A method for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition containing venlafaxine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof comprising the steps of (1) preparing a dispersion of venlafaxine or a venlafaxine salt in a solvent wherein venlafaxine or the venlafaxine salts has a solubility of less than 25 g/l at room temperature; (2) converting the dispersion of step (1) into particulate form; (3) coating the particles obtained in step (2) with a layer of a sustained release polymer, as well as pharmaceutical compositions obtainable by this process.
