- Desvenlafaxine is an active metabolite of Effexor XR
- May be less effective than Venlafaxine XR (Effexor XR)
- Venlafaxine XR is generic as of 2010 and is preferred
- No added benefit over Effexor XR and with possibly more adverse effects
- Unknown safety in Lactation
- Unknown pregnancy category
- Postpartum Hemorrhage (second and third trimester use)
- Neonatal Distress (second and third trimester use)
- Pristiq (Desvenlafaxine Succinate)
- Desvenlafaxine ER (extended-release base preparation)
- Equivalent to Pristiq (but requires specific instructions to pharmacist to allow substitution)
- As with Pristiq, no significant benefit when compared with Venlafaxine XR (which is generic and much less expensive)
- Dose: 50 mg orally daily
- No evidence that doses over 50 mg offer added benefit
- Decrease dose to 25 mg in stage 4 Chronic Kidney Disease (eGFR <30 ml/min)
- Tapering (do not cut tablet)
- Week 1: Skip one dose
- Week 2: Skip two doses
- Week 3: Skip three doses
- Week 4: Stop medication
- See Venlafaxine
- Antidepressant Withdrawal
- Empty ghost capsule in stool (typical finding)
- Weak CYP2D6 Inhibitor
- Desvenlafaxine (DailyMed)
- (2023) Med Lett Drugs Ther 62(1592): 25-32
- Olson (2020) Clinical Pharmacology, Medmaster Miami, p. 38-9
- Hamilton (2020) Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia
- (2013) Presc Lett 20(7):40
- (2008) Presc Lett 15(5): 28
- (2008) Ann Pharmacother 42:1439 [PubMed]