Fetzima for Major Depressive Disorder User Reviews

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 7, 2014

"Dealing with depression and anxiety. Tapered off Elavil for three weeks before starting Fetzima. I'm on day 8 with Fetzima. Two days at 20mg and then up to 40mg per day. Started Fetzima... The first two days felt great... happy and relaxed. The next few I was grumpy, mad at the world. Not irrational, just mad. Bad mood. Now on day eight, I'm feeling good. No obsessive thoughts about bad things, thinking super clearly which was a huge issue for me. Don't need as much sleep and seem to have more energy, though not manic. I think I've lost a little weight which is good for me. I was concerned about my blood pressure which was a little high pre-Fetzima but no issues. No other side effects."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 22, 2020

"Diagnosed with MDD, GAD, and complex PTSD. This Fetzima medication has literally been a miracle drug for me. Been on different SSRIs and never felt well. I have never felt cognitively sharper, able to function throughout the day, and without feeling sedated. No more negative thoughts and self-loathing, low energy, agitation, and irritability, inability to leave the house and be productive and crushes my GAD as well. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to live a life I have never known. If you can push through a few weeks of nausea, dizziness, and not feeling great, you will get to a good place. Give it time to work."

• Cat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 24, 2016

"Have had MDD for almost 10 years. Lost my job, income, and basically trudging through life. Have taken Lamictal 300mg for years, and Dr. has tried combining with almost every antidepressant out there. Abilify worked great for about a month, my house was clean, lawn decent, and things sorted and organized. Then back to the usual. House a mess, repairs not done, bills not paid. Just wanted to sleep my life away. Started Fetzima at 20mg for 2 days, then have been on 40mg for almost 2 weeks. Feeling energetic and ready to be productive again! Only side effect so far is frequent urination. Please keep your fingers crossed for me!"

• Ano...
• August 27, 2020

"I have C-PTSD and MDD. I was put on Effexor XR, and I hated it. I slept 20 hours a day, had no energy for anything, had constant nausea, so a new doctor prescribed Fetzima 30 mg. I have no side effects at all! Last week, I was sitting on my balcony, and I felt happy. I almost cried, I had not felt this kind of simple bliss in more than 10 years. No other antidepressants ever worked for me, and I tried many. Speaking of sleep, my sleep has improved so much on Fetzima. No nightmares like on Effexor XR, I feel rested after 8 hours, and I actually want to get out of bed when I wake up. I do notice that I speak a lot and faster on Fetzima, but it's not as bad for me as other people reported. And I have so, so much more energy. I know other people had very bad experiences, but in my opinion, it's really worth trying, you might be one of those people who'll be lucky enough to finally have a chance to really get better, just like me!"

• Pan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 18, 2020

"I have GAD, anxiety, panic attacks. I was having sexual side effects on Cymbalta, so my psychiatrist switched me to Fetzima. He said he wasn't certain it would help with my anxiety, as it is more for depression. However, all of the SNRIs that I have tried (Pristiq, Cymbalta, & Fetzima) have done wonders for my anxiety. I don't have sexual side effects on Fetzima, and I'm thrilled to have found something that works so well for my anxiety. I can actually tell myself, 'Let's just wait and see what happens, no need to worry about that right now,' and it works. I didn't think that would ever be possible."

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

"I am writing this in memory of my husband. My husband was on antidepressant meds for many years. His doctor prescribed Fetzima. I wish he had never taken it. I found him after he committed suicide. This was in April 2014. Please be very careful if you do take this medicine. I miss him every day..."

• Was...
• February 3, 2015

"I came to this website looking to see if anyone else had the impacts that I did. I've been on 10 or so meds prior to this over 20 years now. I hope this isn't inappropriate, but medically speaking I think this might be important to others. After taking this only 6 days now, my depression levels have stayed the same, but I can't help but notice my sex drive is back and it's almost unbelievable to me. I lost a marriage over depression and the lack of sex drive because of meds. As well, lack of sex drive in itself made me really depressed. The agony of wanting sex to feel good was unimaginable. But depression in control was more important. And I only switched to this med because of cost. Best thing that has happened to me in forev"

• Gre...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 9, 2017

"I had a rough childhood to sum things up quickly. I was divorced and put myself through nursing school, remarried, bought a house, and was very independent until I hit 30 years old. I started to slowly decompensate mentally. My issues are bipolar, borderline personality disorder, anxiety, grief-complicated, ADD, diabetes, and obesity. I tried counseling and all kinds of medications for 10 years. My husband is very supportive. Then my 20-year-old son committed suicide in the navy. It didn't hit me until about 9 or 10 months, and I became extremely manic, and the grief took over. I dissociated and overdosed on my Klonopin and started outpatient treatment. That's when I started Fetzima. It saved my life! It took about a year and a half to work through the grief, but I could NOT have done it without Fetzima. It helped with anxiety and my depression."

