Desvenlafaxine and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Blo...
• November 16, 2017

Desvenlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "I was switched to this drug because Effexor made me the meanest person on the planet. My doctor told me this was a cousin to Effexor, so I wasn't very thrilled to be put on it, but she really wanted me to try it. It did the same exact thing Effexor did, made me very irritable and added anxiety on me. Every time I smoked a cigarette, it would put me in almost a panic attack. Then tapering off the drug was a nightmare. I had the worst headaches and brain zaps you can even imagine, along with twitching and tremors... for me, Pristiq did not work."

• kyg...
• October 26, 2009

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I am glad to see most people here on this forum had positive experiences with Pristiq. I have been on Pristiq for 7 long days. While I know it takes weeks for antidepressant medications to take effect, I could not tough it out. My pupils were so dilated, headaches, severe diarrhea, chills, stomach pain. It's amazing how medications affect people differently."

• Ber...
• March 15, 2016

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I was prescribed this drug for some stress and anxiety experienced due to some work-life balance issues. I took it for 5 days only. By day 3, I could not stay awake or focus, let alone feel okay to drive. I felt sick and had excessive sweats. Constipated and headaches, I stopped on day 5. Day 6 and 7, symptoms continued with lots of nightmares and night sweats and shakes. Never again."

• a72...
• October 7, 2009

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I have been taking Pristiq for 1 week. I loved how it lifted me up right away. I was on Cymbalta for 5 years and was having panic attacks and very stressed out and wasn't working anymore. I have noticed a mild headache off and on and NO sex drive, like short-tempered too. Oh, and night sweats started and we don't like that, but from what I have read, it should lighten up. I do feel better and will give it a chance, like with any new medication your body has to get used to it. Hope this one works! I have even backed off on my smoking, which is a plus! Good luck to everyone."

• Tou...
• March 22, 2017

Desvenlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "I was prescribed Pristiq about 6 months ago and am currently on the highest dose. It took me a while to commit to taking it because the side effects were awful: headaches, groggy feeling, dry mouth, and constipation. I've been on it consistently now, and the only difference I see is that I feel more numb. I still feel and think the same, but my outbursts have calmed down since the medicine makes me so exhausted. I have also gained a lot of weight from this medication. The good part about this medicine for me is I get coupons for it and basically get it for free."

• 20y...
• December 29, 2011

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I am 20 and was suffering from anxiety and depression after 'recovering' from an eating disorder. Pristiq made me feel so awful in the first 2 weeks, but by week 3, I felt calm, I no longer snapped at people for no reason, I could concentrate during conversations, and my university work has not suffered. I do feel like I find it harder to sleep (after 3 months on Pristiq), and if I miss a pill by a few hours, I feel very, very drowsy. I have experienced no weight gain but have had a notable increase in headaches and a few migraines. Overall, the positive effects far outweigh the bad."

• Anonymous
• September 11, 2011

Desvenlafaxine for Anxiety "I have been on Pristiq for 11 days after switching from Paxil 12.5 CR. I feel like I've been on a roller coaster ride. Agitation, shaky, anxiety, and emotional. The nausea and headaches are gone now, but I'm thinking this is not the right medicine for me. I will give it 14 days, and if there is no improvement, I will get off them. Not sure what I'll try next. The doctor thinks Wellbutrin."

• Anonymous
• August 31, 2011

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "Taking 50 mg. This is my first week. Wellbutrin gave me hives, and Lexapro was nothing more than a sugar pill. My most noticeable side effects: repetitive yawning on day three and day six. Almost incomplete, non-satisfactory yawning followed by a quick wave of nausea. My first two days, I felt really nervous. Insides were shaky. Very minor headaches almost every other day. My general sense of well-being has improved, but I am quieter. I am not as vocal as I was. Almost subdued, which means less arguing with my fiancé. I haven't noticed an appetite decrease, in fact, my hunger pains seem more pronounced. My sex drive was gone to begin with, so nothing to report there. I was in the sun today and noticed a much greater sensitivity to it. Dry mouth."

