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Desvenlafaxine for Anxiety User Reviews (Page 3)

Brand names: Pristiq

Reviews for Desvenlafaxine

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Anonymous
  • August 8, 2010

Desvenlafaxine "I am on my 4th day of Pristiq. I felt better almost immediately. I suffer with anxiety and negative chatter in my mind. I feel calmer, more relaxed, and the chatter in my mind has gone. I don't have trouble sleeping at night, my appetite is decreased. I am feeling weird though, my head feels heavy, and I feel a bit spacey, zombie-like. I am hoping it passes."

8 / 10
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  • Wor...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • September 8, 2017

"After trying a myriad of medications for my postpartum anxiety, all of which brought on profound side effects such as depression, insomnia, rage, no feelings whatsoever, etc., I was placed on Pristiq/Desvenlafaxine. I have not had to take medication for anxiety or depression previously and was to the point where I intended to suffer through the anxiety rather than the side effects. This medication, however, has been a lifesaver. I feel fantastic and very much like myself. I want to do normal things, taking care of my son doesn't make me feel like I'm going to worry myself into an early grave. I'm not having heart palpitations. I can actually work and be productive, opposed to constant worry. It is working!"

8 / 10
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  • Cek...
  • February 13, 2018

"I have not been on this too long, but so far, so good. I did a DNA saliva test a few years back with a mental health nurse practitioner, and Pristiq came out as my number one choice. Since it was not in generic form at the time, I opted for choice #2, generic Paxil, for insurance/money reasons. That has worked very well for my anxiety for 3 years, but the one side effect that has driven me nuts was always feeling so tired in the morning. Since the generic for Pristiq has come out, I decided to switch, and I already feel more awake and energetic in the morning. I have tried a plethora of anti-anxiety meds over the years, always with side effects, or they just quit working. Knowing that everybody has a different body chemistry and reactions to medication vary greatly, I HIGHLY recommend doing the DNA test if you can. It has been a real life changer for me, and the change from generic Paxil to Pristiq has been seamless."

9 / 10
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Frequently asked questions

  • kiw...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 9, 2015

"I have been on Pristiq for approx 2 weeks for anxiety and dizziness and disequilibrium. The first week was rough, with sweating and a little nausea, but no tiredness. From day 9, I have noticed a good boost in energy and a change in how I have been managing my anxiety, with increased confidence and reduced dizziness. I will keep taking it, but won't be looking forward to coming off it when the time comes. It has given me a new outlook on life, which is a big positive."

8 / 10
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  • hap...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 6, 2016

"After 5 years of altering my life to avoid anxiety and panic attacks and having tried many different types of medication, I finally was given Pristiq. I started 5 days ago and talk about a HUGE and almost immediate difference! Initially, there were headaches (few days off and on), but instant energy and stable mood without anxiety! It's weird, but things actually seem visually brighter, and my sense of smell has increased. Appetite is down as smells are making my stomach churn, so sticking with very bland foods and tons of fluids. Wide awake at night, but that's normal for me. I am so grateful for feeling normal again!"

9 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • March 7, 2009

Desvenlafaxine "After trying several different medicines for anxiety, my doctor tried me on a trial run of Pristiq. I have been on it since May, and LOVE it! I don't have any side effects - except it may make me 'too' calm."

10 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • September 2, 2009

Desvenlafaxine "I have been taking Pristiq for about three weeks now, and it's been fantastic! I just feel normal again. I feel like I am back to my old happy, friendly self. I no longer feel panicked when I am in a very social situation, and I'm not scared to try new things anymore. Overall, I just feel very balanced. I can deal with stressful situations and get over them a lot more quickly. I don't dwell on them all day. I'm also a lot less cranky."

9 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • April 16, 2010

Desvenlafaxine "I'm a 20-year-old female with anxiety, panic disorder, and attention deficit. This was my first day of Pristiq, but I noticed a huge change today already! I took a 50 mg in the morning before work and had no problem dealing with customers or talking to strangers in general. I had a few short moments where I felt nervous, but I was surprised to find I was very relaxed all day. I really had no idea I was so anxious all the time! I would definitely recommend this!"

