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Desvenlafaxine

Pristiq is the only desvenlafaxine product on this shelf, listed in 50 mg and 100 mg tablets. It is used to treat Major Depressive Disorder in adults.

Pristiq

Major Depressive Disorder

50mg · 100mg

Desvenlafaxine tablets for major depressive disorder. It raises both serotonin and norepinephrine, making it different from SSRIs that target one.

From$1.07/ tabletView

Key points

  • Desvenlafaxine is an Antidepressant in the SNRI class, the primary active metabolite of venlafaxine.
  • Combining desvenlafaxine with MAOIs, tricyclic antidepressants, triptans or St. John’s Wort can trigger serotonin syndrome, a rare but very serious condition with high mortality.
  • Abruptly stopping desvenlafaxine can cause irritability, nausea and headaches; a gradual taper is recommended.

How does Desvenlafaxine work?

Desvenlafaxine blocks the reabsorption of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain, leaving more of both available between nerve cells. In lab studies, it is ten times more selective for serotonin than for norepinephrine, a profile similar to duloxetine. The liver breaks it down with minimal involvement of its main drug-processing enzymes, which reduces the risk of interactions with other medicines.

Further reading