Pristiq and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 3)

• 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!"

• Ce ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 21, 2021

For Depression "I took Pristiq for 4 weeks, and it took away my appetite and my ability to sleep. It made me feel like a zombie. I thought everyone was against me while taking it. I had to stop taking it, as I started to feel suicidal."

• sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 17, 2018

For Depression "I took this drug for about six months. Headaches, weight gain, nausea, dizziness and head spins, sleepless nights, and my libido went out the window, and I haven't found it since. When I finally went off the drug, the withdrawal was so bad that I wanted the world to know this drug should not be on the market. It is horrible and it messes you up. Yes, it did help with the depression a bit, but no better than some of the other ones out there. Worst drug I have ever been on, including my RA drugs."

• Nas...
• October 14, 2019

For Depression "I was put on Pristiq for major anxiety and depression two years ago. Initially, I was put on Lexapro for 5 years. I stopped it for a year as it was so horrible to my body and made me gain 40 kg. I was put on Valdoxan, which was awful, did nothing to me except give me severe anger issues. So, two years back, my mother-in-law recommended Pristiq to me, which I spoke to my GP about and went straight on to it. Yes, it changed my life for the best. I lost some weight on it and it gave me an energy boost, however, now, after two years and a bit on it, I decided to go natural as I do not want my body to be fully dependent on medicines. I stopped it about a month ago and I am having the worst nightmares of my life. Severely tired, body aches, insomnia, shortness of breath. It is a poisonous medicine. I am having a horrible time and my wife is about to have a baby, and I do not know what to do or how long it will take for the withdrawal side effects to stop. I am done. Plus, I put on 7 kg in the past month since I stopped it."

• unh...
• December 27, 2012

For Depression "I was suffering severe depression from a total inability to cope with a traumatic situation I had been through. Pristiq worked wonders the first couple of weeks. I was enjoying life again. Silly me, I didn't pay any attention to the side effect information. It all started with significant weight loss, 25 lbs. I originally weighed 120 lbs, then I stopped sleeping. I became panicked, one pupil became very dilated. Terrible situation."

• Anonymous
• May 15, 2010

For Fibromyalgia "I am 28 and have fibromyalgia and joint disease. I don't have a sex drive anyway, so I did not notice any difference with Pristiq on that side effect. I did however notice that I no longer woke up feeling 88, but 28 again. The pain and soreness went away dramatically! I have been able to clean more and walk more, but I have not noticed a big change in energy level. Just to have a day without soreness and stiffness was worth it for me. I do have a little dry mouth, but I drink a lot of water anyway. As far as sleep goes, I occasionally had insomnia before, but it does make it a little worse, and I had night sweats for the first week on it."

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

For Major Depressive Disorder "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

For Major Depressive Disorder "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."

• Goo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 5, 2012

For Depression "I am a 48-year-old woman diagnosed with depression and chronic fatigue. Took Pristiq for 4 months. My entire system was taxed! I became very angry, argumentative, overreacting to mostly everything, communicating ineffectively, raging. I never relaxed - insomnia! Major increase in pain, muscle spasm, migraines, involuntary muscle movement, etc.! Getting off of it was a nightmare! More than a week of constant 24-hour sickening withdrawal - vomiting, dizziness, confusion, severe pain, muscle spasm, migraines, depression, thoughts that I would never make it through! The only thing that helped was Prozac 20 mg, Vicodin 5-300, and Tramadol 50 mg as needed to break the pain cycle!"

• Blu...
• April 21, 2021

For Depression "I started having a lot of depression at the end of 2017 and was in denial. When I finally admitted it to myself and my doctor, I was put on Zoloft. It made me numb. My doctor switched to Prozac, and I was on that for a while, but it didn’t help my anxiety. Then I tried Buspar, which helped anxiety but not depression. I then got GeneSight testing done to find out which drugs metabolize for me best. Pristiq was on my “good” list, so we tried it. I started on Dec 9 and still felt depressed through Christmas. I had constipation, insomnia, and night sweats. I didn’t think it was going to work, but then on Jan 4, I woke up and felt like myself again for the first time in years. Right around that time I got approved for TMS treatment and wanted to do it without any antidepressants, so I ended up going off of it. TMS worked well for my depression, but now a year (and a pandemic) later, my anxiety is through the roof. I’m currently trying Lexapro, but I may go back to Pristiq."

