{"ok":true,"entry":{"slug":"desvenlafaxine","kind":"medication","name":"desvenlafaxine","aliases":["Pristiq"],"brands_sg":["Pristiq"],"class":"SNRI antidepressant","tags":["mental-health"],"use_for":"healthhub: symptoms of depression such as low mood","use_after":"healthhub: with or without food; tablet swallowed whole","use_duration":null,"take_with":"water · hh: alcohol can worsen low mood and add sleepiness","pros":["hh: an snri for depression symptoms","hh: once-daily tablet, with or without food","us label: 50 mg is both the starting and target dose"],"cons":["hh: nausea, poor sleep, dry mouth, sweating","hh: it may raise blood pressure — check-ups matter","hh: stopping suddenly brings dizziness, nausea"],"dose_note":"the us pristiq label's dosage section gives a recommended dose of '50 mg once daily, with or without food' and states 'there was no evidence that doses greater than 50 mg per day confer any additional benefit'; trials studied 'doses of 10 mg to 400 mg per day'. its explicit maxima are for impaired organs: 'moderate renal impairment: maximum dose 50 mg per day', 'severe renal impairment and end-stage renal disease: maximum dose 25 mg per day or 50 mg every other day', and in moderate to severe hepatic impairment 'dose escalation above 100 mg per day is not recommended'. singapore registers the 50 mg extended-release tablet only.","dosage":null,"ul_status":null,"sg_class":"prescription-only","cautions":["heart, kidney or liver disease — healthhub","high blood pressure, high cholesterol or past stroke (hh)","bipolar disorder, mania, seizures, glaucoma, low sodium (hh)","under 25 — healthhub warns of new self-harm thoughts early on"],"clashes":[{"src":["hh_des_avoid"],"food":true,"note":"healthhub: it can worsen depression symptoms and cause excessive sleepiness","with":"alcohol"},{"src":["hh_des_precautions"],"note":"healthhub lists this among what the prescriber must be told","with":"any other mood medicine taken in the past 2 weeks"},{"src":["fda_pristiq_maoi"],"note":"us label: 14 days before starting, at least 7 days after stopping","with":"maois (psychiatric)"},{"src":["fda_pristiq_maoi"],"note":"us label: increased risk of serotonin syndrome","with":"linezolid or intravenous methylene blue"},{"src":["hh_des_precautions"],"note":"healthhub: some may affect how it works or cause serious drug interactions","with":"st john's wort, other medicines and herbal remedies"}],"sources":[{"id":"hsa_register","url":"https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_767279312753558cbf19d48344577084/view","label":"HSA — Listing of Registered Therapeutic Products (data.gov.sg open dataset, 5,511 rows, cached in full and filtered locally)","quote":"The single registered desvenlafaxine product reads 'Prescription Only' — SIN13859P Pristiq Extended-Release Tablet 50mg, DESVENLAFAXINE SUCCINATE 75.87 mg EQV DESVENLAFAXINE, ATC N06AX23.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_des_uses","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/desvenlafaxine","label":"HealthHub (National Medication Information workgroup, SG) — Desvenlafaxine: what is this medication for","quote":"Desvenlafaxine belongs to a class of medications known as Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRI). It is used to treat symptoms of depression such as: Feeling sad, Loss of interest in usual activities","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_des_howto","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/desvenlafaxine","label":"HealthHub — Desvenlafaxine: how should I take this medication","quote":"Desvenlafaxine may be taken with or without food. Swallow the tablet whole, do NOT chew or crush it … You may experience unpleasant effects such as dizziness, headache, difficulty sleeping, irritability, and nausea if you suddenly stop","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_des_precautions","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/desvenlafaxine","label":"HealthHub — Desvenlafaxine: what precautions should I take","quote":"Heart, kidney or liver disease … high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, history of stroke, seizures (fits), increased eye pressure (glaucoma), low sodium in the blood (hyponatremia) or bleeding problems … Desvenlafaxine may increase your blood pressure.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_des_side","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/desvenlafaxine","label":"HealthHub — Desvenlafaxine: common side effects","quote":"Nausea, vomiting or loss of appetite … Difficulty sleeping … Dry mouth … Constipation … Dizziness … Mild nervousness … Headache, increased blood pressure … increased sweating … Decreased sexual drive or ability","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_des_avoid","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/desvenlafaxine","label":"HealthHub — Desvenlafaxine: what food or medication should I avoid","quote":"Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Desvenlafaxine as it can worsen the symptoms of your depression and cause excessive sleepiness.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_des_young","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/desvenlafaxine","label":"HealthHub — Desvenlafaxine: important warning for people under 25","quote":"The following changes have been observed in some patients particularly below the age of 25 years … New or worsening thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life; Worsening agitation, restlessness, violent behaviour","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_pristiq_dose","url":"https://api.fda.gov/drug/label.json?search=openfda.brand_name:%22PRISTIQ%22&limit=1","label":"US FDA label for PRISTIQ (desvenlafaxine) extended-release tablets, section 2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION, via openFDA (Wyeth/Pfizer, effective 2026-04-28)","quote":"Recommended dose: 50 mg once daily with or without food … There was no evidence that doses greater than 50 mg per day confer any additional benefit","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_pristiq_maoi","url":"https://api.fda.gov/drug/label.json?search=openfda.brand_name:%22PRISTIQ%22&limit=1","label":"US FDA label for PRISTIQ, sections 2.7–2.8 MAOI switching and linezolid / methylene blue, via openFDA","quote":"At least 14 days should elapse between discontinuation of an MAOI … and initiation of therapy with PRISTIQ … at least 7 days … after stopping PRISTIQ … linezolid or intravenous methylene blue … increased risk of serotonin syndrome","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_pristiq_max","url":"https://api.fda.gov/drug/label.json?search=openfda.brand_name:%22PRISTIQ%22&limit=1","label":"US FDA label for PRISTIQ, sections 2.2–2.3 maximum doses in renal and hepatic impairment, via openFDA","quote":"Moderate renal impairment: Maximum dose 50 mg per day … Severe renal impairment and end-stage renal disease: Maximum dose 25 mg per day … Moderate to severe hepatic impairment: Maximum dose 100 mg per day","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_pristiq_whole","url":"https://api.fda.gov/drug/label.json?search=openfda.brand_name:%22PRISTIQ%22&limit=1","label":"US FDA label for PRISTIQ, section 2.1 general instructions for use, via openFDA","quote":"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.","accessed":"2026-08-27"}],"brand_certs":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-29T16:16:18.585742+08:00"},"disclaimer":"kozen-x is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. it lists what published sources have written down. absence of a record is not the same as safe."}