Lafax

Strengths

Lafax 25, Lafax 50, Lafax 100

Dosage Form

Film Coated Extended Release Tablets

Composition

Lafax 25
Each F.C.ER. tablet contains:
Desvenlafaxine 25 mg

Lafax 50
Each F.C.ER. tablet contains:
Desvenlafaxine 50 mg

Lafax 100
Each F.C.ER. tablet contains:
Desvenlafaxine 100 mg

Packaging

Lafax 25: 20 F.C.ER. Tablets
Lafax 50: 20 F.C.ER. Tablets
Lafax 100: 20 F.C.ER. Tablets

Indications

Lafax is indicated for the treatment of major depressive disorder, including the prevention of relapse.
Lafax is not indicated for pediatric use.

Dosage and Administration

Dosage:
Lafax should be taken at approximately the same time each day. Tablets must be swallowed whole with fluid and not divided, crushed, chewed, or dissolved.
Initial Treatment:
The recommended dose for Lafax is 50 mg once daily, with or without food. Based on clinical judgment, if dose increases are indicated for individual patients, they should occur gradually and at intervals of not less than 7 days. The maximum dose should not exceed 200 mg/day.
When discontinuing therapy, gradual dose reduction is recommended whenever possible to minimise discontinuation symptoms.
Maintenance/Continuation/Extended Treatment:
Patients should continue on the same dose at which they were stabilised. They should be periodically reassessed to determine the need for continued treatment.
Children and Adolescents:
Safety and efficacy in patients less than 18 years of age have not been established.
Discontinuing Lafax:
When discontinuing therapy gradual dose reduction should be considered to minimise discontinuation symptoms.
Symptoms associated with discontinuation of Lafax, as well as other serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been. Patients should be monitored for these symptoms when discontinuing treatment. A gradual reduction in the dose rather than abrupt cessation is recommended. Subsequently, the physician may continue decreasing the dose, but at a more gradual rate. In some patients, discontinuation may need to occur over periods of months or longer.
Switching Patients from Other Antidepressants to Lafax:
Discontinuation symptoms have been reported when switching patients from other antidepressants, including venlafaxine to desvenlafaxine. Tapering of the initial antidepressant followed by a washout period may be necessary to minimise discontinuation symptoms and the possibility of drug-drug interactions from a pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic perspective.
Dosage Adjustment:
Use in Renal Impairment:
The recommended starting dose in patients with severe renal impairment (24-hr CrCl <30 mL/min) or end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is 50 mg every other day. Supplemental doses should not be given to patients after dialysis.
Use in Hepatic Impairment:
No adjustment of dose is necessary in patients with mild, moderate, and severe hepatic impairment.
Use in the Elderly:
No dosage adjustment is required solely on the basis of age; however, possible reduced renal clearance of Lafax should be considered when determining dose.