Pristiq and Dizziness: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Anonymous
• March 4, 2010

For Anxiety "I have been taking Pristiq for 2.5 weeks now. I was having very few side effects, lots of yawning initially, but this is improving. I have mild depression and anxiety and OCD (which only acts up when I am stressed). I have been feeling pretty good, but the last few days I have had blurred vision and dizziness, lots of ringing in the ears, and dry mouth. I am hoping this passes. My mood is pretty good, and I am sleeping well."

• coo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 21, 2016

For Depression "I know people react to medication differently, some have had great experiences, but most have seen the dark side of this medication. I've been on multiple medications, this is definitely the last one I will ever go on. My suicidal thoughts increased to almost daily, felt like self-harming myself all the time. Super irritable. I was only on the medication for 2 months, before, I was on Effexor for almost 2 years. Multiple medications before. I decided to wean off of it with the help of the pharmacist for a month. After officially being off of them, I have never felt something so horrible as these withdrawal symptoms. So dizzy, I couldn't get out of bed for 4 days, brain zaps, shaking uncontrollably, hot and cold flashes, etc. BE CAREFUL."

• srt...
• February 17, 2009

For Depression "I have been on Pristiq for 6 days now. I am feeling better, but still have nausea and dizziness, but it's getting better. I have never been on any kind of medicine except antibiotics. I am also still tense, but hope that will go away soon. Reading all of the comments has helped."

• Anonymous
• March 6, 2010

For Depression "I experienced 3 of the most common side effects of Pristiq. I experience nausea, loss of appetite, and dizziness. The nausea and loss of appetite were minimal, and I could get along with my day. However, the dizziness, in my opinion, is not a side effect to be taken lightly. I was so dizzy I could not concentrate or do well in class. I had to stop taking it because it was disrupting my schoolwork very badly."

• kat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 27, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "Took the dose of 100 mg for about a year with Remeron and never noticed anything helpful about it. The only reason I stayed on it was because of the horrible withdrawals I had to deal with. This past week, I finally kicked it after taking 25 mg for about 3 months. Absolutely horrendous. Didn’t want to eat, I am dizzy, I’m shaky, have horrible constant vertigo/brain zaps, and got thrown into a depressive episode worse than I ever had before. I realize it was the withdrawals' fault. Do not suggest taking it unless you have experience with withdrawal."

• kat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 27, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "Took the dose of 100 mg for about a year with Remeron and never noticed anything helpful about it. The only reason I stayed on it was because of the horrible withdrawals I had to deal with. This past week, I finally kicked it after taking 25 mg for about 3 months. Absolutely horrendous. Didn’t want to eat, I am dizzy, I’m shaky, have horrible constant vertigo/brain zaps, and got thrown into a depressive episode worse than I ever had before. I realize it was the withdrawals' fault. Do not suggest taking it unless you have experience with withdrawal."

• myb...
• July 24, 2009

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been taking this now for 30 days, and on the 13th day, I felt dizzy and sick to my stomach. I also did not feel emotionally well for a few days after. I lost weight the first week, and my appetite has been suppressed somewhat. I continue to lose a few pounds a week. The doctor thinks the side effects I have had will diminish, so I will be taking this for another month."

• rel...
• August 13, 2011

For Anxiety "I've been using Pristiq for 6 months now. I have never used any form of medication for anxiety before, as I said to myself I never want to be on medication. So I spoke to family, friends, and then finally a psychologist to help me with my constant anxiety and negative mind chatter, but nothing helped, so I decided to see my doctor for a prescription for an anti-depressant/anti-anxiety type medication. He recommended Pristiq. The first few days I felt a little dizzy, some constipation, but that soon passed, and in about 2 weeks, I was feeling a lot calmer, more level-headed, and a lot more positive. It has helped me get through a tough time, and I would recommend it."

• Nat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 30, 2019

For Depression "So I got a bit depressed after a work accident, it was exactly a year after I was having major panic attacks and got put on Effexor 75 mg. After 6 months, I was back to normal. 5 years later, and everything came back so severe I tried Effexor 150 mg and kept getting suicidal thoughts and severe dizziness every day for a year. Then my psychiatrist put me on Pristiq 100 mg, and after 5 months, I’m still the same, wondering if I should up the dose or try something else."