• XIM...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 13, 2016

"I have MDD (12 years), chronic pain (17 years), anxiety, and social/agoraphobias. For the last 3 years, I barely left the house and rarely left my bed. Things grew extremely dark this past year. I cared for nothing except my dog, without whom I wouldn't be here now. The psychiatrists and antidepressants I tried for years either failed miserably or made things worse. I managed to see a new psychiatrist who put me on a combo of Fetzima and Rexulti. This combo made a HUGE difference for me. It feels like someone turned on the lights, and I can finally see some kind of future. It's still hard, but not impossible. Don't let the bad reviews scare you off! If you've been struggling, try it. It might help you. Just be watchful of the possible side effects."

• nam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 14, 2016

"I did not have any negative side effects from Fetzima, and it is the first thing that has worked for me. Do not drink alcohol when taking this at all; I did, and it made me feel extremely depressed. I actually feel like a person now, and I have so much more energy."

• Smu...
• April 21, 2016

"My Cymbalta pooped out on me, and I was having suicidal ideations. My doc wanted to put me in the hospital, and I refused. She suggested I try Fetzima. It's only been three weeks, but so far, I feel amazing. It's like night and day. Less depression, more motivated and hopeful. I haven't had any negative side effects. I am so glad this medication is available. It literally kept me out of the mental hospital and possibly saved my job since I didn't want to get out of bed and called in sick often. I hope it works as well for others who try it."

• Dep...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 15, 2016

"I have an extreme case of depression that very few experience, and I have had extreme depression for over 25 years with pain I cannot begin to describe. In the past, Nefazodone and Cymbalta rescued me, and each worked for a decade or more, but they eventually pooped out. None of the SSRIs and other drugs worked for me. I switched from Cymbalta to this drug, and within days this drug started working. If you are one of the 10% of depressed people where only norepinephrine antidepressants work for your depression (SNRIs, Tricyclics), then this is a good drug to try. It is too early to tell if this drug will work long-term for me. The side effects of this drug went away within a week for me."

• smi...
• September 25, 2015

"I am on day 12 of Fetzima 40 mg and feeling awesome! I've dealt with depression for over 15 years, and I've never had a medicine work so quickly. I am also on Abilify 5 mg a day. I've been on just about every med out there except MAOIs. My advice to you is to keep on until you find the right med for you. There is light at the end of the tunnel!!! My side effects are bad headaches, but I will gladly deal with that to finally feel like a normal human being again."

• Mrs...
• May 25, 2017

"I was on 120 mg. Was great for my mood, but I had several side effects including: increased blood pressure, tachycardia, urinary hesitation, constipation, bloating, stomach pain, dry mouth, nausea, and UTI. My Dr. told me to choose whether I wanted to feel good mentally or physically. Looking for a new Dr. I think I deserve both. One without the other is simply existing, and I want to live life happy and healthy."

• Che...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 8, 2018

"My medical history includes migraines, MDD, and insomnia. The medications that I have taken over the last 3 years to treat MDD include Wellbutrin, Effexor, Lamictal, Zoloft, Trazodone, Prozac, Lithium, and Remeron. The medications that I have taken over the past 3 years for insomnia include Ambien, Ambien CR, hydroxyzine pamoate, Remeron, and temazepam. Currently, I am on propranolol (for migraine prevention), rizatriptan (for migraine abortion), lamotrigine, Adderall XR, and Fetzima. By far, Fetzima has been the most successful medication in relieving my depression symptoms and has given me the fewest side effects. I have been taking it for approximately 6 months and have not relapsed as I usually do after 2-3 months on the various other antidepressants I've taken."

• Cap...
• July 29, 2015

"I have had MDD for a while along with anxiety. I have tried so many medications and am medication resistant. Prior to taking Fetzima, I was on Topamax, which helped me quite a bit when I was not in a good place. However, it was not helping anymore, so my doc thought maybe going to an SNRI may help. I had mostly been on SSRIs before. The Fetzima really helped me with motivation and getting engaged in my day. I am taking 80 mg right now. I had tried the 120 mg but went back down since I couldn't tell a difference between the two. I have been on Fetzima now for about 4-5 months. I really don't have any side effects. The first week or two, I had a little nausea, but no SE now."

• Sop...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 5, 2017

"I've tried 20+ meds over the last 30 years to treat depression. I've had wonderful results with Fetzima and Trileptal. I've been on the medication about 18 months now. Some GI issues, some sweating, though not as intense as others have mentioned. As I've increased dosage, I definitely experienced rage, but it subsided within a week. I've had an increase in blood pressure, but it was already high, and a med adjustment solved it. A weird side effect: I talk a lot more than I did before. I can stop myself, but the tendency is new. I can deal with these side effects. They've not been intense or long-lasting. My depression was horrible for 7+ years. I've gone from failed suicide attempts to feeling good again. I'm very grateful for this drug."

