Pristiq User Reviews & Ratings (Page 4)

• kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 10, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "I had my first episode of Major Depressive Disorders for 4 months. I have been on so many SSRIs and other groups of antidepressants like Sertraline, Fluoxetine, Wellbutrin, Vortioxetine, and I couldn't tolerate the side effects (Insomnia, anxiety, heart racing). It was affecting my quality of life. I couldn't work, my relationship with my husband started having more problems, and I had brain fog and couldn't concentrate. Pristiq brought me back again. I felt better after the first two weeks. I have the energy to live in this beautiful world again. My anhedonia is much better. I sleep well and eat well. My relationship with my husband is great and our sex life is fantastic, no libido, no decrease in sex drive. I had minor side effects for the first two days: headache, fatigue. For everyone who reads negative reviews about Pristiq, all of us - we are different, and our bodies react to medication differently. Never give up, try until you find the right one."

• tri...
• December 18, 2014

For Depression "I have been on Pristiq for about 3 months. I had insane anxiety and depression, as well as insomnia that got so bad I ended up in the ER. I don't care if I ever come off of Pristiq because it works. I am normal again. I sleep, and for about 2 months I almost forgot what it was like to feel so anxious I could hardly function at work or life. I hesitated to start this medicine because my psychiatrist told me absolutely no drinking. I do have a few drinks on weekends and have no side effects from it."

• My...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 17, 2024

For Depression "After 40 years of therapy and various drug protocols, my PCP insisted we try this med. I would have to check with Dr., but am now 69 years old, and since the start of Pristiq at age 44, it has allowed me to live a normal and balanced life, with no negative side effects. We are celebrating 44 years of marriage and are more in love every year, thanks to eliminating a family plague."

• Mis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 8, 2015

For Depression "Pristiq is awesome so far. Don't reject it because it is nearly identical to Effexor. Effexor caused extreme sweating. I would stand in front of a forceful fan while dressing and still be drenched! My doc told me I might not have that with Pristiq and I don't! I am just over 6 weeks, and it took a full 4 weeks to kick in. The first couple of days I felt great, calm, and happy, and got hopeful, but then slid back into the dark place. But I kept going and at 4 weeks, I suddenly one day woke up and started planning fun outings for my teen, after months of sofa lounging. 100mg, F, 56, 135lbs. Tried Prozac (allergic), Paxil (weight gain), Effex (sweating), Lexapro (out of dark place, but flat). I hear it's hell to stop, but I'm not going to stop. Why would I?"

• ERN...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 29, 2015

For Depression "Pristiq has been a miracle for me. I had depression, anxiety disorder, and panic attack disorder. I had tried many other medications, gained 50 lbs, and was still mentally a mess. I had to take over a year off of school because I couldn't handle the stress. I started Pristiq and within a week, I noticed I was no longer crying at the drop of a hat, was better able to concentrate, and was actually feeling so much better in my mood. I've been taking it for over a year now, I've lost 40 of the 50 lbs I gained on my previous medication, and I'm back at school and doing great. I credit Pristiq with all of my recovery. For the first 2 weeks of Prestiq, I had a side effect of insomnia, but that went away after 2 weeks, it was no big deal."

• Zyu...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 26, 2014

For Depression "After a severe injury in the workplace, I hit rock bottom, depressed, suicidal, hopeless, really sad. I didn't understand what was going on, like someone else was at the wheel and I had to go along on this scary ride. I needed help so I went to a psychiatrist who diagnosed clinical depression. This was a relief to hear and separated me from the weirdo driving! It took 2 years of counseling and different medicines to find the right one, for me it is Pristiq. I have been on it for 8 years and now work full time. I think it takes a while for the user to live with an antidepressant medication. I read and hear of many who want out after 2-4 years, but I found that just hanging in there is the way to go. I see myself as complete now, no side effects."

• eac...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 27, 2024

For Major Depressive Disorder "I struggled with treatment-resistant depression for years and ended up in a depressive episode so severe I didn't leave my home for months. Did ketamine therapy, tested over 15-20 meds, nothing at all helped. Tried everything short of MAOIs and TMS (which were my next steps), and started Pristiq, thinking it was just one more med to add to the roster of failures, and it actually worked. It took some time, but after about two months on 50mg, I noticed things started to improve. At 100mg, I am feeling so much better. I never really believed anything would work for me, and I think Pristiq saved my life. My worst side effect is some pretty intense drowsiness, so I just take it before bed. I also tend to get pretty easily irritated a few hours after my dose (another reason to take it before bed). Brain zaps and sexual problems are also a thing. I've found taking my dose every other day manages the overall side effects pretty well."

• Gar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 25, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "I've been on many antidepressants, and desvenlafaxine had the least side effects. The dose increased rapidly until I was on 100 mg morning and night. Recently, I had some anxiety, paranoia, and rage issues. I got a referral for a psychiatrist. He started me on taking 200 mg of Pristiq in the morning and taking 30 mg of mirtazapine in the evening. My issues increased over the 2 weeks of taking this combo. I'm now on 200 mg in the morning as before and 100 mg of quetiapine in the evening. My mood has stabilized, but my social anxiety has increased (even with a Valium safety net), and I have trouble getting back to work. I'm genuinely glad most of you have found peace, but I'm yet to find mine-with a marriage hanging by a thread and a 1-year-old daughter relying on me, time is not on my side."

