Is Anyone Taking Pristiq? What Side Effects Do You Have?

I also just started taking 50mg Pristiq and was feeling the same way.  While I did not have the anxiety, my hands were shaking and my insides felt like they were also shaking 100mph.  The shaking hands are normal for me, so I was not too concerned but the feeling inside was awful. 

Before starting the 50mg Pristiq, I was taking 300mg Zoloft and 100mg Wellbutrin XL.  I called my dr and she upped the Pristiq to 100mg and am still taking 100mg Wellbutrin XL.  I am doing better, but still have a depressed feeling.  You know the dark shadow on my shoulder.

I have an appt to see the dr this thursday.  I will let you know what she suggests.  [8-)]

Keep me posted on how you are doing.

Hi Everyone, It is now 3:13 a.m., and as you can imagine, I am not feeling too pleased with what we may all seem to be going through.

I am dx with Major Depression/Panic/Itractable Insomnia. Than I found myself with Acute/Chronic, Pain issues mostly stemming from a serious neck injury. 

I have had to endure years of drug experimentation; some so ungodly, I get really angry when I think about all the potential and real damage these drugs caused.  I have endured the stigma, the over-rated doctors, yet under-rated care, etc., etc.,  The worst of it all is trying to find some sense of normalcy in a life filled with ups and downs, and the medications that seemingly can do a number on us all.  And, to be fair, there are caring physician's out there too.  Yet, they don't have the magic wand, nor does anyone yet have enough knowledge of what parts of the brain, and their chemicals are causing which problems.

I am now on Paxil CR, and although there is much effectiveness with this medication, it is now up to serious debate, with law suits, due to the lack of care given when allowing this medication to be passed through the FDA.  This is due to the horrific withdrawals, newly found birth defects in children with parents who took this medication while pregnant, and the electrical storms that people often feel zapping through their body. And. the weight gain is by far out of control.  I swear to you group, I don't even look like the person I was prior to taking this medication.  How's that suppose to help depression?   Had anyone told me nearly ten years ago, when I was rx'd this drug that this is what I was going to be dealing with, I would of opted out.  However, if you haven't noticed, all of the SSRI's, and SSNRI's are stating their warnings about the possibilities of habit forming concerns.  Shaking my head.

I was recently placed on Cymbalta, with the idea of decreasing the Paxil, and hopefully with high enough dosage find relief with the serious pain I am enduring.  I, was one of the biggest anti-cocktailing of antidepressants, and swore I would never trust the seriousness of doing this.  However, desperation, can lead one to try many things.  I tried Cymbalta over a year ago, however, I was already off the last dose of Paxil, and I was going bonkers.  The agitation was more than I could endure.  So, I dc'd the Cymbalta and went right back on the Paxil. 

I noticed that when trying the Cymbalta with the Paxil CR, and the CR in my opinion is much smoother that the plain Paxil, I tolerated the Cymbalta much better.  I need to be on a much higher dose of Cymbalta in order to find out if this is going to help with nerve/other pain issues I have.  However, it is a PRIORITY to come off PAXIL.  Most doctors I have contacted, see, and know really do NOT like Paxil, and will not prescribe this drug any longer if at all possible, or not at all period.  I have to start coming down starting tomorrow.  Am I scared?  You bet.  Is Cymbalta going to be the next best thing for me?  I doubt it.  It is so very difficult isn't it?

I too am taking Alaprozalam/Xanax for panic, and have been on this too long to even consider trying to withdraw from it at this time.  I have terrible issues with sleep, so now they want to start the sleep medicine game.  Lunesta, was like a sugar pill, AmbienCR, made me very depressed after four nights of taking it, and zoned me out during the day.  Now, it will be Sonata....; maybe, if I decide it is worth me trying to deal with yet another drug.  What upsets me is that if you have been taking some of these anti-depressants, and any other meds for so long, like I have, you can certainly have problems with insomnia.  So, it really piss...es me off when I am told how serious my insomnia is.  Yeah, well the antidepressants cause it!  Very frustrated group; very, very, very much! 

As you see and read, we are all trying different meds at one time or another, and finding very different results.  I am really interested in hearing what meds everyone has tried and are taking, and which has given them the best/worst help.  Also, what other types of theraputic things are you trying?  I do wholeheartedly believe it is important to get counseling, in whatever form suits you.  I have gone for periods of time, stopped when in a form of remission, and went back to get a tune up; it's like this.  Cognitive/Behavioral Therapy is a very good type or form if you find yourself with serious depression/panic disorder/OCD, or as one member talked about the feelings of hypochondria.  And, to this member, I really don't like to feel we are taking our labels too seriously.  Let's understand what we are feeling and experiencing, and try to manage the symptoms, and let the doctor's play the diagnosing game.  Most of the labeling is for insurance purposes, and can be stigmatizing.  Hypochondria can often be coming from serious anxiety, obessive thoughts, etc.  You can find much relief when speaking to a qualified therapist/counselor. 

