of his at the Montana State Hospital. He obtained board certification as a certified pharmacotherapy specialist in the Spring of 2022.

Elisabeth Gordon, BScPharm, RPh

Elisabeth Gordon earned her BSc(Pharm) from the University of British Columbia in 2004. After graduation, she worked in community retail pharmacies on Vancouver Island, before returning to her rural hometown of Salmon Arm. In 2016 and 2017, Elisabeth trained with Pallium Canada and Victoria Hospice to enhance her knowledge of end-of-life-care and palliative services. She is a volunteer medical supervisor for T1DOutreach, a peer support platform for adults living with type 1 diabetes, and a member of a Canadian peer support group for adults living with Birdshot Uveitis. Elisabeth enjoys working in a small, fast-paced rural pharmacy where she brings compassion and empathy to her everyday practice.