Desvenlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder User Reviews (Page 3)

• DD0...
• June 2, 2017

Desvenlafaxine "I have been taking Pristiq for 5 years. It took a month to get used to, but after that, the anger, depression, and anxiety were almost completely gone. I was very calm and not much rattled me. Then, surprise, I was given the generic about 2 months ago, the anger and anxiety are back full force. Now I am going to have to try something else because the generic doesn't work. Sorry, world, I'm full of anger and anxious. Here we go again."

• Arc...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 25, 2022

Desvenlafaxine "I’ve been on Pristiq for 21 years after trying almost every other antidepressant on the market. I take 200 mg a day in the morning. And if I forget (and once in a blue moon, I do), I am in tears by the second day, which always reminds me. It has saved my life!!! LITERALLY!!! I would be dead by now if I hadn’t been on it. I also take another antidepressant at night called Valdoxan (50 mg), which was added about 5 years ago. My depression is major and is still not wholly controlled. But I am so much better than I was, and I thank this to Pristiq. None of the others worked for me. I can’t remember if I had any side effects at the beginning, it’s too long ago, but I know I will be on this for the rest of my life - or I will die - it’s as simple as that. The only side effect I experience is loss of libido, which my husband and I happily trade for me being alive. So if you are clinically depressed and want to feel better, ask your doctor about it. Stay safe."

• Anonymous
• March 2, 2017

Desvenlafaxine "After reading the reviews of Pristiq, I am amazed at the number of people that have had the DNA test and end up on Pristiq. When I took the DNA test, Pristiq was the 'only' antidepressant found suitable for me. I have been on several antidepressants, one being Prozac, that worked very well for me for years with no noticeable side effects. I began to wonder why Prozac was in the list of antidepressants NOT to use when it had worked so well for me. I took the Pristiq for a few days, and the side effects were so horrendous that I had to discontinue. The cost is also prohibitive for some people. My co-pay with insurance was about $300. I have a very dim view of the drug and the DNA test that shows only Pristiq as suitable for my gene makeup!"

• Jes...
• January 16, 2018

Desvenlafaxine "This has been my 'miracle drug.' My depression was identified as medication-resistant, meaning that nothing worked. ECT was suggested, I refused and wanted to try a few more meds first against my doctor's advice. I'm glad I did. Pristiq has completely stopped my depressive lows. Thanks to my bipolar disorder, I regularly had depressive episodes that would last for months. Now... I still have my 'down days,' but they are nowhere near as severe and only last a day or two..."

• Mov...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 14, 2020

Desvenlafaxine "I've been on Pristiq for around 9 months now. Initially, getting on it was hard, but then it was the best thing for me at the time, it really got me out of a tough place. But then I started to gain weight, and usually my weight is quite stable, but now I'm bigger than ever. I get an intense pain in my jaw, making it hard for me to eat. I have no sex drive whatsoever, and my memory is shocking, I can hardly think straight. If I miss my dose time by an hour, the brain zaps are terrible, and I can hardly concentrate. I'm heading to the doctor's tomorrow to get off, and hoping I don't put on more weight in the process because the weight gain is making me feel a lot worse. I've given it a 2 as it was super helpful at the start, and it's the only meds that have really helped me mentally, but I can't cope with the side effects."

• Mom...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 15, 2019

Desvenlafaxine "I have major depression and horrible anxiety since childhood. I have been on Pristiq for 3 years. I tried many, many antidepressants, and they either didn't work, or the side effects were so awful I had to discontinue before it worked. I'm sensitive to medication, but had no problems with Pristiq. I never have had the foggy/zombie feeling like other antidepressants can cause. It worked really well for about 2 1/2 years (really stopped working when I was switched to generic). Now I am slowly tapering off onto a new med. Just be careful coming off Pristiq. I went 5 days without it (issues with insurance and the doctor's office), and it was a living nightmare! Full-blown panic attacks, dizziness, severe nausea, brain zaps, and out of touch with reality. Overall, I would recommend Pristiq. Everyone's body is different, but it worked wonders for me!"

• Eri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 12, 2021

Desvenlafaxine "I've been on every antidepressant known to man, plus lithium and risperidone. This is the only thing that has worked and has helped me feel normal, but also good at the same time. This has saved my life."

• Sas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2019

Desvenlafaxine "36 yr old female. Dx of severe depression and anxiety. After getting through the first couple of weeks of almost debilitating headaches, loss of appetite (which I'm already underweight and have tried everything to gain some lbs), insomnia (isn't new for me, but it just makes it much worse), and extreme nausea and overall feeling of complete garbage, this medication has been amazing for me. I had tried just about all of the main antidepressants, and this one has truly helped me so much. I just have a very hard time remembering to take it. After missing just a day or two, when I start to take it again, I have to go through the awful feeling from the side effects all over again."

