Desvenlafaxine Succinate ER 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg

Desvenlafaxine is used to treat depression. Desvenlafaxine succinate ER increases the amount of serotonin and norepinephrine, substances that help regulate mood, in the brain and belongs to a class of medications called selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).¹ 

Desvenlafaxine succinate ER 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.²

Desvenlafaxine succinate ER controls depression but does not cure it. It may take several weeks before you feel the full benefit. Continue to take desvenlafaxine succinate ER even if you feel well.³

Desvenlafaxine succinate ER requires a prescription and is not available over the counter.⁴ Start an online consult for anxiety and depression to meet with a U.S. licensed medical professional to see if desvenlafaxine succinate ER is a good fit for you.

At RedBox Rx, desvenlafaxine succinate ER costs $25 per month (with purchase of 3-month supply), and our online consultation for anxiety and depression costs only $25. RedBox Rx has one of the lowest prices of desvenlafaxine succinate ER available.

Before taking desvenlafaxine succinate ER: 

• 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 (Emsam, Zelapar) or 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 succinate ER. If you stop taking desvenlafaxine succinate ER, your doctor will tell you that you should wait at least seven days before you start to take an MAO inhibitor.

• You should know that desvenlafaxine succinate ER 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, in Mydayis), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, in Adderall)or methamphetamine (Desoxyn); anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn); atomoxetine (Straterra); buspirone; dextromethorphan (found in many cough medications; in Nuedexta); diuretics (water pills); fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora, Subsys); ketoconazole; lithium (Lithobid); medications for anxiety, mental illness or seizures; medications for migraine such as almotriptan, eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex) or zolmitriptan (Zomig); metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL); midazolam; nebivolol (Bystolic); nefazodone; perphenazine; sedatives; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, in Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil)or sertraline (Zoloft); other SNRIs such as duloxetine (Cymbalta); sleeping pills; tolterodine (Detrol); tramadol (Ultram); tranquilizers; and tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, amoxapine, clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Silenor), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptylineor trimipramine. 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 succinate ER, 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 drink or have ever drunk large amounts of alcohol, or use or have ever used street drugs, or have ever overused prescription medications. Also tell your doctor 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 breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking desvenlafaxine succinate ER, call your doctor. Desvenlafaxine succinate ER 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 succinate ER.

• You should know that desvenlafaxine succinate ER may make you drowsy and may affect your judgment, thinking and movements. 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 succinate ER. Alcohol can make the side effects from desvenlafaxine succinate ER worse.

• You should know that desvenlafaxine succinate ER may cause high blood pressure. You should have your blood pressure checked before starting treatment and regularly while you are taking this medication.  

• You should know that in older adults,desvenlafaxine succinate ER 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 succinate ER 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.⁵

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.⁶

Desvenlafaxine succinate ER 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.

• Sleepiness.

• Extreme tiredness.

• Unusual dreams.

• Yawning.

• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.

• Sweating.

• Uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body.

• Pain, burning, numbness or tingling in part of the body.

• Enlarged pupils (black circles in the centers of the eyes).

• Sexual problems in males; decreased sex drive, inability to get or keep an erection, or delayed or absent ejaculation.

• Sexual problems in females; decreased sex drive, or delayed orgasm or unable to have an orgasm.

• Difficulty urinating.⁷

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program.⁸

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.⁹

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory.

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 medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all 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.¹⁰

The brand name for desvenlafaxine succinate ER is Pristiq.¹¹

We offer a variety of prescription medication options for anxiety and depression, including:

• Buspirone (Generic Buspar®)

• Citalopram (Generic Celexa®)

• Duloxetine (Generic Cymbalta®)

• Escitalopram (Generic Lexapro®)

• Hydroxyzine (Generic Atarax®)

• Paroxetine (Generic Paxil®)

• Sertraline (Generic Zoloft®)

• Venlafaxine ER (Generic Effexor XR®)

• Fluoxetine (Generic Prozac®)

• Bupropion XL (Generic Wellbutrin XL®)

• Bupropion SR (Generic Wellbutrin SR®)

We offer a variety of prescription medication options for depression including:

• Citalopram (Generic Celexa®)

• Duloxetine (Generic Cymbalta®)

• Escitalopram (Generic Lexapro®)

• Paroxetine (Generic Paxil®)

• Sertraline (Generic Zoloft®)

• Venlafaxine ER (Generic Effexor XR®)

• Fluoxetine (Generic Prozac®)

• Bupropion XL (Generic Wellbutrin XL®)

• Bupropion SR (Generic Wellbutrin SR®)

Do not stop taking desvenlafaxine succinate ER without talking to your doctor. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually. If you suddenly stop taking desvenlafaxine succinate ER, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as dizziness; confusion; nausea; headache; ringing in the ears; irritability; aggressive behavior; inability to control emotions; frequent mood changes; abnormally excited; difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; diarrhea; anxiety; extreme tiredness; unusual dreams; seizures; sweating; uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body; blurred vision; 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 succinate ER or soon after you stop taking desvenlafaxine succinate ER.¹² 

Pristiq is the brand name for desvenlafaxine succinate ER.

1. Cleveland Clinic

2. National Library of Medicine

3. National Library of Medicine

4. Mayo Clinic

5. National Library of Medicine

6. National Library of Medicine

7. National Library of Medicine

8. National Library of Medicine

9. National Library of Medicine

10. National Library of Medicine

11. National Library of Medicine

12. National Library of Medicine