PRISTIQ vs VENLAFAXINE HYDROCHLORIDE

Independent side-by-side comparison.

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated June 7, 2026·How we rate

Possible drug interaction. PRISTIQ and VENLAFAXINE HYDROCHLORIDE are different prescription medicines. Combining or switching between them can cause interactions — talk to a pharmacist or prescriber before making changes. This page is not medical advice.

Attribute	PRISTIQ	VENLAFAXINE HYDROCHLORIDE
Rating	New	New
Pharmacy pays	~$115.24 /30	~$3.59 /30
Type	RX	RX
Active ingredient	DESVENLAFAXINE SUCCINATE	VENLAFAXINE HYDROCHLORIDE
Manufacturer	Pf Prism Cv	Abon Pharms LLC
Dosage forms	Tablet, extended release	Capsule, extended release, Tablet, extended release
Drug class	Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor	Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor
Boxed warning	Boxed warning	Boxed warning
Half-life	—	about 5 hours (mean roughly 5 ± 2 hours) for the parent drug venlafaxine in adults with normal organ function
Treats	Major Depressive Disorder	Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Autistic Disorder, Depressive Disorder

pristiq venlafaxine hydrochloride

Rating

New

Pharmacy pays

~$115.24 /30

~$3.59 /30

Type

Active ingredient

DESVENLAFAXINE SUCCINATE

VENLAFAXINE HYDROCHLORIDE

Manufacturer

Pf Prism Cv

Abon Pharms LLC

Dosage forms

Tablet, extended release

Capsule, extended release, Tablet, extended release

Drug class

Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor

Boxed warning

Half-life

—

about 5 hours (mean roughly 5 ± 2 hours) for the parent drug venlafaxine in adults with normal organ function

Treats

Major Depressive Disorder

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Autistic Disorder, Depressive Disorder

Get venlafaxine hydrochloride

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Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper, Pristiq or Venlafaxine Hydrochloride?

Venlafaxine Hydrochloride costs pharmacies less to acquire — about $3.59 vs $115.24 for a 30-count supply, per the CMS NADAC survey. That gap is in the pharmacy's cost of goods, not necessarily in what you pay: your price is set afterwards by your insurer and the pharmacy.

What is the difference between Pristiq and Venlafaxine Hydrochloride?

Pristiq contains Desvenlafaxine Succinate, while Venlafaxine Hydrochloride contains Venlafaxine Hydrochloride — they have different active ingredients.

Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data. This comparison is for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional before choosing or switching a medication.