• Adu...
• December 5, 2019

Desvenlafaxine "I promised myself and others that once I was at around 6 weeks of using this, I would review it, as I have had one nightmare of a ride that last year, trying multiple different psychotropic meds, finally, I am feeling normal. I can function, get up early, come home from work, and actually play with my kids, get chores completed, even after a full day of work. The list goes on. I had really bad insomnia that made my depression and anxiety 100 times worse before this medication and was just starting to sleep normally again (with Seroquel and Trazodone) but was still very depressed. I started this with hesitation, knowing in the past SSRIs would give me insomnia for a while. The insomnia on this med decreased from extreme in the first week to mild by week 6 (now). Insomnia is a big trigger for me, so to be sleeping now (with Ambien and Klonopin) is great. I was on the brink of suicide day after day for the last 6-8 months. I take 50 mg of Pristiq."

• Fad...
• January 18, 2020

Desvenlafaxine "This drug Pristiq has worked well for me and my depression, but it has me concerned that I will have a very hard time if I ever stop taking it. Your body seems to develop a need to have this drug in your system, and side effects from missing even one dose are alarming. Severe headaches and tingling sensations in hands and feet have been my experience. Definitely don't just up and stop taking this if you are already on it. You will be in for a wildly unpleasant ride."

• Bob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 28, 2022

Desvenlafaxine "Horrendous side effects for me, I was on it for just over 5 weeks. Pristiq made me have intrusive suicidal thoughts. Also lapsed into acute psychosis when I went from 50 mg to 100 mg. It's beyond me that it doesn't come in a 25 mg dosage in my country as this would have prevented the serotonin syndrome symptoms I suffered. Far better off stepping up in 25 mg doses in my experience. I've now had my doctor switch me to a new medication and am doing a lot better."

• Ama...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 3, 2023

Desvenlafaxine "I was trying this out because I never stayed on Zoloft for long due to the sexual side effects not helped by adding Wellbutrin. I was on Pristiq, the lowest dose, for a week, and I just couldn’t do it. Major crying spells from day 1 and really intense anxiety, both physical and psychological. A few days in, the sadness wasn’t as overwhelming, but I started to feel a weird chest heaviness, and my heart was fluttering (healthy 29-year-old), also was still having a lot of anxiety. Didn’t make it to day 7. Had I not had the chest thing going on, I probably would have tried to stick with it for longer."

• Zyz...
• April 19, 2017

"I'm wondering about generic Pristiq. My pharmacy dispensed 50 mg tablets of generic Pristiq about a month ago. My pdoc was surprised since she didn't even know there was such a thing. I took them one time and experienced profound anxiety and depression. I have been in to see her three times since. I still feel like I'm being affected by whatever was in those pills. My doc upped my Klonopin (which I did NOT want to do), but we had no choice. I am now still on the brand name Pristiq but had to go up 50 mg. I don't know what the deal was, but I would advise anyone taking Pristiq to stick with the brand name. I am just now starting to feel 'normal' again! I have read that the patent on Pristiq won't be up for several more years!!"

• ShB...
• June 9, 2019

Desvenlafaxine "I had headaches and nausea during the initial adjustment phase when starting Pristiq (for MDD). The only real long-term side effects I’ve had are that I definitely find it much harder to concentrate, and I’m pretty flat all the time. I don’t get the highs, but more importantly, I don’t get the lows, which I have no doubt would have ended my life. It has allowed me to deal with what would normally be very stressful situations (redundancy, loss of contact with siblings) with ease, as it just stops things from getting on top of me, and I have more of a ‘whatever’ attitude, which at times makes me feel like an emotionless robot. I remind myself of how I used to deal with these situations, and being a robot is FAR better for both me and my family. Anyone thinking of trying Pristiq needs to give it time, as there will be an adjustment period. You can’t make any decisions after a week or two. You need to do at least a month to 6 weeks for everything to adjust and settle down to see how it’s really working for you."

• DD...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 31, 2017

Desvenlafaxine "Pristiq, BRAND NAME ONLY. I give 10 plus. Best thing out there for me. 50 mg - barely any side effects, crazy night sweats, but sex drive in check - key for happy soul and relationships. Do not take generic, I had a serious relapse in depression that almost put me in the hospital. Mind you, it took 3 months for us to realize what was happening, so be careful! The generic is too new to find much information, and if you Google how inadequate testing is, you'll be persuaded not to use it. Found Pristiq after decades of different cocktails until my new doctor had me take a genetic test - not an ancestry test. I highly suggest it, super informative regarding how your body breaks down psych meds. Thank you for sharing - today I live because I am not alone."

