metoprolol vs venlafaxine
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Side-by-side comparison of metoprolol and venlafaxine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
Metoprolol Concomitant administration of venlafaxine (50 mg every 8 hours for 5 days) and metoprolol (100 mg every 24 hours for 5 days) to 18 healthy male subjects in a pharmacokinetic interaction study for both drugs resulted in an increase of plasma concentrations of metoprolol by approximately 30 to 40% without altering the plasma concentrations of its active metabolite, α-hydroxymetoprolol. Metoprolol did not alter the pharmacokinetic profile of venlafaxine or its active metabolite, O-desmethylvenlafaxine. Venlafaxine appeared to reduce the blood pressure lowering effect of metoprolol...
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Metoprolol is a beta-blocker medicine. It can lower blood pressure, reduce chest pain, and improve survival after a heart attack.
Venlafaxine is a medication used to treat depression. It helps to improve your mood by affecting certain chemicals in the brain.
Metoprolol treats high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks. It also treats chest pain called angina. After a heart attack, it can help you live longer.
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.
Metoprolol blocks the effects of adrenaline on the heart. This makes the heart beat slower and with less force. As a result, blood pressure is lowered and the heart does not need as much oxygen.
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.
- • Tiredness
- • Dizziness
- • Depression
- • Shortness of breath
- • Slow heart rate
- • Feeling weak or tired
- • Sweating a lot
- • Feeling sick to your stomach
- • Constipation
- • Loss of appetite
- Fatigue 15,966
- Dyspnoea 14,128
- Diarrhoea 13,635
- Nausea 13,398
- Dizziness 11,699
- Nausea 4,298
- Toxicity To Various Agents 4,265
- Fatigue 4,198
- Headache 3,740
- Completed Suicide 3,169
Stopping metoprolol suddenly can make chest pain worse or cause a heart attack. If you have heart failure, it could get worse. If you have asthma or other lung problems, avoid beta-blockers if possible.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Metoprolol can cross the placenta, and may cause low blood pressure, low blood sugar, and a slow heart rate in the newborn. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits.
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 metoprolol vs venlafaxine Comparison
metoprolol is classified in the Beta-Blocker drug class, while venlafaxine sits within the Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. 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, metoprolol has 68,826 submissions while venlafaxine has 19,670. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to venlafaxine can raise the levels of metoprolol in your blood and may also make metoprolol less effective at lowering your blood pressure.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for metoprolol or venlafaxine.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.