Pristiq and Depression: What Users Say (Page 3)

• cra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 11, 2016

For Depression "Have been on Pristiq 50 for 2 weeks, was previously on Effexor 75 mg for 6 months. Doc has put me on the Pristiq because it is supposed to be easier to wean off of. I don't think these meds have helped my depression at all. The first few days on the Pristiq I was very dizzy, since then, I am even more anxious and depressed. I am seeing my doc in a week to taper off these horrible meds. NEVER AGAIN. I also take Adderall XR 25 mg twice daily for ADHD, these meds usually calm me. I am now having to take Klonopin daily just to get by. Also, my hairdresser noticed how much hair loss I've had. I still don't know if this is from stress, the Effexor, Adderall, or my birth control pills, since all meds can have this effect."

• Pen...
• April 26, 2011

For Depression "Started on Pristiq after my dad passed away two years ago, and I was to the point I couldn't handle life. It was great; I was happy, I could cope, I didn't gain too much weight (a little maybe, but I wasn't 'obsessed' with food). My sex drive was pretty much gone though. Because of lack of sex drive and sudden migraines, I went off it after a year. Tried to start taking it again, and it just wasn't working anymore. The number one thing I would warn people about is that it's really hard to stop taking this medication. The side effects with the withdrawals are brain shocks, depression, blurry vision, confusion, exhaustion."

• coc...
• October 11, 2010

For Depression "I really think this is a wonderful drug for depression if you don't have any severe side effects. I, unfortunately, am experiencing a lot of jaw, face, and eye pain. I went to 5 doctors about it before my psychologist said it was the antidepressant. He gave me Klonopin, which made me moody, depressed, and extremely self-conscious (not to mention sleepy). I've also had 3 anxiety attacks since taking the Klonopin. So, I am weaning myself off of both and am going back to the doctor in a week."

• Anonymous
• December 22, 2011

For Anxiety "I started on an anxiety medication that caused me weight gain, so I switched to Pristiq, which I was told was good to help control weight gain, even reverse it. I have been on it for 3 months, and my weight gain has exploded, putting on 6 kgs. I still feel a little uneasy. Maybe I need to up my dose, but I'm so very depressed that my weight is out of control."

• Can...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 30, 2019

"Taking Pristiq for mild depression and memory loss. Depression symptoms were moderately relieved for about the first 1-1.5 years, but I seemed 'flat' to others and myself, both are starting to return to premedicated levels now, though. My dreams have been so real and upsetting that I do not know if what happened in them is real or not, initially, this was several times a week. It is now down to bi-weekly. The calf muscle cramps that initially happened 1-2 times weekly are best described as seizures, with my leg being twisted into a pretzel while the muscle pulsates and writhes and will not release for usually 10-15 minutes, and then feeling like it is torn up for a few days. This is down to about a monthly occurrence now."

• Hel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 15, 2019

For Depression "Don't take Pristiq, it makes you feel like a zombie with no emotions. Coming off this is also a nightmare."

• ebe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 4, 2017

For Depression "SCARIEST ANTI-DEPRESSANT I'VE EVER TRIED! Put me into the stratosphere of anxiety/depression-became suicidal-anything or nothing is better than this!"

• Anonymous
• January 24, 2016

For Depression "Could not concentrate or think on this medicine, I took it for a week and stopped. Felt depressed and anxious on it."