Desvenlafaxine and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Jac...
• March 23, 2016

Desvenlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "I started on Zoloft over five years ago when I had uncontrollable mood swings, then changed to Pristiq. The Zoloft stopped the mood swings, and I fairly quickly changed, at the doctor's suggestion, to Pristiq, and the improvement in my functioning continued - far better than I was before. About four months ago, things were going so well I thought I could stop taking it, and after speaking to the doctor, slowly reduced my dosage until I wasn't taking any. I then experienced a strong return of depression, anxiety, and lack of drive. I am now one week into taking Pristiq again and haven't experienced any change yet, but didn't expect to as it can take six weeks to work. On my previous experience with Pristiq, I highly recommend it."

• Anonymous
• March 11, 2009

Desvenlafaxine 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."

• Los...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 19, 2021

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "Any users have what feels like your heart skips a beat/stops briefly and jolts your body? I've been on Pristiq for years, and it seems to be very beneficial in many ways, but these episodes that feel like heart zaps are on my last nerve, and they add to my anxiety."

• Sly...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 4, 2019

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I was switching from one medication to Pristiq. I gave it the full six weeks but found it did not get rid of any of my depression symptoms and actually caused my heart rate to increase, and I felt more anxiety than before. After I told my husband I was coming off it, he then told me that he was glad as I was zombie-like when on it."

• Clo...
• May 20, 2018

Desvenlafaxine 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."

• Meh...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 27, 2023

Desvenlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "I am currently taking Pristiq. When I first started taking it, I experienced noticeable side effects, despite being accustomed to antidepressants from having taken different types before. I had headaches, a yeast infection, and a decreased appetite. I could not eat and did not feel hungry. However, it did change me. I had more energy, even though I was still depressed, and started cleaning and doing many things. After a few weeks, my depression began to lessen, but I was also attempting to make myself feel better by doing yoga, meditation, and journaling. I became accustomed to the pill, but if I went 10 hours without taking Pristiq, I would feel strange and experience headaches, brain zaps, mood swings, and anger. After two days, I would experience severe withdrawal side effects such as crying, depressive episodes, and anxiety. After four days, I would feel suicidal and very angry. Although I am still taking Pristiq, I would like to stop taking it. However, I am afraid of the withdrawal symptoms, as I am still a student. Even if it might be helpful, I do not believe it is the answer."

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

Desvenlafaxine 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."

• Ive...
• June 14, 2015

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I've been taking Pristiq for one week. My extreme sensitivity to meds of this type has been long proven. Knowing me well and willing to work with me, my doctor has me on 25 mg Pristiq in the morning with food every other day. I've had ups and downs this first week but am trying to stay positive. I have moments of feeling well and hope they continue to expand. I hope I don't have issues with every other day dosing causing withdrawal in between doses. I also have discovered that drinking coffee with Pristiq heightens my anxiety."

• Anonymous
• March 6, 2011

Desvenlafaxine for Anxiety "I was experiencing major anxiety, which I only have when I have major life changes. After getting engaged, moving, planning a wedding, and changing jobs, the anxiety kicked in full force. The doctor put me on Zoloft, which made me very, very nauseous. I lost 10 pounds on it, was miserable as it also caused more anxiety and moodiness. The doctor gave me trials of Pristiq...AMAZING. I had not realized how closed off I was until I tried Pristiq. It increased my ability to have relationships with friends, my fiancé, and even family. Prior to Pristiq, I was very shy and untrusting of everyone. I tried Lexapro too due to insurance requirements. Dislike - for me, it caused weight gain, clenched jaw, moodiness. Long process to find the right medicine!"

• Liv...
• March 25, 2020

Desvenlafaxine "My doctor prescribed this Pristiq to me to treat anxiety and occasional panic attacks. I had been previously on Buspar. I took Pristiq one time, ONE pill, 50 mg and felt fantastic that day. Twelve hours later, I started crashing. The next day and for 48 hours following, I was having the worst anxiety of my life. I could not even work nor eat. I believe that I was almost on a high of serotonin, and then the following days I had none left. I have never experimented with drugs, but I feel like this was similar to a drug withdrawal. I would suggest not letting a doctor give this to you to treat anxiety. I am now on 10 mg Lexapro with 30 mg Buspar."