• Som...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 21, 2015

"I've been on Fetzima for 3 months. I take the 40 mg extended release. This has been the best medication I have been on. I have increased energy. I can focus and stay on task. I do not feel hopeless and have an opinion now. The side effects I have are dry mouth, constipation, my face and chest will turn red and feel hot to me at times, and my neck will break out. I have also had some irritability and anger. I feel like this is because I walked around in a fog with no thoughts or opinions for so long that now I'm engaged in life and paying attention. Some things that used to not bother me do now. For me, my effects from this medication have not changed at all. The benefits definitely outweigh the mild side effects."

• veg...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 25, 2016

"This is an update to my comments from March. I am still very happy with it. I did experience itching and sweating initially, but those side effects are long gone. I also felt teary and emotional for several months. At first, I thought the Fetzima was providing some pain relief, but I must have just been having a remission period. I have Psoriatic Arthritis and Fibromyalgia. I do think it is having a wonderful effect on my binge eating disorder. I have lost much of my interest in junk food and sweets. I can occasionally eat these things without going overboard or setting myself up for cravings. I have not lost my appetite, but I have found myself becoming satisfied with less food and have been losing weight without much effort."

• Sta...
• May 1, 2014

"I started Fetzima earlier this year (2014), and I am now going off of it because it just didn't work for me. The one thing it did do for me was give me some energy, which I sorely lack. That's why I gave it a '3' because it did do something. But what I really need is something to lift my mood, and this it did not do. The depression is still very bad. My doctor just switched me to Brintellix today. Here's hoping."

• 916...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 27, 2017

"Fetzima, I was originally turned off by the name because of the douchey Zima drink that was the rage for a few months back in 2009. After that, I have to say this medication works FOR ME. Everyone is different. I've tried almost everything in a psych handbook, even cocktails of medications. I am happy to say the current 80 mg dose has been a dramatic change in my life. Like most with bad depression and anxiety stemming from childhood, it can be crippling, affecting everything and everyone in your life. I'm happy to say I have turned things around on this particular cocktail of medication, but I will say this: the Fetzima is the thing that made the difference. It's like adding mint to a mojito. Things turned good from the start of Fetzima."

• Jen...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 23, 2021

"I suffer from BPD, MDD, bipolar, anxiety disorder. I have been on every antidepressant known to man. Fetzima was a game changer. It is the only one that works for me. Zero side effects. I am on 120 mg. Combined with Lamictal, my depression is under control, and I finally have a grip on life. So thankful for Fetzima."

• 6xx...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 8, 2017

"I have been on Fetzima for around 18 months, and this is truly a miracle drug. I have MDD, PTSD, GAD, and BED. I come from a family based in the medical field, and as such, I have tried every drug on the books. Almost two years ago, my anxiety got so bad that every night I felt like I was going to suffocate and die in my sleep. I was having multiple daily panic attacks. I was started on 40 mg of Fetzima, and before the week was out, my panic attacks had all but ceased. I'm now on 80 mg. I can't remember the last time I had one as bad as the panic attacks I was having before I started Fetzima. I gave it a 9/10 because I'm still sweating as a side effect. I also take Vyvanse, Propranolol, and Abilify as needed."

• Mee...
• June 28, 2020

"I have MDD, GAD, residual PTSD symptoms, and nerve damage that causes pain and loads of other issues. I started this in February-March 2019 after two other failed antidepressants and adverse reactions. I've had two med increases over the last year and currently just started the second to get me up to max dosage (similar drugs have been used to treat chronic pain, so that's the theory my doctor is going off of). It has been a lifesaver in conjunction with Buspar for my anxiety. It got rid of most of the urges that came with suicidal idealization and self-harm urges during the hardest time of my life (becoming disabled because of the nerve damage). It has helped with my energy levels (MDD + chronic pain = extreme fatigue) and has helped make therapy more effective for me. The side effects I've experienced are the increase in sweating, lower salt in my body, which makes it harder to stay hydrated, and nausea when starting it and at med increases, but it goes away within about a week."

• i m...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 23, 2015

"Other meds not effective and troubling to doctor. I started FETZIMA 40 mg 5 days ago, including taper off Wellbutrin and Escitalopram. Side effects: heavy sweating, a couple of headaches, occasional nausea, frequent diarrhea, little bouts of grouchiness, inconsistent sleep, feel unsteady - improved mood, better energy. I'm hoping for negative effects to stop or be manageable. I see Dr. in a week. I'll hang in there till then."