• Tim...
• February 28, 2014

For Depression "I had been on Pristiq for about 1 year at 50mg. While on it, the feelings of depression and anxiety pretty much disappeared. However, after changing my lifestyle for the better and going off Pristiq, I have been dealing with withdrawal side effects. It has been 4 weeks now and I still have the brain zaps which make me feel unsteady. These zaps have been continuous and extremely upsetting. Add to this the deep states of sadness (mention the least sad thing and I would start crying) and the nightmares...it has been a very rough 4 weeks. For the last week, I have had blood pressure swings from 110/60 to 218/111 and weakness in the large muscles of my legs and arms. For those going on or off, be careful!"

• MAB...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2020

For Depression "Initially Pristiq kept me on an even keel. Then it didn’t seem to make a difference. I don’t feel interested in anything. I have gained 20 lbs in six months. I told my doctor and she said to stop taking it. Easier said than done. It made me extremely sick. Headache and nervousness were unbearable."

• Sad...
• December 30, 2009

For Depression "I've been dealing with depression for a few years. Recently, it had gotten so bad that suicidal thoughts and social withdrawal were really concerning me. I tried to fight it naturally by taking Super B Complex, but to no avail. Within the last month and a half, I've tried Lexapro, which did not work for me. Now, Pristiq, which I must say is really helping me. I'm finally having sex again with my husband. I didn't know that it was depression that was hindering me, and having an orgasm is not a problem at all. In fact, I've become quite frisky. A lot more talkative and beginning to get together with friends again without as much anxiety. Anxiety is not completely gone yet, but it's only been two weeks. Loving it!"

• Fer...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 4, 2022

For Depression "Don't suffer! I started with severe depression and anxiety. I used to have terrible panic attacks and anxiety episodes. Going through the day was tremendously hard, and I couldn't wait to be back home to sleep at 6 p.m. I was having a terrible time and getting used to calming my anxiety with alcohol. I was afraid of starting on meds, but when I discovered that I was coping with anxiety through alcohol, I got very scared, as there is alcoholism in my family. So I started with Pristiq. I had what I expected: dry mouth and a lot of thirst (the good side is that you get super hydrated). I lost my appetite, so I needed to force myself to eat and avoid sugar lows, especially when working out. By the third month, I started to feel alive again. I started to enjoy other people's company. I know it sounds cliché, but I started to see bright colors again... don't suffer!"

• vma...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 12, 2014

For Depression "I rated Pristiq a 9 for the simple fact that although it really helped me get out of depression, I have been having crazy vivid dreams. The dreams are not pleasant or bad, just weird. I have flashbacks about them all through the day, and I can recall almost every little detail. Some might argue that this is not a bad side effect, however, because of this, I've been having poor sleep. All this said, it wouldn't be a reason for me to get off the medication. It has really given me back my life!"

• Mel...
• February 25, 2013

For Depression "I love this. I used to have major mood swings. I feel so much happier. I'm a recovering meth addict. I started this medicine in rehab. 6 months at 50mg and life couldn't be better. All of the anxiety and nerves, tics and repetitive thoughts I no longer have. Pristiq and AA saved my life."

• Che...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 14, 2023

For Depression "I was on generic Pristiq for almost two years before my panic attacks, anxiety, and depression became creeping back. It also caused hair loss and night sweats that made me have to change my clothes up to three times a night, and I gained 30 lbs with no end in sight. Coming off this drug has been horrendous. I have had full-blown withdrawal symptoms, panic attacks, and suicidal thoughts. I got put in the psychiatric ward and lost my job. It’s been weeks, and I still don’t feel like myself, still can’t work, and I'm at risk of losing everything. This medication literally almost killed me, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be the same. Beware."

• MKa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 8, 2020

For Depression "Pristiq has been a life changer for me. I know it gets a lot of bad reviews on here because I looked at them before I started it, lol. But it may be the med that works for you. I have not felt this good in years. My energy is good, I laugh way more now, I am able to recognize and replace old negative thoughts with more positive ones. I have gained a few lbs, but it’s nothing compared to living in depression. I am so thankful for this medication after trying three other meds that weren’t very helpful. I hope the good effects continue. The only side effects are sweating, and sometimes I’ll wake up in the night and be unable to fall back asleep for an hour or two."

• Can...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 27, 2017

For Depression "Psychotropic medications are appropriate for the small percentage of us who would literally die by our own hands if we didn't take them. For that reason, their relative levels of effectiveness are often viewed by us through a completely different lens (realistically) than by those who take them for less serious reasons. Even bouts of major depression don't constitute a definite reason for taking pharmaceuticals. If it keeps you alive & lets you work towards having something better BEYOND just 'existing', it's working. Try to reevaluate the manner in which YOU are evaluating the medication's effectiveness based upon what it is TRULY intended to do. As with everything in life, maintaining realistic goals & expectations is key to happiness."