Thanks for posting and listening.

Well, I just finished 7 nites and 8 days at a crisis intervention unit at a local hospital.  It was both the worst and the best thing I have ever done.  I missed my kids and husband so much but I think I may have found the right combination of medicines.  I am off Pristiq and off Paxil as well.  I am now on Lexapro, Risperdal, Klonopin and Buspar.  I have to complete 6 weeks of intensive outpatient therapy after my stay in the psychiatric ward.  I am under the care of a temporary doctor while in therapy but then I have to find another.  I knew I had GAD but I was also diagnosed with OCD with obsessive thoughts being the main problem.  The thoughts mainly concern fears of me, my husband or kids getting some horrible illness.  I've talked about this before.  I hope to God this new medication regimen will work because I don't want to have to go back to the ward again.  It was voluntary but what pain and agony over the 7 days.  Anyone out there have to do anything like that?

Thanks for your posts.

Hi! Another Pristiq 50mg guinea pig here!  Was put on it the day it came out which was a little alarming but I had prayed and trusted God would have me receive whatever drug would work for a bad case of OCD and anxiety.  I couldn't be put on an SSRI due to a sleeping disorder so an SNRI was the next option.  Pristiq it was.  I fall asleep too easily so the initial side affect of slight difficulty falling asleep at night was weird but tolerable.  Other side effects were mild nausea and get this...terrible gas.  I kid you not LOL  FOrtunately, my body adjusted to all three and I have to say that months later, I am in love with this drug. My OCD is much better though not gone, I have found confidence when I didn't realize previously how much I lacked, I actually spend time with my husband and friends instead of cleaning 24/7, and have been in a perpetually good mood all summer (not my typical roller coaster self).  I'm not depressed but to be perpetually happy is a great side effect. Fast forward to 2 weeks ago when I forgot to take it one Friday.  I realized half way through the day and decided I would just pick up where i left off the next morning--I didn't want to take too much within a 12 hour window because I'd read about the nausea at 100mg and I had friends visiting from Minnesota.  By nightime, I had a pounding headache, was terribly thirsty and exhausted to an extent I can't describe.  I'd had a rough week at work and didn't think much of it.  During the night, I awoke to use the restroom and experienced something akin to vertigo (which I've never had).  I was still exhausted and found it difficult to orient my position to the floor.  I thought that was odd but chalked it up to just being really tired or possibly dehydrated.  I drank a glass of water and went back to bed.  I had to get up early to take my dog to the vet for a routine shot and realized when I awoke that something was definitely not right.  I was still dizzy, exhausted and thirsty.  If someone watched me walk, they'd probably think I was slightly innebriated and I had to really focus to pick up stuff while preparing breakfast or I misjudged and knocked over or dropped whatever I was trying to use.  My head still roared.  I managed to get ready and talked to my husband. I told him if I took my daily pill and didn't feel better, that he might have to take me to a doctor.  I took the pill and within 20 minutes noticed a huge difference.  I haven't missed a day since and haven't experienced that again.  We want to start having kids though so I stopped my birth control and after reading the effects of coming off Effexor, decided I DO NOT want to suffer through that mid-pregnancy.  So although my doctor would probably freak that I was being non-compliant, I've gone behind his back and reduced my dosage by cutting the pills in half.  And get this, no side effects AND it appears I've suddenly improved even more in the OCD area.  THings that used to make me react like a caged animal are suddenly more tolerable--much more so than when I was taking the 50mg a day.  I wonder if Wyeth would consider putting out a 25 mg pill or even less?  I wonder that this drug doesn't work better in even smaller quantities?  I plan to decrease to a 1/4 pill a day in another couple weeks, etc. if I find I'm pregnant.  I'll have to see but so far, love the drug and though I can't tolerate skipping a day, the self-induced reduction program seems to work great.  Hope my experience is helpful to others though I would insist you talk to your doctor before making stupid decisions like me.  If they give you their blessing, maybe you can decrease your dosage and find improvement as well :O)

For Heaven's sake, how did I miss getting any of these updated posts in my inbox?  I am trying to keep up and find support, and the posts I want to see seem to go right by me.  Arghhhhhhh.

