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Desvenlafaxine

Desvenlafaxine is a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressant used to treat major depressive disorder in adults.

Brand names PristiqKhedezlaPristiq Extended-Release
Drug class Serotonin And Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor
Rx Form 1
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Reviewed by Last reviewed Jul 10, 2026 Content updated Oct 2, 2026
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand

The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 48 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →

✓No current FDA shortage listed · checked Oct 5, 2026
Desvenlafaxine at a glance The quick version — the full detail is in the Patient Information Guide below.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
The Pharmacist’s Take By · Clinical pharmacist · Written

Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) is an SNRI antidepressant for major depressive disorder in adults, thought to work by keeping two brain chemicals, serotonin and norepinephrine, more active. A close relative of venlafaxine, it is a familiar option often tried when an SSRI has not helped, and it has been on the market since about 2008 and is available as a generic. Most people tolerate it reasonably well, and nausea (which often eases over the first weeks), sweating, dizziness and trouble sleeping are what people notice most. Its boxed warning covers suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, teens and young adults, so watch closely for worsening mood early on and after dose changes.

Clinical pearls

  • Swallow the extended-release tablet whole, never split, crush or chew it, and take it at about the same time daily.
  • Do not stop it on your own, even if you feel better, because stopping suddenly can bring on withdrawal-type symptoms.
  • Never combine it with an MAOI antidepressant, and check before adding tramadol, triptans or St. John's Wort.
  • It can raise blood pressure and add to bleeding with aspirin, NSAIDs like ibuprofen, or blood thinners such as warfarin.
How we write & review this content — our editorial policy →
⚠️ FDA Boxed Warning — the FDA’s strongest safety alert ▾

Antidepressants like desvenlafaxine can increase suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, teens and young adults. Short-term studies did not show this increase in people over 24, and risk was lower in people 65 and older.

Anyone starting an antidepressant should be watched closely for worsening depression or new suicidal thoughts, especially early in treatment or after dose changes. Families and caregivers should stay alert and keep in close contact with the prescriber. Desvenlafaxine is not approved for children.

Read the full warning on DailyMed →
How you get itPrescription only
Comes asExtended-release tablet
Earliest FDA record2008
Companies listing it with the FDA21
FDA label last updatedAug 7, 2023
FDA’s strongest warning (boxed)Yes, read the warning

Patient information guide A plain-language walkthrough of Desvenlafaxine, written from its FDA label.

What Desvenlafaxine is used for

▾

Desvenlafaxine is used for one condition across its supported products.

  • Major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults, for Desvenlafaxine, Desvenlafaxine ER, Desvenlafaxine Succinate and Pristiq extended-release tablets taken by mouth.

How Desvenlafaxine works

▾

Desvenlafaxine is a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). It blocks the reuptake of these two brain chemicals, which keeps more of them active in the brain.

The exact way it eases depression is not known, but this effect is thought to be responsible.

Desvenlafaxine dosage

▾

These are once-daily extended-release tablets taken by mouth, at about the same time each day, with or without food. Swallow them whole with fluid. Do not split, crush, chew or dissolve them.

  • Follow your prescriber's directions and your label.
  • Your prescriber will usually lower the dose gradually when you stop.
  • Kidney or liver problems may call for a lower maximum daily dose.

Dosing details from the FDA-approved label

From the Desvenlafaxine prescribing information (“Dosage and Administration”). Doses are set by your prescriber for your product, condition, kidney function and age — never change a dose on your own.

  • General use (recommended dose)
    • 50 mg once daily with or without food
    • The 50 mg dose is both a starting dose and the therapeutic dose
    • Take at approximately the same time each day
    • Tablets swallowed whole with fluid, not divided, crushed, chewed, or dissolved
    • No additional benefit demonstrated at doses greater than 50 mg per day; adverse reactions and discontinuations were more frequent at higher doses
  • Discontinuing treatment
    • 25 mg per day for gradual reduction in dose
    • Reduce dose gradually whenever possible
    • Gradual reduction recommended to minimize discontinuation symptoms
  • Moderate renal impairment (24-hr creatinine clearance [Cl Cr] = 30 to 50 mL/min, Cockcroft-Gault)
    • Maximum recommended dose is 50 mg per day
    • Maximum: 50 mg per day
    • Renal impairment adjustment
  • Severe renal impairment (Cl Cr 15 to 29 mL/min, C-G) and end-stage renal disease
    • 25 mg per day or 50 mg every other day
    • Maximum: 25 mg per day or 50 mg every other day
    • The 25 mg per day dose is intended for dosing in severe renal and end-stage renal disease patients
  • Moderate to severe hepatic impairment
    • Maximum dose 100 mg per day
    • Maximum: 100 mg per day
    • Hepatic impairment adjustment
Read the label’s full dosing text

