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I also just started on pristiq after being on zoloft for the last two years. I was taking 150mg of zoloft and went straight to 50mg of pristiq. I haven't had any of the energy-like side effects that people have been talking about. I have actually been more depressed, off and on. So much so that I left my husband and my 11 month old son. I've been living in an old apt that my parents usually rent out. Sleeping on the floor and going through days where I just want to die and hopeful days that make me forget about the horrid ones. I don't know if this is the right drug for me. I keep reading advice about holding on for months until I feel better. I don't know if I can stay away from my family for that long. I've only been on it for 2 1/2 weeks and already my life is worse than it was before I started.
a new Pristiq guinea pig here.....
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#501
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Posted 09 November 2009 - 12:17 PM
Issues: Major Depressive Disorder, GAD, Addictive Personality, Multiple Drug Induced Psychosis, Borderline Personality Disorder
Current Meds: Pristiq 100mg, Neurontin 300mg at bedtime
Past Meds: Zoloft, Effexor, Xanax, Risperidone, Vistaril, Klonopin, Ativan, Ambien, Remeron
Current Meds: Pristiq 100mg, Neurontin 300mg at bedtime
Past Meds: Zoloft, Effexor, Xanax, Risperidone, Vistaril, Klonopin, Ativan, Ambien, Remeron
MultiQuote#502 Guest_jen_*
Posted 22 November 2009 - 10:28 AM
BlueEyes, on 23 July 2009 - 12:20 PM, said:
Hello all-
Thought I should write an update, since I have gotten some messages asking for an update lately.
I haven't been following this thread or CB for quite some time. I guess I've been too busy with my radical "normal" life! woohoo!
I have officially been on pristiq for about 13 months. I have no more side effects to speak of and no more anxiety. I know the drug doesn't work for everyone, but I am also pretty sure that those it does work for are less likely to seek out a forum to discuss their success.
Anyway, I hope each of you that are still struggling with finding the right med cocktail find what works for you soon.
-blue
Thought I should write an update, since I have gotten some messages asking for an update lately.
I haven't been following this thread or CB for quite some time. I guess I've been too busy with my radical "normal" life! woohoo!
I have officially been on pristiq for about 13 months. I have no more side effects to speak of and no more anxiety. I know the drug doesn't work for everyone, but I am also pretty sure that those it does work for are less likely to seek out a forum to discuss their success.
Anyway, I hope each of you that are still struggling with finding the right med cocktail find what works for you soon.
-blue
I have also been on pritiq for over a year. It's worth it. These boards are usually filled with questions from people just starting or who are having problems with the drug or haven't been on it for too long and just don't know what to expect. I hope this helps. My side effects got better and better every month. By month 3 or 4, they were completely gone. At first, the drug gave me some bad anxiety attacks, but I used klonopin as needed. Soon, I used the klonopin less and less. The body is a smart machine, and you have to let it adjust and soon it will find a balance with the medication, and the benefits of the drug should shine through :-). Hang in there everyone. No matter which drug you take, the initial side effects will last for a while, so be patient and give it more than a week or two to work. Some take up to 6 months, so patience is important!!
God bless all
#503 Guest_guest_OH_*
Posted 08 December 2009 - 10:07 AM
I have been on Pristiq for 2 1/2 weeks now for axiety. The first two weeks were fine with little side effects. This past few days, I've had a lot more anxiety and almost a constant burning sensation in the chest and neck (probably limited symptom panic attacks). It wasn't like that before starting I started taking it. Any one else have experience with developing new side effects after being on it for a couple of weeks?
#504 Guest_tim-e_*
Posted 19 December 2009 - 07:11 PM
I've been on Pristiq 100mg for 5 months now, it's working great! I can't vouch for insomnia as a side effect though, as I am chronic insomniac. Seroquel 200mg for that (Ambien for 8 years before that)
Effexor gave me insane nightmares. Nasty. Cymbalta nearly killed me. Evil.
Effexor gave me insane nightmares. Nasty. Cymbalta nearly killed me. Evil.
#505 Guest_RG_*
Posted 20 December 2009 - 01:29 AM
Prestiq did the same to me. Insomnia and nausea with some half wanting to "barf". I have eaten some things and it helps. But I have felt sort of out of it as well. Although I don't take it on a daily basis because I need to be sharp some days. I took the drug 2 days ago now and I still feel the effects. Powerful drug. WOW.
