Pristiq (Desvenlafaxine Extended-Release Tablets) Patient Information: How Should I Take the Drug at RxList

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May 27, 2012

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A depressive disorder is a syndrome (group of symptoms) that reflects a sad, blue mood exceeding normal sadness or grief.
Depressive disorders are characterized not only by negative thoughts, moods, and behaviors but also by specific changes in bodily functions (for example, eating, sleeping, and sexual activity).
One in 10 people will have a depressive disorder in their lifetime, and in one of 10 cases, the depression is a fatal disease as a result of suicide.
Some types of depression, especially bipolar depression, run in families.
While there are many social, psychological, and environmental risk factors for developing depression, some are particularly prevalent in one gender or the other, or in particular age or ethnic groups.
There can be some differences in symptoms of depression depending on age, gender, and ethnicity.
Depression is diagnosed only clinicall...

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Pristiq Patient Information including How Should I Take

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)?

Do not take this medication if you are allergic to desvenlafaxine or venlafaxine (Effexor), or if you are also using a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate). You must wait at least 14 days after stopping an MAOI before you can take desvenlafaxine. After you stop taking desvenlafaxine, you must wait at least 7 days before you start taking an MAOI.

You should not take desvenlafaxine together with venlafaxine (Effexor).

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take desvenlafaxine:

bipolar disorder (manic depression);
liver disease;
kidney disease;
heart disease or high blood pressure;
a history of stroke;
glaucoma;
seizures or epilepsy;
a bleeding or blood clotting disorder; or
high cholesterol.

You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Tell your doctor if you have worsening symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.

Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.

FDA pregnancy category C. Desvenlafaxine may be harmful to an unborn baby, and may cause problems in a newborn baby if the mother takes the medication late in pregnancy (during the third trimester). Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Desvenlafaxine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give this medication to anyone under 18 years old without the advice of a doctor.

How should I take desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take this medication with a full glass of water. You may take desvenlafaxine with or without food.

Do not crush, chew, break, or dissolve the extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. Breaking or dissolving the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released into the body at one time.

Try to take desvenlafaxine at the same time each day.

The desvenlafaxine tablet is made with a shell that is not absorbed or melted in the body. Therefore, you may see what looks like part of a tablet in your stool. This is a normal side effect of desvenlafaxine and will not make the medication less effective.

It may take several weeks or more for your symptoms to improve. For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Do not stop using desvenlafaxine without first talking to your doctor. You may have unpleasant side effects if you stop taking this medication suddenly.

Store desvenlafaxine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

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