• Abs...
• August 25, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "Pristiq. Well. It's still early days, but I'd like to share my experience already with this medication. (I'm only on 50 mg, no idea how in the world people are surviving on 100 mg). The first few days can be described basically as absolute hell on earth. The side effects kicked in almost immediately after waking up the morning after taking it (night dose). It honestly felt exactly like coming down hard off ecstasy. I had absolutely no ability to function for hours. Then the nausea, the dizziness, the headaches, the jaw clenching, out-of-body feeling, feelings of euphoria and depression all at once. In short, it was an absolute joy! But it does get better! And it really works a treat. I find myself laughing a lot more, anxiety is half as bad."

• Mea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 6, 2019

For Depression "I have been on Pristiq for five months. I have gained 10 pounds. I was placed on this medicine for mild depression and hot flashes as I had entered menopause. At first, it helped, then, I noticed my hot flashes were coming back twice as strong, but truly what troubles me more was the significant weight gain. I tried to reduce the loan amount that I had been given and found that I had such dizziness that I almost wrecked my car. I knew it had to be the medication as I drive for a living in sales. I’m so disappointed because it helped so much at first. I hope you have better luck."

• sha...
• August 12, 2009

For Depression "I have been on Pristiq for 10 days now. The first two and a half days, I felt sick, dizzy, and fuzzy. I have had no side effects since. Lost 2.5 lbs the first week, which is a plus. Was on Lexapro a few years ago and gained a lot of weight. I also suffer from panic attacks and am taking Xanax when needed. Going through divorce, 23-year marriage."

• diz...
• September 15, 2011

For Anxiety "I started 50 mg of Pristiq only two days ago. My doctor didn't like the medicine combination that I was on before, and they seemed to not be working so well anymore. I was taking Cymbalta and Celexa. I stopped taking Cymbalta and took Pristiq and the Celexa the first day. I was very afraid of a horrid drop in my mood all day being without my Cymbalta. But my mood was great. I stopped taking the Celexa and only took the Pristiq. It's crazy, I feel good. Well, aside from the dizzy, dumb head feeling. I also get headaches here and there, but nothing too terrible. In the past, I have tried Effexor XR, Prozac, Lexapro, and Zoloft for my depression and anxiety. I am really impressed with Pristiq."

• Anonymous
• January 7, 2010

For Depression "I have been on Pristiq (50 mg) for about four months to treat depression. I feel better and have more energy, but some side effects I've encountered concern me. When I missed a dose, it sounded like fireworks were going off in my head. I could hear 'zaps' and felt dizzy and nauseated. I didn't connect it to the medication, though, so I stayed in bed the next day, unmedicated, and the symptoms got worse. I was able to see the physician's assistant who prescribed Phenergan and Valium. I'm now a little worried about going off Pristiq. I never felt like this on Paxil or Effexor."

• Anonymous
• August 11, 2009

For Depression "Have been taking Pristiq for 4 weeks and am feeling great. More focused, relaxed, and energetic. Can think clearer and no anxiety. Had dry mouth, dizziness, and loss of appetite for the first couple of days."

• jus...
• July 21, 2009

For Depression "The very first day I took Pristiq, I had severe headaches, and I never get headaches. I had diarrhea within the first hour that I took the pill. I couldn't finish my food because I haven't been feeling well, and I felt extremely dizzy. I haven't been taking it very long, but I've been sick ever since I started taking the pill."

• Anonymous
• April 2, 2009

For Anxiety "I've been taking Pristiq 50 mg daily for the past 7 months for anxiety and mild depression, and I can't say I'm much better for sticking with it. The side effects were horrible as I started - extreme dizziness, nausea, restlessness, sweating, impotence. Those subsided over the first week or two but quickly returned if I miss a dose. My energy level has not lifted and in fact may have decreased, but most importantly, I've felt more disconnected, numb, and unfocused since being on the drug. I've heard it's rough to come off, and I've been tapering back slowly, but I'm looking forward to clear thoughts and true feelings again."

• Anonymous
• September 6, 2010

For Panic Disorder "Pristiq did a good job reducing my symptoms dramatically. However, it gave me so much in return, which made my life complicated! I mean 50 lb weight gain over a year that keeps growing every month. I also cannot sleep at night as I could before. I see very vivid dreams and nightmares almost every night! It makes me wake up feeling tired. In addition, I had withdrawal symptoms when I once forgot to take my dose. I had vertigo, nausea, headache. I absolutely could not function."