How are you doing?  I know how dreadful it is to be hospialized, and hope I don't have to do that again.  However, if your wellbeing is in jeopardy than you need to assure your safety.  I do understand.

I just heard about Pristiq?  For everyone posting here, please detail why you were put on this drug, either as an alternative to what you were taking, or as an added medication.

I was put on Cymbalta in May, in hopes that it would help with a serious pain issue I am dealing with. And, with the combo of serious pain and a long standing dx's of Major Depression and Panic Disorders they wanted to find an alternative treatment.

 I was on Paxil at the time, and I have wanted to come off this medication for a long time now.  The weight gain, and underlying medical issues it can leave you with were too much.  However, it's efficacy is seemingly better than most of the meds I've tried.  I slowly went on Cymbalta, yet, I found gastrointestinal issues so severe, I cannot manage to get to the sixty mg's + needed to address the issues I am dealing with.  I started to come down off Paxil, and as so many of  you realize, those withdrawals can be seriously wicked; very disturbing.  If I had known how serious these withdrawals from some of these drugs were, I would have taken a much more serious look at taking them.  So, coming down, and dealing with Cymbalta I was getting muscle twitching too, and worse sleep problems, which is something I already have to contend with.  Now, let's put me on sleep meds, only to make me feel more depressed.  However, I was feeling a bit more confidant coming off Paxil this time, as I noticed I could wean off better, and wasn't going as bonkers as I had in a previous attempt.  Well, I finally did come off Paxil over two weeks ago, and stayed on 40 mg's of Cymbalta, along with my already prescribed Xanax.  I notice a difference.  I am getting the shakes waking up, the panic is more noticeable, the gastrointestinal issues are just not subsiding, and the real kicker......... The DEPRESSIVE symptoms we are all trying to alleviate are creeping back up. 

Try to tell your 'beloved' doctor's this; are they at the office, listening with a proper and fair ear?  Not really.  They know these drugs are as wicked as the day is long, and are in a helpless situation cuz these drugs are what is out here to prescribe.  So, it is truthfully all experimentation.  Yeah, the SSRI's and a few new ones are far better than the devastating older meds.  However, to say that we are not being guinea pigged is wrong.  The weight gain, and sexual side effects, along with some habitual forming/withdrawal issues is not tolerable. Not to mention, each drug has its' own didies to contend with.  So, to tell us to just diet has no effect my friends.  The drugs can alter your metabolism.  Also, serotonin has signals that are directly manufactured in our guts, hence the reasoning behind so man gasto problems with these drugs.

So, I am depressed, anxious, and on medications.  I am disgusted!!!!!!!  I know when I go into the doc on Monday, I will be getting a BS reality about sticking with this new plan; most docs are really scared of keeping or prescribing patients Paxil.  And, I really don't want to go back on.  Yet, Cymbalta is too stimulating with its' Norepinehprine effects on the brain.  I don't know what's left? 

Anyone out here want to chime in?  Feeling really lonely in all of this.

I was put on Pristiq 2 days ago, so far I'm not sure about this one.  I was taking Lexapro which was doing nothing for me even at higher doses.  I have taken so many different things in the last 12 years it's hard to remember what they all were, let alone the dosage!  I've taken Paxil, Prozac, Wellbutrin and a slew of others.  Xanax never worked for me.

So, what DID work for me was when I was taking 225 mg/day of Effexor XR and a total of 4 mg's of Klonopin per day.  I found out I was pregnant and immediately stopped taking both. Let me tell you, that was a NIGHTMARE!!! But the alternative was harming my baby and that wasn't going to happen.  Anyone who has gone cold turkey off of Effexor can agree with how horrible it is.  I suffered with SEVERE anxiety/panic all through the pregnancy.  Very bad.  After my daughter was born I breastfed for 6 months so I still didn't want to take any meds. It finally got so intolerable that I went to the doctor and told him that I simply couldn't hand it anymore.  That's where the Lexapro came in.  It 'lessened' my symptoms, but they were always there, and I was becoming agorophobic.

This week I changed doctors and I straight up told her, I have six kids, they all have stuff to do that I have to take them to, sports, etc., and simply leaving the house to take them anywhere is a complete nightmare!!!  I told her that when I was taking the Effexor XR at 225mg/day along with the klonopin I was FINE.  I even had a job then, something I can't imagine doing now, and also something I really want to do.

