Pristiq and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Roo...
• October 10, 2019

For Depression "Be aware of the time-release factor in Pristiq. It is almost impossible to step down or taper off, and the side effects of missing a dose can be debilitating. I took Pristiq for over 8 years after a very traumatic experience. It helped me cope at that point in time. As a teacher, I tried almost every summer to get off the drug and finally was successful by stretching the 24 hours until I could get myself down to 25 mg one summer and then repeating the next summer to get off entirely. After 8 years of depression in an emotion-numbing state, I was able to rejoin the world with joy and enthusiasm. I learned that my 'anxiety attacks' at night were caused by A-Fib! I was misdiagnosed and suffered for 8 years, using a drug that did not alleviate the anxiety attacks! Be careful and insist that all physical factors are explored before taking an antidepressant, and avoid Pristiq like the plague. It is designed to keep you on it."

• 151...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 17, 2014

For Depression "I started taking Pristiq 50 mg for major depression, major anxiety, chronic pain. I took it the first day, and it was great! The first week, sleep and headaches were rough, but energy was good. Gradually started decreasing by itself as I kept taking the pills. Nine months later, I was still taking the pills, but I was dizzy, getting brain zaps, CRS, tinnitus, major anxiety, non-stop migraine for two months, bed rest, and had to go to the psych hospital. The psych MD upped it to 100 mg Pristiq, but that lasted a week. My whole spine was hurting, and now I am switching over to a new SNRI that I am not happy about. And still on withdrawal from Pristiq."

• oda...
• September 24, 2014

For Depression "Went from 50 mg to 100 mg. After 3 weeks on 50 mg, trying to adjust. Not getting results with tears or compulsive behavior like eating. Side effects of face flushing and hot flashes, anxiety is worse. It hasn't been 30 days on the change yet. Feel crazy."

• jus...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 3, 2013

For Depression "I have tried dozens of antidepressants in the past. None of them really worked for me. In 2009, I saw a new doctor who prescribed Pristiq. The beginning side effects weren't great: I had increased anxiety, night sweats, and trouble sleeping. The side effects only lasted the first week. I recently changed insurance and my copay was quite high, so my doctor decided to try something cheaper, which was Wellbutrin. I was on that for 8 weeks, and I never felt worse in my life! I cried all the time, constantly feeling the fight or flight response. The anxiety was unbearable. Recently, I had my doctor put me back on the Pristiq, and all is well. Worth the copay!"

• jus...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 3, 2013

For Depression "I have tried dozens of antidepressants in the past. None of them really worked for me. In 2009, I saw a new doctor who prescribed Pristiq. The beginning side effects weren't great: I had increased anxiety, night sweats, and trouble sleeping. The side effects only lasted the first week. I recently changed insurance and my copay was quite high, so my doctor decided to try something cheaper, which was Wellbutrin. I was on that for 8 weeks, and I never felt worse in my life! I cried all the time, constantly feeling the fight or flight response. The anxiety was unbearable. Recently, I had my doctor put me back on the Pristiq, and all is well. Worth the copay!"

• Ash...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 24, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "I was put on Pristiq 10 years ago, and it saved my life. I had no side effects apart from dry mouth. Only 4 months ago, I started to get anxiety and depression, so I thought Pristiq was not working and decided to come off it and go on Lexapro. This was the worst thing I ever did. I had so many side effects on Lexapro, my body hated the SSRIs. I then decided to go back to Pristiq with lots of hard work. I was on Pristiq for 2 weeks, and I feel amazing again-no more depression or wanting my life to end. This drug has helped me so much, and I am so grateful I found this amazing pill."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 2, 2022

