Desvenlafaxine and Sexual Dysfunction: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Anonymous
• February 2, 2011

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I've been on this medicine for about two years, and my experience has been positive. I feel happier, more comfortable in my skin, less irritable, mentally sharper than I've ever been. It's been very effective! The only downsides have been sex drive and some inconsistency in its effects. Sometimes I feel as though the potency of the medicine can vary month to month. Last year, I tried to slowly come off of it over a two-month period. Unfortunately, all the symptoms started coming back. It was a reminder of how hard life was before this medicine. I wish all of you the best."

• vio...
• May 16, 2011

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I was diagnosed with clinical depression over 13 years ago. I took Paxil for 1 year and swore I would never take another depression medicine. After some extreme and consistent stress in 2010, I talked to my MD, and he suggested that my depression would not just go away on its own. After explaining my drug experiences, he prescribed Lexapro, and I took it for about 3 months. It was wonderful, except that it just stopped working, I had gained 10 lbs, and the sexual side effects were terrible. He changed me to Pristiq, which I have been taking for 16 days now. I never had nausea or dizziness. I feel less hungry than I did on Lexapro, and there are no sexual side effects. At first, I felt a bit spacey, but now I have more energy."

• Tms...
• August 2, 2011

Desvenlafaxine for Anxiety "I am on week 2 of Pristiq, and so far I am very irritable, no motivation, and no sex drive. I have read the reviews, and I am feeling more optimistic! Thanks, everyone, for posting! I really want to keep pushing through this."

• Pen...
• April 26, 2011

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "Started on Pristiq after my dad passed away two years ago, and I was to the point I couldn't handle life. It was great; I was happy, I could cope, I didn't gain too much weight (a little maybe, but I wasn't 'obsessed' with food). My sex drive was pretty much gone though. Because of lack of sex drive and sudden migraines, I went off it after a year. Tried to start taking it again, and it just wasn't working anymore. The number one thing I would warn people about is that it's really hard to stop taking this medication. The side effects with the withdrawals are brain shocks, depression, blurry vision, confusion, exhaustion."

• Meg...
• April 30, 2009

Desvenlafaxine for Anxiety "I'm 24 and have been taking Pristiq for about 6 weeks now. The first 3 weeks were hell. I went through horrible emotional spells. I would cry, then get angry for no reason. I would just want to be left alone. My husband and my family were so worried about me. I wasn't myself at all, my mood changed so frequently. Now I am feeling balanced - I haven't had an anxiety attack for about 4 weeks now. I never thought I would get here. The only thing I am experiencing now is trouble sleeping, but that's been going on a while, and a slight decrease in my sex drive. If that doesn't change in the next couple of weeks, my doctor wants to put me on Wellbutrin, we'll see how that goes."

• chl...
• October 2, 2010

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I was 1st prescribed Zoloft, which for me was absolutely perfect until none of my clothes fit about 3 months into it. I gained 25 lbs, and the weight gain brought new depression and anxiety. I was put on Wellbutrin, which was a 'nice' drug if your depression isn't too severe, and I lost weight on it, but it couldn't hold a candle to my problems. Then, I tried Pristiq (and I also use Valium and Ambien for any additional anxiety). It's a happy medium between the 2 medicines. You won't have the side effects of Zoloft (weight gain, loss of sexual interest), but you'll have a stronger backing against the physical and mental toll of depression and anxiety."

• Anonymous
• November 22, 2010

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "Started taking this medication about a month ago, and I must say that it really works. Initially, I started to take 100 mg every morning, and it made me extremely nauseous, but the nausea subsided after about two weeks. I get the occasional dry mouth, etc., but that is a small price to pay to not have dysthymia. The only complaint that I have with this medicine is that it produces some heavy sexual side effects: loss of libido, delayed ejaculation. I am currently on 150 mg per day. My doctor does not think that 50 mg is a 'therapeutic' dose and has only seen positive results in doses above 100 mg. I do not want to reduce the dose because I have finally found something that actually works."

• Anonymous
• March 25, 2012

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I've been taking Pristiq for 18 months. I take it in the morning, same time every day. Sex drive is low and I get the occasional nosebleed and slight memory loss, and now recently have been experiencing headaches. Don't suffer in silence, get the help you need, even if it's hard. If you are a male like me, suffering is not a choice."

• Mee...
• August 11, 2009

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I've been on Pristiq for almost a month. It's great. No pill will deliver a miracle, so keep that in mind. Side effects are negligible. I do have a reduced sex drive, but I also had that with Celexa. However, there was a time I was on Celexa and had no sexual dysfunction, so it's difficult to quantify."

• Anonymous
• July 5, 2011

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "Pristiq worked well for me for 6 months on the 50 mg, then it stopped working. Switched to the 100 mg and know it's working again. Works really well for depression and anxiety. Makes you feel really confident, talkative, makes it impossible to orgasm, and it does keep you up at night. Hopefully, it won't poop out on me. When switching doses, you have to give it at least 3 weeks to feel the effects. Initial side effects do subside."

