[Deepster]

CASPER, on Jan 1 2009, 05:14 PM, said:

Casper just found this crazy board, I have had major depressive disorder and severe panic attacks and all the fears staying in my home and my heart races all the time. I have bee on many meds, had a hard time getting them to work. I take ativan 6 1mg a day. the lasted med has been Zolft for the last 2 years it is not working my dr. wants me to try pristiq ween off 200mg zolft . I am scared to death my anziety level is very high all the time. I went into severe depression coming of of lexapro for 4 years. I want to feel good, i am not sure if i got the side effects i could cope. plus my insurance will not cover so i am
looking for another sorce that will give me a discount on the meds. I have a hard time sleeping for more than 3 hours. and I smoke which i hate i am very addicted to ciggs. I have to find a way to quit i know this will help my overall health, but what to do i can not live like this any longer, cutting back on the zolft to100 mg for3 days with out having started the pristiq yet i feel so emotional like instant crying and strange if i did not have the ativan i would be out of control
i want to get off ativan but it helps the anziety but i am hooked on them for sure will that work with the pristiq. I hate taking all theses drugs , what if I one day could stop taking all drugs. I pray this will happen.
Hopefull and hopeless
any thoughts ?

Yep, Casper, I do have thoughts. What the hell is it with your doc taking you "off" one med before putting you on another.....it's called titration, and it goes up and down. Is this a "family practitioner"? Internal medicine doc? GP?, or is it a psychiatrist? Kinda sounds like somebody who has no clue when it comes to mental health issues, quite frankly! My own knowledge is that you should be going through some kind of medically supervised "transition" where things are going up and down in equalibrium.....even adding meds to aid the transition if necessary.

Ativan is fine with Pritiq....medically supervised!

Pristiq, based on everything I've read will likely "INCREASE" anxiety for a time.

Pristiq, based on what I've read, may even increase "PANIC" for a time

Your doc is taking you OFF a pure SSRI, and putting you on an SNRI without titration?
What are his/her credentials. Sounds like to me you are not getting proper medical advice/supervision/credentialed direction.

Perhaps you should be taken OFF Ativan and placed on a more subtle, yet equally effective benzo.....Klonopin? It has a longer half-life, thus has a much longer effectiveness than the "short term" benzos....one can last you all day as opposed to popping them like MnMs!

I'll also add that at your current dosage of Ativan, YOU ARE GOING TO GO THRU ONE HELLUVA WITHDRAWAL REGIMINE!

Fuck the smoking cessation. It's an addiction, too, and I know it....but, one thing at a time!

I'm no MD, but as smart as most, and was married to one for 10 years! LOL Get your doc to research your meds! Balance the down from the SSRI you're on now into the Pristiq. At the dosage of Ativan you're taking don't even think about going down on that yet. Hell, it may have to be temporarily increased due to the anx/panic that pristiq can temporarily create.

I wish you my best, and am glad you are here.

Deepster

Deepster, on Dec 27 2008, 09:19 PM, said:

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

[Deepster]

hartyjp, on Jan 7 2009, 11:55 AM, said:

Hi everyone! I'm so grateful to have found this forum. I started taking Pristiq about 2 weeks ago. I have had good results until today. I had a 4 hour block of time where I had terrible anxiety and panic attacks. I'm scared to continue taking Pritiq, but also scared to death to suffer w/o meds. I keep getting a burning sensation in my head and neck, and I feel kind of out of it. I start back to college in 5 days, and I'm a nervous wreck over trying to decide the best route to take. I CAN'T go back to school an anxiety ridden mess! I do take clonozepam which did help with the anxiety episode. My current dose is 50mg of Pristiq and .5mg clonozepam as needed up to twice a day.

Howdy! Hartyjp!

I understand your experience. It's about equal with mine. I also do 50mg P+.5-1mg Klonopin daily. I find the P had WAY INCREASED MY NEED FOR the benzos. I don't thing this is good, but, I'll discuss with the pdoc on Monday. Klonopin/clonazepam has always been the best med for me, and I have taken it for many, many years without addiction, and at a minimal dose. But, Pristiq has increased anx/pan to the point that I am taking more, yet P is supposed to decrease those feelings of anx/panic. Guess I'm a bit confused. I've had none of the other SEs that you decribe with Pristiq.

Wishing you the best!
Deepster

[BlueEyes]

Guest, on Jan 10 2009, 10:02 PM, said:

I was just prescribed Pristiq after being on lexapro and wellbutrin which seem to have stopped working. I have depression only, not anxiety. I am very low energy, lethargic and negative. Does it sound like Pristiq would be good for me? I am with a new doctor and am nervous that he doesn't understand my symptoms completely. I am not that worried about side effects - I am willing to suffer through it if it will make me feel better. Any thoughts on whether it sounds like Pristiq is right for me would be great.
Also, a couple people said insurance doesn't cover Pristiq. Is this true? I have BC/BS and my other anti-depressants have always been covered.
Thanks!

