Desvenlafaxine Side Effects

Brand Names: Pristiq

Please note - some side effects for Desvenlafaxine may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.

Side Effects of Desvenlafaxine - for the Consumer

Desvenlafaxine Extended-Release Tablets

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Desvenlafaxine Extended-Release Tablets:

Constipation; decreased sexual desire or ability; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; fatigue; flushing; headache; increased sweating; loss of appetite; nausea; stomach upset; trouble sleeping; vomiting; yawning.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); behavior changes; blood in the stools; blurred vision; chest pain or discomfort; confusion; decreased concentration; decreased coordination; decreased urination; enlarged pupils; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or sore throat; hallucinations; memory problems; new or worsening agitation, anxiety, panic attacks, aggressiveness, impulsiveness, irritability, hostility, restlessness, or inability to sit still; new or worsening mental or mood changes; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; seizures; severe or persistent cough; severe or persistent headache, dizziness, or stomach pain; severe or persistent trouble sleeping; shortness of breath; significant weight loss; suicidal thoughts or attempts; tremor; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual weakness; worsening of depression.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

Side Effects by Body System - for Healthcare Professionals

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects including nausea (up to 41%), dry mouth (up to 25%), diarrhea (up to 11%), constipation (up to 14%), and vomiting (up to 9%) have been reported. Postmarketing reports have included decreased appetite.

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects including headache (up to 29%), dizziness (up to 16%), somnolence (up to 12%), tremor (up to 9%), paraesthesia (up to 3%), dysgeusia (up to 2%), and disturbance in attention (up to 2%) have been reported. Convulsion, syncope, and extrapyramidal disorders have been reported infrequently. Postmarketing reports have included anxiety, insomnia and vertigo.

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects including hyperhidrosis (up to 21%), rash (up to 2%), and angioedema have been reported. Severe cutaneous reactions (such as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and/or erythema multiforme) have been reported with other SNRIs.

Psychiatric

Psychiatric side effects including insomnia (up to 15%), anxiety (up to 5%), abnormal dreams (up to 4%), nervousness (up to 2%), and irritability (up to 2%) have been reported. Depersonalization and hypomania have been reported infrequently.

General

General side effects including fatigue (up to 11%), chills (up to 4%), feeling jittery (up to 3%), and asthenia (up to 2%) have been reported.

Genitourinary

Genitourinary side effects including urinary hesitation (up to 2%) have been reported. Effects found in men only have included erectile dysfunction (up to 11%), anorgasmia (up to 8%), delayed ejaculation (up to 7%), decreased libido (up to 6%), ejaculation disorder (up to 5%), abnormal orgasm (up to 3%), ejaculation failure (up to 2%), and sexual dysfunction (up to 2%). Effects found in women only have included anorgasmia (up to 3%).

Metabolic

Metabolic side effects including decreased appetite (up to 10%) and decreased weight (up to 2%) have been reported. Increased total cholesterol (up to 10%), increased LDL cholesterol (up to 2%), fasting triglycerides greater than or equal to 327 mg/dl (up to 6%), and proteinuria greater than or equal to trace, have been reported in the fixed dose controlled studies.

Proteinuria was not associated with increases in BUN or creatinine and was generally transient.

Ocular

Ocular side effects including mydriasis (up to 6%) and blurred vision (up to 4%) have been reported.

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects including palpitations (up to 3%), tachycardia (up to 2%), hot flushes (up to 2%), and increased blood pressure (up to 2%) have been reported. Orthostatic hypotension has been reported infrequently. In clinical studies, there were uncommon reports of ischemic cardiac adverse events, including myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, and coronary occlusion requiring revascularization; these patients had multiple underlying cardiac risk factors.

Respiratory

Respiratory side effects including yawning (up to 4%) have been reported. Epistaxis has been reported infrequently.

Other

Other side effects including tinnitus (up to 2%) have been reported.

Adverse events reported in association with abrupt discontinuation, dose reduction, or tapering of treatment clinical studies on patients with major depressive disorder at a rate of greater than or equal to 5% include: dizziness, nausea, headache, irritability, insomnia, diarrhea, anxiety, abnormal dreams, fatigue, and hyperhidrosis.

In general, discontinuation events occurred more frequently with longer duration of therapy.

Immunologic

Immunologic side effects including hypersensitivity have been reported infrequently.

Hepatic

Hepatic side effects including abnormal liver function tests have been reported infrequently.

Endocrine

Endocrine side effects including increased blood prolactin levels have been reported infrequently.

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