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Recommended dose: 50 mg once daily with or without food ( 2.1 ). There was no evidence that doses greater than 50 mg per day confer any additional benefit ( 2.1 ). The 25 mg per day dose is intended for a gradual reduction in dose when discontinuing treatment or dosing in severe renal and end-stage renal disease patients ( 2.1 ). Discontinuation: Reduce dose gradually whenever possible ( 2.1 ). Take tablets whole; do not divide, crush, chew, or dissolve ( 2.1 ). Moderate renal impairment: Maximum dose 50 mg per day ( 2.2 ). Severe renal impairment and end-stage renal disease: Maximum dose 25 mg per day or 50 mg every other day ( 2.2 ). Moderate to severe hepatic impairment: Maximum dose 100 mg per day ( 2.3 ). 2.1 General Instructions for Use The recommended dose for desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets is 50 mg once daily, with or without food. The 50 mg dose is both a starting dose and the therapeutic dose. Desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets should be taken at approximately the same time each day. Tablets must be swallowed whole with fluid and not divided, crushed, chewed, or dissolved. In clinical studies, doses of 10 mg to 400 mg per day were studied. In clinical studies, doses of 50 mg to 400 mg per day were shown to be effective, although no additional benefit was demonstrated at doses greater than 50 mg per day and adverse reactions and discontinuations were more frequent at higher doses. The 25 mg per day dose is intended for a gradual reduction in dose when discontinuing treatment. When discontinuing therapy, gradual dose reduction is recommended whenever possible to minimize discontinuation symptoms [ see Dosage and Administration (2.5 ) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 ) ] . 2.2 Dosage Recommendations for Patients with Renal Impairment The maximum recommended dose in patients with moderate renal impairment (24-hr creatinine clearance [Cl Cr ] = 30 to 50 mL/min, Cockcroft-Gault [C-G]) is 50 mg per day. The maximum recommended dose in patients with severe renal impairment (Cl Cr 15 to 29 mL/min, C-G) or end-stage renal disease (ESRD, Cl Cr < 15 mL/min, C-G) is 25 mg every day or 50 mg every other day. Supplemental doses should not be given to patients after dialysis [see Use in Specific Populations ( 8.6 ) and Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] .

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →

Desvenlafaxine side effects

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The most common side effects in studies were:

Common side effects

  • Nausea
  • Dizziness
  • Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
  • Increased sweating
  • Constipation
  • Sleepiness
  • Decreased appetite
  • Anxiety
  • Dry mouth
  • Male sexual function problems

When to get medical help

  • Call your doctor right away if you have new or worsening depression, suicidal thoughts, or unusual changes in behavior.
  • Get help for signs of serotonin syndrome (a dangerous buildup of serotonin), especially if you take other serotonin-affecting drugs.
  • Tell your doctor about high blood pressure or a rise in blood pressure while on treatment.
  • Report unusual bleeding or bruising, especially if you take aspirin, NSAIDs or blood thinners.
  • Seek care for symptoms of an allergic reaction, including angioedema (swelling of the face, lips or throat).
  • Tell your doctor about eye pain or vision changes, which can signal angle closure glaucoma.
  • Report seizures, or signs of low sodium (hyponatremia).
  • Tell your doctor about new breathing or lung problems, since interstitial lung disease and eosinophilic pneumonia can occur.

Desvenlafaxine warnings and precautions

▾
  • Suicidal thoughts and behaviors (boxed warning): highest concern in children, teens and young adults. Watch closely for mood changes.
  • Serotonin syndrome: can occur alone or with other serotonergic drugs.
  • Elevated blood pressure: control it before starting and monitor during treatment.
  • Bleeding risk: higher with aspirin, NSAIDs and blood thinners.
  • Angle closure glaucoma, mania or hypomania, seizures, low sodium (hyponatremia), and lung problems can occur.
  • Discontinuation syndrome: taper rather than stopping suddenly.
  • Sexual dysfunction is possible.

