duloxetine vs venlafaxine
Side-by-side comparison of duloxetine and venlafaxine Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
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Duloxetine is a medicine that can help treat depression and anxiety. It can also help with certain types of pain.
Venlafaxine is a medication used to treat depression. It helps to improve your mood by affecting certain chemicals in the brain.
Duloxetine can treat major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder in adults and children (7 years and older). It can also treat diabetic nerve pain, fibromyalgia, and chronic muscle or bone pain in adults. In children, it can treat fibromyalgia (13 years and older).
Venlafaxine is used to treat major depressive disorder. This condition can cause a persistent feeling of sadness or loss of interest in daily activities. It may also help maintain improvement in patients with recurrent depression.
Duloxetine is a type of drug called an SNRI. It works by increasing the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in your brain. These chemicals can help improve mood and reduce pain.
Venlafaxine is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). It works by increasing the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. These chemicals help regulate mood and can be low in people with depression.
- • Nausea
- • Dry mouth
- • Sleepiness
- • Constipation
- • Decreased appetite
- • Feeling weak or tired
- • Sweating a lot
- • Feeling sick to your stomach
- • Constipation
- • Loss of appetite
- The medicine is not working 5,075
- Tiredness 4,788
- Feeling sick to your stomach 4,783
- Using the medicine for something it's not approved for 4,039
- Aches or soreness 3,698
- The medicine is not working 5,510
- Feeling sick to your stomach 4,298
- Harmful effects from different substances 4,264
- Feeling tired 4,199
- Using the medicine for a purpose it's not approved for 4,123
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, teenagers, and young adults. Watch closely for worsening depression or suicidal thoughts. Tell your doctor right away if you notice any changes in mood or behavior.
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, adolescents, and young adults. Your doctor will monitor you closely for worsening depression, suicidal thoughts, or unusual changes in behavior. Venlafaxine is not approved for use in children.
Using duloxetine in the last month of pregnancy may cause problems in the newborn. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking duloxetine during pregnancy. Women who stop taking antidepressants during pregnancy are more likely to experience a relapse of depression.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor before taking venlafaxine. Newborns exposed to SNRIs like venlafaxine in the third trimester may have complications requiring hospitalization. Your doctor will carefully consider the risks and benefits of treatment during pregnancy.
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How to Read This duloxetine vs venlafaxine Comparison
duloxetine is classified in the Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) drug class, while venlafaxine sits within the Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, duloxetine has 22,383 submissions while venlafaxine has 22,394. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between duloxetine and venlafaxine — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.