For Depression "I was at first very hesitant to try any antidepressant, let alone a less common one like Pristiq. The 1st week, if not 2, were bad. Heightened anxiety, dizziness, nausea, shaking, vomiting, dry heaving, etc. In the 3rd week, I felt hazy in a dream-like state, however, the panic attacks became much less often. In the fourth week, I felt even better and still had some issues with anxiety, but much less severe, with occasional but manageable nausea. Now I am about 2 months in, and I have not had a panic attack in a while, have had less anxiety, and feel better overall. I did not have any weight loss or gain, as some antidepressants show, and I am now happy I persevered through the first two weeks in order to start seeing results. I wrote on here because I looked at all these before taking it, and I promise you it does better, whether it is this medication or the next, we can tough it out and support one another. I hope this review helps. Best of luck :)"

• Anonymous
• December 4, 2009

For Depression "Pristiq has significantly helped my depression. I am finally able to wake up and get through the day like a normal person! Initial side effects (first few days to a week): dizziness, blurred vision, dilated pupils, fatigue, waking up in the middle of the night, jitteriness. Ongoing side effects: dry mouth, frequent urination, jaw tension, falling asleep earlier than normal, inability to have an orgasm, and decreased appetite. The side effects can be a bit annoying, but the benefits far outweigh the side effects."

• ran...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2023

For Depression "Horrible - was on the starting dose (I think 25 mg) for 3 weeks and ended up in the ER for severe panic and suicidal thoughts. I know antidepressants often increase anxiety when you start them, but even the PRN benzo I was on did not touch the anxiety. Would not recommend."

• vug...
• November 7, 2015

For Depression "After a horrible two years on Prozac, Pristiq came in like a savior. It reminded me what my normal thought process was without depression. I started on 50 mg and, 3 months in, upped it to 100, and most of the time it's great; however, like everything, it is not perfect. I have good days and bad days. I often have a few weeks of good days, and when it's bad, it's really bad; no motivation, suicidal, depressed, anxious. I also notice that if I miss a day or two, I go through major withdrawal, and that leads to similar symptoms as a bad day. Overall, it really did change my life, but it's not perfect."

• Moo...
• April 12, 2016

For Depression "I used Pristiq for 8 days but couldn't tolerate the side effects. I was warned by my psychiatrist that the side effects could take 2-3 weeks, however, I couldn't afford to wait much. The side effects include feeling thirsty, having thoughts of going mad, fear, palpitations, heat (had to be in a cold room or otherwise I'd feel anxious), heightened anger, panic attacks. The first few days of use were fine, but I had to discontinue because my work and social life suffered."

• Aan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 11, 2019

For Depression "After having a horrifying experience with Wellbutrin, my doctor switched me to Pristiq, and it's been a life-changing experience. The first few days, I felt a little sick to my stomach, achy, and I yawned constantly. I had to remind myself to unclench my jaw. After that, I started feeling like an actual person again. I'm not having breakdowns every day. I handle stress without beating myself up. I don't have any side effects other than still having to remind myself to unclench my jaw. My anxiety is still a little harsh, which is the only reason I'm not giving it a 10."

• At ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 9, 2012

For Depression "I'm blown away, and I'm only at the end of my first week. Maybe I'm being overly optimistic, but I feel amazing! Like I was meant to always feel. I've suffered with severe depression and anxiety most of my life, tried many medications, nothing worked, and up until today, I thought Pristiq wasn't for me. The first few days were hell. My anxiety shot through the roof, had the runs, and racing pulse up until I fell asleep last night. Woke up this morning feeling a little groggy, caught the train to work. All of a sudden, I feel calm and happy. Seriously, if it stays like this, it will change my life! I'm sweating a little, but nothing too major. My vision seems clearer, I feel more focused already."

• Anonymous
• April 16, 2010

For Anxiety "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!"

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

For Anxiety "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."

