This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages without signing in

Switching antidepressant - SNRI (e.g. duloxetine or venlafaxine) to monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) in adults

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

SNRIs to monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

Specialist advice is indicated because MAOI is always a complex switch.

Taper, washout and switch with specialist advice

  • for any SNRI, you should gradually reduce the dose and then stop. You will need to wait a period, dependent on the antidepressant being switched from (see below), before starting MAOI
  • specialist will advise the duration of the washout period on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration the MAOI being started.

Cross-tapering is not recommended due to the high risk of serotonin syndrome.

From duloxetine

  • after stopping duloxetine, wait 5 to 14 days before starting the MAOI.

From venlafaxine

  • after stopping venlafaxine, wait 7 to 14 days before starting the MAOI.

Reference:

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.