Desvenlafaxine for Anxiety User Reviews (Page 4)

• Wal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2019

"Not good for me. After the first 2 days, no real side effects. Day 4, couldn't settle. Walking around the house and garden, feeling sick in the stomach. Day 5: eight hours of on-and-off panic attacks. Night five: extreme anxiety all night. Day six, did not take it and resumed to normal by the afternoon. Awful reaction. Never again!!"

• DT2...
• February 18, 2012

Desvenlafaxine "This is my third round of starting Pristiq (02/12). First was in 2008. In 2008, I literally had no anxiety or depression after four weeks and thought Pristiq was incredible (first and only experience with an antidepressant)! I started sleeping better immediately. Discontinued cold turkey after a few months thinking I was 'cured' of anxiety... NEVER ever do that!!! Round two was during summer 2010. The anxiety and depression returned with a vengeance. Started Pristiq again and began to feel the positive effects after two weeks. I gradually discontinued the medicine around January 2011 because my stress (likely diet and job) was out of control. No side effects here and no plans to discontinue. My wife takes it for panic disorder - works like a charm!"

• Hea...
• July 13, 2011

Desvenlafaxine "I was very reluctant to go on medication, but my anxiety, which was overwhelming, increased to such an extent I was very unmotivated professionally and personally. For the first 3 days, I felt very nauseous and had little appetite, which was great as it stopped that overeating I had. I lost 2 kg within the first few days, and then suddenly the nausea was gone, my head was very clear, I have been able to concentrate again, and am genuinely surprised at its effect only a week and a half in."

• rma...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 6, 2023

"I was originally on Lexapro, which I had a bad reaction to it due to insomnia for 2 weeks. Ended up in the psych ward for 5 days. After a month of trying other meds, I landed in another psych hospital for 13 days. They put me on desvenlafaxine among other meds. I followed up with the psychiatrist at week 4 and immediately started cutting back on other meds (Abilify, Lamotrigine, Doxepin). I felt the difference in depression coming down on week 4-5. I didn't feel the difference with anxiety until weeks 8-9. Right now I'm on week 10 and it's getting better and better. I don't feel awkward around people, I'm not cutting conversations short, I'm actually engaging in conversation. I'm able to go out and eat at restaurants and drive alone. My thoughts are more under control. I had a bit of constipation but it went away upon cutting back on other meds, so I'm not sure if it was the desvenlafaxine. Other than that, I had no other side effects. My sex drive actually improved. Highly recommend."

• Anx...
• September 1, 2018

"Was hesitant to try this because I've seen bad reviews. The first couple of days I was filled with anxiety, but I started a new medication, so I pushed on. About the 4th day of taking it, I got super light-headed and fainted. I called my doctor, and he told me to drink more water, and so I kept with it. I was still feeling light-headed every so often. The second week I had a good two days of no anxiety, felt like it was working, then the next day a wave of thoughts and anxiety crashed into me again. I kept with it because doc said two to three weeks, well after a month of taking it. It didn't get any better. Actually, it got much worse, more anxiety on this medication than ever before. This did not work for me, and I get that everybody is different, but I've tried a lot of different medications, but this was definitely the worst."

• pri...
• March 1, 2009

Desvenlafaxine "I'm taking Pristiq for mild anxiety. Side effects include interrupted sleeping patterns, severe constipation, and decreased sexual drive/inability to have an orgasm. Anxiety has decreased tremendously, and I feel great (i.e., more patience, focused, clear-headed), but not sure if side effects are worth it."

• Anonymous
• March 2, 2010

Desvenlafaxine "I have been taking Pristiq since June 2009-almost 9 months. I don't think I really had a clue at how depressed and anxious I was until I started on these medicines. I remember going out on a boat and water skiing with no hesitations, like the good old days! It was a beautiful thing! I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease, and it literally consumed me for two years. I would break down in doctor's offices regularly and started having panic attacks in the middle of the night, and then finally during the day. My side effects are on and off night sweats, and if I miss a pill, I would have nausea and light-headedness, but otherwise, sex is good! It seems to work! Had weight loss = 5 lbs."

• All...
• August 25, 2016

"I am only on day 2 for anxiety. I was on Effexor before for 7 years, and it has helped my anxiety a lot, but it recently stopped working. My doctor said it can happen when our bodies get used to the medication. I also didn't like the no libido side effect of Effexor, but I never bothered changing because it was working for anxiety. Pristiq is already calming me down. I haven't had heart palpitations. My thoughts alone would create the heart palpitations, and Effexor wasn't doing the job anymore in avoiding the physical symptoms of anxiety. Pristiq seems good so far. Pristiq brought my libido back! :) Also, my insurance covers for the most part, so I only pay $20/month. I'm in Canada too ;) without insurance it would be about $90/month."

