Desvenlafaxine and Nausea: What Users Say (Page 3)

• kiw...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 9, 2015

For Anxiety "I have been on Pristiq for approx 2 weeks for anxiety and dizziness and disequilibrium. The first week was rough, with sweating and a little nausea, but no tiredness. From day 9, I have noticed a good boost in energy and a change in how I have been managing my anxiety, with increased confidence and reduced dizziness. I will keep taking it, but won't be looking forward to coming off it when the time comes. It has given me a new outlook on life, which is a big positive."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 27, 2016

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "This medication has been a lifesaver! I have been on it for almost 3 weeks, and I am amazed at how much better I feel. I suffered a breakdown just after Thanksgiving and continued to be an utter disaster for a few weeks. I entered a PHP program where the psych suggested Pristiq, something I had been asking my primary psych for months! After about 4-5 days, I began to feel somewhat whole again, and I'm getting better each day. I still have my ups and downs, but I'm now able to get out of bed and shower every day! The only reason I did not give a 10 is because of some undesirable side effects such as nausea and very dry mouth. I am told that by 4-6 weeks this should go away."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 25, 2012

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I am 26, female, and have been on Pristiq for a little over 18 months. It worked fantastically for the first year, my anxiety and depression were under control for the first time ever. For the last few months, though, I have noticed a lot more side effects. I have gained weight, and although my sex drive hasn't dropped, I find it very hard to reach orgasm. Also, if I miss one day, I have really bad withdrawals: migraine headaches, nausea, dizzy spells, and out-of-control emotions. I think Pristiq is great for short-term use, but I'm not convinced it's good as a long-term option."

• Llc...
• January 28, 2016

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "27, I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression about 18 months ago. My doctor started me on 50 mg of sertraline, and it had no effect, so bumped me up to 100 mg, and I absolutely hated life! My panic attacks worsened, my mood was unbearable, I always felt tired and nauseous, which all affected my ability to work. I had enough, so I stopped, but then needed to go back to the doctor to try a different medication, which he prescribed me Pristiq. I feel absolutely amazing! My anxiety has gone, and the depression side of things is a thing of the past! I have been nauseous once or twice since being on it (3 months), but that is nothing compared to the other medication I was on :)"

• Can...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 8, 2019

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I've been on and off antidepressants for 6 years for depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. I've been on Pristiq 50 mg for around 8 months now. I am extremely sensitive to these medications and develop a lot of side effects. However, this drug hasn't made me a zombie like others (Cymbalta is the worst). Had nausea at the beginning, but passed quickly. I get bruises all over my legs and some on my arms. I look like a Dalmatian. I still get 'brain zaps' and dizziness, even if I miss my dose by 2 hours. It's horrid. I'm trying to wean off all mood medications. Apprehensive because of how I feel after only a day. Scored it a 4 because it didn't zombify me. To those thinking of going down the med route, please try other things. Use it as a last resort."

• CT1...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 26, 2022

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I’ve been on this medicine twice now, once in my early 30s while in Australia (name brand- 50 mg) and just again at 40 years old (generic- 25 mg). The first time was okay, I lasted about 6 months and it curbed my anxiety, appetite, etc. However, this time was an absolute nightmare— I had to cut it completely off after 5 days. What a significant difference in terms of how my body processed this 8 years later. The fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, and inability to function have all just been too much. 1) If you have IBS/sensitive stomach, this is not the medicine for you. 2) Try it when you don’t have any work commitments, there’s no way I would have been able to work these past few days — done with this and other SSRIs and SNRIs."

• lpl...
• December 17, 2008

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I have been on Pristiq for 2 and a half weeks. The first day I was nauseated, but I ate and felt much better. The first week I was very hyper in the morning when I took it. I could not drink my usual cup of coffee. In the late afternoon, I felt tired. This week I feel much better, not hyper at all. I feel somewhat calmer, and my husband agrees. I have lost 4 pounds so far, and that is great. I have hypothyroidism and gained 10 lbs from Synthroid. I am taking Pristiq because I have mood swings and horrible PMS. I do hope I feel more of the effects of this medication in the next few weeks. I was on Wellbutrin and Celexa before but had side effects. Pristiq has been awesome so far."

• Ggk...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 7, 2019

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "After several years of trying various meds with no success, I did GeneSight testing, and Pristiq was at the top of the list for meds my body will metabolize correctly. I took my first dose 3 days ago and regretted it within a few hours. Nausea that I'm still experiencing. Flushed, feverish feeling, blood pressure way too high, and no energy at all. I've barely been out of bed for 3 days. This stuff is poison. I'm done with all psych meds after my experience."

• One...
• June 22, 2009

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I learned quickly that what works for one may not work for another. I was on Wellbutrin, which worked pretty well for me, except for the ringing in my ears. My doctor then suggested Cymbalta, and I felt worse almost immediately. We stuck with it, and even increased the dosage, but I felt like I was slipping back into darkness. I had neither energy nor interest in anything. I then began Pristiq: four weeks at 50 mg and now 100 mg. I'm feeling better than I have in many months. I had a bit of nausea at the beginning and then some headaches when I first bumped up to 100 mg. In conjunction with an effective therapist I was lucky to find, I'm finally feeling (cautiously) optimistic about this thing called life."