• Sam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 27, 2024

For Major Depressive Disorder "I was on Pristiq for 3 years and then got pregnant and stopped taking just to be safe. During postpartum, I quickly developed severe anxiety and depression due to the drop in hormones, I didn’t stand a chance. I was breastfeeding and my doctor wanted me to try Zoloft since it is so well researched for use while breastfeeding. Well, I had a horrible reaction like a suicidal reaction to Zoloft. I was then placed back on Pristiq due to my previous success, and within two weeks, the fog started to lift, and I was able to enjoy my baby again. I think if someone has failed SSRIs in the past, they should give an SNRI a chance - it might be just what they need! I definitely recommend Pristiq."

• Fee...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 23, 2019

For Depression "I've been on Pristiq for over a year now. I understand it doesn't work for everyone, but I fully think it saved my life. I used to be between so many medications, and I fully think that this will be the one for me. The biggest thing it helped me do was remove the obsessive side of my depression and remove the constant invasive terrible thoughts. The side effects have just been kind of annoying. You definitely have to be on top of taking it though. That's what keeps it from getting a 10/10, in my opinion. Overall, it's definitely worth trying."

• Fos...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 25, 2023

For Depression "I have struggled with solutions for PMDD for decades. I have been on this medication for 2 years and am finally leaving a review because I truly believe that Pristiq alone has saved my life. I had run the gamut through antidepressants, birth control, diet, and exercise to treat the symptoms of PMDD to no avail. Every month going through the same cycle of anxiety, insomnia, rage outbursts, impulsive thinking, and helplessness to the point of thinking of suicide. I doctor-shopped for someone who would believe me that my hormones were doing this to me and I wanted off the rollercoaster. I felt it was a losing battle. I would be this miserable person forever. As a last resort, I took a gene test. It changed my life. Pristiq was the only medication in my 'green column.' My doctor put me on a varying dosage. I take slightly more or less depending on my symptoms. It has worked. I have my life back, or maybe for the first time. I no longer struggle with sleep, hormones, or anger. I have peace."

• Ali...
• July 11, 2014

For Depression "Diagnosed with Cyclothymia, as severely depressed and adult ADHD. Been on Pristiq for 2 years, before that Cymbalta. Although both worked well, Pristiq has helped much more (no meds for ADHD). Had to have the dosage raised today because I must have hit a plateau and started feeling bad again. Doc says the higher dosage for six weeks should help get me back on track, and then I can take the regular dose again. For anyone that has quit these medicines cold turkey, please don't do it, can cause seizures/psychotic episodes, talk to the doctor. I'll be on these meds or something all my life, so feeling better-no complaints. I'm actually nicer on Pristiq and since I don't take anything for ADHD, I'm still very interesting too."

• Fck...
• February 14, 2020

For Depression "I would not wish upon my worst enemy the hell I went through with this drug. My doctor at the time suggested this antidepressant to help maintain my growth and help my energy. This was the first year it existed and, of course, was expensive because there wasn’t a generic brand, it ruined my life. Everything in the small print happened to me. I slept, on average, 2 hours on my bathroom or kitchen floor because I felt suffocated in my bed. Everything irritated me physically. All I did was clean as if I was trying to get rid of something so toxic (Pristiq) that my life depended on it (it did). I lost a lot of my hair and eyebrows, and I was going crazy, literally. Eventually, I got off it, which was like detoxing from a hard drug such as heroin or meth. I was on it for 6 months, I have been off it for many years, but I still struggle with the reality of what it took away from my life-so many years trying to pick up the pieces of the horrific reality I lived while on Pristiq."

• Dev...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 20, 2018

For Depression "I have been on the generic form and so far it has made me sweat a lot but my anxiety has almost gone completely away. My depression is lessening and my concentration and mood have improved dramatically. Before taking it my boss was about to fire me, now he says I'm a pleasure to work with and my mood and quality of work have improved drastically. So far it has saved my life..."

• KCW...
• August 3, 2009

For Depression "I have been taking Pristiq for 6 months. The first two months, nothing happened. The third and fourth months were great. I was well-balanced, no longer angry all of the time. I had motivation to do things, and I felt like I finally had the ambition to do something with my life. And then Pristiq just stopped working for me. As if my body had grown immune to it. I am still taking it regularly every day, but I feel just as horrible as I felt before I started taking it. I am going to see a doctor next week to find out why it just stopped working for me. It's not fair! I read so many reviews on how it has changed people's lives and fixed their depression. I was so happy to think that I'd gotten the same result. I can't find a reliable drug."

• dic...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 5, 2016

For Depression "I was started on Pristiq 50mg a year ago when my moods started to get out of control, as well as my anger. I was so angry all the time, and I felt like I was always on the verge of crying. I experienced no side effects whatsoever from the Pristiq, and felt a noticeable difference within a week. I'm not angry for no reason anymore, and I don't feel like I have to cry when I drop a spoon. This medication worked wonders for my depression, anxiety, anger and invasive thoughts. My doctor increased the dose to 100mg after I plummeted emotionally, despite the Pristiq. The increased dosage worked! I've been on 100mg for 6 months with no side effects and no complaints."