Prescription medication · Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI)
desvenlafaxine
Also sold as Pristiq. Pristiq is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 3,267
- FDA reportsLightly reported
- 19
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- $3.54
- Generic price (NADAC)
What the data shows
desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) is a prescription Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI), among the least-reported drugs the FDA tracks (3,267 FDA reports), with 19 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) is a prescription Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI). Pristiq is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults.
Pristiq is a medicine used to treat depression in adults. It belongs to a class of drugs called serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$3.54/unit
Generic Available
Yes (8 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Pristiq is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults.
Common side effects
Feeling sick to your stomach, Feeling dizzy, Trouble sleeping
Key warnings
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, adolescents, and young adults.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from desvenlafaxine's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
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.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 3,267 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for desvenlafaxine, by number of reports
- Toxicity To Various Agents
Toxicity To Various Agents
233 reports
- Nausea
Nausea
206 reports
- Completed Suicide
Completed Suicide
186 reports
- Anxiety
Anxiety
180 reports
- Overdose
Overdose
174 reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
166 reports
- Drug Interaction
Drug Interaction
164 reports
- Depression
Depression
161 reports
- Headache
Headache
159 reports
- Dizziness
Dizziness
133 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for desvenlafaxine each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where desvenlafaxine sits
desvenlafaxine has more FDA adverse-event reports than 19% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is desvenlafaxine; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 3,267 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2008–2025.
Total Reports
3,267
Reports Mentioning Death
360
11.0% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
975
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS | 233 |
| 4 | NAUSEA | 206 |
| 5 | COMPLETED SUICIDE | 186 |
| 6 | ANXIETY | 180 |
| 7 | OVERDOSE | 174 |
| 8 | FATIGUE | 166 |
| 9 | DRUG INTERACTION | 164 |
| 10 | DEPRESSION | 161 |
| 11 | HEADACHE | 159 |
| 12 | DIZZINESS | 133 |
| 13 | PAIN | 117 |
| 14 | SEROTONIN SYNDROME | 115 |
| 15 | INSOMNIA | 114 |
| 16 | SUICIDAL IDEATION | 109 |
| 17 | DYSPNOEA | 108 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
Examples NSAIDs, aspirin, and warfarin Drugs that are Primarily Metabolized by CYP2D6 Clinical Impact Concomitant use of PRISTIQ increases C max and AUC of a drug primarily metabolized by CYP2D6 which may increase the risk of toxicity of the CYP2D6 substrate drug [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] .
Mechanism: Taking these two drugs together can increase the risk of bleeding. This happens because both medications can interfere with how your blood cells stick together to form clots.
• In a patient who is being treated with linezolid or intravenous methylene blue. 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.
Mechanism: Both of these drugs increase the levels of a brain chemical called serotonin. If serotonin levels get too high, it can cause a serious and potentially life-threatening reaction called serotonin syndrome.
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.
Mechanism: 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.
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.
Mechanism: Both drugs increase the amount of serotonin in the brain. Taking them together can cause serotonin levels to become dangerously high, leading to a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.
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.
Mechanism: These medications both raise serotonin levels in your body. Combining them can lead to too much serotonin, which can cause a dangerous reaction.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can I stop taking Pristiq suddenly?
What should I do if I feel worse after starting Pristiq?
Can I drink alcohol while taking Pristiq?
Does Pristiq interact with other medications?
What if Pristiq doesn't seem to be working?
Can Pristiq cause weight gain?
Is it safe to breastfeed while taking Pristiq?
What if I have kidney problems?
What if I have liver problems?
Can Pristiq cause high blood pressure?
What are the common side effects of desvenlafaxine?
Does desvenlafaxine interact with other medications?
What drug class is desvenlafaxine?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for desvenlafaxine?
Related Medications in Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI)
Other drugs grouped near desvenlafaxine - same-class peers and common alternatives.
acamprosate
Campral
Acamprosate is a medicine that can help you stay away from alcohol if you are alcohol-dependent and have already stopped drinking.
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alprazolam
Xanax
Alprazolam (Xanax) is a medication that can help you with anxiety and panic disorders.
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amitriptyline
Elavil
Amitriptyline is a medicine used to treat depression.
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amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
Adderall, Adderall XR
Adderall XR is a stimulant medicine.
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aripiprazole
Abilify
Aripiprazole (Abilify) is a medicine used to treat certain mental disorders and mood problems.
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Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for desvenlafaxine: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 3,267.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 11.02%.
- lemborexant Δ 0.01 pts · 2,425 reports · Orexin Receptor Antagonist 11.01%death share
- perphenazine Δ 0.04 pts · 2,013 reports · Typical Antipsychotic (Phenothiazine) 10.98%death share
- tamsulosin Δ 0.07 pts · 18,628 reports · Alpha-1 Adrenergic Blocker 11.09%death share
- ticagrelor Δ 0.07 pts · 30,895 reports · P2Y12 Inhibitor (Antiplatelet) 10.95%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for desvenlafaxine
The FDA label for desvenlafaxine (sold under brand names such as Pristiq) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) class. Pristiq is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. Official labeling lists 9 commonly reported side effects, including Feeling sick to your stomach, Feeling dizzy, Trouble sleeping.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 3,267 voluntary reports. The database also lists 19 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $3.54.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: November 13, 2025
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages