Treatment of Venlafaxine Discontinuation Symptoms With Ondansetron

Sir: Discontinuation symptoms that emerge during sudden or gradual discontinuation of serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as venlafaxine, have been reported. The short half-life of 5 hours for venlafaxine renders patients vulnerable to nausea, headache, gastric upset, diarrhea, myalgia, and fatigue upon lowering of the dosage. The manufacturer recommends a gradual discontinuation of venlafaxine to avoid the emergence of such symptoms.