Desvenlafaxine interactions

▾

Several medicines can clash with desvenlafaxine.

  • MAOIs, linezolid and IV methylene blue: contraindicated because of serotonin syndrome risk.
  • Other serotonergic drugs (SSRIs, other SNRIs, triptans, tramadol, lithium, St. John's Wort): raise serotonin syndrome risk.
  • Aspirin, NSAIDs, warfarin: may raise bleeding risk.
  • CYP2D6-processed drugs (such as metoprolol and atomoxetine): levels may rise.
  • Alcohol: the label advises avoiding it.

Interactions listed in the FDA-approved label

From the Desvenlafaxine prescribing information (“Drug Interactions”): what the manufacturer studied or reported to the FDA.

  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) (e.g., selegiline, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, linezolid, methylene blue): Concomitant use of SSRIs and SNRIs including desvenlafaxine with MAOIs increases the risk of serotonin syndrome. Contraindicated with an MAOI intended to treat psychiatric disorders or within 7 days of stopping desvenlafaxine; within 14 days of stopping an MAOI intended to treat psychiatric disorders; and in a patient being treated with linezolid or intravenous methylene blue.
  • Other serotonergic drugs (other SNRIs, SSRIs, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, buspirone, amphetamines, tryptophan, St. John's Wort): Concomitant use increases the risk of serotonin syndrome. Monitor for symptoms of serotonin syndrome; if it occurs, consider discontinuation of desvenlafaxine and/or the concomitant serotonergic drugs.
  • Drugs that interfere with hemostasis (NSAIDs, aspirin, warfarin; antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs): Concomitant use may potentiate the risk of bleeding, possibly due to the effect on the release of serotonin by platelets. Closely monitor for bleeding when desvenlafaxine is initiated or discontinued.
  • Drugs primarily metabolized by CYP2D6 (desipramine, atomoxetine, dextromethorphan, metoprolol, nebivolol, perphenazine, tolterodine): Desvenlafaxine increases Cmax and AUC of a drug primarily metabolized by CYP2D6, which may increase the risk of toxicity of the substrate drug. Original dose should be taken when co-administered with desvenlafaxine 100 mg or lower. Reduce the dose of these drugs by up to one-half if co-administered with 400 mg of desvenlafaxine.
  • Drugs mainly metabolized by CYP3A4 (e.g., midazolam) or by both CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 (e.g., tamoxifen, aripiprazole): No clinically important interaction based on pharmacokinetic studies. No dosage adjustment is required.
  • Alcohol: Desvenlafaxine does not increase the impairment of mental and motor skills caused by ethanol, but as with all CNS-active drugs... Patients should be advised to avoid alcohol consumption while taking desvenlafaxine.
  • Drug-laboratory tests (urine immunoassay screening for phencyclidine (PCP) and amphetamine): False-positive results have been reported in patients taking desvenlafaxine, due to lack of specificity of the screening tests, and may be expected for several days following discontinuation. Confirmatory tests, such as gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, will distinguish desvenlafaxine from PCP and amphetamine.
Read the label’s full interactions text

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS 7.1 Drugs Having Clinically Important Interactions with Desvenlafaxine Extended-Release Tablets Table 8: Clinically Important Drug Interactions with Desvenlafaxine Extended-Release Tablets Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI) Clinical Impact The concomitant use of SSRIs and SNRIs including desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets with MAOIs increases the risk of serotonin syndrome. Intervention Concomitant use of desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets is contraindicated: With an MAOI intended to treat psychiatric disorders or within 7 days of stopping treatment with desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets. Within 14 days of stopping an MAOI intended to treat psychiatric disorders. In a patient who is being treated with linezolid or intravenous methylene blue. [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.7 ), Contraindications ( 4 ) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )]. Examples selegiline, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, linezolid, methylene blue Other Serotonergic Drugs Clinical Impact Concomitant use of desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets with other serotonergic drugs increases the risk of serotonin syndrome. Intervention Monitor for symptoms of serotonin syndrome when desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets is used concomitantly with other drugs that may affect the serotonergic neurotransmitter systems. If serotonin syndrome occurs, consider discontinuation of desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets and/or concomitant serotonergic drugs [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )]. Examples other SNRIs, SSRIs, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, buspirone, amphetamines, tryptophan, and St. John's Wort Drugs that Interfere with Hemostasis Clinical Impact Concomitant use of desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets with an antiplatelet or anticoagulant drug may potentiate the risk of bleeding. This may be due to the effect of desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets on the release of serotonin by platelets.