• Fra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 1, 2022

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I have been on Pristiq for 6 days. I am jittery and have no appetite. Still taking Ativan to stop the nervous stomach. Cry every day. I took a gene test, and this drug is supposed to work. Fingers crossed it does. Do I have a chance to ever be myself again? Hard to rate it because I am still having side effects."

• Car...
• August 31, 2011

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I am currently one month in, and Pristiq is a life saver! After about an hour, I felt energized and extremely optimistic. I cleaned, got out of bed, and wanted to do stuff for the first 3 days. Then, from 3 days to 3 weeks, it was really bad. I had massive mood swings. I'd be feeling really good and then VERY, VERY horrible and low. I felt suicidal, angry, and my self-esteem was super, super low. I'd also have anxiety attacks. Then, after about 3 and a half weeks, it just started working. I felt really, really good! I got up and hung out with friends and started doing things! My anxiety was completely gone. Symptoms I've had are increased appetite, headaches, and stomach pains. Definitely give this medicine a chance and give it time to kick in."

• Mor...
• December 4, 2009

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "Like everyone else out there, for 15 years I have been on and off antidepressants, been on almost every one of them. Been on Cymbalta 90 with trazodone and Xanax. Back in May, stopped all medicines (surgery complications), except Xanax. Severely depressed since then; constant mood swings from being happy one minute, then becoming impatient and finally agitated, and some rage, almost bipolar-like. Condition got to a point where anxiety/panic attacks would leave me in mental breakdown symptoms in crowded places (heart pounding, sweating, etc.) and then typical breakdowns involving sadness and suicide. I thought these symptoms were a side effect from Neurontin. Met with a psychiatrist, on Pristiq ER, Abilify, and trazodone and woke up feeling great!"

• No-...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 4, 2016

Desvenlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "After being on numerous medications over the years, my doctor decided to try me on Pristiq. I started on 50 mg once daily and took it for about a month. I had headaches almost daily within that time, and it increased my blood pressure. I felt like it wasn't making any changes in my mood or anxiety. Around the 6th week, everything went downhill. Fits of crying and rage, anxiety came back worse than before. I had the worst migraines I'd ever experienced, diarrhea no matter what I ate or drank, severe abdominal pain, and also chills pretty much all of the time. I called my doctor right away because I was becoming very scared and feeling awful. Definitely not a medicine for me!"

• Jj1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 10, 2021

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I was on Zoloft for years but had a lot of stress, so I went to the doctor. He put me on Pristiq, tapering off Zoloft. It works differently for people, as I have read the reviews, but for me, 2 weeks felt great. A bit of anxiety, then I started to get tingling. After 3 weeks, anxiety went through the roof, tinnitus, tingling through the body, rapid heartbeat, sweating, hot flushes. After 8 weeks, I had enough, so I told the doctor. I was on 100 mg in the morning, 50 mg at night, told the doctor, and was told to taper off."

• djk...
• January 30, 2018

For Depression "Please listen to this testimonial. The generic Pristiq does not work. Yes, it's cheaper than the name brand, but it does not work. I was on the name brand for 2 years and so happy. Then the price went up, and I decided to try the generic. I was the biggest jerk to everyone. I have pushed away people I love (especially my husband), and no one wanted to be around me. I also developed a wicked alcohol problem because I was so angry, depressed, anxiety through the roof, etc. I have been back on the name brand for 5 days now and feel like my old self again. I don't know if it will repair my marriage from the damage I have caused, but would love some prayers."

• odd...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 16, 2021

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "Pristiq made me even more depressed and anxious. I had to check myself into the hospital because of suicidal thoughts because I was on this medication. I'm sure this helps many people, but it hurt me. Once I came off it and went on Lexapro, I started doing much better."

