Compare Pristiq vs. Effexor XR

Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) and venlafaxine (Effexor) are both medications used to treat depression, but they have some differences. Desvenlafaxine is only approved for treating depression, while venlafaxine is also approved for anxiety, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. Desvenlafaxine is typically taken once a day, whereas venlafaxine comes in both immediate-release and extended-release forms, with the immediate-release form sometimes needing to be taken multiple times a day. Both medications can raise your blood pressure and have a risk of causing serotonin syndrome, but venlafaxine is more likely to cause severe withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it suddenly. Both medications are available in lower-cost generic forms.