Pristiq

[20Tiger]

Anyone else taking Pristiq for anxiety I’ve been on it 6 days and this will be my 7 th different antidepressant I’m trying no response yet my anxiety is physically crippling nauseated 🤢 shaking crying carnt breathe has it helped anyone please any feedback would be greatly appreciated

[TheEmptyNest]

I'm so sorry that you are feeling so poorly! I've been in your exact same shoes. Sometimes the anxiety gets worse before it gets better. No one should have to experience what you're going through. Again, I'm so sorry!

[Momneedshelp]

I’m on it and it works well for me for depression. My 2 daughters are also on it for depression and anxiety and it’s working well for them . Give it time and be hopeful for the future while on it. Good luck and be well.

[hstroller]

Sorry to hear about the anxiety issues you are experiencing. Has the Pristiq caused these new anxiety problems, or did you have them and you are waiting for relief from the Pristiq?

[Hidden]

20Tiger, I've been on Pristiq for about 6 years, now. It works very well. It is like Effexor. Just a different name. I have had to add on Bupropian this month, since these anti depressants start to lose their effectiveness.

Good luck!

[hstroller in reply to Hidden]

Have you had any side effects from Pristiq when you started or over time? I’m debating trying it soon.

[Alpaca2884 in reply to hstroller]

I take pristiq 50 mg. My only side effect has been dry mouth but other than that it works very well for me.

[hstroller in reply to Alpaca2884]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I had tried an 75mg Effexor ER pill last year, which is a related drug. The first pill really hit me hard, dry mouth, sweating, and feeling out of it. I didn't continue. It makes me scared to try Pristiq, but I probably will. Did you start on 50mg or did you work your way up to that?

[Alpaca2884 in reply to hstroller]

I was on Zoloft 150mg for 20 years. It started to lose effect so my doctor switched me to pristiq 50mg. 50 mg was my starting dose. Dry mouth has been my only side effect. I’m hoping maybe it will go away. I just started pristiq about 4 weeks ago.

[hstroller in reply to Alpaca2884]

I just talked to my psychiatrist and he wants to try me out on 25mg Pristiq, starting tomorrow. Are you seeing any benefit in the first few weeks? Are you taking anything else?

[Alpaca2884 in reply to hstroller]

By the third week I was seeing a lot of improvement. Now I am feeling so much better. The first couple weeks were a little rough due to the fact that I was being weaned off of Zoloft and waiting for the pristiq to kick in. I am not taking any other medications with it.

[hstroller in reply to Alpaca2884]

A two week transition for coming off of 20 years of Zoloft sounds really quick. I was on some meds for only 5 weeks last year and had many withdrawal symptoms for 2 weeks, even after initially tapering for 7 to 10 days.

[Alpaca2884 in reply to hstroller]

This is the fourth week since starting pristiq and the doctor is still weaning me off of Zoloft. I’m at 50mg Zoloft for one more week for a total of 5 weeks.

[hstroller in reply to Alpaca2884]

Got it. Zoloft seems to really work well for many people, while it works. I wasn't prescribed that drug, maybe because it isn't the first choice for people with anxiety issues, since its more on the activating end of AD spectrum.

[Alpaca2884 in reply to hstroller]

I actually suffer from both depression and anxiety/panic disorder. The Zoloft worked great for both. It stopped my panic attacks. But I know that everyone is different. Do you suffer from both if you don’t mind me asking?

[hstroller in reply to Alpaca2884]

I had a small number work related anxiety attacks during the past 5 years, but they would resolve in a few hours after the problems were solved. I never had depression or anxiety/panic disorder before, but last spring they all hit me hard and haven't left. I tried AD drugs for the first time last summer for 4 or 5 weeks, Klonopin and Paxil. After 3 or 4 weeks I was getting some relief but I had some side effects. My doctor suggested taking Lexapro for less side effects, but I haven't been able to tolerate that. I decide to stop all drugs. My depression and anxiety have gotten worse, so now I am looking for a new AD med. My current psychiatrist suggested Pristiq based on one of those gene tests that show what your body can or can't metabolize, but it doesn't tell you what will work for you or what side effects you might have. I've talked to two psychiatrists and neither suggested Zoloft. I have had some trouble sleeping, so maybe that is a factor. I don't know, it might just be random opinions or biases on their part.

[Alpaca2884 in reply to hstroller]

Well I hope the best for you. Prayers that pristiq is a good working drug for you with little to no side effects. The dry mouth I can deal with. I’m buying biotene spray tomorrow to help with that. For me the number one thing that has helped me is actually my faith in God and prayer. I know a lot of people meditate too. Keep me posted on your success!

[Hidden]

I haven't had any side effects with Pristiq. Good luck!

[hstroller]

Do you have any updates on your experience with Pristiq? I hope you started feeling better soon after your post.

[XoxoFaith]

I take 100mg pristiq it did help but now after being in it for 13 years I feel it has lost its effectiveness but it does work but after like 1 month

[Alpaca2884 in reply to XoxoFaith]

Hi. Sorry you feel it’s not working as good as it did before. Can your doctor prescribe a higher dosage?

[XoxoFaith in reply to Alpaca2884]

Not sure but I kind of don’t want to drink anything higher I hate the fact I have to drink a pill each day to feel good

[Alpaca2884 in reply to XoxoFaith]

Yes I understand. I’m the same way