• Eri...
• November 11, 2009

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I really wish people didn't rate their experience of having taken the pill for one day or less than one week, and here's why: For my first week, I felt great, and no side effects whatsoever. Then, pretty much the day week 2 started, I was so nauseous I thought I had swine flu, so anxious I couldn't breathe, and I cannot stop crying. It's weird because when I was on Lexapro, which also sucked, there's no way I could cry - I was totally robotic. Anyway, I also can't sleep, and I have headaches. I am so, so upset about this because it's like, why did I get teased with that one week of clarity and then drop so much lower?"

• Dow...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 11, 2017

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "Feel down and nervous on a higher dose. Stick with 100 mg or less for a while. Over 100 mg might be too much, for me, it is. I take Klonopin, prazosin for PTSD, and Latuda for mood swings. Don't give up unless it makes you horribly sick to your stomach or other side effects, but talk to your doctor first."

• Anx...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 12, 2021

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I just started taking Pristiq 2-3 weeks ago, and ever since, I have been having some of the worst anxiety I’ve ever had. I have also felt super nauseous and sick in general. Feels like I have COVID again. I am wondering if I should keep trying it out or switch now. Lexapro worked very well for me, but caused an itching side effect. At this point, I would rather be extremely itchy than continue taking Pristiq. I cried for an entire day last week for absolutely no reason and feel like crying way more often than before."

• gba...
• April 10, 2012

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "This drug has been a miracle for me. I take it with Abilify (5 mgs) - and it has been a Godsend. I was on a triple combination of Cymbalta, Wellbutrin, and Abilify and still did not feel well. Pristiq has helped me tremendously from within a week of onset. I have struggled with depression since 1991 - and have been on a variety of 'cocktails,' but this one is working the best so far. I still struggle with sleep and anxiety - as I have problems with doctors treating my anxiety disorder as it should be. Interesting that physicians will treat some things and not others. My only complaint is lacking in sleep - otherwise, I would recommend this medicine to anyone struggling with depression."

• Noa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 5, 2022

For Anxiety "I have only taken desvenlafaxine for 5 nights, and I’m finding I’m so tired. I have slept all morning. I know it’s early days, but can someone tell me, does the tiredness go away? I’m finding it’s increased my anxiety, but today I feel calmer. I’ve read so many positive reviews. Thank you."

• ATa...
• September 7, 2009

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "Reading most of the reviews on here just makes me wonder why not me? I'm a 28 female with bipolar I, anxiety disorder with agoraphobia, OCD (obsessive thoughts, but thankfully nothing severe), and adult ADHD. I'm far from a stranger to the world of therapy, medicines, etc., since I was diagnosed with anxiety disorder at 14. I've been taking Pristiq for about 2 1/2 months. First noticed I felt more tired, then after a few weeks, I noticed I felt more anxious than usual and little things would bother me (more) than before, and I actually feel more depressed in the sense that I didn't actually feel depressed as in sad, worthless, etc., more just kinda blah. But I actually feel more sad and unmotivated now. I've also gained about 10 lbs, and Pristiq is the only thing different."

• did...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 18, 2019

Desvenlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "Pristiq worked for me, but I had unbearable withdrawal symptoms, only dismissing after 2 weeks. Headaches, brain zaps, flu-like feeling, anxiety, and the worst insomnia. I didn't quit cold turkey. Slow tapering. Awful anyway. Couldn't come back since I was pregnant. Only take it if other natural ways fail to make you feel a little better. It may work for a while (which might be necessary), but know that quitting is the worst thing ever. Nobody deserves that. Be ready to be down for 2 weeks minimum."

• red...
• July 2, 2009

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I'm 38, and I've been on Pristiq for about 3 weeks now. The depression has lifted, but I still have anxiety. I take Norvasc for high blood pressure (my blood pressure has been controlled for years). My blood pressure feels like it is getting higher as I am on this drug. I was having wine at night on this drug, but I am going to stop doing that, and maybe it will lower my blood pressure. I really don't want to stop taking Pristiq. I've lost 5 pounds. I'm starting to worry about going to the doctor all the time to 'change my medicines.' I feel like I've tried so many. I just want to feel NORMAL for a change."