• SBr...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 27, 2021

Desvenlafaxine "For me, Pristiq was a miracle. After several years on Paxil, Zoloft, and Effexor, I still did not seem whole and was still very depressed but in a zombie-like state, feeling no emotion to anything. I weaned myself off. Then my doctor told me about Pristiq and started me at 50 mg, which helped just not much. The next week, he upped my dose to 100 mg, and a whole new world opened up for me. I didn't experience any side effects and also dropped some weight. For me, Pristiq changed my life for the better. Very expensive drug, but worth it."

• Jak...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 11, 2019

Desvenlafaxine "I give Pristiq a 10 for feeling better and 5 because it masks poor life circumstances, so you can cope, but you aren't doing anything about possible underlying issues, and meanwhile, your actual real life can get dysfunctional. Took it for 3 years - got my degree done, which was awesome, but then realized that I was tolerating normally intolerable domestic violence levels at home. Took myself off it and now living the dream."

• Bri...
• April 5, 2021

Desvenlafaxine "I have Bipolar Disorder I and severe depression, along with anxiety. I was on Prozac for many months, and it didn't help at all. I was so tired of feeling this way, and I said enough! I've been on several different antidepressants (Latuda, Seroquel, Geodon, Abilify, and Prozac), and now my doctor just switched me over to Pristiq. He put me on 25 mg while weaning me off of the Prozac. At first, Pristiq made me mentally foggy and dizzy. I've actually been reading good reviews for this medication and decided to give it a try. I know that it takes some time for meds to get used to your body, so you have to give it some time. As of right now, I'm not feeling suicidal, and I'm not crying at the drop of a hat anymore, which is awesome to me. I will be patient with this medication to see what else happens and if I notice any more improvements. I have a good feeling about this medication. So, if you're debating on whether or not you should take it, just take a risk and see what happens."

• Kha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 10, 2019

Desvenlafaxine "I take 100 mg Pristiq with 7.5 mg Remeron. Pristiq did not do much on its own, but this combination works wonders for my depression and anxiety. I am actually happy now! I had the Gene test done, and both Remeron and Pristiq were recommended."

• Al ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 5, 2022

Desvenlafaxine "Horrible experience. I wish I had never started. I had serotonin syndrome going from 50 mg to 100 mg, I literally couldn't get out of bed for a week, anxiety, major depression, paranoia, dilated pupils, you name it. I went back to my doc, and he immediately told me to stop taking it. We switched over to an SSRI, and now I'm doing a lot better. Again, I honestly wish I had never agreed to taking Pristiq. 0/10."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 12, 2019

Desvenlafaxine "This is the worst experience I’ve had on a medication. Pristiq made me more depressed than ever and increased my suicidal thoughts. I started having uncontrollable crying spells so bad I was leaving work because they just wouldn’t stop. I know for some people it may work, but this has been the worst time I’ve ever had on this."

• 24...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 9, 2015

Desvenlafaxine "The first two days on Pristiq, I felt really heavy and out of it. I knew it was working when the initial shock to my body passed - I was ready to give something a chance for my anxiety and major depression. So, two weeks on it, I'm starting to feel a lot happier. But there has been some slight apprehension along the way due to some side effects: constipation and worried about other potential SE's from SNRIs, but this medication seems to be pretty mild (50 mg) and has been helping to level out my serotonin - norepinephrine levels."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2014

Desvenlafaxine "Pristiq was a miracle for me. I was originally put on the 50 mg, and my mood drastically changed from depressed and anxious to happy and functioning. Do NOT forget to take it, though. I forgot to take a dose one day, and I was a mess the whole day. When I finally took it again, it didn't work as well, so I had to have the dosage doubled. Then I ran out and couldn't get in touch with my psychiatrist, so I spent about a week off of it. I was extremely depressed and had to be watched closely by my family and boyfriend to make sure that I didn't hurt myself. I tried going back on it, but it no longer worked. I'm not sure if I hadn't had those mishaps with taking it if I would still be on it, but it was definitely a lifesaver while it worked."

• Med...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 14, 2022

Desvenlafaxine "Been on it 3+ weeks, first 3 were 50 mg, now up to 100 mg because I still had breakthrough moments of dark thoughts. Love this med so much - minimal side effects that have gone away quickly (insomnia first night, constipation first few days). Feel a lot happier genuinely - like I don’t have the dark cloud blocking out my happy light. On Adderall 20 mg x2 daily and Abilify 5 mg as well. But was still depressed until Pristiq!"

• Chr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 8, 2022

Desvenlafaxine "Over the past few months, I’ve been working with my psych to switch from venlafaxine to Pristiq. I was really hesitant about withdrawal, so we’ve been changing doses very slowly, coming from venlafaxine 150 mg ER to desvenlafaxine 50 mg over multiple months. I have energy throughout the day, and my mind is finally calm. I’ve been on multiple SSRIs throughout my life, and this has had the least side effects, least withdrawal issues, and least medical concerns. I’m excited to continue."