Desvenlafaxine (Oral Route)

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Precautions

It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits, to allow for changes in your dose and to help reduce any side effects. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects such as increased cholesterol and fats in the blood.

Desvenlafaxine may cause some people to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors. It may also cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies or to become more depressed. If you, your child, or your caregiver notice any of these side effects, tell your doctor or your child's doctor right away.

Do not stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are taking before stopping it completely to decrease the chance of side effects.

Do not take desvenlafaxine within 2 weeks (14 days) of taking a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (e.g., isocarboxazid [Marplan®], phenelzine [Nardil®], selegiline [Eldepryl®], or tranylcypromine [Parnate®]). Do not take an MAO inhibitor for at least 7 days after taking desvenlafaxine. Talk to your doctor about this if you have questions.

Make sure your doctor knows about all the other medicines you are using. Desvenlafaxine may cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome or neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)-like reactions when taken alone or with certain medicines such as linezolid [e.g., Zyvox®], lithium, tryptophan, St. John's Wort, or some pain or migraine medicines (e.g., tramadol [Ultram®], sumatriptan [Imitrex®], zolmitriptan [Zomig®], or rizatriptan [Maxalt®]). Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about this and check with your doctor first before taking any other medicines.

You should not use alcohol while you are taking desvenlafaxine.

Check with your doctor right away if you develop any allergic reactions to this medicine such as rash, hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing.

This medicine may cause serious lung problems (e.g., interstitial lung disease, eosinophilic pneumonia). Check with your doctor right away and stop using this medicine if you have chest discomfort or tightness, a cough, difficult or labored breathing, shortness of breath, or wheezing.

Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using aspirin, NSAIDS (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen, Advil®, Aleve®, Celebrex®, or Motrin®), or a blood thinner (e.g., warfarin [Coumadin®]). Desvenlafaxine may increase your risk of having bleeding problems, especially when taken with these medicines.

You may need to have your blood pressure and pulse checked before and while you are using this medicine. If you notice any changes to your blood pressure or pulse rate, call your doctor right away. If you have questions about this, talk to your doctor.

Hyponatremia (low sodium in the blood) may occur while you are using this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have a headache; difficulty concentrating; memory changes; confusion; or weakness and unsteadiness on your feet. Symptoms of a severe hyponatremia include: seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there; fainting; or seizures.

This medicine may cause some people to become dizzy, lightheaded, drowsy, or less alert than they are normally. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.

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