• Tre...
• May 21, 2011

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I took my first dosage around 5 pm, and by the next morning, I felt drunk and disoriented. My side effects are as follows: grinding my teeth, awaking off and on all night, shaking, dilated pupils, mild stomach ache and headache, fatigue, weakness, nervousness, loss of appetite (which I was okay with), and diarrhea. I couldn't stand for very long, therefore, I didn't even attempt going to work. So, I stayed in bed all day, and probably by 4 or 5 pm that day, I felt a lot better. Still groggy, but I could function. I skipped taking another dose and went to work the next morning, feeling like it was still in my system, and I felt good. I'm weaning onto the medicine by 1/4 of the pill for a week, then 1/2 the second, and so on. Seems to be working and no side effects."

• Goo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 13, 2021

For Depression "My GP recommended this medication after having tried various SSRIs over the years. The first 4 weeks were difficult - nausea, insomnia, jaw clenching, headache, increased anxiety, feeling jittery, fatigue. I almost gave up on day 12, however, I persisted with it, and by week 3 felt some improvement in mood. After 4 weeks, my GP recommended anti-nausea medication, which I now take with Pristiq in the morning. (I also switched to non-generic Pristiq after the first month. I don't know if that makes a difference.) Now in my 5th week, I feel calm, am sleeping better, and am not overwhelmed by negative thoughts. I feel more motivated to do simple things. I get a little tired mid-afternoon, but it's not too bad. I don't feel emotionally numb or on edge as I did with other medications. I would recommend persisting through the first month and using anti-nausea medication if you need to. I'm planning on staying on this medication for the rest of my life."

• Anonymous
• October 17, 2010

Desvenlafaxine for Anxiety "I took this medicine two days ago. The first day I took it around 8 pm and couldn't fall asleep until 3 am. I also experienced clenching my teeth that night, and it made me so irritable. I noticed my stomach making funny sounds, and I took it with a full glass of water and with food. The next morning, I woke up with a horrible headache. I had an upset stomach, and my jaw was so sore. I felt very nauseated, and that passed after about three hours. Around 3 pm, I took it again since I knew it kept me up. I hardly ate at all that day due to feeling so sick. Around 7 pm, I felt like I might be hungry. I went to get fries. When I ate the fries, they tasted different. Pristiq made me so sick and made stuff taste different."

• Anonymous
• April 9, 2012

For Depression "Woke me up a little, decreased appetite, so I thankfully lost a bit of weight. It gave me headaches in the beginning due to dehydration, but overall, the only other bad effect was insomnia in the beginning. I went completely manic when I went up to 100 mg, but 50 mg worked perfectly for me... that is, until it just stopped helping anymore."

• Anonymous
• March 9, 2011

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "This is my first day on Pristiq, and I am having the worst side effects. First, I noticed a huge decrease in my appetite. Headache all day, clenched jaw, crying, irritable, a little aggravation. I don't know if I should stick this out or not. I was really hoping that this would help since I suffer from depression, anxiety, and OCD. I don't want to give up."

• Che...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 2, 2018

For Depression "I just started desvenlafaxine 25 mg for depression and anxiety. I have taken it for 5 days and have had a debilitating headache from day 1. I suffer from migraines. My doctor wants me to move up to 50 mg, and I’m hesitant to do so. Any suggestions?"

• Anonymous
• April 11, 2012

For Depression "Made me thirsty to the point of headaches at first, as well as insomnia at first, but then it evened out. It helped me concentrate and stay awake, and I felt generally happier and more active. 100 mg made me ridiculously manic and upset, but 50 mg was perfect for me. I simply quit it when it stopped working."

• don...
• April 4, 2013

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "Depression has gotten worse, causing me to miss work. I have been on 20 different antidepressants over 7 years. Pristiq didn't help at all for me: headaches, foggy, and nausea. Also shaky at times."

• Dee...
• October 13, 2017

Desvenlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "Pristiq changed my life. Made me feel like a normal, happy person. Side effects were an annoying headache for the first 2 days. No more symptoms once I had come off it."

• Anonymous
• July 12, 2010

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I was taking Pristiq for 3 weeks, and it was working well. After six weeks, I started experiencing extreme agitation and severe headaches, where I could not function."

• Anonymous
• September 10, 2009

Desvenlafaxine for Anxiety "Caused headache, irritability, constipation, and blurred vision."

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

For Depression "Had really bad headaches, nose bleeding, ringing in ears, scary nightmares... my husband has to wake me up because I am screaming or moaning in my sleep. I can only get the generic pills."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 14, 2021

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "On it for BD & BPD. 1st week: headache, nausea, the runs, no appetite, & increased anxiety/irritability."