#506 Guest_lurker_*
Posted 08 January 2010 - 05:38 PM
First of all, thank you so much for starting this thread, and every reply after. I've read every single one, and it helped me immensely as it helped me know what to expect.
I got put on Pristiq the week before Christmas. I've never been on AD's before, but could feel myself slipping down into a hole over the past I'm not sure how long. I got to the point where I wasn't going out much and wasn't that much of an interactive mom with my 2 youngish children, so even though I'm not a medication person, I knew I needed to do something for their sakes at least.
Long story short, I got every single side effect listed on here. Not a very fun few weeks. At least I had the in laws to help out for a little over a week, because I was pretty much zombified. The worst was the panic attacks I got on day three. I have pretty much followed a schedule daily of: waking up-approximately 10 am having panic attacks and feeling worse than before, 10-1ish, feeling about where I did before I started taking this, 1-4 feeling better, and 4 to bedtime feeling pretty good. The past 5 days or so have really evened out, and I feel pretty great all day. What I didn't expect was after the first few days, I realized the fact that I'm a huge worrier, and spend lots of time during the day worrying about things. I feel the Pristiq has really helped with that. I like the fact that it isn't that I'm just numb and don't worry about anything, I'm just able to rationalize better now, and I have come to the conclusion that about 90% or more of the things I worry about are either stupid, or something that I have no control over and worrying about them doesn't help.
Pretty much all the side effects have gone away. Except for the dry mouth, and that is livable. Unfortunately, I have raging insomnia, and don't sleep much more than an hour a night. Fortunately, I was given Ambien along with the Prestiq, and I have realized the fact that it is something I guess I have to take at least for now. Hopefully the Pristiq will even itself out, and eventually I can sleep on my own.
I do appreciate the threads here. It is so much different to have someone tell you side effects and read about it on the sheet they give you than to hear what it is like for people actually going through the same thing you are. I don't know if I could have made it through feeling as awful as I did if I hadn't read everything on here and saw that it was normal and there was hope for me. Even though I had all the side effects, I had a 3 steps forward one day and 2 steps back the next day kind of progression, and because I knew what to expect, I think I was more able to see that at least there was forward progress going on and stick it out. I am hoping everything stays the same for me, because I feel really good in my head, and have a much higher level of energy for me. I've had several relatives and friends say that they can hear something in my voice that hasn't been there in a long time. I'm so pleased with where I'm at now. I hope for every single one of you reading it works out this well, and if Pristiq doesn't work, than I wish you success with something else.
I got put on Pristiq the week before Christmas. I've never been on AD's before, but could feel myself slipping down into a hole over the past I'm not sure how long. I got to the point where I wasn't going out much and wasn't that much of an interactive mom with my 2 youngish children, so even though I'm not a medication person, I knew I needed to do something for their sakes at least.
Long story short, I got every single side effect listed on here. Not a very fun few weeks. At least I had the in laws to help out for a little over a week, because I was pretty much zombified. The worst was the panic attacks I got on day three. I have pretty much followed a schedule daily of: waking up-approximately 10 am having panic attacks and feeling worse than before, 10-1ish, feeling about where I did before I started taking this, 1-4 feeling better, and 4 to bedtime feeling pretty good. The past 5 days or so have really evened out, and I feel pretty great all day. What I didn't expect was after the first few days, I realized the fact that I'm a huge worrier, and spend lots of time during the day worrying about things. I feel the Pristiq has really helped with that. I like the fact that it isn't that I'm just numb and don't worry about anything, I'm just able to rationalize better now, and I have come to the conclusion that about 90% or more of the things I worry about are either stupid, or something that I have no control over and worrying about them doesn't help.
Pretty much all the side effects have gone away. Except for the dry mouth, and that is livable. Unfortunately, I have raging insomnia, and don't sleep much more than an hour a night. Fortunately, I was given Ambien along with the Prestiq, and I have realized the fact that it is something I guess I have to take at least for now. Hopefully the Pristiq will even itself out, and eventually I can sleep on my own.
I do appreciate the threads here. It is so much different to have someone tell you side effects and read about it on the sheet they give you than to hear what it is like for people actually going through the same thing you are. I don't know if I could have made it through feeling as awful as I did if I hadn't read everything on here and saw that it was normal and there was hope for me. Even though I had all the side effects, I had a 3 steps forward one day and 2 steps back the next day kind of progression, and because I knew what to expect, I think I was more able to see that at least there was forward progress going on and stick it out. I am hoping everything stays the same for me, because I feel really good in my head, and have a much higher level of energy for me. I've had several relatives and friends say that they can hear something in my voice that hasn't been there in a long time. I'm so pleased with where I'm at now. I hope for every single one of you reading it works out this well, and if Pristiq doesn't work, than I wish you success with something else.
