Pristiq vs. Irenka

Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) and Irenka (duloxetine capsule) are serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressants used to treat major depressive disorder.

Irenka is also used to treat generalized anxiety disorder, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Side effects of Pristiq that are different from Irenka include tightness in your jaw, weight loss, blurred vision, nervousness, decreased sex drive, impotence, and difficulty having an orgasm.

Side effects of Irenka and Pristiq that are similar include nausea, dry mouth, drowsiness, sleep problems (insomnia), constipation, dizziness, decreased appetite, and increased sweating.

Side effects of Irenka that are different from Pristiq include headache, fatigue, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

Both Irenka and Pristiq may interact with alcohol, other antidepressants, other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicines, sedatives, narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicines for seizures or anxiety), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), aspirin, blood thinners, tramadol, tryptophan, migraine headache medications, and St. John's wort.

Pristiq may also interact with diuretics (water pills), linezolid, lithium, metoclopramide, midazolam, antibiotics, antifungals, heart or blood pressure medications, and HIV/AIDS medicines.

Irenka may also interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), cimetidine, fluoroquinolone antibiotics, aluminum- and magnesium-containing antacids, theophylline, caffeine, desipramine, fentanyl, lithium, and buspirone.

Common side effects of Pristiq include:

• increased or excessive sweating,
• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• dry mouth,
• constipation,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• loss of appetite,
• tightness in your jaw,
• nausea,
• weight loss,
• blurred vision,
• nervousness,
• decreased sex drive,
• impotence, or
• difficulty having an orgasm.

Common side effects of Irenka include:

• nausea,
• headache,
• dry mouth,
• drowsiness,
• fatigue,
• insomnia,
• constipation,
• dizziness,
• diarrhea,
• decreased appetite,
• increased sweating, and
• abdominal pain

Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) is type of antidepressant called a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) used to treat major depressive disorder.

Irenka (duloxetine capsule) is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressant used to treat major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Pristiq may interact with cold or allergy medicines, sedatives, narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, medicines for seizures or anxiety, other antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), blood thinners, cimetidine, tramadol, L-

Pristiq may interact with cold or allergy medicines, sedatives, narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, medicines for seizures or anxiety, other antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), blood thinners, St. John's wort, tramadol, L-tryptophan, heart medications, or medicines to treat migraines.

Irenka may interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), cimetidine, fluoroquinolone antibiotics, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), aspirin, warfarin, aluminum- and magnesium-containing antacids, theophylline, caffeine, desipramine, alcohol, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, buspirone, and St. John's wort. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

The recommended dose for Pristiq is 50 mg once daily, with or without food.

The dose of Irenka is 40 mg/day (given as 20 mg twice daily) to 60 mg/day (given either once daily or as 30 mg twice daily) for major depressive disorder, and 60 mg/day for generalized anxiety disorder, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and chronic musculoskeletal pain.