Desvenlafaxine and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 4)

• 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."

• Anonymous
• March 21, 2009

Desvenlafaxine 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

Desvenlafaxine 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

Desvenlafaxine 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

Desvenlafaxine 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

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."

• Anonymous
• December 15, 2010

Desvenlafaxine 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
• 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."

• Anonymous
• April 8, 2010

Desvenlafaxine 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."

• Not...
• September 21, 2017

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "Pristiq is a horrible drug. Caused me to be off work for 9 months due to the side effects. I had insomnia, didn't sleep for 2 weeks, gave me restless leg syndrome, felt agitated, my mood was super down. I would not recommend it to anyone."

• S D...
• April 13, 2017

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I have BPD II, PTSD, and anxiety with agoraphobia. I've tried a lot of different meds and gone unmedicated as well, probably over the last 15 years or so. Right now, I'm on Lithium 900 mg. Just stopped Gabapentin 900-1200 mg. On Desvenlafaxine 100 mg (start, 50 mg) about 1 year. Since I started, I've been lifted out of a suicidal and debilitating depression. Taking into consideration lithium, my moods are more leveled out, and I don't feel like crying at the drop of a hat. I don't feel completely hopeless. However, I do feel unnecessarily agitated, sleep issues - too much or insomnia, low energy, incessant nausea. I've also gained an incredible amount of weight, without appetite. DNA test 'green-lit' Pristiq... Going to see the doctor today."

• Car...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 20, 2021

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I am leaving this comment to increase awareness of the difficult withdrawal one can experience when trying to get off Pristiq. I have been trying to get off this drug for the past few months. The first step was reducing my dose from 100 mg to 50 mg, which I managed to do without too much difficulty. After achieving this, I started to skip one pill each week, then two, etc. This process was the most difficult. Skipping one pill was okay. But skipping two has led to a range of unpleasant symptoms, including brain zaps, paresthesia, hyperarousal, insomnia, headaches, dizziness, flu-like symptoms, auras, crying outbursts, and detachment. This really gets in the way of life. Yeah, I wouldn't have started on this drug if I had known about the horrible withdrawal process. I really, really wish the doctors would inform their patients of this."

• Jam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 11, 2016

Desvenlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "Just horrible. Sweating, panic attacks, diarrhea, limb jerkiness, tooth grinding, worse insomnia, feelings of unreality, and incidentally, I have taken this for several months and the side effects are still there, just milder. No idea why this was even approved in the first place since it's just a 'patent extender' for the almost identical drug Effexor (venlafaxine)."

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

For Panic Disorder "I’ve been on the generic desvenlafaxine brand for 6 months for panic disorder and social anxiety, and it has helped me tremendously. I went from experiencing horrible panic episodes almost daily with spiraling anxiety to a whole new world. I feel like a new person. Also doing therapy and working on mindfulness. This drug has been a lifesaver for me. Few side effects that do not compare to the horror of anxiety and panic beforehand. Side effects are slight tightness of jaw, slight weight gain (but previously underweight), slight sleep interruption, mostly when I had started the medicine - has since improved."

• The...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 4, 2017

Desvenlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "I started on Lexapro in my early diagnosis with depression, it worked, but then I became immune to the drug. Then my psychiatrist recommended Effexor, which also worked for the short term. However, that was in the early years. For the past few years, I have been on Pristiq. I started on 50 mg, which did a good job of controlling the anxiety and lifting me out of depression. Last week, my psychiatrist upped my dose to 100 mg to see how I go with this. I am also on Epilim 1000 mg daily, as well as 200 mg of Seroquel for sleep disorder. I think taking extra Pristiq will help, though, see how I go."

