Desvenlafaxine
| Evidence Level: L5 | Predicted Indications: 8 |
Table of Contents
- Desvenlafaxine
- Pharmacist Assessment Report
- Desvenlafaxine: serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) → obsessive-compulsive disorder
- One-Sentence Summary
- Quick Overview
- Why is This Prediction Reasonable?
- Clinical Trial Evidence
- Literature Evidence
- India Market Information
- Safety Considerations
- Conclusion and Next Steps
- Disclaimer
Desvenlafaxine: serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) → obsessive-compulsive disorder
One-Sentence Summary
Desvenlafaxine is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) marketed in India as an antidepressant. The TxGNN model predicts it may be useful for obsessive-compulsive disorder, but there are no registered clinical trials and only 3 publications, none of which studies desvenlafaxine in this disease directly. The prediction is best treated as a research question.
Quick Overview
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Original Indication | Not recorded in the local data |
| Predicted New Indication | obsessive-compulsive disorder |
| TxGNN Prediction Score | 0.9991 |
| Evidence Level | L5 |
| India Market Status | Listed in a compiled Indian medicine price dataset (at least 20) – CDSCO approval status is not included in this data |
| Number of Listed Products | at least 20 |
| Recommended Decision | Hold |
Why is This Prediction Reasonable?
Detailed mechanism-of-action data for desvenlafaxine are not available in the data compiled for this report. Based on its drug class, desvenlafaxine inhibits the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine.
Serotonergic modulation is the pharmacological basis of current OCD treatment, including SSRIs and clomipramine. A published review of double-blind studies (2014) confirms the key role of the serotonin system in OCD. This offers a plausible class-level link to desvenlafaxine.
There are important limits. Evidence for SNRIs in OCD is weaker and less consistent than for SSRIs, and no desvenlafaxine-specific data were found. The high score is a computational prediction and does not show that the drug works in OCD.
Clinical Trial Evidence
Currently no related clinical trials registered.
Literature Evidence
| PMID | Year | Type | Journal | Key Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24766145 | 2014 | Review | Expert Opin Pharmacother | Reviews double-blind studies of serotonergic antidepressants in OCD and supports a central role for the serotonin system. It is not specific to desvenlafaxine. |
| 36686097 | 2022 | Review | Cureus | Review of postpartum depression. OCD is mentioned only as a later complication, so it is indirect evidence. |
| 40224942 | 2025 | Clinical study | Psychiatry Clin Psychopharmacol | Risperidone augmentation in antidepressant-resistant somatic symptom disorder. It is indirect to OCD and does not involve desvenlafaxine. |
India Market Information
At least 20 single-ingredient licences are currently valid, and none are cancelled. The list may be partial. The licence records contain no approved-indication text. Main products:
| Authorization Number | Product Name | Dosage Form | Approved Indication |
|---|---|---|---|
| 65334 | Desteyn Plus 100mg/0.5mg Tablet ER | Extended-release tablet | Not recorded |
| 60249 | Defmind 50mg Tablet | Tablet | Not recorded |
| 60632 | Dexfin 50 Tablet ER | Extended-release tablet | Not recorded |
| 234579 | Venpower 100mg Tablet | Tablet | Not recorded |
| 234940 | Venz OD 50mg Tablet | Tablet | Not recorded |
Safety Considerations
- Drug Interactions: 184 interactions are recorded. Examples of Major interactions are bupropion, lorcaserin, dexfenfluramine, diethylpropion, dolasetron, fenfluramine, granisetron and mazindol. Several of these are linked to serotonergic or cardiac effects. Moderate examples include epinephrine, morphine, acetylsalicylic acid, ephedrine and dronabinol.
- Conditions of concern in the safety data: Safety databases link the drug with caution in conditions such as hypertension, epilepsy, bipolar disorder, liver disease, impaired renal function, blood coagulation disease, angle-closure glaucoma, cardiovascular disease, serotonin syndrome, and inappropriate ADH syndrome. These come from database associations, not from label text, and must be checked against the package insert.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Decision: Hold
Rationale: The OCD prediction has a high model score and a plausible serotonergic rationale. However, no trial or publication studies desvenlafaxine in OCD, and SNRI evidence in OCD is weaker than for SSRIs. The evidence is therefore at the model-prediction level only (L5).
To proceed, the following is needed:
- Desvenlafaxine-specific clinical or preclinical data in OCD, and a comparison with SSRIs
- Detailed mechanism-of-action data
- Package insert warnings and contraindications from the Indian regulator
- A review of the major drug interactions and serotonergic risks for an OCD population
Disclaimer
This content is for research purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical validation is required before any clinical application.