From the Guidelines
The maximum recommended dose of Effexor (venlafaxine) is 225 mg per day. This dose should be reached gradually, typically starting at a lower dose of 37.5 mg once or twice daily, and increasing by 75 mg each week as tolerated 1.
Key Considerations
- The dose titration should be based on patient response and tolerability, with a duration of adequate trial being 4-6 weeks 1.
- It is essential to monitor patients for potential side effects, such as hypertension, nausea, headache, and increased sweating, especially at higher doses.
- Patients with hepatic or renal impairment may require lower maximum doses and closer monitoring.
- Venlafaxine works by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain, which helps regulate mood and anxiety.
Important Notes
- When discontinuing Effexor, the dose should be tapered gradually to minimize withdrawal symptoms.
- The recommended maximum dose of 225 mg per day is based on the study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings in 2010 1, which provides guidance on the pharmacological management of neuropathic pain.
- It is crucial to follow the recommended dosing guidelines to ensure the safe and effective use of Effexor.
From the FDA Drug Label
In outpatient settings there was no evidence of usefulness of doses greater than 225 mg/day for moderately depressed patients, but more severely depressed inpatients responded to a mean dose of 350 mg/day Certain patients, including more severely depressed patients, may therefore respond more to higher doses, up to a maximum of 375 mg/day, generally in three divided doses The maximum recommended dose of Effexor (venlafaxine) is 375 mg/day, generally in three divided doses 2.
From the Research
Maximum Recommended Dose of Effexor (Venlafaxine)
The maximum recommended dose of Effexor (venlafaxine) can vary depending on the specific condition being treated and the patient's response to the medication.
- According to the study 3, venlafaxine was administered at doses of 75 to 375 mg/day for 6 weeks in patients with major depression.
- The study 4 compared escitalopram and venlafaxine extended release (XR) in depressed outpatients at the highest doses recommended in the United States, with venlafaxine XR rapidly titrated to 225 mg/day.
- The study 5 found that the effect of venlafaxine on blood pressure was highly dose dependent, and the incidence of elevated supine diastolic blood pressure was statistically and clinically significant only at dosages above 300 mg/day.