• Anonymous
• April 25, 2010

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I suffer from anxiety, depression, and panic attacks. 9/10 because it's working for me, but it's only the second antidepressant I've used. I was prescribed Cymbalta but had terrible nausea, body tremors, hot flashes, and panic attacks. With Pristiq, I had nausea for three days, but it was bearable, and I was really restless. I had so much energy I walked around the block three times a day or more in the first week. It did stir up my depression, and I had suicidal thoughts, which is quite controversial because I never want to die and know in myself I would never do that to my girlfriend and my family. I had insomnia on the second night after starting my Pristiq, but have had no insomnia ever since. All my side effects were gone after a week, and then I was given a prescription for it. Life-changing stuff."

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 21, 2016

Desvenlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "I technically have bipolar II disorder, and I'm a rapid cycler, but most of the time I experience crippling depression. I take this along with Trileptal to curb any possible hypomanic side effects. I took a genetic test, and this showed up on my list of drugs that were okay to take. I'm on 25 mg, which is technically a starter dose, but I've found that it's more than plenty to help with my symptoms. Within the first couple of days, my depressive thinking (intrusive thoughts, suicidal thoughts, paranoia, etc.) and daily panic attacks went down to basically nothing. I have relatively low energy still, but it sure beats feeling suicidal and anxious all the time. The only side effects I have are constipation, and if I take it too late, insomnia."

• 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?"

• Kre...
• January 24, 2010

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "Started taking Pristiq about 4 months ago. I am also taking 300 mg of trazodone to go to sleep (horrible insomnia). I also take 5 mg of Xanax a day. I started off at 50 mg on the Pristiq, but I wasn't noticing anything different. I still wanted to hide from everyone and not go to work or school. I now take 100 mg of Pristiq, and maybe it's helping? I am smiling at people, I just hope it is not fake."

• Anonymous
• March 8, 2009

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "My sister has been on this drug for 2 and a half weeks now. She has had suicidal thoughts on more than one occasion. She's also having to triple her dose of Trazodone to sleep due to the insomnia. And her depression is worse than ever. She's also become very aggressive."

• Bre...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 23, 2018

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I am a healthy 49-year-old female RN going through menopause. A family member noticed I cried too easily. HRT did not work for me, it made hormonal swings worse. The doctor prescribed Pristiq 25 mg, and the next day, I was not so 'weepy.' Depression is not an issue for me, it's the mood swings from going through early menopause. I took the 25 mg every day and felt great, but after a few weeks, I started having insomnia and restless limbs at night. A little GI upset, but I take it in the morning with food. I exercise very hard, so no weight gain. However, the insomnia and restless limbs at night are starting to affect my quality of life. For a few months now, I only take the 25 mg every other day. I am going to slowly taper down this medication, as in my professional opinion, I have too much serotonin. I'm going to maybe take it 1-2 times a week. My goal is to get off of it completely."

• ape...
• July 1, 2009

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I've been on this medication for a week to treat my low-grade depression, which has manifested itself primarily with erectile dysfunction and insomnia. I am 22. Within 48 hours, I slept through the night for the first time in months. Much of the sexual difficulties I had experienced prior to taking the Pristiq (which is the first antidepressant I've been on) went away within the same time period. I'm yawning a lot despite not being particularly tired, and I'm clenching my jaw a lot. I'm more focused, excited about my sex life, and just being able to sleep through the night for once is a godsend. If these are the worst side effects I have to deal with, I'll be happy."

• 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."

• Joh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 6, 2019

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "A week later, after one dose, and I'm still having problems. Fits of shallow yawning, trouble falling asleep without spasming, fuzzy frontal lobe, and I've noticed caffeine makes me feel awful. Very upsetting."

• bra...
• November 25, 2009

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I have taken almost every drug out there. With so many drugs and so many different side effects, because of this, I have been off all drugs for a couple of years. I feel the need to go on something for depression. I was so worried about the side effects of weight gain or hair loss that I asked my doctor for something that would avoid these two side effects. I have been on Pristiq for almost 2 weeks. I have mild headaches, frequent urination, constipation, and insomnia so far. I am hoping with monitoring this that maybe if I change the time that I take it and try to add fiber to my diet, and try to drink less fluids closer to bedtime to help. I have had worse side effects with other medicines, so I will stay on longer to see if I notice a difference."