Pristiq Helps Treat the Following Conditions:

Major depressive disorder

Depression is a mood disorder that manifests in feelings of tiredness, loss of interest, sleep disturbances and anxiety. People usually have trouble carrying out everyday activities and may feel like life is not worth living. Depression may require long-term treatment involving medications and psychotherapy.

Pristiq Active Ingredient

Generic Pristiq  Alternative: Desvenlafaxine-Succinate

The active ingredient in Pristiq is desvenlafaxine, which belongs to a class of substances known as serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. The exact mechanism of action is unknown but it is thought to restore the balance of the two neurotransmitters in the brain, alleviating depression and mood disorders.

Patients have a choice of buying brand name Pristiq or generic alternatives. A number of safe, affordable generic alternatives to Pristiq are available through our international online pharmacy.

General Drug Information

What is Pristiq and What Is It Used For?

Pristiq is an antidepressant containing the active substance desvenlafaxine. It belongs to a class of drugs known as serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). It helps restore the balance of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain, improving well-being, energy levels, and mood.

Usage and Application

Pristiq should be taken exactly as prescribed by a patient’s doctor, and the dosage depends on the patient’s condition and response to treatment. Most patients are prescribed one daily oral dose.

The time-release tablet should be swallowed whole. It should not be crushed, chewed or dissolved in water as this can cause the drug to release all at once, increasing the risk of negative side effects. Patients should not split tablets unless they use a score line and are expressly directed by their doctor or pharmacist to do so.

Some patients are told to start the medication at a low dose and increase it gradually. This is done to reduce the risk of negative side effects. Patients should follow their prescription strictly and take exactly the amount they have been prescribed. It is necessary to use Pristiq regularly in order to experience its full benefit. It may take several weeks for people to experience the full benefit of this medication.

Therapy should continue even if people feel well, and this medication can only be stopped following a consultation with the treating physician. Stopping the medication suddenly can cause symptoms such as headache, mood swings, sleep changes and brief sensations similar to electric shock. To prevent such symptoms, patients are directed to reduce their dose gradually, giving the body time to readjust.

Patients switching from another antidepressant to Pristiq should ask their doctor to slowly reduce the dose of their old medication in order to prevent withdrawal reactions.

Considerations Before Taking Pristiq

Before starting treatment patients need to discuss the possibility of allergic reactions to desvenlafaxine or any of the medicine’s inactive ingredients. It is also vital to discuss the patient’s medical history, especially any personal or family history of bipolar disorder, manic-depressive disorder or suicide attempts.

Patients should alert their doctor if they – or anybody in their family – suffer from angle-closure glaucoma, as well as bleeding problems, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, kidney or liver disease. The treating physician needs to be notified if the patient has previously suffered a stroke or heart attack, has a seizure disorder or heart failure. Patients with hyponatremia, an electrolyte disbalance caused by a low amount of sodium in the blood should notify their physician before starting treatment with Pristiq or its generic alternatives.

This medication may cause blurred vision, dizziness or drowsiness. Patients should use caution when driving, using machinery, and performing activities which require alertness until the effects of the medication are known. Alcoholic beverages should be avoided.

Patients preparing for surgery or certain dental procedures should inform their doctor or dentist about all medicines, supplements and herbal products they are taking.

Older adults may be more sensitive to some of the side effects of this medication, particularly dizziness when standing up or bleeding sporadically. They are also more likely to develop hyponatremia, especially if they are taking diuretics. Older adults should be aware of an increased risk of falling, caused both by hyponatremia and dizziness.

Based on information for a similar drug, venlafaxine, children may be more sensitive to side effects, including loss of appetite and weight loss. Parents of children taking desvenlafaxine should regularly monitor height and weight.

This medication may harm an unborn baby. Pregnant women should discuss the risks and benefits of continuing therapy with their doctor. They should, however, not stop taking the medication unless directed by their doctor. In rare cases, babies born to mothers who used Pristiq in the last trimester may develop symptoms such as feeding or breathing difficulties, seizures, muscle stiffness or constant crying. Parents should contact a physician right away if they notice such symptoms in their newborn.

Desvenlafaxine is known to pass into breast milk in small amounts and, as a result, could negatively affect a nursing infant.