10 / 10
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  • mom...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 7, 2012

Desvenlafaxine "I've been on Pristiq for 2 weeks. I was on Effexor for 7 years after having my son. I always had anxiety and worried too much. After having my son, I didn't know why I was panicking, etc., all the time, so they put me on 75 mg of Effexor. It did good for me, but I thought I'd stop. I stopped for 10 months and tried a natural path, which seemed to be okay, but not the full strength. When my cat had to be put down almost a month ago, I was a mess and still am. I begged my doctor to put me on something. I realize I need meds the most when something major has happened, so they said, how about trying Pristiq... LOVE IT. It makes me feel quite relaxed for a few hours after I take it at lunch. My sex drive is SUPER HIGH."

9 / 10
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  • Len...
  • April 6, 2012

Desvenlafaxine "Great results on this medicine. The first couple of days I was a bit tired, but that went away quick. My doctor prescribed it to me for general anxiety and not depression. So no crazy thoughts or ideas. I take it in the morning and that's it. No disruption of my sleep patterns. Actually, I sleep like a baby. Very positive experience."

10 / 10
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  • Mic...
  • July 22, 2013

"I too have been on many different meds for depression and anxiety. Nothing worked so great as Pristiq, but you did not lose any time not taking this. This is a very new med out, and that is why we are all getting it now and having good reports. When it is approved, it will be covered by your medical plan. It is the best thing that ever happened to me. I highly recommend it. Had no side effects."

10 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 20, 2012

Desvenlafaxine "I am a 19-year-old female. I have been using Pristiq for over 3 weeks now. The first couple of days were pretty intense for me, I was very jittery, had a constant feeling of a ball being in the back of my throat, and was constantly thirsty. My second week was great, I started seeing very positive results. Pristiq really suppresses my appetite, but I've only lost a couple of pounds. Constipation is also another thing to be prepared for. I take it in the morning, and it boosts my mood. I am also taking clonazepam for the nighttime. I would recommend this medication for people with mood disorders, but you have to be patient to see results. The first couple of days might frighten you a little, but be patient and see how you feel after a couple of weeks."

8 / 10
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  • jay...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 22, 2012

Desvenlafaxine "I started taking 50 mg just yesterday, and immediately I noticed a huge difference. I have tried so many other antidepressants that were just awful on my system, but this one so far seems to be great. I have noticed an immediate appetite decrease, which is perfect since I tend to eat due to anxiety and depression. Food just has lost its magic and a lot of its taste. But I still feel hunger, which tells me it's time to eat, and I eat only till I am full. I have also noticed a slight tingling and twitching in my arms and hands, but only slight, and I am sweating more than usual. My jaw feels a bit tense as well, and all of these mild symptoms should go away once my body becomes accustomed to this new drug, so I'm told by my doctor. Happy times!"

8 / 10
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  • Mis...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • September 1, 2017

"I had been taking Pristiq 50 mg for some time and felt great, my anxiety, tiredness, and sadness were gone. With changes in our insurance, I was given the generic Desvenlafaxine SUC ER 50 mg. I noticed within a week I was feeling different. I continued to take it for three months, and I feel like I am not taking anything. I brought it up to my doctor, and he told me they are the same, it's like the placebo effect. No, I disagreed with him, they are different, and I feel different. Do I take something else? I hate to start over trying different meds. Any suggestions?"

5 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • October 1, 2011

Desvenlafaxine "I have bad anxiety, which was brought on by strokes I suffered in 2009 due to a hole in my heart. Pristiq has been wonderful. The first 2 to 3 weeks were hard, but now I am reaping the benefits. No anxiety, lost weight, and now finally have lots of energy. Stick with it, and it will be worth it."

10 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • May 22, 2009

Desvenlafaxine "I can only say good things about Pristiq. I was on Lexapro for about three years and gained about 35 pounds. My doctor switched me to Pristiq. The hardest part was weaning off the Lexapro and the couple of weeks it took for my body to adjust to a new medicine. It has been about a month now, and I absolutely feel great, energized, my appetite seems more normal. I have lost three pounds in four weeks. Not bad since I wasn't really trying. The unusual changes I noticed at first on Pristiq were really weird dreams, and sometimes at night I felt a little tense. But now I just feel great. Also unusual in my case, my doctor told me to take it in the morning, but I was afraid of nausea, so I take it at night."

9 / 10
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  • Anx...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • April 14, 2024

"I'm not typically one to write reviews for anything in my life. However, I thought I would share this in the hopes that somebody who could identify with the version of me from six months ago might read it. While I am mildly aware a large part of this could've been my anxiety, I have never had the inclination to succumb to mainstream medicinal practices. Things finally came to a head in my early 30s when I realized I couldn't live like this anymore. I made an appointment with a psychiatrist who looked at the GeneSight test I took (do this) & prescribed Pristiq. I'm not going to lie to you and tell you that everything was hunky-dory in the beginning, but you must give this med time to work! I started at 25mg then went to 50mg; can honestly say my anxiety has reduced to being almost nonexistent, no more rapid worry thoughts, & while I still feel sad sometimes, I think it's normal."