• Bob...
• April 25, 2018

"I started by taking 25 mg at night at around 8:00 PM, didn't go to sleep till 2:30 AM, and strangely wasn't very tired. As I laid in bed, I felt an overwhelming sense of panic creep in, which slowly grew much, MUCH worse. I ended up getting out of bed and pacing back and forth inside my room, where my mind felt like it was racing at 1000x a second. My body began to shake, my vision decreased slightly, I lost my coordination, felt it very hard to concentrate, and at one point it felt like my legs wanted to give out from underneath me. Most importantly, I had the biggest panic attack I've ever experienced and was very heavily breathing. I may have been experiencing something known as serotonin syndrome, which can induce seizures. Thankfully, I had some clonazepam on hand and took a small dose to calm myself down, which helped significantly. I will be indefinitely discontinuing the use of all SSRIs and SNRIs in the future, courtesy of the side effects of desvenlafaxine."

• Sou...
• March 9, 2015

"I was prescribed Pristiq last year for depression and anxiety. At first, I did not want to take any meds due to a bad experience with Prozac when I was 30. I am now in my 50s. After the first day, I felt amazingly better. I got up early and felt incredible clarity, focus, and worthiness. At that time, I weighed 120. I gained 5 lbs and probably lost muscle. Prior to Pristiq, I was very physically active. I feel very calm now and go for walks, but for whatever reason, I do not work out like I did before. Soon after getting on Pristiq, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism even though I was quite fit and thin. So, I was put on levothyroxine for that condition. I would say the weight gain and some sleepiness have been a side effect for me, but not sure from which medicine."

• Bea...
• February 2, 2012

Desvenlafaxine "I started taking Pristiq about 5 weeks ago. I was experiencing some nausea at first, but after about two weeks it faded. About three weeks in, I forgot to take the medicine for three days and completely plummeted into a dangerous pool of emotion. I have been on one other medication, Celexa, and what I like about Pristiq is that I am still able to experience a wide range of emotions. When I was on Celexa, I was a little bit numb to things and wasn't able to cry at all. With Pristiq, I am more focused and I am happier."

• New...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 24, 2017

"This review and rating is for the generic of Pristiq (desvenlafaxine). I was recently switched to the generic due to my insurance policy. Took it for over a month, and I have been getting panic attacks, heart palpitations, insomnia, and depression. It was as if I wasn't taking any medication at all! I seem to have a sensitivity with certain generic drugs (also cannot take generic birth control pills). My doctor agreed and put me back on the brand name, and it was a lot of hoop jumping with the insurance company to get this mail order pushed through and to avoid their $700 penalty fee for going back to brand names. If you are hesitant about the generic, definitely try the brand name!"

• zep...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 29, 2013

"I started using this medication, and I immediately felt the effects. For a few hours after taking it every day, I felt mildly nauseous, slightly confused, and quite high. After it wore off, I was left with loss of appetite (which caused me to feel quite sick), insomnia, and yawning often. I also experienced delayed/abnormal orgasm (I am a 20-year-old woman). It did make me feel a lot happier and energetic. And the bad side effects got better and better every day, except for the sexual side effects, which remained the same. I've decided to stop taking it because of the sexual side effects. I don't want it to affect my relationship."

• Amo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2020

"Started this drug, desvenlafaxine, 5 days ago when I had my 2nd ever panic attack, and I haven’t been able to sleep since. At first, I thought it was my anxiety keeping me up, but it was the side effects of this drug that have only made my anxiety worse. I warn those this seems to be a strong drug, and don’t be tempted to get on it after your first anxiety attacks. I plan to get off of it, but I am terrified that my body will react to the removal of this drug from my system. I'd rather have an anxiety attack than feel like a zombie at 4 am struggling to sleep. My doctor said I can wean off of it after a year, but I have yet to read about someone successfully doing so."

• 32 ...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 2, 2019

"I’ve been on Pristiq (50 mg) for 18 months, and it’s helped reduce my anxiety immensely. The first week was tough, feeling nauseous, tired, and dizzy, but that all went away. However, I’ve noticed that my weight loss plateaued and has hovered around the same weight since. This is besides a healthy diet and gym 3-4 times a week. I also have a minimal libido/sex drive and issues with maintaining an erection or “finishing.” However, the improvement in my mental health meant I didn’t care while I was single; now that I’m dating, it does get frustrating. I’ve also noticed jaw tension, as I saw another reviewer write. I also have some detachment from emotions in general, but not so severe that I feel like a robot. Missing a day can also be hell; I usually take my tablet in the morning, and if I forget, I feel dizzy and cannot focus by 2 pm. About to talk with my GP about coming off to see how I go without meds again."

• Anonymous
• July 20, 2009

Desvenlafaxine "I have been on Pristiq 50 mg for 2 days now. I suffer from a host of illnesses: fibromyalgia, CFS, migraines, depression, etc. I have noticed a tremendous increase in my energy in just 2 days. However, I have been having severe abdominal cramps after eating (and I am eating light), but my psychiatrist advised me that the stomach pains should subside shortly. I finally got through a day with a much more positive attitude."