• hea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 25, 2022

For Depression "While I took Pristiq, I had difficulty sleeping and higher anxiety. I dropped a lot of weight because the medication made me hypoglycemic. Hypoglycemia has similar symptoms to mania (heart palpitations, racing thoughts, insomnia, etc.). The weight loss is not a reason to take this medication if you're trying to lose weight! I lost a lot of weight within a short period of time also. I almost lost my job because of this medication making me erratic and impulsive. Titrating myself off of this medication was a pure nightmare, but I finally just quit taking it because there was no benefit from the medication. The withdrawals were horrible. More insomnia, irritability, brain zaps, I had a ringing in my head also. Please, please, please don't take this medication because I said I lost weight, because this medication is one I will never, ever, ever take again. Please be safe."

• hea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 25, 2022

For Depression "While I took Pristiq, I had difficulty sleeping and higher anxiety. I dropped a lot of weight because the medication made me hypoglycemic. Hypoglycemia has similar symptoms to mania (heart palpitations, racing thoughts, insomnia, etc.). The weight loss is not a reason to take this medication if you're trying to lose weight! I lost a lot of weight within a short period of time also. I almost lost my job because of this medication making me erratic and impulsive. Titrating myself off of this medication was a pure nightmare, but I finally just quit taking it because there was no benefit from the medication. The withdrawals were horrible. More insomnia, irritability, brain zaps, I had a ringing in my head also. Please, please, please don't take this medication because I said I lost weight, because this medication is one I will never, ever, ever take again. Please be safe."

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

For Major Depressive Disorder "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!"

• Dem...
• May 30, 2017

For Major Depressive Disorder "Originally went on Pristiq when I was 19, definitely didn't give it long enough to work and swore it off. I am now 22 and have been on the 100 mg for 4 months after easily the most traumatic and worst year of my life. As reluctant as I was at first, this medicine has been an incredible assistant in rebuilding my life. I did start off with awful side effects, including nausea, headaches, shaking/twitching, always tired, waking up during the night. I decided to stick it out, and I'm so glad I did. Although it was hard, after a month my body adjusted and my moods were noticeably more balanced. I felt more in control of my reactions to situations, and it aided me to rebuild my life one step at a time. I just need to give it a month for side effects to calm down."

• Anonymous
• March 11, 2009

For Depression "Never taken any antidepressants. Initial days were bad due to interactions with other medicines. I had nightmares, lack of sleep, nausea, anxiety, and negative thoughts. Once I straightened this out, I felt great, have a clear mind, and I've lost 5 lbs in about 2 weeks."

• Anonymous
• March 21, 2009

For Anxiety "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
• February 28, 2011

For Depression "I have been on Pristiq for almost 2 weeks. I have been through the medicine mill in the past 10 yrs, started on Zoloft and loved it but hit the 5 yr mark and it stopped working. Then I went to Paxil, which didn't work so hot. Then there was Celexa, Cymbalta, Lexapro, Remeron, Effexor, and even Prozac, so I feel like I have been there, done that. I also have to take trazodone to sleep at night. I suffer from severe depression and anxiety, and on top of that, I have insomnia and even panic attacks. For a long time, I have just felt like I was going crazy and nothing was going to make me feel better. So far, Pristiq has made a big difference. Hope it gets even better in the weeks to come!"