Delayed and Omitted Doses

Patients who miss a dose of Pristiq should take it as soon as they remember. If this happens near the time for the next dose, patients should skip the missed dose and proceed as usual. Patients should not double up the dose in order to catch up.

Other Medications and Pristiq

Drug interactions can change the way Pristiq works and may increase the risk of side effects. Before starting treatment, patients need to discuss the full list of medications and supplements they are taking with their doctor. Patients should not change their dose or stop taking this medication unless their physician advises them to do so.

Some medicines may interact negatively with desvenlafaxine. This includes drugs that inhibit thrombus formation, such as clopidogrel, and "blood thinners" like dabigatran and warfarin.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen can also have negative interactions

When coupled with desvenlafaxine, aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding. Some patients may be directed by their doctor to take daily low doses of aspirin (not higher than 325 milligrams) in order to prevent heart attack or stroke. Such patients can continue on as normal unless directed otherwise by their physician.

There is a risk of serious and possibly fatal interaction when desvenlafaxine is taken with MAO inhibitors. These drugs – including isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline, tranylcypromine – should not be taken together with desvenlafaxine. Most of the above-mentioned drugs should also not be taken for two weeks before the start of treatment, and at least a week after treatment with Pristiq.

Taking desvenlafaxine with other drugs that increase serotonin increases the risk of developing serotonin syndrome or serotonin toxicity, a potentially fatal condition. Drugs which may interact in this way include duloxetine, milnacipran, and tryptophan, as well as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like fluoxetine and paroxetine. Examples also include St John’s wort, as well as drugs like MDMA and ecstasy.

Patients should inform their doctor if they use other products which cause drowsiness, like alcohol or marijuana. Opioid pain and cough relievers like codeine and hydrocodone have the same effect, as do drugs for sleep and anxiety-like alprazolam, lorazepam, and zolpidem. Muscle relaxants like carisoprodol and cyclobenzaprine – as well as antihistamines like cetirizine and diphenhydramine – may also cause drowsiness. Patients should check the labels of all allergy and cough-and-cold products for ingredients that may cause drowsiness, and discuss the safe use of such products with their pharmacist.

Desvenlafaxine is similar to venlafaxine and the two medications should not be used together.

Patients should also be aware that this medicine may interact with certain lab tests, possibly causing false results. One example is the urine test for amphetamines.

Adverse Reactions

Side effects include drowsiness and dizziness, nausea, dry mouth, loss of appetite, weight loss or constipation. Some patients may also experience blurred vision, excessive sweating, trouble sleeping or nervousness.

Desvenlafaxine may cause high blood pressure, so patients should regularly monitor this and alert their doctor if their blood pressure is high.

Some patients may experience empty tablet shells appearing in their stool. This is not a cause for concern.

Most people use this medication safely. However, patients should immediately report serious side effects like severe headache, tremors, decreased libido and changes in sexual function, as well as easy bruising or bleeding.

Patients should seek immediate medical attention in the event they experience symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, persistent cough, black stools or vomit that looks like coffee grounds. Serious side effects include eye pain, swelling or redness, widened pupils and seizures. The treating physician should also be immediately notified if the patient experiences vision changes such as seeing rainbows around lights at night.

In rare cases, desvenlafaxine may cause serotonin syndrome – a very serious condition. The risk is higher for people already taking other drugs that increase serotonin. People who experience fast heartbeat, loss of coordination, severe dizziness and hallucinations should seek immediate medical help. Symptoms like severe nausea or diarrhea, twitching muscles, unexplained fever, and unusual agitation should also be reported immediately.

Serious allergic reactions to Pristiq are rare, yet patients should be aware of allergy symptoms such as rash, itching and swelling, severe dizziness and trouble breathing.

How to Store Pristiq

Pristiq should be stored at room temperature away from light or moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep away from children and pets.

Unwanted medication should be disposed of properly and should not be poured into drains or flushed down the toilet. Patients should consult a pharmacist or their local waste disposal company to find out more about safe disposal methods.

Pristiq  Coupon

Although Pristiq coupons are available with other online pharmacies, customers will find that UDS prices are often much lower.