• Tom...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 9, 2016

"I have been on Pristiq for half a year now. I started on 50 mg and quickly worked my way up to 100 mg. I take it specifically for anxiety. Aside from general anxiety disorder, I have bipolar, and so I take other drugs such as Lamictal, Lithium, and Latuda to help with depression. With Pristiq, I don't experience much in the way of side effects. My doctor told me to watch out for fatigue, as it is a common side effect, but I was tired even before starting Pristiq, so I can't comment on that. Recently, I read about grinding teeth as an effect, and finally, I was able to explain why I have been doing that every day. But that's it for me. It has helped a lot with anxiety. Occasionally, however, I do have bouts. I don't think anything's foolproof."

• Anonymous
• March 21, 2009

Desvenlafaxine "I have just started 50 mg of Pristiq this morning after having a mild panic attack, and after about one hour, I felt much better. I have had severe panic attacks and insomnia since my tubal ligation almost a year ago. I have been through a lot of medications that only left me feeling like a zombie, and I am finding that you can compare yourself to others and put yourself in a box, or you can realize that God made us all in a unique way. Just because one drug works for one person does not mean it will work well for another. I am still going to take it one day at a time and stay in prayer that the doctors I am seeing will give me medicines to get me the balance my brain needs to have a healthy and normal life."

• Anonymous
• June 28, 2019

"I've taken desvenlafaxine for about 18 months, and in the beginning, it worked great for me. It helped me feel happy for the first time in years. But I have severe anxiety issues that it no longer works for without an increase. I want to get off of medications now because ultimately I am the source of the solution for every issue I have."

• The...
• February 27, 2009

Desvenlafaxine "I've been dealing with severe panic disorder for about 9 months. I really did try many medications, and I have to say that Pristiq has been the best for me. I've been taking it for about 6 weeks and feel much better. Although at times my sleeping is not so great, but the other benefits do outweigh that. I am very happy with Pristiq."

• Mkl...
• June 27, 2021

"I am on day 3. Weaning off 20 mg Lexapro, at 10 mg/day for 1 week. My house is spotless! But with the deaths of my parents and sister in 10 years, I have been hit hard, 10 years ago. People need to understand, no matter how strong a person you are, this nasty anxiety has no bias! I felt I was letting everyone down I loved, this alone causes you depression, hard to explain. I have an outgoing personality as I work with the public daily, in truth, that is what saved me to make it through another day. Most times I didn't want to go home after work. The house, mess... no one respecting my little requests, e.g., picking up shoes, putting their own backpacks out of the hallway. I'd leave notes to, it just made me feel sad and alone. I'm hopeful now I found relief! Wonder how family will respond? Besides always pushing my buttons for a reaction."

• sad...
• May 7, 2009

Desvenlafaxine "I've been on Pristiq for 10 days now. It has really helped me - no side effects. I eat when taking it, it helps. I'm also on Suboxone for pain. I've noticed that I smoke more now, which might be from financial problems. I get constipation a bit more, but minimal problem. I have to take it in the morning, like many people say, or it keeps me up. Weird how different it affects people - some people say it helps them sleep. Good luck, folks."

• Bea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 4, 2016

"I suffer from chronic depression and high anxiety all my life. Other medications work, but I am so out of touch with reality I choose not to take them. I started a 300 mg twice a day dose of oxcarbazepine with 50 mg of Pristiq. I have only been taking this for two weeks, but so far everything is great. I am experiencing what it's like to be “normal.” A feeling I have rarely experienced, so it feels a little abnormal. Life is much better now, the best I have ever felt. I hope it works for years to come."

• fee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 14, 2012

Desvenlafaxine "The first few weeks were not pleasant, but soon after the Pristiq started to help regulate my mood, it made me less likely to be anxious, angry, or sad. Basically, it made me not really care about much of anything. It did help me leave a bad relationship, which I believe was the source of much of my anxiety. Three to four months in, and I am now growing tired of feeling so 'blah' all the time. I am planning to taper after the Thanksgiving holiday, so hopefully, I am back to normal around mid-December. I am not looking forward to the discontinuation symptoms, i.e., withdrawals."

• Anonymous
• March 6, 2011

Desvenlafaxine "I was experiencing major anxiety, which I only have when I have major life changes. After getting engaged, moving, planning a wedding, and changing jobs, the anxiety kicked in full force. The doctor put me on Zoloft, which made me very, very nauseous. I lost 10 pounds on it, was miserable as it also caused more anxiety and moodiness. The doctor gave me trials of Pristiq...AMAZING. I had not realized how closed off I was until I tried Pristiq. It increased my ability to have relationships with friends, my fiancé, and even family. Prior to Pristiq, I was very shy and untrusting of everyone. I tried Lexapro too due to insurance requirements. Dislike - for me, it caused weight gain, clenched jaw, moodiness. Long process to find the right medicine!"