Hello-

I had the same symptoms as you. No anxiety, but I was negative, and would get angry at pretty much anything. Pristiq worked for me, I've been on it since June. But, I do believe that taking it has increased my anxiety level. Just be aware that this is a possibility. I think it was worth it, but was freaked out in the beginning. I had a ton of anxiety in the beginning along with the rest of my wacky side effects: insomnia, nausea, brain zaps, dilated pupils, lack of appetite. However, most subsided in 2 to 3 weeks, and the rest were gone in about 6 weeks. My pdoc gave me .25mg of xanax to take as needed for any anxiety or if I have nights where I just can't sleep. I have only had to take it maybe 10 times since June. Again, I think the slight increase in anxiety is worth it. I have no more depression symptoms. I now have energy, motivation and am a positive person. I don't obsess over my weight or self esteem anymore.

As for the insurance, I also have BC/BS and they do cover Pristiq on my plan. It's the name brand copay price, but that isn't too bad. If you use their mail order program, you can get 3 months worth for the price of one month (at least that is how mine is), if your doctor writes the script that way. It's really easy to call them and check though to make sure it's covered.

Good luck!

- blue

[ChicagoIrishLass]

Another side effect I have is a LOT of sweating. No matter what I do I am a sweaty mess within 30 minutes of getting dressed.

Anyone know if this side effect will go away? If it doesn't I will have to change meds.

[BlueEyes]

Chicago Irish Lass, on Jan 19 2009, 09:14 AM, said:

• When I sit through meetings, I can't keep still. My legs are bouncing or I keep shifting around in my seat.
  
• I toss and turn in the middle of the night. I wake up very tired.
  
• Most importantly, I've lost 6-7 pounds in the 3 weeks I've taken Pristiq. To most, this would be a positive, but not for me. You see, I am 5'6" and only weigh 107.5. I was underweight when I started taking Pristiq and now I've slipped under 110. Not. good.

ChicagoIrishLass, on Jan 19 2009, 02:43 PM, said:

Another side effect I have is a LOT of sweating. No matter what I do I am a sweaty mess within 30 minutes of getting dressed.

Anyone know if this side effect will go away? If it doesn't I will have to change meds.

Hi Chicago-

I had the same appetite problem (but I welcomed the weight loss ). My appetite returned gradually, and has been normal for a few months. I also gained most of the weight back that I had lost initially. When I didn't have an appetite, my husband had to remind me to eat, so maybe setting an alarm would be a good idea.

I didn't have problems with sweating during the day, just at night. As long as we turn down the thermostat, it isn't too bad. That is the only side effect that hasn't gone away for me. It was more severe in the beginning though, so maybe yours well lessen with time.

Good luck!

and to Guest -
Taking Pristiq in the morning or afternoon seems to be based on individual body chemistry. My pdoc warned me about that before I started it. For some, Pristiq will cause an initial spike in energy, for others, tiredness. I fall into the latter category and take mine before I go to bed. If you have mild anxiety and don't have anything for it, you may want to talk to your pdoc about that. I definitely needed to pop a xanax every once in while when my anxiety spiked in the first 8 weeks of taking Pristiq. Good luck to you too.

- Blue

[thelmalouise]

So, after the 8 weeks, you just didn't need the xanax anymore? I'm hoping it will work that way for me, too. Do you think it has definately helped the irritability?

[BlueEyes]

thelmalouise, on Jan 31 2009, 10:54 AM, said:

So, after the 8 weeks, you just didn't need the xanax anymore? I'm hoping it will work that way for me, too. Do you think it has definately helped the irritability?

pristiq has pretty much eliminated my irritability. I used to get pissed off, not mad, PISSED at anything and everything and was in a bad mood constantly. No more. If I have a bad day at work, it rarely phases me. And if it does, the irritation doesn't last. As for the xanax, I have used it here and there - mostly when I've had a big blowout with my husband. Do I need it though? Probably not. I use it when I'm worked up and can't go to sleep. I will take a bit of anxiety over the depression/anger/irritability I was feeling any day though.

[thelmalouise]

I have a major problem with irritability also. I can get pretty pissed off myself and totally irritated with the littlest of things. I think it is because I just don't feel well. My doctor says the irritability comes from depression, but I've always thought my main problem was anxiety disorder/panic disorder. I guess I really have both. I don't want to add to my anxiety, but if the pristiq works for the depression/irritability, I'll gladly make it through and take a xanax when absolutely needed. I am hoping to feel much better soon, and you have given me much hope. I think I am going to contact my doctor tomorrow to see what I should do, as I think the 100mg I am taking is just too much. I'll just go ahead and pay for another prescription of 50mg and get back to where I was before I moved up to 100mg.

Do you or anyone else have a problem with constipation from pristq, and what do you do to help it? I asked on another thread, but have gotten no responses.