Pristiq is the brand name for desvenlafaxine, an antidepressant related to Effexor. Indeed, some feel it was created because Effexor XR goes off patent in 2010. This medication is approved only for treatment of major depressive disorder. Wyeth had also initially marketed it as a nonhormonal therapy for menopause, but the FDA did not approve it without further studies. This article reviews 50 milligram strength side effects. There has been no proven benefit to higher doses, only increased side effects
Black Box Warning
Pristiq carries the same severe warning risk all other antidepressants do in teens and young adults under the age of 24. These medications, for unknown reasons, may have the opposite impact and make these individuals feel more depressed and actually become actively suicidal. Providers, patients and and families must take this warning very seriously, according to the FDA, which has the most severe warning, "Black Box" placed on this class of medicines.
This warning is true of antidepressants for children as well. Pristiq is not prescribed for children.
GI Side Effects
The most common complaints are nausea (22 percent), dry mouth (11 percent) and diarrhea (11 percent). Nausea improves after the first week of therapy.
Possible Cardiovascular Side Effects
There were some measurable small changes in blood pressure, reported by 1.3 percent of patients; pulse; cholesterol, in increased LDL; and triglyceride levels, according to wyeth.com. Later research will determine if these are of any significance. Blood pressure changes were especially sustained.
Withdrawal
As with many antidepressants that operate on serotonin and norepinephrine uptake systems, many experience a range of withdrawal symptoms when stopping medication, according to the National Institutes of Health's Medline Plus website. With Pristiq this can include insomnia, sweating, anxiousness, dizziness, agitation, tremor, tingling and confusion. Many also describe feeling achy and as though they have a bad case of the flu.
Serotonin Syndrome
One of the more common dangers and risk of side effects with Pristiq and other antidepressants of its class is the potential for Serotonin Syndrome, which occurs if drugs with serotonergic action are inadvertently mixed, according to the Rational Assessment of Drugs and Research website. This can include other antidepressants in the same class as Pristiq--serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors--or it can be one or more of numerous other antidepressants. Substances such as St John's Wort, opioids, stimulants and many other drugs can combine in a lethal poisoning. Always be certain all providers know what you are ingesting both prescription and over the counter.
Other Side Effects
Commonly reported are headache (20 percent) and dizziness (12 percent) as well as blurred vision, difficulty focusing the eyes, sexual dysfunction and sleep disturbance.
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