[KristenK98]

Hi Everyone -

I'm a new guinea pig here too...I've been on Pristiq/50mg for 3 weeks for depression with anxiety. Losing 10lbs in those three weeks is wonderful, but I'd like to eat sometime and the constant yawning, and rapid heart beat is getting annoying.

Love the fact that I'm not in a fog anymore, and I can function, but the anxiety is slowly creeping back into life.

[BlueEyes]

KristenK98, on Nov 12 2008, 09:09 PM, said:

Hi Everyone -

I'm a new guinea pig here too...I've been on Pristiq/50mg for 3 weeks for depression with anxiety. Losing 10lbs in those three weeks is wonderful, but I'd like to eat sometime and the constant yawning, and rapid heart beat is getting annoying.

Love the fact that I'm not in a fog anymore, and I can function, but the anxiety is slowly creeping back into life.

if you can wait 6 to 8 weeks, hopefully those annoying side effects will subside. I got my appetite back and the initial increase in anxiety subsided. good luck!!

[christiem212]

Hi I posted that first post 5 months ago, so I wanted to share my Pristiq experience with everyone. I have had Anxiety problems for over 20 years, and depression.

MY LIFE HAS CHANGED!!! I feel SO much better, it has totally helped me feel like my feet are on the ground again and the anxiety is under control. No more panic attacks! Plus my moods are better, I have more energy (I dont feel so weighed down all the time anymore), I feel calm and I'm not touting myself with irrational fears. Before the meds I felt shaky and week all the time, I would have eat every 2 hours just to feel like I wasn't going to pass out. That is gone away as well!

Here's the important part: It took 2 months to work, and 3 months to really feel great. I'm not going to lie the first month was hell, I barley left my house totally riddled with anxiety. A friend told me that it took her 3 months for her meds to work and to give it time. My Doctor on the other had told me if would work in a week! It was a rough start, I think I had every side effect listed: dry mouth, nausea, lots of anxiety, dilated pupils, zero hunger (which was kinda nice cause I lots 10 pounds!) Now I have zero side effects! I know its expensive but to me, its worth every penny.

Anyway I am SO glad I stuck it out. I feel like a new person. My advice to all of you is give any new med 3 months to get on them and 3 month to get off.

Good luck everyone!

PS If anyone else has had good luck with Pristiq let me know!

[SGOODNIGHT]

HAS ANYONE SWITCHED FROM PROZAC TO PRESTIQ? I AM CURRENTLY TAKING PROZAC 40 MG ADAY FOR THE LAST YEAR AND IT HAS STOPPED WORKING. I WANT TO TRY PRESTIQ BUT I AM NOT SURE HOW TO SWITCH OVER. I SEE A NURSE PRACT. AND SHE WILL SWITCH ME BUT NOT SURE OF THE SIDE EFFECTS OR IF I HAVE TO WEAN OFF PROZAC FIRST. ANY SUGGESTIONS?

[squirrellover]

Ashley, on Nov 21 2008, 11:18 AM, said:

Hey...I am 21 years old and just got put on 50mgs of Pristiq 2 days ago. I feel very jittery and zombie like. I take my meds in the morning. At night...so far I have had trouble sleeping (like restless legs and tossing and turning). I have hardly any appetite and constantly feel anxious. I thought anxiety was what Pristiq was supposed to HELP with. I have found that drinking a full glass of water with Pristiq will help prevent the headaches. Is anyone else having a bunch of side affects and if so, how long before they started tapering off? I just want a full nights sleep.

Hey! Welcome to Pristiq. There is another thread on here called "a new Pristiq guinea pig here..." and that one has a ton of posts from a lot of different people describing there experiences with pristiq and its side effects. From what I have read on that thread, all of your side effects are the norm. Pristiq can take up to 6-8 weeks until its fully helping so you are going to have sit through the anxiety even though it is NO fun. I am on my 8th day of pristiq and I haven't been experiencing any bad side effects so I got lucky. But pretty much everyone else mentioned nausea, zombie-ness, and trouble sleeping. Look at that other thread I mentioned because it is so so so helpful. Good luck!

