desvenlafaxine vs dextromethorphan

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Side-by-side comparison of desvenlafaxine and dextromethorphan. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

Examples desipramine, atomoxetine, dextromethorphan, metoprolol, nebivolol, perphenazine, tolterodine 7.2 Drugs Having No Clinically Important Interactions with PRISTIQ Based on pharmacokinetic studies, no dosage adjustment is required for drugs that are mainly metabolized by CYP3A4 (e.g., midazolam), or for drugs that are metabolized by both CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 (e.g., tamoxifen, aripiprazole), when administered concomitantly with PRISTIQ [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].

Drug Class
desvenlafaxine Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI)
dextromethorphan Antitussive
Type
desvenlafaxine Prescription
dextromethorphan Over-the-Counter
Summary
desvenlafaxine

Pristiq is a medicine used to treat depression in adults. It belongs to a class of drugs called serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).

dextromethorphan

Dextromethorphan is a medicine that helps to relieve coughs. It can also help with cold and flu symptoms.

What It Treats
desvenlafaxine

Pristiq is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. MDD can cause you to feel sad, lose interest in activities, and have trouble with daily life. This medicine can help improve your mood and energy levels.

dextromethorphan

This medicine temporarily relieves symptoms from a cold. It can help with minor aches and pains, headache, and nasal and sinus congestion. It also helps with sore throat, cough due to minor throat and bronchial irritation, and reduces fever.

How It Works
desvenlafaxine

Pristiq works by affecting certain chemicals in the brain. It increases the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine. These chemicals help regulate mood and can improve symptoms of depression.

dextromethorphan

Dextromethorphan works by decreasing the activity in the part of your brain that causes you to cough. This helps to reduce your urge to cough. It does not treat the underlying cause of the cough.

Common Side Effects
desvenlafaxine
  • Feeling sick to your stomach
  • Feeling dizzy
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Increased sweating
  • Constipation
dextromethorphan
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
FAERS Reports
desvenlafaxine
  • Toxicity To Various Agents 233
  • Nausea 206
  • Completed Suicide 186
  • Anxiety 180
  • Overdose 174
dextromethorphan
  • Drug Abuse 713
  • Toxicity To Various Agents 678
  • Overdose 594
  • Dizziness 435
  • Accidental Overdose 403
Serious Warnings
desvenlafaxine

Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, adolescents, and young adults. If you are started on Pristiq, your doctor will monitor you closely for worsening depression or suicidal thoughts. Families and caregivers should also watch for these changes.

dextromethorphan

Do not use in children under 12 years of age.

Pregnancy
desvenlafaxine

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Taking Pristiq late in pregnancy may cause problems in the newborn. There is a pregnancy registry to monitor outcomes in women exposed to antidepressants during pregnancy. You can register by calling 1-844-405-6185.

dextromethorphan

Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is not known if this medicine will harm your unborn baby. It is also not known if this medicine passes into breast milk.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This desvenlafaxine vs dextromethorphan Comparison

desvenlafaxine is classified in the Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) drug class, while dextromethorphan sits within the Antitussive class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are split between OTC and prescription status, which affects access and supervision.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, desvenlafaxine has 979 submissions while dextromethorphan has 2,823. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to desvenlafaxine does not significantly affect the liver enzymes that process dextromethorphan.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for desvenlafaxine or dextromethorphan.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.