• Dhr...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 27, 2016

For Depression "What they didn't tell me is how dependent you get on it. It started off I could miss a few days and not feel anything. Then I would feel it if I missed one or two days, but I would just be a little more down. Now, if I miss a day I can't function, and if I miss two it gets really scary. It's only happened once or twice while I've been on it, but by the second or third day missed I am not myself. I'm anxious, my jaw hurts, I can't sleep, crying fits are common, vomiting and headaches are constant. During this time there are stages that are worse than others, but 'brain zaps' and dizziness are common. I've also seen and heard things, and overall it feels like you are high and is the most awful thing I've ever experienced. It's made the med not worth it."

• Rob...
• January 25, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "First off, I hope most or all is somewhat well with everybody in here! Let's make this very short and to the point... I have been on Pristiq and the last few years the generic form of it for a total of around 7-8 years... I have been seeing countless doctors, of course, including my psych doctor, for these all of the sudden recent symptoms - 24/7 nausea, 24/7 dizziness, sore throat with a lump in it at times, just feelings of not being present in my own body, constantly thinking that I am going to pass away. It is so bad that I cannot play or spend quality time with my only grandson!!! Constant crying and doom. Had an endoscopy and a heart cath which turned out fine. Heavy blood work which is good... Doctors think possible tooth infection from rotted teeth, GI problem, or sleep apnea. Oh, and another huge symptom is really never being able to sleep! Could this medication be catching up to me???? And any thoughts for care on sore throat - all these for the past 4 months."

• Clo...
• May 20, 2018

For Major Depressive Disorder "This drug killed the real me. I took it for three months for MDD. The first month of Pristiq was euphoric. The only side effect was insomnia. Week six, I experienced anxiety and panic attacks. I went days without sleep. I asked my doctor if Pristiq caused anxiety. He told me that antidepressants take time to work and encouraged me to try the drug a bit longer. My behavior became erratic. I reacted dramatically, even to the good things. I didn’t feel like myself anymore. Week nine, I was noticeably angrier. My overreactions worsened. Week twelve, I searched online for Pristiq. Anxiety showed up in each search. I decided to not take it the following Sunday. My mother wanted me to wait. I adamantly refused and do not regret this. I was considerably less anxious. I had no withdrawal symptoms. Come Tuesday, I saw my doctor. I asked about anxiety again. He confirmed that anxiety was a side effect of Pristiq. I told him everything. I’m not on Pristiq anymore."

• Anonymous
• December 15, 2010

For Depression "I have posted here before after just starting Pristiq. I've now been on 50 mg of this drug for depression and anxiety disorder for 6 months, and I honestly think this medicine saved my life. I was stuck in such a deep, dark depression with severe anxiety attacks. I couldn't function like a normal person. Everything seemed so hard. I couldn't sleep or eat. I started Pristiq, and it took about 2 months for me to fully feel the positive effects, however, I did notice a big change just 2 weeks into taking it. The only side effect I had early on was insomnia and night sweats, but those are no longer an issue. I do notice, though, that if I miss a pill for more than one day, I start to feel depressed again. Overall, the best medicine I've taken."

• Anonymous
• April 8, 2010

For Depression "I started Pristiq on 3/22/10. The main side effects were not sleeping well and night sweats. This lasted only about 4 nights. A bit of nausea, not enough that I couldn't handle, and that was it. I am now on my 3rd week, and I am doing fine. I do feel much better and have more energy, since before the Pristiq, all I was doing was sleeping. If someone has never taken an antidepressant, the side effects can be alarming. I went cuckoo and had no sex drive on Zoloft and Cymbalta. Pristiq, whatever is different about this SNRI, seems to keep me at an even keel. I will give Pristiq at least 3 months before I give a full report."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 7, 2012

For Depression "I have been taking Pristiq for 3 weeks now. First week, a mild headache and insomnia, but after reading forums I would take it early in the morning, and sleep improved. This is the first antidepressant I have taken. I felt wonderful and thought, wow, this is what I have been missing! Things that bothered me before became insignificant. Week 2, much of the same. Week 3, I feel tired and slightly flat, much the same as I did before. I had an anxious moment but distracted myself and it passed. First time I actively felt anxious. I will continue to see how it goes. Having felt the amazing, stable, elevated mood in the beginning makes me consider riding it out."