desvenlafaxine vs phenelzine
Side-by-side comparison of desvenlafaxine and phenelzine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
moderate Known Drug Interaction
Examples selegiline, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, linezolid, methylene blue Other Serotonergic Drugs Clinical Impact Concomitant use of PRISTIQ with other serotonergic drugs increases the risk of serotonin syndrome.
Recommendation: Do not take these drugs together. You must typically wait at least 14 days after stopping one before starting the other to avoid a dangerous interaction.
Pristiq
Nardil
Pristiq is a medicine used to treat depression in adults. It belongs to a class of drugs called serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).
Phenelzine (Nardil) is a medicine used to treat depression. It belongs to a class of drugs called MAO inhibitors.
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.
This medicine treats depression, especially when it involves anxiety, phobias, or hypochondria. It is often used when other antidepressants haven't worked. It may not be as effective for severe depression with 'endogenous' features.
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.
Phenelzine works by blocking an enzyme called monoamine oxidase (MAO) in your body. MAO breaks down certain chemicals in the brain, like serotonin and norepinephrine. By blocking MAO, phenelzine helps increase the levels of these chemicals, which can improve mood.
- • Feeling sick to your stomach
- • Feeling dizzy
- • Trouble sleeping
- • Increased sweating
- • Constipation
- • Dizziness
- • Headache
- • Drowsiness
- • Trouble sleeping
- • Tiredness
- Harmful effect from different substances 233
- Feeling sick to your stomach 206
- Death by suicide 186
- Feeling worried or nervous 180
- Taking too much medicine 174
- Feeling sad or hopeless 187
- Head pain 136
- Feeling worried or nervous 129
- Gaining weight 120
- Trouble sleeping 104
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.
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, teens, and young adults. Your doctor will monitor you closely for worsening depression, suicidal thoughts, or unusual changes in behavior. Families and caregivers should also watch for these changes and report them to the doctor. This medicine is not approved for use in children.
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.
It is not known if phenelzine can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
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How to Read This desvenlafaxine vs phenelzine Comparison
desvenlafaxine is classified in the Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) drug class, while phenelzine sits within the Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
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 phenelzine has 676. 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 moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to these medications both raise serotonin levels in your body. combining them can lead to a dangerous condition called serotonin syndrome, which affects your heart rate, blood pressure, and muscles.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between desvenlafaxine and phenelzine - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.