• Mis...
• June 3, 2015

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I am currently 21 years old, but started taking Pristiq a few years ago. I had previously tried Prozac, then Effexor, but I couldn't see much of a difference. Once I started taking Pristiq 50 mg, I felt the results within the same week. It was great. However, whenever I missed a day, I would feel the adverse side effects almost immediately. Brain zaps, depersonalization, dizziness, foggy thoughts, nausea, sweating, crying spells, headaches... I eventually got off of it (I honestly don't know how), but it was a very difficult 2-week process. Two years later, I am back on Wellbutrin (after a bad experience with Lexapro). Pristiq was definitely effective but extremely addictive. Not something I'd recommend without reservation."

• Jay...
• October 16, 2019

Desvenlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "Pristiq has a rough first 3 days for some, but I tend to just feel...weird, agitated at worst. After the initial adjustment, I have seen a real good turnaround. I'm able to go about my day and get things done, I no longer have this film of benign sadness overlaying all my other moods. I'm mostly asexual, so I'm not much affected by the drop in libido. I can have fun at nightclubs and not be overwhelmed by all the stimuli. My memory is better, and while my appetite is bigger than before, it feels different than the frantic anxiety that caused me to overeat off the meds. I can easily drink some water and be satiated till next mealtime. The withdrawal symptoms are disorienting and extremely unpleasant: nausea, brain zaps, and mania that's on the more angry side. Just take exactly as prescribed and be prepared if you're switching medications. TLDR: It does its job and does it well. It takes more effort to do sexy things, but worth it. Don't take unless you plan to be on it for a while."

• Anonymous
• May 22, 2009

Desvenlafaxine for Anxiety "I can only say good things about Pristiq. I was on Lexapro for about three years and gained about 35 pounds. My doctor switched me to Pristiq. The hardest part was weaning off the Lexapro and the couple of weeks it took for my body to adjust to a new medicine. It has been about a month now, and I absolutely feel great, energized, my appetite seems more normal. I have lost three pounds in four weeks. Not bad since I wasn't really trying. The unusual changes I noticed at first on Pristiq were really weird dreams, and sometimes at night I felt a little tense. But now I just feel great. Also unusual in my case, my doctor told me to take it in the morning, but I was afraid of nausea, so I take it at night."

• sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 17, 2018

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I took this drug for about six months. Headaches, weight gain, nausea, dizziness and head spins, sleepless nights, and my libido went out the window, and I haven't found it since. When I finally went off the drug, the withdrawal was so bad that I wanted the world to know this drug should not be on the market. It is horrible and it messes you up. Yes, it did help with the depression a bit, but no better than some of the other ones out there. Worst drug I have ever been on, including my RA drugs."

• Kas...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 7, 2023

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I was on Pristiq for about 4 years. And 3 years before that, I was on other antidepressants, i.e., Paxil and Zoloft. The good thing was with Pristiq I did not gain weight as I did with Paxil (20 lbs!!). And I seemed to be functioning quite well. But over time, I started to notice I was not acting like or feeling like myself anymore. I lost interest in things, didn't want to be around people, and felt strange. So I decided to taper down to the lowest dose, 25 mg, and then stop it altogether. And it was very difficult to get off. The withdrawal was terrible. It created flu-like symptoms, and the worst was nausea, chills, and sweating. Then... new symptoms appeared... irrational thinking, intrusive thoughts, and feelings of not being in control (for no reason). The withdrawal lasted several months until my body finally learned how to function off the medicine. Now my brain is doing much better, and I just practice self-help, eat a clean diet, and exercise. And I don't hold stuff in anymore."

• Anonymous
• November 16, 2011

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I am so thankful for this medication. After years of self-medicating for untreated depression, anxiety, ADD, and mild bipolar and trying other antidepressants (Wellbutrin, Celexa, and Effexor, which is supposedly similar to Pristiq but all gave me nasty side effects), I was given samples of Pristiq and decided to give it another try. Within days, I was back on the right track and feeling better. The only side effects, which went away quite quickly, were mild nausea and loss of appetite. I have realized some people, like myself, just need medications like Pristiq to live a somewhat 'normal' life... nothing to be ashamed of. A diabetic needs insulin... I need Pristiq. Thank you for giving me my life back."

• Lov...
• December 14, 2011

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "Before taking Pristiq, I had never taken any anti-depressants and did not want to. However, I knew something was seriously wrong with me because I had lost interest in all the activities that I had once loved. I wanted to sleep all the time, and I felt so disconnected from everyone and everything around me. Being a mother of two wonderful children and the wife of a great husband, I felt like a complete failure because, in my own way of thinking, I had no reason to feel like this or be depressed. After seeking help from my doctor, I started taking Pristiq and noticed a change in the course of one week. I had some slight nausea at first, but the overall change it has made in my life has been great! I now enjoy and look forward to every day."

