Starting an antidepressant

[DougMD]

I have been feeling horrible for over 70 days now since I found my ex who broke up with me last year has a boyfriend. Long story but I just started taking Pristiq. I have a long history of depression and anxiety and I have never been good about taking my meds. I was wondering if anyone had a good experience with Pristiq? I have tried to fight my depression with more practical and natural efforts but after 70+ days I feel like I need some help from medication.

[secrets22]

Hello DougMD....i am so sad to read this and to find your ex partner has a new friend of course affects your health and wellbeing. I must confess i have never heard of Pristiq but i do take Mirtazapine which is not a great help but it certainly helps with my poor sleeping.

[Agora1]

Hi DougMD Reaching out for medication is a good first step along with therapy to

address the issue. Once in place, natural methods can be implemented to help lower

the emotional stress you feel.

For myself, I use Meditation and Breathing exercises daily. My "go to" is YouTube where

I am constantly learning different techniques and tools to keep my stress lowered.

I am happy you have found this caring support team of virtual friends. Supportive people

around you who understand can be the key to success.

Welcome Doug....we are here to help you through this journey. xx

[designguy]

Hello Doug, I take Pristiq and have been on it for a number of years now and it has helped me. Prior to starting on it, I did a psychopharmacological test that used my dna to determine which meds were best suited for me genetically, it showed that none of the half-dozen meds I had tried before were right and that Pristiq could work so I started on it. You need to give it time to take affect which can be 2 - 3 weeks.

I also found that meds alone didn't totally resolve things, I also needed to get in touch with my emotions and process them with a therapist.

[DougMD in reply to designguy]

Yes I did that same test and I got the same results as you. Did you ever have your depression or anxiety get worse in the beginning? I feel like that happens to me with other similar antidepressants but it is difficult to tell the cause

[designguy in reply to DougMD]

Yes it seemed to be worse in the beginning but I think what really is happening is that we are so hyper-focused on our body and hoping to feel better and noticing any changes that it compounds our feelings of anxiety/depression. I know it's tricky but try to relax some and surrender to whatever happens and trust that it takes time for the change to happen.