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Drug Interactions section on DailyMed →

Not a complete list. The label covers the interactions the manufacturer studied or reported, and our own interaction database does not cover every medicine either. Bring your full medication list, including vitamins and herbal products, to your pharmacist.

🌿109 supplements and herbs with documented Desvenlafaxine interactions, ranked by severity Check Desvenlafaxine against a supplement or herb →

Before taking Desvenlafaxine

▾
  • Do not use if allergic to desvenlafaxine or venlafaxine.
  • Not approved for children.
  • Tell your doctor about high blood pressure, bipolar disorder, seizures, or narrow-angle glaucoma risk.
  • Adults 65 and older may be more prone to dizziness on standing.
  • Kidney or liver impairment can limit the maximum dose.
  • Pregnancy: talk with your doctor, especially about late pregnancy and newborn effects.
  • Breastfeeding: low levels pass into milk, with no adverse effects seen in infants studied.

Desvenlafaxine overdose

▾

Overdose information comes mostly from venlafaxine, the parent drug. It can cause fast heart rate, drowsiness or coma, seizures, vomiting, heart rhythm changes, and serotonin syndrome, and deaths have been reported. There is no specific antidote, so call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for guidance.

What Desvenlafaxine does in the body

▾

Desvenlafaxine did not show significant affinity for several other receptors in lab tests, and it does not inhibit MAO. In clinical studies, it did not cause meaningful changes in heart electrical measurements, and a thorough study showed no QT prolongation.

How your body processes Desvenlafaxine

▾

About 80% of an oral dose is absorbed. A high-fat meal slightly raised peak levels but did not change total exposure. Steady levels are reached in about 4 to 5 days of once-daily dosing.

The body mostly breaks it down by conjugation, with a small share by CYP3A4. About 45% leaves unchanged in urine.

How to store Desvenlafaxine

▾

Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F); excursions permitted to 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F) .

Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

109

Supplements & herbs that interact with Desvenlafaxine

109 supplements and herbal products have documented interactions with Desvenlafaxine in the licensed clinical database we use. Most are manageable — but your pharmacist should know about everything you take, including vitamins and herbals.

Severity mix
  • Major · 8
  • Moderate · 81
  • Minor · 20
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL Major AMERICAN HELLEBORE Major ARSENIC Major CESIUM Major EPHEDRA Major GRAPEFRUIT Major LITHIUM Major SIDA CORDIFOLIA Major +101 more
Every supplement checked against Desvenlafaxine — ranked by severity The full interaction hub: 8 major · 81 moderate · 20 minor · every one linked to its full report. Check Desvenlafaxine against your exact supplements

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — see our data sources & update cadence. Not medical advice: an interaction being documented does not mean it will happen to you; do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

1

Nutrient depletion considerations

Desvenlafaxine has been associated with lower levels of 1 nutrient in the clinical literature. This does not mean a deficiency will occur — it means these may be worth discussing with your pharmacist or healthcare provider, especially with long-term use.

SODIUM Moderate Depletion
See the full Desvenlafaxine nutrient depletion report

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — not medical advice. Do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

Desvenlafaxine: pharmacist answers to common questions

Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Desvenlafaxine — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.

What is desvenlafaxine for?

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It treats major depressive disorder in adults. It is an SNRI, which works on the brain chemicals serotonin and norepinephrine.

How should I take it?

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Take one tablet by mouth once a day at about the same time, with or without food. Swallow it whole with fluid. Don't split, crush or chew it. Follow your prescriber's directions.

What side effects should I expect?

▾
Nausea, dizziness, trouble sleeping, sweating, constipation, sleepiness, dry mouth and lower appetite are common. Sexual side effects can also happen. Call your doctor if they are bothersome or don't ease.

Can I stop it if I feel better?

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Please don't stop suddenly. Stopping abruptly can cause discontinuation symptoms, so your prescriber will usually lower the dose gradually.

What should I avoid taking with it?

