Desvenlafaxine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Desvenlafaxine is a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor sold in the U.S. under 4 brand and generic names, for major depressive disorder. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor
- Treats
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Available as
- Tablet, extended release
- Sold as
- 4 products — Desvenlafaxine Succinate, Khedezla and Desvenlafaxine, and others
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Yes
- What the pharmacy pays
- about $115 for a 30-count supply — not your price
- Boxed warning
- Boxed warning
How desvenlafaxine is dosed
From the FDA label for Desvenlafaxine Succinate (application ANDA204065). Other desvenlafaxine products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Recommended dose: 50 mg once daily with or without food ( 2.1 ). There was no evidence that doses greater than 50 mg per day confer any additional benefit ( 2.1 ). The 25 mg per day dose is intended for a gradual reduction in dose when discontinuing treatment or dosing in severe renal and end-stage renal disease patients ( 2.1 ). Discontinuation: Reduce dose gradually whenever possible ( 2.1 ). Take tablets whole; do not divide, crush, chew, or dissolve ( 2.1 ). Moderate renal impairment: Maximum dose 50 mg per day ( 2.2 ). Severe renal impairment and end-stage renal disease: Maximum dose 25 mg per day or 50 mg every other day ( 2.2 ). Moderate to severe hepatic impairment: Maximum dose 100 mg per day ( 2.3 ). 2.1 General Instructions for Use The recommended dose for desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets is 50 mg once daily, with or without food. The 50 mg dose is both a starting dose and the therapeutic dose. Desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets should be taken at approximately the same time each day. Tablets must be swallowed whole with fluid and not divided, crushed, chewed, or dissolved. In clinical studies, doses of 10 mg to 400 mg per day were studied. In clinical studies, doses of 50 mg to 400 mg per day were shown to be effective, although no additional benefit was demonstrated at doses greater than 50 mg per day and adverse reactions and discontinuations were…
Desvenlafaxine side effects
The following adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the label. Hypersensitivity [see Contraindications ( 4 )] Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Serotonin Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Elevated Blood Pressure [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Increased Risk of Bleeding [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Angle Closure Glaucoma [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] Activation of Mania/Hypomania [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] Discontinuation Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 )] Seizure [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8 )] Hyponatremia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.9 )] Interstitial Lung Disease and Eosinophilic Pneumonia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.10 )] Sexual Dysfunction [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.11 )] Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 5% and twice the rate of placebo in the 50 or 100 mg dose groups) were: nausea, dizziness, insomnia, hyperhidrosis, constipation, somnolence, decreased appetite, anxiety, and specific male sexual function disorders ( 6.1 ). To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Teva at 1-888-838-2872 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Studies Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates…
Who shouldn’t take desvenlafaxine
Hypersensitivity to desvenlafaxine succinate, venlafaxine hydrochloride or to any excipients in the desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets formulation. Angioedema has been reported in patients treated with desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )] . The use of MAOIs intended to treat psychiatric disorders with desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets or within 7 days of stopping treatment with desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets is contraindicated because of an increased risk of serotonin syndrome. The use of desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets within 14 days of stopping an MAOI intended to treat psychiatric disorders is also contraindicated [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.7 ) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] . Starting desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets in a patient who is being treated with MAOIs such as linezolid or intravenous methylene blue is also contraindicated because of an increased risk of serotonin syndrome [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.8 ) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] . Hypersensitivity to desvenlafaxine succinate, venlafaxine hydrochloride or any excipients in the desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets formulation ( 4 ). Serotonin Syndrome and MAOIs: Do not use MAOIs intended to treat psychiatric disorders with desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets or within 7 days of stopping treatment with desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets. Do not use desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets within 14 days of stopping an MAOI intended to treat psychiatric disorders. In addition, do not start desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets in a patient who is being treated with linezolid or intravenous methylene blue ( 4 ).