• vio...
• May 16, 2011

For Depression "I was diagnosed with clinical depression over 13 years ago. I took Paxil for 1 year and swore I would never take another depression medicine. After some extreme and consistent stress in 2010, I talked to my MD, and he suggested that my depression would not just go away on its own. After explaining my drug experiences, he prescribed Lexapro, and I took it for about 3 months. It was wonderful, except that it just stopped working, I had gained 10 lbs, and the sexual side effects were terrible. He changed me to Pristiq, which I have been taking for 16 days now. I never had nausea or dizziness. I feel less hungry than I did on Lexapro, and there are no sexual side effects. At first, I felt a bit spacey, but now I have more energy."

• 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."

• drs...
• March 15, 2012

For Depression "I have been taking Pristiq for 2 years now and feel normal and stable. I have been prescribed Pristiq for major depression, which I have experienced most of my post-pubertal life. I have taken various medicines that have had differing side effects, e.g., Cipramil, Luvox, Prozac, and for me, Pristiq has been the most well-tolerated. I have not had any dryness, nausea, or dizziness, thank heavens. I don't cry for no reason anymore, and I have not had any suicide thoughts or plans since being on this medicine. I am currently going through a very stressful time (partner out of work) and am considering asking the doctor to increase my dose as I am experiencing unusually high levels of anxiety."

• Anonymous
• November 30, 2010

For Depression "I'm day 4 on Pristiq. I've always hated being medicated to treat my depression and anxiety, for some time, I had been doing okay with managing it on my own, but recent events in my life sent me for a downward spin, so I had to start the medicine. The first day was awful, I was dizzy, nauseated, shaky, and for a period of 2 hours, I was hit with a serious wave of paranoia I've never felt before. I wasn't keen to keep taking it after that, but I've stuck it out. My doctor had to give me a sedative to help level me out because I was going up and down, mood completely unpredictable. Today is the first day I've taken the sedative with Pristiq, so far, so good. I've had to be on leave from work until things are a bit more balanced."

• ash...
• September 29, 2011

For Depression "I just recently started taking it (a little less than 2 weeks ago). The first day, I was very giddy and kept getting a tingly feeling from my head to my toes. Then it stopped after the second day, but I did experience hot sweats, loss of appetite, nausea, and lack of sleep. The sleep was the worst thing! I woke up almost every hour every night for 2 weeks straight! I was either waking up and feeling wired or waking up because of the hot sweats, and I'm only 23! If you want advice, do not take caffeine until some of these side effects go away because it will make you way more wired than usual and you'll feel very uncomfortable. Also, do not drink alcohol. One sip of wine and I felt dizzy for at least an hour!"

• cym...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 2, 2019

For Depression "I started Pristiq to help with anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. The anxiety went totally away, which was awesome (hence the 2 stars). Everything else sucked. It reduced my depression about 30%, pain about 10-20%. I looked at the most common side effects of Pristiq, and they were increased or excessive sweating, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation, sleep problems (insomnia), loss of appetite, tightness in your jaw, but for me, I was so flat emotionally and ended up gaining 40 pounds, it was like my body never got the cue that I wasn't hungry. I also dealt with constipation, sexual side effects, and general blahs. Going off the medication was the hardest part. I gained 10 pounds in a month going off it, I was in a very dark place, very emotional and rage-y, and had severe dizziness for like two months. While not having anxiety was great, the apathy and weight gain, as well as minimal depressive symptom relief, made this one a no-go for me."

• nap...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 22, 2021

For Depression "Took Citalopram for 5 years and think it lost efficacy. Doctor switched me to desvenlafaxine after tapering off the Citalopram, during which I had suicidal intrusive thoughts and feelings and felt very odd. I've been on just the desvenlafaxine now for about a month and noticed I'm a lot more emotional. I cry now when I normally would not. I rarely ever cry, so I don't like it. I also missed a dose the other night and woke up the next morning feeling dizzy, brain-fogged, and just sick. I couldn't take the missed dose because it knocks me out and I had to work. Well, I was so sick I ended up going home early anyway. I was very, very sick, just from missing one dose. I was also very emotional and cried and cried toward the end of the day either from feeling so sick or from being emotional from missing the dose. I took it that night and woke up the next morning fine. I really don't like that there is no room to miss a dose ever, or I'll either be messed up all day or knocked out all day."