Desvenlafaxine — uses, dosing, side effects & the brands that sell it · pharmaranks
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.
By the pharmaranks editorial team·Reviewed against the FDA (openFDA label, NDC Directory & Enforcement) sources·How we research
Key facts
Drug class
Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor
Treats
Major Depressive Disorder
Available as
Tablet, extended release
Sold as
4 products — Khedezla, Desvenlafaxine Succinate and Desvenlafaxine, and others
From the FDA label for Khedezla (application NDA204683). 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 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…
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 mg 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 Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. at 1-800-962-8364 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Studies Experience Because clinical trials are conducted…
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.
Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.
Desvenlafaxine pill imprints
Imprint
Strength
Colour
Shape
Maker
LU;S61
50 mg
pink
round
—
LU;S67
25 mg
brown
round
—
W;50
50 mg
pink
square
—
W;100
100 mg
orange
square
—
W;25
25 mg
brown
square
—
LU;S61
50 mg
pink
Frequently asked questions
What is desvenlafaxine?
Desvenlafaxine is 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. Desvenlafaxine is designated 4-[2-(dimethylamino)-1-(1-hydroxycyclohexyl)ethyl]phenol succinate and has the molecular formula of C 16 H 25 NO 2 •C 4 H 6 O 4 (succinate monohydrate). Desvenlafaxine succinate monohydrate has a molecular weight of 399.48. The structural formula is shown below. Desvenlafaxine succinate is a white to off-white powder that is soluble in water. The solubility of desvenlafaxine succinate is not pH dependent. The solubility in water is about 50 mg per mL. Desvenlafaxine is formulated as an extended-release tablet for once-a-day oral administration containing 38 mg, 76 mg or 152 mg of desvenlafaxine succinate equivalent to 25 mg, 50 mg or 100 mg of desvenlafaxine, respectively. Each tablet contains the following inactive ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone and sodium stearyl fumarate. In addition to the ingredients listed above, the 25 mg tablets are film-coated with Opadry II Beige film-coating which contains FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 6, FD&C Blue No. 1,…
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.
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.
Who shouldn’t take desvenlafaxine
Hypersensitivity to desvenlafaxine succinate, venlafaxine hydrochloride or to any excipients in the desvenlafaxine formulation. Angioedema has been reported in patients treated with desvenlafaxine [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )] . • The use of MAOIs intended to treat psychiatric disorders with desvenlafaxine or within 7 days of stopping treatment with desvenlafaxine is contraindicated because of an increased risk of serotonin syndrome. The use of desvenlafaxine 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 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 formulation ( 4 ). • Serotonin Syndrome and MAOIs : Do not use MAOIs intended to treat psychiatric disorders with desvenlafaxine or within 7 days of stopping treatment with desvenlafaxine. Do not use desvenlafaxine within 14 days of stopping an MAOI intended to treat psychiatric disorders. In addition, do not start desvenlafaxine in a patient who…
Desvenlafaxine drug interactions
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 with MAOIs increases the risk of serotonin syndrome. Intervention Concomitant use of desvenlafaxine is contraindicated: • With an MAOI intended to treat psychiatric disorders or within 7 days of stopping treatment with desvenlafaxine. • 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 with other serotonergic drugs increases the risk of serotonin syndrome. Intervention Monitor for symptoms of serotonin syndrome when desvenlafaxine is used concomitantly with other drugs that may affect the serotonergic neurotransmitter systems. If serotonin syndrome occurs, consider discontinuation of desvenlafaxine and/or concomitant serotonergic drugs [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )]. Examples other SNRIs, SSRIs,…
We track 4 desvenlafaxine-containing products in the U.S.: Khedezla, Desvenlafaxine Succinate, 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.