#507 Guest_Guest_guest_OH_*
Posted 10 January 2010 - 07:49 AM
Update on my situation. Went back to my pdoc about the increased anxiety after being on Pristiq for 2 weeks. She consulted with the psychiatrist they have on staff, and he said that it was probably way too high of a dose to start out with if you have anxiety. They put me on 1/4 of a pill of zoloft (25mg). Been doing that for 10 days and feel much better. It's nice because I have been trying for a couple of months to find something to work. I wish more doctor's would know to start these things with lower dosages. I think the side effect would be much less of a problem.
#508 Guest_Misty Morning_*
Posted 02 February 2010 - 11:58 PM
Wanna Fell Better, on 06 November 2009 - 05:27 AM, said:
Wanna Feelbetter, on 06 November 2009 - 05:21 AM, said:
Hi All,
Day 2 on Pristiq. Felt "normal" for the first time in over a year. Was able to laugh with my kids today. Smiled a lot more. YAY! On the down side: Horrible "terminal insomnia" Last night woke up at 1:15 am and could not go back to sleep AT ALL. Tonight woke up looked at the clock 1:15 am and I am wide awake. UGH! I am hoping the insomnia will pass, because my mood is so much better. Less irritable, less "flat"-fuller, alive! Things that normally sent me steaming mad, I am able to just shrug my shoulders at. I feel like I can be how I want to be. Respond the way I want to respond.
The reason I ended up on meds in the first place was not for depression per say. I sought medical help due to a change in my cognition. Difficulty thinking, forgetfulness- not remembering names of people I know well, doing dumb things like toughing pans after I pulled them right out of the oven, difficulty speaking: saying the wrong words, slow in speech, trouble reading, typing, getting word order mixed up. I was increasingly irritable. Another symptom I had was a "flattening" of my personality. I actually thought I had Alzheimer's disease or a brain tumor. I never felt hopeless, or sad. But after 4 doctors told me it was depression, I thought meds were worth a try.
Does anyone have experience with the cognitive side of "depression"? Also please TELL ME the insomnia will pass.
Day 2 on Pristiq. Felt "normal" for the first time in over a year. Was able to laugh with my kids today. Smiled a lot more. YAY! On the down side: Horrible "terminal insomnia" Last night woke up at 1:15 am and could not go back to sleep AT ALL. Tonight woke up looked at the clock 1:15 am and I am wide awake. UGH! I am hoping the insomnia will pass, because my mood is so much better. Less irritable, less "flat"-fuller, alive! Things that normally sent me steaming mad, I am able to just shrug my shoulders at. I feel like I can be how I want to be. Respond the way I want to respond.
The reason I ended up on meds in the first place was not for depression per say. I sought medical help due to a change in my cognition. Difficulty thinking, forgetfulness- not remembering names of people I know well, doing dumb things like toughing pans after I pulled them right out of the oven, difficulty speaking: saying the wrong words, slow in speech, trouble reading, typing, getting word order mixed up. I was increasingly irritable. Another symptom I had was a "flattening" of my personality. I actually thought I had Alzheimer's disease or a brain tumor. I never felt hopeless, or sad. But after 4 doctors told me it was depression, I thought meds were worth a try.
Does anyone have experience with the cognitive side of "depression"? Also please TELL ME the insomnia will pass.
I also wanted to add that I usually have a horrible compulsion to snack and overeat. I am about 50 pounds overweight because of this insane message my brain gives me to go back to the cupboard or fridge. I can fight it, but the compulsion & desire remains. Tormenting me. Well, today that compulsion was controllable. Thank God. I hope this med will help me in that area too. I wanted people who struggle with this same compulsion to know that Pristiq (at least as of now) looks like it will help with compulsive eating too. I will keep you all posted.
