Uses
Desvenlafaxine is used to treat depression. Desvenlafaxine is in a class of medications called selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). It works by increasing the amounts of serotonin and norepinephrine, natural substances in the brain that help maintain mental balance.
Side Effects Of Desvenlafaxine
Desvenlafaxine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- constipation
- loss of appetite
- dry mouth
- dizziness
- extreme tiredness
- unusual dreams
- yawning
- sweating
- uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
- pain, burning, numbness, or tingling in the part of the body
- enlarged pupils (black circles in the centers of the eyes)
- changes in sexual desire or ability
- difficulty urinating
Some side effects of desvenlafaxine can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS section, call your doctor immediately:
- rash
- hives
- swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
- hoarseness
- difficulty swallowing or breathing
- fast heartbeat
- cough
- chest, arm, back, neck, or jaw pain
- fever
- coma (loss of consciousness for a period of time)
- seizures
- hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
- fever, sweating, confusion, fast or irregular heartbeat, and severe muscle stiffness
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- nosebleeds
- small red or purple dots on the skin
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- headache
- difficulty concentrating
- memory problems
- confusion
- weakness
- problems with coordination
- increased falls
- fainting
Desvenlafaxine may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
Warnings & Precautions
Before taking desvenlafaxine:
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to desvenlafaxine, venlafaxine (Effexor), any other medications, or any of the ingredients in desvenlafaxine tablets. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients.
- tell your doctor if you are taking a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor, such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), linezolid (Zyvox), methylene blue, phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate), or if you have stopped taking one of these medications within the past 14 days. Your doctor will probably tell you that you should not take desvenlafaxine. If you stop taking desvenlafaxine, your doctor will tell you that you should wait at least 7 days before you start to take an MAO inhibitor.
- you should know that desvenlafaxine is very similar to another SNRI, venlafaxine (Effexor). You should not take these medications together.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications or vitamins you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: amphetamines such as amphetamine (in Adderall), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, Dextrostat, in Adderall), and methamphetamine (Desoxyn); anticoagulants (‘blood thinners’) such as warfarin (Coumadin); certain antifungals such as itraconazole (Sporanox) and ketoconazole (Nizoral); amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone); aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn); atomoxetine (Straterra); buspirone (Buspar); clarithromycin (Biaxin); dextromethorphan (found in many cough medications; in Nuedexta); diuretics (‘water pills’); fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora); lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid); medications for anxiety, mental illness, or seizures; certain medications for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) such as indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), and ritonavir (Norvir); medications for migraine such as almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex), and zolmitriptan (Zomig); metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL); midazolam; nebivolol (Bystolic); nefazodone; perphenazine (in Duo-Vil); sedatives; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft); other SNRIs such as duloxetine (Cymbalta); sibutramine (Meridia); sleeping pills; tolterodine (Detrol); tramadol (Ultram); tranquilizers; and tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and trimipramine (Surmontil). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with desvenlafaxine, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.
- tell your doctor what herbal products and nutritional supplements you are taking, especially St. John’s wort and tryptophan.
- tell your doctor if you use or have ever used street drugs or have ever overused prescription medications. Also, tell your doctor if you have recently had a heart attack and if you have or have ever had: bleeding problems; a stroke; high blood pressure; high cholesterol or triglycerides (fats in the blood); seizures; low sodium levels in the blood; or heart, kidney, or liver disease.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, especially if you are in the last few months of your pregnancy, or if you plan to become pregnant or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking desvenlafaxine, call your doctor. Desvenlafaxine may cause problems in newborns following delivery if it is taken during the last months of pregnancy.
- if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking desvenlafaxine.
- you should know that desvenlafaxine may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
- ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while you are taking desvenlafaxine. Alcohol can make the side effects of desvenlafaxine worse.
- you should know that in older adults, desvenlafaxine may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting when you get up too quickly from a lying position. To avoid this problem, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up.
- you should know that desvenlafaxine may cause angle-closure glaucoma (a condition where the fluid is suddenly blocked and unable to flow out of the eye causing a quick, severe increase in eye pressure which may lead to a loss of vision). Talk to your doctor about having an eye examination before you start taking this medication. If you have nausea, eye pain, changes in vision, such as seeing colored rings around lights, and swelling or redness in or around the eye, call your doctor or get emergency medical treatment right away.
Desvenlafaxine Dosage
Desvenlafaxine comes as an extended-release (long-acting) tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day with or without food. Take desvenlafaxine at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take desvenlafaxine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Swallow the tablets whole with plenty of water; do not split, chew, crush, or dissolve them.
Desvenlafaxine controls depression but does not cure it. It may take several weeks before you feel the full benefit of desvenlafaxine. Continue to take desvenlafaxine even if you feel well. Do not stop taking desvenlafaxine without talking to your doctor. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually. If you suddenly stop taking desvenlafaxine, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as dizziness, confusion, nausea, headache, ringing in the ears, irritability, unable to control emotions, frequent mood changes, abnormally excitement, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, diarrhea, anxiety, extreme tiredness, unusual dreams, seizures, sweating, uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body, or pain, burning or tingling in the hands or feet. Tell your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms while you are decreasing your dose of desvenlafaxine or soon after you stop taking desvenlafaxine.
Other
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will check your blood pressure often and may order certain lab tests to check your body’s response to desvenlafaxine.
Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking desvenlafaxine.
The extended-release tablet does not dissolve in the stomach after swallowing. It slowly releases the medicine as it passes through your digestive system. You may notice the tablet coating in the stool. This is normal and does not mean that you did not receive the complete dose of medication.
Do not let anyone else take your desvenlafaxine. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Source
All information on desvenlafaxine has been provided courtesy of MedLinePlus from the National Library of Medicine and from the FDA.
