What is desvenlafaxine?
Desvenlafaxine is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin and
norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Desvenlafaxine affects chemicals in the brain that may
become unbalanced and cause depression.
Desvenlafaxine is used to treat major depressive disorder.
Desvenlafaxine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking desvenlafaxine?
Do not take this medication if you are allergic to desvenlafaxine or venlafaxine (Effexor), or
if you are also using a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan),
phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate).
You must wait at least 14 days after stopping an MAOI before you can take desvenlafaxine. After you
stop taking desvenlafaxine, you must wait at least 7 days before you start taking an MAOI.
You should not take desvenlafaxine together with venlafaxine (Effexor).
If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take
this medication. Before taking desvenlafaxine, tell your doctor if you have:
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bipolar disorder (manic depression);
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liver disease;
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kidney disease;
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heart disease or high blood pressure;
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a history of stroke;
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glaucoma;
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seizures or epilepsy;
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a bleeding or blood clotting disorder; or
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high cholesterol.
You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an
antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Tell your doctor if you have worsening
symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several weeks of treatment, or whenever
your dose is changed.
Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.
Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.
FDA pregnancy category C. Desvenlafaxine may be harmful to an unborn baby, and may
cause problems in a newborn baby if the mother takes the medication late in pregnancy (during the third
trimester). Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Desvenlafaxine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this
medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Do not give this medication to anyone under 18 years old without the advice of a doctor.
How should I take desvenlafaxine?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger
amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your
prescription label.
Take this medication with a full glass of water. You may take desvenlafaxine with or
without food.
Do not crush, chew, break, or dissolve the extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole.
Breaking or dissolving the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released into the body at one time.
Try to take desvenlafaxine at the same time each day.
The desvenlafaxine tablet is made with a shell that is not absorbed or melted in the body.
Therefore, you may see what looks like part of a tablet in your stool. This is a normal side effect of
desvenlafaxine and will not make the medication less effective.
It may take several weeks or more for your symptoms to improve. For best results, keep
using the medication as directed. Do not stop using desvenlafaxine without first talking to your doctor.
You may have unpleasant side effects if you stop taking this medication suddenly.
Store desvenlafaxine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose of desvenlafaxine?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next
regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed.
Do not
take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about desvenlafaxine?
Your pharmacist has information about desvenlafaxine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of desvenlafaxine?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
skin rash or hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Contact your doctor promptly if you have any of the following side effects, especially if they
are new symptoms or if they get worse: mood changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping,
irritability, agitation, aggressiveness, severe restlessness, mania (mental and/or physical hyperactivity),
thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
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seizure (convulsions);
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very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, fast or
uneven heartbeats, tremors, overactive reflexes;
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restlessness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of
coordination;
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blurred vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around lights;
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cough, chest tightness, trouble breathing;
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easy bruising or bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums),
coughing up blood; or
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headache, trouble concentrating, memory problems,
weakness, confusion, hallucinations, fainting, seizure, shallow breathing or breathing that stops.
Less serious side effects may include:
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dizziness, drowsiness, tired feeling;
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dry mouth, loss of appetite;
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constipation;
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sleep problems (insomnia);
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mild headache; or
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decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an
orgasm.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about desvenlafaxine?
Do not take this medication if you are allergic to desvenlafaxine or venlafaxine (Effexor), or
if you are also using a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan),
phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate).
You must wait at least 14 days after stopping an MAOI before you can take desvenlafaxine. After you
stop taking desvenlafaxine, you must wait at least 7 days before you start taking an MAOI.
You should not take desvenlafaxine together with venlafaxine (Effexor).
You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if
you are younger than 24 years old. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the
first 12 weeks of treatment.
Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or
behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated,
hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts
about suicide or hurting yourself.
Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of desvenlafaxine.
It may take several weeks or more for your symptoms to improve. For best results, keep
using the medication as directed. Do not stop using desvenlafaxine without first talking to your doctor.
You may have unpleasant side effects if you stop taking this medication suddenly.
What should I avoid while taking desvenlafaxine?
Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of desvenlafaxine.
Tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or
allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures or
anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by desvenlafaxine.
Desvenlafaxine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful
if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
What other drugs will affect desvenlafaxine?
Before using desvenlafaxine, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make
you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle
relaxers, and medicine for seizures or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by desvenlafaxine.
Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:
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a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
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ketoconazole (Nizoral);
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linezolid (Zyvox);
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lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);
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midazolam (Versed);
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sibutramine (Meridia);
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St. John's wort;
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tramadol (Ultram);
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tryptophan (sometimes called L-tryptophan);
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migraine headache medication such as almotriptan (Axert),
frovatriptan (Frova), sumatriptan (Imitrex), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), or
zolmitriptan (Zomig);
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aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), diclofenac (Cataflam,
Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), and others; or
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any other antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil),
citalopram (Celexa), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), fluoxetine (Prozac),
imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and
others.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with
desvenlafaxine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use.
This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start
using a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of desvenlafaxine?