Hello All, but especially 'Wanna Fell Better'. I have the exact same symptoms you are describing, lack of focus, feeling as if I'm living in a fog of sorts. I noticed you posted in November; are you still taking Pristiq? I am starting tomorrow and want to know if it will truely help me regain my sense of self I once knew. I used to be an amazingly ambitious, optomistic, loving person and in the last 6 months have completely lost myself. My neurologist thought it may have been a side effect to the anti-depressant I have been taking the last few years, and suggested I stop right away and start taking Pristiq...scares me to death to introduce a new medication as I am also on a hormone replacement (hysterectomy) and Hypothyroid medication...I'm a mess! But hoping this will help.
Hope to hear back soon.
#509 Guest_denise2648_*
Posted 28 February 2010 - 02:46 PM
I am so glad that I found this board! Wellbutrin XL seemed to stop working after being on it for over a year...not completely but it's tapered off a bit. Well, I spoke to my dr. and he gave me some samples of 50m Pristiq to take along with my 300mg Wellbutrin XL. I waited until the weekend to take it because I figured that I am at home in case I have any issues. Boy, did I have issues! Well, let me start by saying that I took my Wellbutrin when I woke up (about 8am) and took the Pristiq about 2pm...reason being is that I had errands I had to do in the morning and like I said, I wanted to take caution. I took it after a full meal and with a huge glass of water. I felt ok but was tired, although I didn't think much about that because I started the day exhausted from work the day before. I was also very thirsty but figured it was a side effect. So I am laying in bed and got really hot and had a horrible headache. I am trying to fall asleep and I think I may have dozed off a bit and then all of a sudden at about midnight, I kinda jarred out of my dozing state and the only way to describe it is that it was like a snap and my headache was gone but I felt REALLY weird...like a warm sensation in my upper stomach spreading and just felt...off. I sat up and felt like you do when you are going to pass out...I started coughing yet didn't throw up and had the cold sweats. Then panic set in. And I am talking like I FREAKED...I was in a high panic state. This went on for about 5 minutes or so and I was feeling better so I went back to bed and sure enough, it started all over again and this continued for almost 3 hours. The cold sweats stopped but I was shaking cold. I would be fine and then it would start again. And I can't even describe the level of panic that I felt...I have never felt like that before. Around 3am, I made myself stay in bed even tho I felt the panic and just telling myself over and over that there was nothing to panic about and somehow finally fell asleep and I seriously thought I was either not going to wake up today or there would be something really wrong. So far, all I have is a horrible headache and I hope that is the end of it. Needles to say, I am not even going to try Prestiq again-that was the worse experience that I have ever had from a medication.
I didn't take my Wellbutrin yet and am wondering if I should skip it today because I am afraid that the Pristiq is still in my system and may cause a reaction. But again, I don't know if it was the combo of the 2 or the Prestiq alone.
Has anyone else ever experience anything like this?
Edited to add: Its been a few hours and my headache is so beyond bad, it's like nothing I have ever experienced. This is so horrible...my entire weekend is ruined due to one pill and I have to hope that I will be ok for work tomorrow.
I didn't take my Wellbutrin yet and am wondering if I should skip it today because I am afraid that the Pristiq is still in my system and may cause a reaction. But again, I don't know if it was the combo of the 2 or the Prestiq alone.
Has anyone else ever experience anything like this?
Edited to add: Its been a few hours and my headache is so beyond bad, it's like nothing I have ever experienced. This is so horrible...my entire weekend is ruined due to one pill and I have to hope that I will be ok for work tomorrow.
#510
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- Group: Member
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Posted 02 March 2010 - 05:19 PM
Hello one-in-all,
Just a quick check-in....
I've been on Prestiq since late October of 2008.
My life is so much better now, I almost don't remember exactly how bad I was before.
My life is not perfect by any means. I have typical trials and tribulation, just like anyone else... But guess what? I handle them now.
Do I occasionally feel some anxiety? Yes, when the world doesn’t play fair.
Do a still get an occasional feeling of depression? Yes, when I feel alone at times.
Are the skies at times gray? Yep, especially when it’s raining.
Is my life perfect? No, but who’s is?
I just have normal ups and downs. But guess what… I don’t stay on the down side, I cope just like a normal person.
My Best to All.
Just a quick check-in....
I've been on Prestiq since late October of 2008.
My life is so much better now, I almost don't remember exactly how bad I was before.
My life is not perfect by any means. I have typical trials and tribulation, just like anyone else... But guess what? I handle them now.
Do I occasionally feel some anxiety? Yes, when the world doesn’t play fair.
Do a still get an occasional feeling of depression? Yes, when I feel alone at times.