• cym...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 2, 2019

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "I started Pristiq to help with anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. The anxiety went totally away, which was awesome (hence the 2 stars). Everything else sucked. It reduced my depression about 30%, pain about 10-20%. I looked at the most common side effects of Pristiq, and they were increased or excessive sweating, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation, sleep problems (insomnia), loss of appetite, tightness in your jaw, but for me, I was so flat emotionally and ended up gaining 40 pounds, it was like my body never got the cue that I wasn't hungry. I also dealt with constipation, sexual side effects, and general blahs. Going off the medication was the hardest part. I gained 10 pounds in a month going off it, I was in a very dark place, very emotional and rage-y, and had severe dizziness for like two months. While not having anxiety was great, the apathy and weight gain, as well as minimal depressive symptom relief, made this one a no-go for me."

• 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."

• Dav...
• November 26, 2018

For Depression "I am a 70-year-old retired male. I have been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder. This current bout of depression has been ongoing for 3 plus years, and I have been on several different meds, and now I take desvenlafaxine succinate 100 mg, which I now assume is generic for Pristiq. At bedtime, I take Remeron 45 mg, plus temazepam 15 mg. The depression, anxiety, and insomnia are controlled on this regimen, but I do have the side effects of mild constipation, sleeping until noon each day, little interest in the things of life, emotionally blunted (I rarely laugh), have no libido, runny nose, am constantly licking my lips, and mildly grinding my teeth. I have no intention of discontinuing these meds any time soon. I weaned off of Latuda over 2 months without too much difficulty, I had mild panic anxiety, as if I could not get a full breath into my lungs, for which I took Ativan 1 mg, which took care of that problem. Wish all good luck with managing their mental health issues."

• Win...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 21, 2016

For Depression "Day one for me, so I can't 'rate,' but I am amazed at the wildly differing experiences posted! I have been on and off antidepressants for 20 years, but the side effects (loss of libido, insomnia, weight gain, etc.) from the various different brands inevitably resulted in me failing to renew the prescription after a few months. They were all from the same SSRI group of drugs, but I can't say that I've experienced withdrawal symptoms from any of them when going 'cold turkey.' I suffer from mild anxiety, but recently have been suffering major depression that, in the main, has manifested itself by huge lethargy. My doctor prescribed Valdoxan which, while side effect-free, did stuff all and cost a fortune! Fingers crossed for Pristiq!"

• Pri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 14, 2020

"I started taking Pristiq because I suffered from CMD (chronic masturbation disorder). Before taking Pristiq, I was masturbating 5-10 times a day. After just 2 days on Pristiq, I could barely get an erection, and ejaculating was something that was not happening. Thanks to Pristiq's side effects, I no longer need to masturbate or even touch my penis except to pee. If you would like to stop having sex or playing with your cock, I highly recommend this drug. All jokes aside, any review you read about this drug downplaying its sexual side effects is probably fake. Don't believe me, try the medicine."

• Jim...
• March 5, 2010

Desvenlafaxine for Anxiety "I started having problems with depression when I was 14. I'm now 29. I started out taking Paxil back then, and it helped. I had the dose increased and maxed out on the dosage. From that point, I went on to Zoloft. I also took this for a while and maxed out on the dosage. I then went on to take Effexor and maintained at 150 mg for some time. Then, like some, I thought that I did not need the medicine anymore once I got to feeling better. I went off the Effexor and was able to stay off of the medicine for 5 years, actually. Then one day, bam, it all came back to me. I started back on Effexor again, only this time it had sexual side effects on me, so I stopped taking it. I am now starting Pristiq. I hope this makes me feel better."

• Sen...
• January 10, 2017

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "This med works well for norepinephrine uptake inhibition, which is my problem. However, it can cause anorgasmia in men over 50 years of age. I can have an erection and sexual intercourse, but I never finish the job. One of the side effects is listed for this drug if you read the small print. I stopped using it years ago and still have side effects."

• Hig...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 10, 2013

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "Was on Effexor for years. Learned that Pristiq has less side effect on sexual dysfunction. After being on Pristiq, I felt it was effective, gentle, and my sexual issues improved."

• Hig...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 2, 2021

Desvenlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "I have been on this amazing drug for 3 years. It is the only one that has ever worked to keep me in the middle... No sexual side effects is a big one for me."

• For...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 26, 2025

For Anxiety "I'm very satisfied with desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) for controlling my anxiety. I tried other medications in the past, but this one works best for me while limiting sexual side effects."

• dot...
• January 15, 2012

Desvenlafaxine for Depression "Have developed visual problems, thinning hair on top of my head, insomnia, and loss of sexual interest."