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  • pri...
  • September 17, 2009

Desvenlafaxine "I suffer from extreme anxiety and severe depression. I have been on Cymbalta for a couple of years, and it makes me so tired. I couldn't take it anymore. I slept all day. I started Pristiq today around noon. I have noticed a boost in energy and can't stop smiling. The only side effects so far are blurred vision, a little jittery, sweating a lot, but I haven't felt happier in years from one day!"

8 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • January 2, 2010

Desvenlafaxine "This is the first medication I have taken in years that has actually worked in lessening my depressive episodes along with decreasing my anxiety. I have had no significant weight changes (which is important as I am also in recovery from anorexia nervosa). For the first time in so long, I finally feel better! I am so grateful my physician assistant had me switch! Previous medicine: Zoloft, Cymbalta, Lexapro, Lamictal, Seroquel, Risperdal, Vistaril, Effexor. Current: Pristiq, Dexedrine, Klonopin when required."

10 / 10
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  • Lil...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • August 25, 2020

"I had been struggling with increasing anxiety and depression for about 2 years. Very stressful work, and losing the two people closest to me in the space of 6 months didn't help. I have been on fluoxetine before, and it worked well. My psychiatrist recommended I try Exsira (this is the desvenlafaxine generic where I live). It's been amazing. I'm dealing with my still-stressful job a lot better. I'm more confident, and just feel so much better in general. Social anxiety is still there, but I can deal with that in other ways. My libido has dropped, but I just need to make a bit more of an effort to keep things going. My BF totally understands. The downside is if I forget a single dose, I get brain zaps. Very uncomfortable and annoying. Overall, I'm very happy with it."

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  • Anonymous
  • November 10, 2009

Desvenlafaxine "I've been on Pristiq for about 6 months now, taking 50 mg for about 6 weeks, then bumping up to 100 mg after that. I have noticed a huge change in mood. I don't fixate on little things and let them bother me for the whole day like they used to. I feel much more confident now, and I am actually smiling lately. Some side effects I have noticed are the occasional headache (I find if I take it at the same time each morning, I don't get a headache), dry mouth, and if I miss a dose, I get absolutely wild dreams, and my anxiety comes creeping back in. Also, I notice it makes me ramble on and on when I talk sometimes, which can be a little embarrassing, especially in work situations. Overall though, the benefits significantly outweigh the side effects!!"

9 / 10
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  • Nes...
  • December 22, 2009

Desvenlafaxine "I was given this medication as a test of some sort. I had been in an abusive relationship, and I was having issues with it. My blood pressure was sky-high. My doctor gave me the blood pressure medication, and she gave me the Pristiq as a means of calming me down and seeing if it would help me lower my blood pressure. I can say that within the first week of taking this medicine, I was a new person again. It helped me a lot, and people even noticed a new and happier me. I call it my 'Happy Pill,' and people really see that now I am happy. My energy level is much better than it was before. Really good product. I just ran out of samples, so now I am asking my doctor to prescribe it to me permanently."

10 / 10
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  • See...
  • September 30, 2017

"I've had mostly a positive experience with Pristiq. Some nervousness, but I think I'm still adjusting to it. I've seen several people post on the generic not being effective, so before I started taking it, I did some digging and discovered that Greenstone is a subsidiary of Pfizer, and they distribute an authorized generic. Authorized generics are the name brand repackaged as a generic."

9 / 10
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  • Lau...
  • August 15, 2009

Desvenlafaxine "I've been on Pristiq for two weeks. I've noticed a remarkable change in my energy level, mood, and am no longer isolating myself. I am also more focused. I've lost weight on this medicine and had a dry mouth in the beginning. It does curb my appetite, and after two weeks, lost 8 pounds. I seem to be eating smaller portions. This medicine is definitely a wonder drug for me."

10 / 10
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  • Anx...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • August 11, 2018

"I've been on this medication for about 2 months or so, maybe longer, and I can tell you it doesn't do much. I have severe panic disorder and anxiety. I may as well not take the medicine if I want to be this miserable. I'm hesitant to come off since nothing seems to be helpful. I'm a 30-year-old female and wish to have a life in which I can function and enjoy."

4 / 10
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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.

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