Zulresso vs. Pristiq

Zulresso (brexanolone) Injection and Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) are antidepressants used to treat depression.

Zulresso is specifically used to treat postpartum depression (PPD) in adults. Zulresso is available only through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) called the Zulresso REMS.

Zulresso and Pristiq are different types of antidepressants. Zulresso is a neuroactive steroid gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) A receptor positive modulator and Pristiq is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI).

Side effects of Zulresso and Pristiq that are similar include drowsiness and dry mouth.

Side effects of Zulresso that are different from Pristiq include sleepiness, loss of consciousness, flushing, and hot flushes.

Side effects of Pristiq that are different from Zulresso include increased or excessive sweating, dizziness, constipation, sleep problems (insomnia), loss of appetite, tightness in your jaw, nausea, weight loss, blurred vision, nervousness, decreased sex drive, impotence, and difficulty having an orgasm.

Both Zulresso and Pristiq may interact with other antidepressants and other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicines, sedatives, narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicines for seizures or anxiety).

Pristiq may also interact with alcohol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), blood thinners, diuretics (water pills), linezolid, lithium, metoclopramide, midazolam, St. John's wort, tramadol, L-tryptophan, antibiotics, antifungals, heart or blood pressure medications, HIV/AIDS medicines, and migraine headache medications.

Common side effects of Zulresso include:

• nausea
• diarrhea
• dry mouth
• constipation
• vomiting
• gas
• dizziness
• abnormal dreams
• itching, and
• decreased sexual desire

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.

Zulresso (vortioxetine) tablets are an antidepressant indicated for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD).

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

Zulresso may interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), triptans, buspirone, tramadol, tryptophan products, NSAIDs, aspirin, warfarin, bupropion, fluoxetine, paroxetine, quinidine, rifampicin, carbamazepine, and phenytoin. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

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.

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

The recommended starting dose of Zulresso is 10 mg administered orally once daily without regard to meals. Dosage should then be increased to 20 mg/day, as tolerated.

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