Desvenlafaxine is a medication prescribed by your healthcare provider, selected based on current evidence-based guidelines to best address specific mental health conditions. While effective, it's important to understand that all medications come with potential side effects. As a patient or caregiver, being informed about these risks and benefits is crucial. Equally essential is knowing how to monitor for side effects, and understanding the strategies to reduce their occurrence or manage them effectively. This guide aims to empower you with this knowledge, ensuring a well-informed approach to your or your child's treatment
Desvenlafaxine belongs to a group of medicines known as Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs). Desvenlafaxine works by increasing the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain.
Your doctor may prescribe Desvenlafaxine for
Take your medication consistently every day as directed by your healthcare provider, rather than using it only when you feel you need it.
While some patients may notice improvement within the first two weeks of starting treatment, it may take up to eight weeks to experience the medication's full benefits.
Abruptly stopping SSRIs can lead to a discontinuation syndrome, which may cause symptoms like dizziness, chills, lightheadedness, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, nausea, diarrhea, tremors, shock-like sensations, and tingling.
After the first episode of depression is resolved, staying on the effective dosage for at least one year is needed to minimize the risk of symptom recurrence. Following this period, your healthcare provider will guide you through a gradual tapering-off process and stop the medication entirely. This approach ensures a smoother transition and reduces the likelihood of relapse. For second and subsequent episodes of depression and for other mental health disorders, treatment may need to be indefinite.
Switching into Mania (An extreme increase in activity and talking): Antidepressants, when used independently, can induce manic episodes in individuals with bipolar disorder. Furthermore, some instances of bipolar disorder manifest initially as major depressive episodes. It's crucial to communicate your child's psychiatric history and any family history of bipolar disorder to your provider. This information ensures that the provider is vigilant about the potential risk of this side effect.
Low Sodium: Desvenlafaxine can occasionally lead to low sodium levels, though the likelihood is minimal in children, adolescents, and young adults. However, this risk may rise if your child is taking medications like diuretics or has a history of low sodium levels. Updating all medical providers about your child’s medical history and medication list is crucial to prevent potential negative interactions. Fortunately, hyponatremia resulting from Desvenlafaxine use is reversible upon discontinuation of therapy.
Increased Bruising & Bleeding Risk: Fluoxetine may slightly elevate the risk of bleeding, though severe clinical incidents are uncommon. However, this risk increases when fluoxetine is taken alongside medications such as antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants, and NSAIDs, all of which also carry bleeding risks. To mitigate potential interactions between medications, ensure that all healthcare providers are aware of your medication list. This promotes your safety and well-being.
To learn more about this medication please visit MedlinePlus, an official US government website, part of the National Library of Medicine and managed by the National Institute of Health by clicking HERE