• Kat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 26, 2018

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I have been on Pristiq 100 mg for 4 years. I wanted to begin to taper off them, and over the last few months have cut to 50 mg and am now on my fourth day completely off the medication. I’m having extremely difficult withdrawals, including sweating, a feeling of hopelessness, crying spells up to 20 times a day, nausea, painful headaches, and brain zaps (sounds like zapping and poking behind my eyes), little to no energy. I’m also finding it hard to wake up in the morning. I have a very strong mindset of wanting to come off this medication, and I realize the symptoms are my body trying to heal itself. I strongly urge anyone wanting to taper off this medication to make sure you have support and someone to monitor you."

• KRo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 5, 2021

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I don't like this drug. I switched to it thinking it would be better than Cymbalta, but it was not! I am done with these awful drugs and big pharma trying to make money off others' misery! I had nausea, sexual side effects, my menstrual cycle changed, night sweats, hot all the time, anxiety, weight gain, etc....! It is not worth it. The side effects are worse than any depression ever was! Not to mention, all it did was make me numb. I am proud to say I have been off of this for almost a week. I will never take this med again."

• Let...
• February 6, 2013

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "20, female. I've been taking 100 mg for 18 months. I feel a lot better than what I did in regards to my depression, but I feel nauseous 70% of the time, and if I accidentally forget a pill, I feel absolutely awful. Bizarre dreams, incredibly tired, diarrhea, and paresthesia. I'm afraid to stop taking it for good because of what it does to me, something I'll be discussing with my doctor."

• Jlo...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 25, 2019

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I have not had any side effects. No constipation, dry mouth, or vivid dreams like I had with Wellbutrin time-released. The generic Pristiq does not work for me, the coating is different too. I was recently put on a higher dose, so I take brand name Pristiq 50 mg and a 25 mg because they don’t make a name brand 75 mg, only generic, which doesn’t work for me either. If I skip a dose of my medication, I’m okay, but after the second skipped dose, I become nauseous, dizzy, and shaky. That’s why I keep an extra dose in my purse so I’ll never miss a dose going forward."

• Mom...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 15, 2019

Desvenlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "I have major depression and horrible anxiety since childhood. I have been on Pristiq for 3 years. I tried many, many antidepressants, and they either didn't work, or the side effects were so awful I had to discontinue before it worked. I'm sensitive to medication, but had no problems with Pristiq. I never have had the foggy/zombie feeling like other antidepressants can cause. It worked really well for about 2 1/2 years (really stopped working when I was switched to generic). Now I am slowly tapering off onto a new med. Just be careful coming off Pristiq. I went 5 days without it (issues with insurance and the doctor's office), and it was a living nightmare! Full-blown panic attacks, dizziness, severe nausea, brain zaps, and out of touch with reality. Overall, I would recommend Pristiq. Everyone's body is different, but it worked wonders for me!"

• CLW...
• April 6, 2009

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I've been on Pristiq for a week and already feel like a new person. I was EXTREMELY hesitant to take the medication because I had tried other antidepressants in the past without success, plus there seems to be nothing but negative written about the drugs. I take no other medications and am a healthy 42-year-old. I had a few days of nausea, which was relieved mostly by taking the medication in the morning with food. I have a little dry mouth and use the bathroom a little less, but otherwise have no side effects. I feel like a film was lifted off me. It's hard to explain. I hope to continue to feel as balanced as I do now. I'm taking this for anxiety and dysthymic depression. The drug company offers assistance with co-payment."

• Sas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2019

Desvenlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "36 yr old female. Dx of severe depression and anxiety. After getting through the first couple of weeks of almost debilitating headaches, loss of appetite (which I'm already underweight and have tried everything to gain some lbs), insomnia (isn't new for me, but it just makes it much worse), and extreme nausea and overall feeling of complete garbage, this medication has been amazing for me. I had tried just about all of the main antidepressants, and this one has truly helped me so much. I just have a very hard time remembering to take it. After missing just a day or two, when I start to take it again, I have to go through the awful feeling from the side effects all over again."

• Sas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2019

Desvenlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "36 yr old female. Dx of severe depression and anxiety. After getting through the first couple of weeks of almost debilitating headaches, loss of appetite (which I'm already underweight and have tried everything to gain some lbs), insomnia (isn't new for me, but it just makes it much worse), and extreme nausea and overall feeling of complete garbage, this medication has been amazing for me. I had tried just about all of the main antidepressants, and this one has truly helped me so much. I just have a very hard time remembering to take it. After missing just a day or two, when I start to take it again, I have to go through the awful feeling from the side effects all over again."

• Sar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 28, 2017

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "My PCP prescribed Pristiq for my depression, anxiety, mood issues, etc. He told me that the drug takes a few weeks before you could see a difference, but I feel like I experienced everything the first day I took the drug. Although my mood and energy improved and I felt better overall, the side effects were so severe I decided to discontinue after the first day. My side effects started with heart palpitations, sweating, dizziness, and a faint feeling. This later subsided but turned into nausea and loss of appetite, I couldn't eat anything that day, and even water made me gag. That night I slept for a total of 3 hours. I couldn't stay asleep, and the time I did fall asleep, it felt like I wasn't asleep at all. My body felt numb, and my heart was racing."