• Amg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 24, 2021

For Depression "This medication gave me a horrible effect, it’s given me so much anxiety and panic attacks I can’t even think straight. I took 3 Hydroxyzine to help with a panic attack that I had last night, didn’t even help a little. I went to the ER to see if there was something that could be done, waited in the waiting room for 2 hours and decided I wasn’t going to wait there for another minute, decided to go to CVS and ask the pharmacist if I could take Klonopin on top of what I took. They said it would be fine, went home, took a Klonopin, panicked some more, laid on my couch until I passed out, woke up feeling like I partied at the biggest frat house party in the world. If this tells you anything, I was stung by a Yellowjacket for the first time a couple of days ago, so didn’t know if I was allergic or not. I had this huge panic attack, I didn’t know if it was the anxiety or if I was going into anaphylactic shock. I don’t think my anxiety could get any worse on this pill."

• Sna...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 25, 2017

For Depression "This drug I feel seems to stabilize your mood/brain and does make you happy. Not like a drug, it corrects my brain to how I'm meant to feel, (some people hopefully understand what I mean-rather than feeling down, just want to be alone, quiet, low). I think I had anxiety, mild depression, and insomnia. I feel more focused and feel my true self. I'm 35, a professional, single, fit, and healthy. Death, divorce, boom. Just battled on, shattered, hiding my feelings until finally just giving this a chance. After 1 month, I'm on 100 mg of Pristiq a day and love how it's giving me my life back!"

• Bet...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 29, 2019

"After 30 years of various 'antidepressants' (Lexapro, Lamictal, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Paxil, Prozac, amitriptyline, Depakote, to name a few), my doctor put me on 600 mg Seroquel with 50 mg Pristiq. I kept explaining that I wasn't 'depressed', I just had high 'highs' and very low 'lows'-no happy medium. I was since diagnosed bipolar. This med combo has been AMAZING. I still have anxiety and insomnia, but Xanax and Lunesta help there. I no longer dread getting out of bed, and I stopped having manic episodes. Imagine, misdiagnosed for 30 years, there was a LOT of self-medicating going on since the antidepressives just didn't work. I consider myself lucky I found a doctor who actually listened to ME for once. Pristiq has helped tremendously."

• Red...
• January 31, 2016

For Depression "I had a horrible experience with this drug! After 4 days of starting Pristiq, I started having massive anxiety and panic attacks! I could not sleep for the life of me! It felt like I had a constant rush of adrenaline! I had to be admitted to the psych ward because I went into psychosis. I stuck it out for three weeks, hoping that I would find relief from my crippling depression. No! I was more depressed, sleep deprived, constant panic. I knew the drug was causing more pain than I started off with. Every drug is different. Writing this in case someone else is having the same experience. Was switched to amitriptyline and am starting to see small improvements. If you are having horrible side effects, tell your doc! Wishing you the best!"

• Are...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 18, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have been on Pristiq for about 4 years now, and this medication saved my life. Prior to Pristiq, I was on Lexapro for 7 years, which stopped working, hence why I had to switch to Pristiq. Pristiq is a great medication and works quicker than other meds, I saw major improvements in 5 days. I do get anxiety and depression sometimes, however, I feel pretty well most of the time. I started on 50 mg, now on 100 mg, and would increase my dosage as required as advised by my doctor. Give this medication a go, personally, for me, I had minimum side effects."

• sad...
• May 7, 2009

For ADHD "What a great antidepressant - no side effects, and I actually feel happy. My mood swings have improved, and I feel calm and happy inside. Things that used to irritate me don't anymore. I can tell I have less of an appetite and more energy. I am on 1 x 50 mg a day. If you have had bad luck with side effects and antidepressants, you need to try this. I applaud Pristiq. I've been on it for ten days and am very impressed. I still get anxiety, maybe I'll have to take something else as well. It seems about 50% of people on Pristiq are doing really well (from all the boards I've browsed)."

• Anonymous
• May 22, 2009

For Anxiety "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."

• DD0...
• June 2, 2017

For Major Depressive Disorder "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."

• pri...
• September 17, 2009

For Anxiety "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!"

• Anonymous
• November 10, 2009

For Anxiety "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!!"