Relatively low doses of cisapride in the treatment of nausea in patients treated with venlafaxine for treatment-refractory depression

Low doses of cisapride (5-10 mg twice daily) produced relatively rapid relief from nausea elicited by venlafaxine in six patients with treatment-refractory recurrent major depression. This further suggests that the nausea associated with serotonergic reuptake inhibition may be a result of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT3) agonist action. No adverse cardiac experiences were encountered in spite of the potential interaction of cisapride with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors at the cytochrome P4503A4 enzyme system.