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Desvenlafaxine

Desveneurax · ATC code N06AX23

Also known as: Desvenlafaxin, Desvenlafaksin

Key facts
Active substance
Desvenlafaxine
Drug class
Antidepressant
ATC code
N06AX23
Authorisation
authorised nationally; no central EU authorisation
Information as of
2026-10-29

Boxed warning

Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults in short-term studies. These studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior with antidepressant use in patients over age 24; there was a reduction in risk with antidepressant use in patients aged 65 and older [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

In patients of all ages who are started on antidepressant therapy, monitor closely for worsening, and for emergence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Advise families and caregivers of the need for close observation and communication with the prescriber [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

Desvenlafaxine is not approved for use in pediatric patients [see Use in Specific Populations (8.4) ].

Key facts

Desvenlafaxine is a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressant in extended-release tablets. Per the US prescribing information, it is used to treat major depressive disorder in adults.

What it is used for

  • Major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults

Dosing

  • 50 mg once daily, with or without food, at about the same time each day; this is both the starting and the therapeutic dose
  • Doses above 50 mg per day gave no additional benefit and more adverse reactions
  • Swallow tablets whole; do not divide, crush, chew or dissolve
  • Moderate renal impairment: maximum 50 mg per day; severe renal impairment or end-stage renal disease: maximum 25 mg every day or 50 mg every other day; no supplemental doses after dialysis
  • Moderate to severe hepatic impairment: 50 mg per day; escalation above 100 mg per day is not recommended
  • Stop gradually rather than abruptly; for switching to or from an MAOI, see the full text

Contraindications

  • Hypersensitivity to desvenlafaxine, venlafaxine or any excipient (angioedema has been reported)
  • Use with an MAOI for psychiatric disorders or within 7 days of stopping desvenlafaxine; starting desvenlafaxine within 14 days of stopping such an MAOI
  • Starting desvenlafaxine in patients treated with linezolid or intravenous methylene blue

Important warnings

  • Boxed warning: increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, adolescents and young adults; monitor all patients closely; not approved for pediatric use
  • Serotonin syndrome, particularly with other serotonergic drugs
  • Elevated blood pressure; increased risk of bleeding
  • Angle-closure glaucoma, activation of mania/hypomania, seizures
  • Discontinuation syndrome; hyponatremia; interstitial lung disease and eosinophilic pneumonia

Side effects

  • Most common (≥ 5% and at least twice placebo): nausea, dizziness, insomnia, hyperhidrosis, constipation, somnolence, decreased appetite, anxiety and male sexual function disorders
  • Serious: serotonin syndrome, bleeding, increased blood pressure, hyponatremia, seizures

Interactions

  • MAOIs (e.g. selegiline, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, linezolid, methylene blue): contraindicated because of serotonin syndrome
  • Other serotonergic drugs: increased risk of serotonin syndrome
  • Drugs affecting bleeding: see the full text

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

  • SNRI exposure, particularly in the month before delivery, has been associated with an increased risk of postpartum hemorrhage
  • A pregnancy registry for antidepressants exists

Summary of the official product information, written with AI on 2026-10-29. Every number was checked automatically against the original text. Not reviewed by a physician – the full official text is authoritative.

Full official text →

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For patients

Patient information (US)

This product has no separate US patient information.

Authorisation and brand names by country

Medicines with exactly this active-substance composition, as listed in the national registers – alphabetical and without ranking. Whether a product is currently available is not shown here.

Austria

  • DesveneuraxNeuraxpharm Arzneimittel Gmbh · 1 register entry

Source: EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), as of 2026-10-29

Germany

  • DesveneuraxNeuraxpharm Arzneimittel Gmbh · 1 register entry
  • Desvenlafaxin WaymadeWaymade B.V. · 1 register entry

Source: EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), as of 2026-10-29

USA

  • Pristiq Extended-ReleaseWyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, a subsidiary of Pfizer Inc. · 1 register entry

Source: U.S. FDA – Drug labels (openFDA/DailyMed), as of 2026-10-29

Brand names in 6 more European countries
Cyprus
Desvenlafaxine Adelco
Greece
Desvenlafaxine Adelco
Italy
Faxilex
Malta
Desvenlafaxine Alembic, Desvenlafaxine Waymade
Portugal
Fasilex
Spain
Desvenlafaxina Alter, Desvenlafaxina Cinfa, Desvenlafaxina Neuraxpharm, Desvenlafaxina Normon, Desvenlafaxina Stada, Exital, Pristiq

EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-29

Medelix receives no money from pharmaceutical companies. Brand names are listed alphabetically and without ranking.

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Sources

  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Desvenlafaxine (Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc.) – Prescribing Information, 2023-08-07. DailyMed (NLM), 2026-10-29. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=91cf39c9-4d26-480a-a3a3-a3d8d4c4d222
  2. EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-29. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/data-medicines-iso-idmp-standards-post-authorisation/public-data-article-57-database
  3. EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-29. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/data-medicines-iso-idmp-standards-post-authorisation/public-data-article-57-database
  4. U.S. FDA – Drug labels (openFDA/DailyMed), 2026-10-29. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/
  5. Wikidata (CC0): ATC N06AX.

Editorial: Medelix editorial team · last updated 2026-10-29 · How these pages are made · Report an error

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), prescribing information, via DailyMed (NLM); public domain. Not advertising, not a treatment recommendation. For questions about your own treatment, ask your doctor or pharmacist.