▾
Never combine it with MAOIs, linezolid or IV methylene blue. Tell me about any other antidepressants, triptans, tramadol, St. John's Wort, aspirin, NSAIDs or blood thinners. The label also advises avoiding alcohol.

Is it safe during pregnancy?

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Talk with your doctor. Late-pregnancy use can cause withdrawal-type problems in newborns, but untreated depression also carries risks. Low levels pass into breast milk, and no adverse effects were seen in the infants studied.

Is Desvenlafaxine available over the counter?

▾
No. Desvenlafaxine is a prescription medicine: every Desvenlafaxine product listed with the FDA is prescription only, so it is not sold over the counter. Your prescriber decides whether it is appropriate for you, and your pharmacist dispenses it.

When was Desvenlafaxine first available?

▾
The earliest FDA record we hold for Desvenlafaxine is from 2008: its first approval in Drugs@FDA or its earliest product listing in the NDC Directory, whichever is older. Many older medicines were in use before their first formal FDA approval, so this is the earliest date on record, not necessarily when Desvenlafaxine was first used.

Who makes Desvenlafaxine?

▾
21 companies currently list Desvenlafaxine products in the FDA's NDC Directory, including Bryant Ranch Prepack, A-S Medication Solutions, Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited. That count includes repackagers and distributors as well as manufacturers (companies that sell only the raw ingredient are not counted), so fewer companies actually make it; the label on your bottle names the one that supplied yours.

Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

More about Desvenlafaxine on HelloPharmacist

📊Desvenlafaxine supplement interactions109 checked — ranked by severity 🌿Drug & Supplement CheckerDesvenlafaxine vs. vitamins & herbs 💬Ask a PharmacistFree answer, usually < 24h 🔎NDC & pricing lookupFind Desvenlafaxine NDCs & costs 🅰️Browse Drugs A–ZLook up any medication
Detailed data & references for Desvenlafaxine Forms & strengths, pricing, billing codes, manufacturers, safety reports and sourcing — the data behind the page. Most people can stop here. Each section below opens on a tap.

Desvenlafaxine forms and strengths (how it comes)

Desvenlafaxine is available in 1 form. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Need a version that does not list lactose, a gluten source, a dye or gelatin? Inactive ingredients differ by manufacturer: see Desvenlafaxine inactive ingredients by manufacturer.

Extended-release tablet

By mouth
Brands Pristiq
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Pristiq is used to treat major depressive disorder in adults.
  • Desvenlafaxine, Desvenlafaxine ER and Desvenlafaxine Succinate extended-release tablets are used to treat major depressive disorder in adults.
Important instructions
  • Pristiq is taken once daily at about the same time each day, with or without food.
  • Pristiq tablets are swallowed whole with fluid, not divided, crushed, chewed or dissolved.
  • Desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets are also swallowed whole and taken once daily, with or without food.
  • Dose is reduced gradually when stopping whenever possible.
Available strengths 3 strengths
25 mg 50 mg 100 mg
160 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Desvenlafaxine on the U.S. market: products, makers and brands

How Desvenlafaxine appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.

21 companies list 68 Desvenlafaxine product records with the FDA, mostly as extended-release tablet; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 2008. Brand names on the directory include Pristiq, Khedezla, Pristiq Extended-Release; the rest are generics.

1
Dose forms ⓘ
21
Labelers (makers, repackagers, distributors)
5
Brand names
68
FDA-listed product records ⓘ
2008
Earliest FDA record ⓘ

Also listed with the FDA, not a patient dose form: Powder (13) — bulk drug substance sold to compounders/manufacturers and multi-item kits. These aren’t counted in the dose-form total above.

Bryant Ranch Prepack21%
A-S Medication Solutions12%
Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited7%
Actavis Pharma, Inc.4%
Advagen Pharma Ltd4%
Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, Inc4%
Other makers47%

Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

How widely Desvenlafaxine is used (Medicaid data)

A general measure of how commonly Desvenlafaxine is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.

Think of this as a proxy for how widely Desvenlafaxine is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.

769,380
Medicaid prescriptions filled (Q1–Q4 2025)
$25.5M gross Medicaid reimbursement (before mandatory rebates — net cost is lower)

How commonly is Desvenlafaxine prescribed? Of the 1,601 medications we measure, Desvenlafaxine ranks #203 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 87% of them.