Started the Pristiq yesterday along with .5 of Klonopin.  I feel a LOT more relaxed and not anxious at all!  But here's the problem.  After my first dose yesterday I actually felt drunk!  I was having trouble connecting my thoughts, was dizzy, and felt exhausted.  That lasted for a little under an hour.  I wasn't sure which med to blame it on as I took them at the same time.  I can take up to three of the .5 Klonopin per day and when I took another later I didn't feel that way at all.  So, is it the 'mix' or is it just the Pristiq?  I don't know.  I DO know that the same thing happened today.  I had appointments today so I waited to take it later in the day, around 6:00.  By 7 I went to bed and didn't wake up until almost midnight.  So now my night is ruined.  Slept too long earlier, but laying down felt like my only option.  Tomorrow will be day 3, I am going to take the Prisiq alone and see if that happens again.  Is it that I am not eating first?  Has anyone else had this problem?  It is sort of on the severe side and not a great feeling.

Also, the reason for her putting me on Pristiq instead of Effexor: I don't have insurance and they give the Pristiq out as 'samples' whereas I would have to pay for the Effexor, and it is really expensive. 

Any help you guys can give me would be GREATLY appreciated.  And I'm sorry this is so long, I tend to ramble. 

Teri

Hi everyone,

I took my first prestiq last night & I'm feeling the same way, as if I'm a little tipsy.  I am also colder than usual and my armpits are sweaty & I have a light headache.  I know these are side effects and right now they are bearable, so I plan to stick this out.  This is my first time going on an AD.  I was prescribed .5 MGs of klonopin back in April, but haven't taken it yet along with prestiq.  I have severe anxiety & a pretty steady bout with depression.  My doctor seems to think prestiq will help me & I was adamant in that I wanted to be put on one with low side effects.  Good luck to everyone -  

Hi,

I have been taking Pristiq for about 6 weeks, have been doing very well with it.  I haven't experiance any side effects, just a few nights where I will wake up, but I am able to go back to sleep, and at times I will wake up before my alarm goes off.  I have been on many others, mainly SSIR's they always seem to make my mind foggy.  Pristiq is an SNIR and it hits two of the chemicals in the brain; it has really helped,  I have stopped crying all the time and feel like there is  a light at the end of the tunnel.  I still rather stay home, don't like to be around a lot of people.

I also sweat a lot more, and the tipsy feeling will go away in about a week, I also experiance a light headache, don't take anything like asprin or ibuprofen these can make you bruse, take tynole.  I found out if you take the Pristiq with at least 1/2 glass of water you won't get the headache.

I hope this really helps, good luck.[:D]

Hi

I'm new, just found this place looking up Pristiq side effects.  My 76 year old mother and I (51 with fibro, me, not her) both started it 2 days ago.  The psy that gave it to us is very good so I didn't feel guinea piggish but I think we are.  Anyway, I was worried because my mother has had a terrible reaction.  She started crying today and just couldn't stop, overwhelmed at all the stuff in the house we have to sort thru, clear out, etc.  I came up 2 years ago to help her but I'm not that much help because the fibro hurts alot more in Wisconsin (than warmer and less rapidly changing climates) and I have the cognitive deficiency pretty bad, with the fatigue and I've had chemical depression (vs. situational) since 1987.  ANyway, we were looking at Canda for EffexorXr because we both went on the generic Effexor (not XR) cuz we're in the wonderful Medicare Part D Donut hole but both felt it wasn't working that well.  He recommended we try Pristiq because it costs the same here as the Effexor XR in Canada does (about $10 difference) so we tried.  I had more energy for awhile yesterday (a VERY different feeling for me, fall up h ere is very hard and I spend alot of time just resting) but nauseous and so tried eating "something" all day and even took a dizzy pill.  I am on an incredible number of pills with the fibro and other problems but I'm used to them with the antidepressants.  So, it hasn't hit me as hard as my mother but she can't stay another day on it, her anxiety is really really worse.  I was surprised after only a couple days, most times it takes awhile before these meds have much effect at all but after reading this, with people having reactions to missing one day it must really hit fast.  Anyway, she's going back to the generic until she can get some regular Effexor XR.  I'm going to try to hold out for a couple weeks to a month to see if it helps.

I was very relieved to see that the anxiety isn't that unusual a reaction so quickly (it's Sunday here so can't get to the dr or pharmacy).  She's better this afternoon but we're taking it very gently today.  It helped my attention span some yesterday and today, if my stomach would just settle down.  Usually these things don't bother my gut, but it may be underlying dizziness instead, I get dizzy easy.

