Venlafaxine and Deutetrabenazine: Interaction Details
AI-assisted, pharmacist-reviewed · Source data updated Aug 8, 2026 · Sources: FDA labeling, DDInter 2.0, cited literature
Venlafaxine
No brand names on recordDeutetrabenazine
How we grade severity & evidence
Severity levels
- Contraindicated: These should generally not be used together.
- Major: Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
- Moderate: Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
- Minor: Usually limited clinical impact.
Evidence grades
- Established: Well documented — supported by controlled studies or strong clinical data.
- Probable: Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
- Suspected: Some evidence suggests this interaction, but it is not well established.
- Possible: Limited or conflicting evidence; the interaction may occur.
- Theoretical: Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.
Ratings come from the documented interaction literature and are reviewed by a pharmacist. They describe the documented risk of the combination, not what will necessarily happen to you — your dose, timing, and health picture all matter.
What happens
Increased deutetrabenazine exposure
Interaction Deep Dive
Avoid coadministration of deutetrabenazine (known to prolong the QT interval) with other agents that also prolong the QT interval, due to an increase in the risk of torsade de pointes and/or sudden death1. Also, concomitant use of venlafaxine and deutetrabenazine (a CYP2D6 substrate) increases the exposure (AUC and Cmax) of the CYP2D6 substrate, which may increase the risk of toxicity. If coadministered, consider a dosage reduction of deutetrabenazine 2.
Why it happens (mechanism)
Inhibition of CYP2D6-mediated metabolism of deutetrabenazine by venlafaxine
Literature reports
1 report — tap to read
a) In the clinical studies, coadministration of venlafaxine with metoprolol (a CYP2D6 substrate) increased the Cmax and AUC of metoprolol by approximately 1.5-fold 2.
Common questions
Can I take Venlafaxine and Deutetrabenazine together?
Increased deutetrabenazine exposure Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.
How serious is the Venlafaxine and Deutetrabenazine interaction?
It is rated major. Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
How quickly could this interaction happen?
The documented onset is "unspecified". The timing of this interaction is not well characterized.
How strong is the evidence for this interaction?
The evidence is graded "probable". Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
From our Q&A
Real reader questions about these medications, each personally answered by our pharmacist:
Questions for your pharmacist
- Does my dose of Venlafaxine or Deutetrabenazine need adjusting while I take them together?
- What symptoms should prompt me to call you or my prescriber right away?
- Does the timing of my doses matter for this combination?
- Is there a safer alternative to one of these medications for me?
References (2)
- Product Information: AUSTEDO(TM) oral tablets, deutetrabenazine oral tablets. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc (per FDA), North Wales, PA, 2017. DailyMed
- Product Information: EFFEXOR XR(R) oral extended-release capsules, venlafaxine oral extended-release capsules. Viatris Specialty (per FDA), Morgantown, WV, 2023. DailyMed
Keep reading about Venlafaxine
Keep reading about Deutetrabenazine
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Prescription drugs aren't the whole picture — herbal and dietary supplements can interact with them too. From the evidence-graded Natural Medicines database:
major · moderate · minor — check everything you take with our drug–supplement interaction checker.
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