This post has been edited by squirrellover: 03 December 2008 - 10:03 AM

[squirrellover]

Here We Go...., on Nov 7 2008, 09:41 AM, said:

I have enjoyed reading these bulletins. I started Pristiq lastnight and am feeling a little "funny" today. Probably more so shaky than anything else at this point. I am not normally a medicine kind of person...I have always tried to pride myself on being emotionally strong and stable but the last 3 years of marital problems have caused tremedous anxiety for me. I don't consider it so much of a depression but that may just be my pride talking. My mother has battled with depression and bi-polar for several years and actually went to the point of shooting herself in the head in 2001. Luckily, she lived and is doing ok, but of course she's different now. I'm a little hesitant to tell anyone I am taking this medicine out of fear of being compared to my mother and scaring my family into thinking I will do what she did. My husband has no clue that I started on this medication yesterday so I am trying to hide the side effects. I just hope they don't get too bad. I am feeling pretty tired today which is a side effect I didn't want given that I have to keep up with a VERY active 3 year old! I am very figity today and have already noticed a decrease in my appetite. I didn't eat dinner lastnight and no breakfast this morning. It may just be the nervousness of starting the med though. I am hopeful that this med will help the anxiety and get me off the emotional rollercoaster. Thanks again for all the bulletins!

I think you should tell your husband because going through the medication dance alone is tough.... really tough. Going for help and taking medication does not need to affect your pride. In fact, only a really strong person can admit that they need to get some help with their emotions. I am so sorry about you mom. Maybe you should educate your family so that they don't lump every chemically imbalanced person into the same group... that's no good for anyone. Take pride in your ability to seek help!!! Many many people need to take medication to be emotionally balanced and it is nothing to be ashamed of. If we don't tell people and educate them then they will continue to stay ignorant to the subject and no progress will be made. Be proud of yourself and tell your husband. You will need his help, that is what he is there for.

[gracie]

Hi Everyone,

Switching from effexor to pristiq is different for everyone just like everything else, I guess. I went from 150mg effexor to 50mg pristiq 11 days ago. My pdoc told me 50mg pristiq equals 150mg effexor. For me that wasn't true. I went through hideous withdrawal the first 4 days or so and read somewhere on the net that people were taking 37.5mg of effexor to help with effexor withdrawal symptoms...nightmares, severe head pressure, tinitus, unusal thinking patterns, crying, etc. So, I did that every other day and it did help.

Yesterday, went to 100mg of pristiq. I'm now 3 days without effexor and feel pretty good. I'm not out of depression yet but the withdrawal and side effects have subsided.

As Blueeyes said, taking pristiq at night helps with the marked tiredness/sleepiness. She also says try to make it 6-8 weeks for making a judgement call on how it works for you. She's a wise one!

Good luck!

Gracie

[Deepster]

Guest, on Dec 15 2008, 02:19 PM, said:

I am new on here. I have been on Zoloft and my psychiatrist has increased my dosage each time I have seen him. Today I had my appt with him, and he thinks my depression is too severe for Zoloft and wants me to try Pristiq. He told me to start with it tonight, 50mg, and take half of my zoloft tonight too...and for the next 5 days. Does that sound right? Two different meds?

Also - I have had HORRIBLE side effects to Effexor and Cymbalta. I had severe hallucinations...among every other side effect on the lists. And now I am reading that pristiq is a lot like effexor? Should I be worried.
The last thing I want right now is to be scared out of my mind, stuck in the house and ruining christmas for my kids. I need help.
Hope someone out there can give me some insight.

Thanks.

ASMITH

ASMITH:

I certainly cannot speak from the perspective of your own pdocs perspective, but I can speak from mine. I really don't think you are going to experience many side effects from Pristiq. AS I have pointed out in previous posts, one thing that does concern me with this transition is the possibility of "serotonin discontinuation sydrome", though it doesn't seem too much of a problem since your doc is doing the "50% down" on Prozac, and the 50mg of Pristiq. Monitor closely you OWN PERSONAL feelings, side effects, and report them to your doc. Some modifications may be necessary, but not required. It depends on your own brain's ability to deal with the serotonin change. You are, at least according to my interrpretation of your pdocs regimine, maintaining your SSRI balance, while increasing the norepinephinre(introductioin, actually) into your system.

The serotonin levels "should" remain somewhat balanced, thus reducing your chances of "serotonin discontinutioin" syndrome, while at the same time he/she is introducing a norepreinephine reuptake factor. I just DO NOT KNOW if there is a precise "balance" without side effects that can be accomplished, so stay in touch with your own system. Recognize "zaps"(somewhat electrical type shocks that zap through your body or brain....nothing to be alarmed about). Be prepared for mood swings that really should subside rather quickly, though sweating through your clothes can be shocking if not prepared). There are other "thingies" that can/may show up, but just accept them as passing, and get on with life!

Glad to answer "ANY" questions within my realm of knowledge.

Glad to see you here!

Deepster