Pristiq and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Bre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2015

For Major Depressive Disorder "Was on this for about 3 weeks. Sleep was horrible or almost nonexistent. Was very anxious all day. Could barely leave the house and was shaky all the time. Made me way too amped up. I have treatment-resistant depression. Thought this might be worth a try after failing with many SSRIs (Zoloft was the only one that worked for the most part but didn't get me all the way there). Can help some people with anxiety. I was not one of them. Wanted to give it 4 weeks but could barely make the 3-week mark before I cracked."

• Anonymous
• August 6, 2009

For Depression "I have been taking Pristiq for 3 days now. Some side effects I've had are dry mouth, dilated pupils, trouble sleeping (going to start taking it early morning now), and sweating during the nighttime. I just spoke to my doctor, who said to cut my 50 mg dose pills in half and start taking half in the morning to see if the side effects subside. The good things are: I have energy, no more food cravings, no more crying episodes, and I feel more at ease during stressful moments."

• Anx...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 23, 2019

"I started taking Pristiq 4 weeks ago. I was on Celexa for 6 years and found that it worked well but was suffering from panic attacks more frequently in the last year. I decided to take a GeneSight test and found that Pristiq was the only medication I would be able to metabolize well. I have found that it has not been working as I would like it to and instead has made me more anxious. Specifically, my heart rate has been much higher and my sleep has been disrupted. I spoke with a psychiatrist today and will now be starting Lexapro. I am a firm believer that one med does not fit all. Pristiq may be great for some but did not work well for me!"

• Anonymous
• January 8, 2012

For Depression "I have been off antidepressants for about 7 months, then I needed to go back on when I entered a very heavy ward (I'm a nurse) because I was becoming very anxious and could not work as well as I was. I was on Zoloft, but now I am trying Pristiq. I have been on Pristiq for 2 weeks now, the first few days I had side effects: increased anxiety, insomnia, nausea, and increased sweating, but all side effects have now subsided. Positives: I have not had any anxiety this week and have been confident at work, no depressive symptoms, I have lost weight (not meant to be good, but I'm happy about it). Negatives: I have noticed a slight decrease in libido, which might turn out to be a problem, and that's what I was scared of."

• Pin...
• October 4, 2010

For Depression "I have been on Pristiq for 8 months, 50 mg. Also on Wellbutrin 400 mg for 2 months. Pristiq has been wonderful. The Wellbutrin added to it just made it that much better. In the beginning, I didn't have any side effects. Now I'm having trouble with insomnia and jaw/neck clenching. I am going to start taking the Pristiq in the mornings, as a lot of people have mentioned it's better. I'm going to see if that makes a difference in the insomnia. If not, I'm going back to the doctor and get something to help me sleep. Other than that, Pristiq has been great. No depression. No mood swings. No anxiety. My boyfriend has noticed these changes too. Good luck to everyone."

• 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."

• Meg...
• April 30, 2009

For Anxiety "I'm 24 and have been taking Pristiq for about 6 weeks now. The first 3 weeks were hell. I went through horrible emotional spells. I would cry, then get angry for no reason. I would just want to be left alone. My husband and my family were so worried about me. I wasn't myself at all, my mood changed so frequently. Now I am feeling balanced - I haven't had an anxiety attack for about 4 weeks now. I never thought I would get here. The only thing I am experiencing now is trouble sleeping, but that's been going on a while, and a slight decrease in my sex drive. If that doesn't change in the next couple of weeks, my doctor wants to put me on Wellbutrin, we'll see how that goes."

• ALS...
• April 4, 2011

For Depression "I took one pill in the morning and had severe anxiety, insomnia, and hallucinations in the evening and throughout the night. I have never experienced any of these issues before - either with medicines or without - and it is very scary to me that one tiny pill affected me so dramatically."

• Anonymous
• July 31, 2010

For Anxiety "I took Pristiq for six days due to OCD/anxiety. While I think that this drug did help with my symptoms, it made my blood pressure go through the roof. My blood pressure has always been normal (no higher than 120/80). I think that this is a side effect that needs to be mentioned more frequently. The side effects are too much! (I also had sweating and problems sleeping even when I took it at night)."

• Anonymous
• April 17, 2009

For Anxiety "I'm surprised to see so many people having sleep issues. I spent two weeks on about three hours of sleep before I started taking the drug (that's three hours total, not three hours a night). Now I take it at bedtime, and I have a hard time sleeping without it."

• Lee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 26, 2018

For Depression "Taking the drug wasn't too bad. Experienced some minor constipation and a case of dry mouth. However, when I tried to stop taking it, I experienced the worst insomnia I have ever had in my life, which led to intense depressive feelings. I was never warned the drug would be such a horror to try to quit and am upset I was not given this information. Perhaps not the greatest for short-term use due to withdrawal problems."

• 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!"

