A Review on pharmacology and recent analytical methods for estimation of Desvenlafaxine hydrochloride

Desvenlafaxine, the primary active compound found in venlafaxine, is used to treat major depressive disorder in adults as a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. Its pharmacological effects come from selectively inhibiting SERT and NET, with a stronger preference for serotonin transporters. Studies have shown that desvenlafaxine has a moderate but reliable effectiveness as an antidepressant, although not as powerful as venlafaxine. Recent findings suggest that it could also be beneficial for managing pain, supported by changes seen in VAS-PI scores. Various methods, such as UV spectrophotometry, HPTLC, HPLC, UHPLC, and LC-MS/MS, have been developed to measure desvenlafaxine in raw material, formulations, and biological samples. These methods differ in how sensitive and specific they are, as well as their practical use, but there has not been a comprehensive review of their performance. This article summarizes the pharmacological actions, clinical effects, and all known analytical techniques for desvenlafaxine to serve as a comprehensive resource for research and quality control purposes.