Desvenlafaxine drug interactions
7.1 Drugs Having Clinically Important Interactions with Desvenlafaxine Extended-Release Tablets Table 8: Clinically Important Drug Interactions with Desvenlafaxine Extended-Release Tablets Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI) Clinical Impact The concomitant use of SSRIs and SNRIs including desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets with MAOIs increases the risk of serotonin syndrome. Intervention Concomitant use of desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets is contraindicated: With an MAOI intended to treat psychiatric disorders or within 7 days of stopping treatment with desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets. Within 14 days of stopping an MAOI intended to treat psychiatric disorders. In a patient who is being treated with linezolid or intravenous methylene blue. [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.7 ), Contraindications ( 4 ) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )]. Examples selegiline, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, linezolid, methylene blue Other Serotonergic Drugs Clinical Impact Concomitant use of desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets with other serotonergic drugs increases the risk of serotonin syndrome. Intervention Monitor for symptoms of serotonin syndrome when desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets is used concomitantly with other drugs that may affect the serotonergic neurotransmitter systems. If serotonin syndrome occurs, consider discontinuation of desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets and/or concomitant serotonergic drugs [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )]. Examples other SNRIs, SSRIs, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, opioids, lithium, buspirone, amphetamines, tryptophan, and St. John's Wort Drugs that Interfere with Hemostasis Clinical Impact Concomitant use of desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets with an antiplatelet or anticoagulant drug may potentiate the risk of bleeding. This may be due to the effect of desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets on the release of serotonin by platelets. Intervention Closely monitor for bleeding for patients receiving an antiplatelet or anticoagulant drug when desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets is initiated or discontinued [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] . Examples NSAIDs, aspirin, and warfarin Drugs that are Primarily Metabolized by CYP2D6 Clinical Impact Concomitant use of desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets increases C max and AUC of a drug primarily metabolized by CYP2D6 which may increase the risk of toxicity of the CYP2D6 substrate drug [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] . Intervention Original dose should be taken when coadministered with desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets 100 mg or lower. Reduce the dose of these drugs by up to one-half if coadministered with 400 mg of desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets. Examples desipramine, atomoxetine, dextromethorphan, metoprolol, nebivolol, perphenazine, tolterodine 7.2 Drugs Having No Clinically Important Interactions with Desvenlafaxine Extended-Release Tablets Based on pharmacokinetic studies, no dosage adjustment is required for drugs that are mainly metabolized by CYP3A4 (e.g., midazolam), or for drugs that are metabolized by both CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 (e.g., tamoxifen, aripiprazole), when administered concomitantly with desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. 7.3 Alcohol A clinical study has shown that desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets do not increase the impairment of mental and motor skills caused by ethanol. However, as with all CNS-active drugs, patients should be advised to avoid alcohol consumption while taking desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets. 7.4 Drug-Laboratory Test Interactions False-positive urine immunoassay screening tests for phencyclidine (PCP) and amphetamine have been reported in patients taking desvenlafaxine. This is due to lack of specificity of the screening tests. False positive test results may be expected for several days following discontinuation of desvenlafaxine therapy. Confirmatory tests, such as gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, will distinguish desvenlafaxine from PCP and amphetamine.
Every desvenlafaxine product we track (4)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 70/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $115 | View → | |
| 2 | 70/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $115 | View → | |
| 3 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $115 | View → | |
| 4 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $115 | View → |
What desvenlafaxine pills look like
Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.
Can you crush or split desvenlafaxine?
At least one desvenlafaxineproduct is labelled to be swallowed whole — crushing an extended-release tablet releases the whole day’s dose at once. Which applies depends on the form you were given.
What each desvenlafaxine label says about crushing, splitting and chewingHow long desvenlafaxine keeps
No desvenlafaxine label we read sets a separate limit for after opening, but they do specify how it must be stored — and the stability behind any date assumes those conditions.
Does desvenlafaxine expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labelsDesvenlafaxine and breastfeeding
From LactMed, the US National Library of Medicine’s Drugs and Lactation Database — quoted, not rewritten.
Full LactMed record for desvenlafaxine: levels in milk, effects in breastfed infants, and the drugs it would consider insteadModest doses of desvenlafaxine are excreted into breastmilk, but serum drug levels of breastfed infants are less than 10% of simultaneous maternal levels. Total drug exposure of breastfed infants is about half of that experienced by breastfed infants whose mothers are taking venlafaxine.. With the related drug venlafaxine, newborn infants of mothers who took the drug during pregnancy sometimes experienced poor neonatal adaptation as seen with other antidepressants such as SSRIs or SNRIs. Similar effects may occur with desvenlafaxine. Monitor breastfed infants for excessive sedation and adequate weight gain if this drug is used during lactation, especially newborn or preterm infants.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, record revised January 15, 2024. LactMed states its information is not a substitute for professional judgement.
What people report to the FDA about desvenlafaxine
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 6,490 reports naming desvenlafaxine, and the FDA flagged 56% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- nausea429 reports
- headache393 reports
- anxiety386 reports
- depression344 reports
- fatigue332 reports
- dizziness305 reports
- insomnia240 reports
- suicidal ideation222 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean desvenlafaxine caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved August 25, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
What is desvenlafaxine?
Desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets are an extended-release tablet for oral administration that contains desvenlafaxine succinate, a structurally novel SNRI for the treatment of MDD. Desvenlafaxine (O-desmethylvenlafaxine) is the major active metabolite of the antidepressant venlafaxine, a medication used to treat major depressive disorder.
What kind of drug is desvenlafaxine?
The FDA classifies desvenlafaxine as a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. SNRIs slow the reabsorption of two brain chemicals, serotonin and norepinephrine, back into nerve cells. This leaves more of both available in the gaps between neurons to keep signaling, which can improve mood, anxiety, and certain types of chronic pain. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take desvenlafaxine with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run desvenlafaxine against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is desvenlafaxine sold under?
We track 4 desvenlafaxine-containing products in the U.S.: Desvenlafaxine Succinate, Khedezla, Desvenlafaxine and Pristiq. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does desvenlafaxine come in?
Across the brands we track, desvenlafaxine is currently marketed as tablet, extended release, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic desvenlafaxine?
Yes. Our catalog lists 2 generic desvenlafaxine products alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Desvenlafaxine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/desvenlafaxine
- MLA
- “Desvenlafaxine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/desvenlafaxine.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for desvenlafaxine on DailyMed (NIH) ↗ — including its boxed warning in full.