• Anonymous
• March 9, 2011

For Depression "So far, so good. This is the only medicine I have been on for depression, but I have had depression and anxiety for years. I feel it has really helped. I was also given Xanax for anxiety, but I feel I don't even have to really take it because Pristiq is helping with that too. I lost a lot of weight but finally have an appetite again after not having one because of weeks of depression. I recommend anyone try this. It definitely made me feel better, more energy, and a happier state of being. The only side effects so far are a little trouble sleeping, a clenched jaw sometimes, and nausea when you first start, but that went away once I ate something."

• dep...
• April 23, 2010

For Depression "I have been on and off of meds for quite some time, Prozac being the longest, 4 years, but then it just stopped. On Ativan 2 mg 4 times a day, or however I want to take it. I just started the Pristiq like 3 days ago. The first dose was the worst. Throwing up, sick to my stomach really bad... couldn't eat a thing nor drink anything, BP went up, and I just couldn't relax, my legs just want to shake *RLS*. But today is the 3rd dose, and I'm not as sick, but still no appetite, my vision is somewhat blurred, didn't sleep very well even with the Ativan. But I'm not as moody and mean as I was 3 days ago. So I guess it's working..."

• res...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 17, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "I had a horrible experience with this drug. I took one pill and felt like I was on some horrible trip for two days straight. Confused, nauseous, insomnia, nightmares, hallucinations when I closed my eyes. VERY strong medicine."

• 1Sw...
• September 2, 2009

For Depression "Was prescribed this medication on Friday, August 28th of this year. So it has only been 5 days since I first started taking it. I have never been on any antidepressant medication before. Didn't know I was depressed until the doctor said that I was. I went to him with complaints of stress (mostly work-related, some personal), weight gain (seems I focus on food and cravings a lot more these days, not to mention that I had a car accident on 4/03/09 and broke my neck, had to wear a halo for 3 months, so that could also explain my weight gain of almost 30 lbs), and difficulty falling asleep. Side effects so far have been: insomnia, no changes really in appetite, and failure to have an orgasm."

• Mat...
• December 18, 2011

For Depression "I am surprised that I am leaving a comment because I dread reading other people's comments. But basically, I am starting day 3 of taking Pristiq, and I can't say that I feel any differently in a good way. I am definitely a little more anxious and have had difficulty sleeping (night one I had to take a Xanax). I worry that I won't stick with it. I really want to feel calm and hopeful about the future. I am not sure if this medicine will do that for me, as it is really currently making me feel racy."

• Anonymous
• April 12, 2011

For Depression "After taking Celexa, which worked like a wonder drug for about 8 years. I was put on Cymbalta. On it, I talked non-stop, was extremely sarcastic, and was not able to sleep. Enter Pristiq. Folks, I am NOT HAPPY with this medicine. Has anyone had the up-and-down ride I am experiencing? One day I can take on the world and sleep very well. Within 1 or 2 following days, I can't do a THING. Energy is gone. WOW, I do wish I could find one that helped like Celexa helped me for years."

• Anonymous
• April 18, 2011

For Depression "I have major depressive disorder. I was put on Lexapro, the side effects were unbearable. I got switched to Prozac, dosage got switched for a couple of months, and then got put on sertraline, became suicidal. I gave up for a year on medications and tried exercising but still had bad depression and was tired but couldn't sleep at all. Now, I've been on Pristiq for 9 days, and some days I'm in amazing moods and some I'm really quiet and still have trouble sleeping, but these reviews help me not want to give up yet. Thank you!"

• jus...
• December 17, 2010

For Depression "I have suffered from anxiety and depression for many years and recently have been advised that I needed to change my medication. I was on paroxetine for about 10 years and am on day 9 of Pristiq. Nausea, insomnia, and dizziness have been the worst side effects, however, I was taking it in the morning, and it was making me so sleepy that the doctor suggested taking it at night. I noticed a huge difference in my mood yesterday, having not taken it in the morning, I was extremely anxious and cried all day. I took it last night and immediately felt more relaxed, so I am hoping that in a few days, the sadness and despair subside. I have also had a decrease in appetite, probably due to the nausea. I am going to stick with it and hope for the best."

• zip...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 21, 2022

For Major Depressive Disorder "I've been on for four full weeks and got nothing but side effects, it doesn't work for me, unfortunately. Cold sweats while sleeping, insomnia, raised anxiety around week two, constipation."

• Anonymous
• September 1, 2009

For Depression "This medicine has made me more anxious than I was before. It is also keeping me awake at night. After talking to my doctor about it, he doubled my prescription. I am switching doctors."

• Anonymous
• February 21, 2009

For Depression "Can't sleep. All other things are good."

• mim...
• April 18, 2012

For Depression "This med gave me agitation, muscle cramps, fear, insomnia all these after 3 days."

• Anonymous
• November 2, 2008

For Depression "This gave me mood swings and insomnia."