I also tried Cymbalta for the pain and depression, but started on it, then moved to Tallahassee where there were NO psychatrists taking patients and even finding a general doctor took over a year.  So I ended up VERY depressed and suicidal and in a psych ward for about 5 days, the only way to get psy treatment in town, I had my own doctor and another nurse tell me to check into the psych ward thru the ER, it was the only way to get another antidepressant!!  I really didn't like that, I've been in a pain management program with overnight stays, 3 weeks, and it was much better, here they just basically warehoused you, you saw a doctor a couple times and once they determined you weren't going to do immediate harm you left.  ICK.  But it was cuz the Cymbalta wasn't working.  Usually I can tell when a med stops but there wasn't any way to change it so there I ended up.

I hope you and everybody else are doing better now.  I am hopeful but the people who have had success with Pristiq, especially saying they felt happier, I had the depression under control for years until the fibro hit, since then I haven't been able to get back on top of it and I hate it.  and I HATE all the meds (I take sleep meds too, Klonopin for ages, but finally a decent sleep study (my 4th) found I got NO level 3 or 4 sleep and "woke" 57 times an hour, so I now have a bi-pap and they say in 6 months that should help brings things back to some semblence of normal again.  I don't even know what normal feels like emotionally or physically anymore.  I'm happy just to have less pain of either kind, hitting a "5" on a scale of 10 would be a fabulous success to me (I'm usually about a 7-8 with cold weather and changes of season closer to 9, I'd stay 10 but having broken bones and been in psych ward have a very high "10" standard now).

Sorry to talk for so long the first time, I was just so happy to find other people talking about this and hearing all the different sides, but pro and con, I guess my mohter and I are examples of both (she couldn't tolerate paxil either after the first 2 days, I never took that, but had lots of prozac until it quit working and the SNRIs started coming out).\

Thanks for listening

Sandy

Haven't taken Pristiq yet.   I have the same GAD and doc told me yesterday he thinks I am bipolar.   I don't believe it.    I know I have ADHD tendencies and docs seem to jump to conclusions.    I have issues with leaving my kids too and understand where you are.   How are you doing with the Pristiq?   I just wanted to let you know that you aren't alone with your fear of leaving your kids -- I have 4 and I feel the same exact way.

I've been taking Pristiq for a month now.  I was taking Effexor XR but can't afford it without insurance and my psychiatrist has samples of Pristiq.

Initially, I didn't notice any side effects, but the past few days I've been feeling strange with my head feeling dizzy and fuzzy and I feel as if I can't relax; like I just don't know what to do with myself.  I also am noticing my depression increasing.  He started me on the initial dose of 50 mg. and I'm wondering if it may need to be increased.  I've been diagnosed with major depression, anxiety disorder, psychogenic movement disorder and eating disorders.

I see the psychiatrist in two days.  He'll probably increase the dose, no doubt.  I take 10 mg. of Abilify, 1 mg. of  Ativan and 100 mg. of Trazadone as well as the Pristiq.  The Effexor worked really well for me but as I said can't afford it now.  The psychiatrist explained to me that Pristiq is already a step broken down further than Effexor but basically the same otherwise.  Is that how it was explained to all of you?

Hi,

I sarted taking Pristiq 4 weeks ago.  I was on Effexor XR 300mg, but having trouble with absorption.  Anyway, two weeks into taking pristiq I was fine.  Last week began the nightmare.  I have insomnia, am easily agitated to the point of alienating my family with my witchiness, can't focus, can't control impulses, and I have hot flashes (am 56 and way past menopause).  The three worst are the hot flashes, insominia and the extreme agitation.  I even find myself pacing the floor and talking a mile a minute, especially if I have caffeine.

I'm not a dr, but...being female and having gone through the last 19 years of medical treatment for depression, I've learned a few things along the way. 

First off, talk to your family doctor or find a dr who will really listen to you.  Its not all in your head.  When is the last time you've had a complete blood panel and metabolic workup?  Including your estrogen, testosterone and progesterone levels, as well as your DHEA levels, etc?  This is important.  You should also take vitamins.

My depression started about 6 months after a hysterhectomy, and escalated into a full deep depression within a year.  That's when I consulted a shrink...even my obgyn who was a male dr, said I should consult.  I was misdiagnosed many times.  No one would listen to me that it started after sugery.  Most of my problems stem from the physical...hormones were out of whack, my insulin levels were way up, and my thyroid was underactive. 

If you have three children, and they are close together in age, you may not have given your body time to heal. 

I hope you feel better soon.

HI

My Dr. started me on the prostiq three weeks go. I have had the inside shakes and wondering if yours have at all subsuded and if you have any improvement. My depression has really not improved at all. 

Many thanks