Are the skies at times gray? Yep, especially when it’s raining.
Is my life perfect? No, but who’s is?
I just have normal ups and downs. But guess what… I don’t stay on the down side, I cope just like a normal person.
My Best to All.
#512
- ninjabunnies unite
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- Group: Member
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- Joined: 03-March 10
Posted 04 March 2010 - 01:16 AM
Pristiq has been a lifesaver for me. I take 50mg in the morning, dry mouth is the only side effect, NO WEIGHT GAIN.
I went on it right after I completed 12 sessions of ECT in summer '08. I am a new person.
I've been on for over a year. I highly recommend it, and wish you luck, anyone just starting with it out there.
I went on it right after I completed 12 sessions of ECT in summer '08. I am a new person.
I've been on for over a year. I highly recommend it, and wish you luck, anyone just starting with it out there.
ninjabunny
BPD I rapid cycling dx '98
ADHD - or just poor attention span
generalized anxiety disorder
too many meds over the years to count - poor liver
currently adderal, trazadone, pristiq, geodon, valium
Have had ECT
4 hospitalizations
still fighting and optimistic
resilient and stubborn as hell
where there's hope there's life
BPD I rapid cycling dx '98
ADHD - or just poor attention span
generalized anxiety disorder
too many meds over the years to count - poor liver
currently adderal, trazadone, pristiq, geodon, valium
Have had ECT
4 hospitalizations
still fighting and optimistic
resilient and stubborn as hell
where there's hope there's life
#513 Guest_Hedonist_*
Posted 07 March 2010 - 04:45 PM
Just wanted to share my experience, just finished the first month on Pristiq and I feel so grateful I found this med. I finally have inner peace and while I sometimes get down it's nothing like before, I don't feel the constant emptiness that I used to feel. My long term relationship ended last week and I can't even imagine how hard it would have been without Pristiq, I still felt like crap and cried but it just makes life so much easier to approach. The main side effect that I'm noticing is the low sex drive, and I'm constantly yawning...but those things I can live with. It has done wonders for my level of life satisfaction but I do feel that my motivation hasn't really picked up. Then again, I think a big part of it is that I can be completely still, watch the sky and feel content. In the past I would have felt like shit so I felt a constant need to occupy myself so that I didn't have to be stuck in my head.
Going to the pharmacy to get it refilled today, and hoping that it will continue to be effective.
Going to the pharmacy to get it refilled today, and hoping that it will continue to be effective.
#514 Guest_musicmaker_*
Posted 14 March 2010 - 05:50 PM
Hello Everyone,
I just started Pristiq less then a week ago. I took my first pill right infront of the doctor and felt perfectly fine. Until i had left the doctors and went to catch the bus. Then i began to feel nauseas and dizzy. I got home to my apartment, felt scared, tired, and then quickly just went straight to sleep. i didnt take the medication for 2 days because i was so scared to feel that way again. My mother (whos a nurse) quickly urged me to continue to take them because the side effects are normal and assured me that they will go away. But i've taken it now for 4 days in a row and i keep feeling anxious, uneasy and i cant concentrate. Should i not worry to much about this and just keep going with my medication, or try to see my doctor tomorrow about it all. like i said, i'm feeling scared.
Sorry i'm new to this!
also, my boyfriend loves narcotics, and on rare occasions i will join in, but now i'm not sure how that works with anti-depressants. Could someone enlighten me, since i've started i havent once but i'm just curious to know if anyone has and could tell me what would happen.
thanks!
I just started Pristiq less then a week ago. I took my first pill right infront of the doctor and felt perfectly fine. Until i had left the doctors and went to catch the bus. Then i began to feel nauseas and dizzy. I got home to my apartment, felt scared, tired, and then quickly just went straight to sleep. i didnt take the medication for 2 days because i was so scared to feel that way again. My mother (whos a nurse) quickly urged me to continue to take them because the side effects are normal and assured me that they will go away. But i've taken it now for 4 days in a row and i keep feeling anxious, uneasy and i cant concentrate. Should i not worry to much about this and just keep going with my medication, or try to see my doctor tomorrow about it all. like i said, i'm feeling scared.
Sorry i'm new to this!
also, my boyfriend loves narcotics, and on rare occasions i will join in, but now i'm not sure how that works with anti-depressants. Could someone enlighten me, since i've started i havent once but i'm just curious to know if anyone has and could tell me what would happen.
thanks!