Where Desvenlafaxine ranks among the drugs we measure · Q1–Q4 2025 · neighbors ±5
Total prescriptions — #203 of 1,601
#198 Calcium Chloride / Pot... 809,101 Rx #199 Hydralazine 805,117 Rx #200 Valsartan and Sacubitr... 792,623 Rx #201 Medroxyprogesterone In... 789,786 Rx #202 Bictegravir, Emtricita... 772,594 Rx #203 Desvenlafaxine 769,380 Rx #204 Fexofenadine 767,005 Rx #205 Fluticasone, Umeclidin... 766,474 Rx #206 Atenolol 765,683 Rx #207 Calcium Chloride / Pot... 764,836 Rx #208 Dupilumab Injection 758,467 Rx

Utilization by Desvenlafaxine product

Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.

The 50 mg 24 hr extended release oral tablet is the most-dispensed Desvenlafaxine product — about 43% of these Medicaid prescriptions.

24 HR desvenlafaxine succinate 50 MG Extended Release Oral Tablet Most dispensed

328,638 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 43% of Desvenlafaxine prescriptions shown $9.9M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $30 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 15 of 98 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1874559

24 HR desvenlafaxine succinate 100 MG Extended Release Oral Tablet

275,027 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 36% of Desvenlafaxine prescriptions shown $9.2M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $33 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 14 of 70 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1874553

24 HR desvenlafaxine succinate 25 MG Extended Release Oral Tablet

151,488 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 20% of Desvenlafaxine prescriptions shown $4.3M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $28 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 9 of 54 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1607617

24 HR desvenlafaxine 50 MG Extended Release Oral Tablet

7,257 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Desvenlafaxine prescriptions shown $1.1M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $146 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 16 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 790288

24 HR desvenlafaxine 100 MG Extended Release Oral Tablet

6,970 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Desvenlafaxine prescriptions shown $1.1M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $151 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 16 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 790264

Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.

Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Desvenlafaxine, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 40 of 254 listed Desvenlafaxine NDCs with Medicaid activity.

Compare Desvenlafaxine products

A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Desvenlafaxine — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)

Showing 68 of 68 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 68 Desvenlafaxine NDCs →

Desvenlafaxine side effects reported to the FDA (FAERS)

After a medicine reaches the market, patients, doctors and drugmakers can send the FDA reports of problems they think may be linked to it. Here’s what’s been reported for Desvenlafaxine — a signal of what to watch for, not proof the drug caused it.

The effects most often named in FDA reports that mention Desvenlafaxine are nausea, headache, dizziness; about 43% of the reports were classed as serious. These are voluntary reports, so they show what people report, not how often it happens.

26,842
Reports mentioning it
43%
Reported as serious
12
Distinct effects shown
Most reported effects
Nausea
2,438
Headache
1,943
Dizziness
1,895
Anxiety
1,818
Fatigue
1,677
Insomnia
1,574
Feeling Abnormal
1,451
Depression
1,388
Drug Withdrawal Syndrome
1,052
Malaise
1,041
Age groups
Adult · 1,426Elderly · 404Adolescent · 37Neonate · 6Child · 5Infant · 4

Source: openFDA, from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). These are voluntary reports — they don’t prove the drug caused the effect, and counts reflect how often something was reported, not how often it actually happens. Reports also often name the very problem the medicine is taken for — a common reason to file one is that the drug didn’t help — so for a pain reliever you may see “pain” high on the list; that points to why the report was filed, not to the drug causing the symptom. This counts every report that lists Desvenlafaxine in any role, so the total runs higher than the FDA’s official dashboard, which counts only cases where the drug is the suspect. For the authoritative figures, see the FDA FAERS Public Dashboard. Always talk to your pharmacist or doctor.

Desvenlafaxine FDA approval history

How Desvenlafaxine went from FDA review to the pharmacy shelf — the key milestones in its regulatory journey.

Desvenlafaxine was first approved by the FDA in 2008 (Brand: PRISTIQ · Pf Prism Cv); the first generic version was approved in 2015. It remains available in U.S. pharmacies today.

2008
Brand approved
Brand: PRISTIQ · Pf Prism Cv
2015
First generic approved
Lower-cost ANDA competition begins
2026
Available today
Active in U.S. pharmacies

Source: Drugs@FDA.

Desvenlafaxine recall history

A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.

The FDA’s enforcement reports list no Desvenlafaxine recalls since July 2021.

✅No Desvenlafaxine recalls on record since July 2021

Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Sep 24, 2026.

RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength

This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.

Ingredient (IN) Desvenlafaxine RxCUI 734064 2 dose forms · 7 strengths
  2. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Tablet RxCUI 803407 No current FDA listing
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 50 MG RxCUI 803409 100 MG RxCUI 803408

Look up RxCUI 734064 in the RxCUI Atlas →

RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.

💵 What Desvenlafaxine costs pharmacies (NADAC benchmark)

The national average invoice price pharmacies pay for the drug itself, from CMS's NADAC survey (data as of Sep 30, 2026). This is a supply-cost benchmark — not a retail price and not what you'd pay at the counter.

FormStrengthPharmacy acquisition benchmark
Tablet, Extended Release · Oral 50 mg $13.96 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet, Extended Release · Oral 100 mg $13.93 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet, Extended Release · Oral 25 mg $13.97 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet, Film Coated, Extended Release · Oral 50 mg $0.396 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet, Film Coated, Extended Release · Oral 25 mg $0.399 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet, Film Coated, Extended Release · Oral 100 mg $0.414 per tablet NDC details & price history
Why show this? Your out-of-pocket cost depends on insurance, pharmacy markup, and discounts — but the acquisition benchmark tells you whether the medication itself is inexpensive or costly, which strengths cost more per dose, and whether a cash-price quote is in a reasonable range. Each row links to the NDC-level record with its full price history.

Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), a survey of retail pharmacy invoice prices. Benchmarks shown are the range across package sizes of a representative product for each form and strength — other manufacturers' products may differ.

Desvenlafaxine brand names

Desvenlafaxine is sold under 3 brand names in the FDA directory — Pristiq, Khedezla, Pristiq Extended-Release. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.

Pristiq Khedezla Pristiq Extended-Release

Who makes Desvenlafaxine: manufacturers and labelers

21 companies list Desvenlafaxine products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are Bryant Ranch Prepack, A-S Medication Solutions, Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.

Bryant Ranch Prepack 14 A-S Medication Solutions 8 Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited 5 Actavis Pharma, Inc. 3 Advagen Pharma Ltd 3 Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, Inc 3 Direct Rx 3 Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. 3 Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 3 NorthStar Rx LLC 3 Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc. 3 Slate Run Pharmaceuticals, LLC 3 Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, a subsidiary of Pfizer Inc. 3 Macleods Pharmaceuticals Limited 2 Marlex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2 Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc. 2 American Health Packaging 1 Coupler LLC 1 NuCare Pharmaceuticals,Inc. 1 Preferred Pharmaceutical, Inc. 1 Proficient Rx LP 1

Desvenlafaxine drug class (RxNorm)

Desvenlafaxine belongs to the Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor class.

Pharmacologic class Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor
Drug family (ATC) Other antidepressants
How it works Norepinephrine Uptake Inhibitors, Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors, Cytochrome P450 2D6 Inhibitors

Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.

Sources for this Desvenlafaxine page

Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.

📄
FDA-filed drug labels (SPL) Uses, dosing, warnings & side effects from SPL records retrieved through openFDA; the linked representative set can be verified on DailyMed. ✓ Linked label effective Aug 7, 2023
🏭
Forms, brands & labelersAggregated from ingredient-matched FDA National Drug Code Directory product records for Desvenlafaxine.
📈
Real-world reportsThe FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), served through openFDA.
🚨
Recalls & shortagesopenFDA drug-enforcement reports and the FDA drug-shortage database.
🧾 Clinical label set — FDA-filed SPL labels retained for Desvenlafaxine after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching
Clinical labels in scope
48
Finished products in the current FDA directory
68
Companies listing them (makers, repackagers, distributors)
21
FDA labeler codes behind them ⓘ
22
Linked representative label ⓘ
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc.
Linked label effective
Aug 7, 2023
Composite sections available
27
Linked SPL Set ID
91cf39c9-4d26-480a-a3a3-a3d8d4c4d222
Linked SPL Document ID
cd04a0b2-a7f2-4629-997f-af2a8e65f15b
Open the linked representative label on DailyMed ↗

How this page is built

HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records and does not author the underlying clinical facts. The plain-language sections are written with AI from the FDA-approved label text and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc. is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates. This is general education, not medical advice: always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines. How we build and review drug pages →