Fetzima User Reviews & Ratings (Page 2)

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

For Major Depressive Disorder "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."

• Non...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 23, 2019

For Depression "Prozac quit after 10 wonderful years. Tried many others. Nothing. Then Fetzima can’t get by 20 mg tablet due to nausea, bloating. Then attack either gallbladder or something else? Severe vomiting. Did Fetzima trigger gastrointestinal problems? Hasn’t improved mood either. Going off. What to try next? This is a crazy circle. Hopefully, one day there will be something better than “try this,” “try that” approach. At 70, ready to give up."

• Jam...
• February 8, 2018

For Depression "I was switched from anxiety medication to Fetzima. I was very nervous at first, not knowing what to expect and reading a million different reviews. From my personal experience, this medication has been amazing. I have been feeling so well. For the first time in years, I actually enjoyed Christmas instead of stressing myself out beyond belief. I actually feel like I can cope with family, work, and life stresses. I tend to overextend myself and try to go above and beyond for holidays, birthdays, school functions, etc. I can handle it now without having a breakdown, and I know my limitations and have learned it’s okay to reach out to others for help. Medicine reacts differently with everyone, but I personally have had such a wonderful experience and am so glad I listened to my doctor and tried this. It has been a success for me."

• smi...
• September 25, 2015

For Major Depressive Disorder "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."

• Bau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 27, 2016

For Depression "This norepinephrine dominant SNRI has helped tremendously with my depression. It has given me increased energy and focus without sleep disturbance. So far, no significant sexual side effects (will post later if this changes). Currently at 40 mg; may go up to 80 mg in preparation for seasonal mood worsening. I do believe the medication is also helping me with mild-to-moderate age-related aches and pains. Overall, very satisfied!! PS. No side effects for me; or I'm interpreting the side effects as positive, i.e., increased focus and energy, yet that's what these meds are supposed to do. Maybe someone else might interpret the energy and focus as anxiety."

• Mrs...
• May 25, 2017

For Major Depressive Disorder "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."

• Sag...
• November 28, 2016

For Depression "This works better than anything I've tried. I was doing well with Strattera for 4 years, then it stopped working. I did well on Wellbutrin for many years, it stopped working, etc. With Fetzima, I get up easily in the morning because I lay in bed for at least 15 minutes, I pet and play with my cat, have quiet time saying things I'm grateful for, and sometimes I get guidance for information for my day. I don't overeat anymore, I get full fast and can only eat half as much as I used to because I get bloated, which helps. My headaches went away after 2 months, and my sweating is almost gone away now after 3 months. I feel good and motivated to do things. I'm not hyper like with Wellbutrin."

• Xri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 13, 2016

For Depression "Took a 6-week trial of Fetzima, after trying Zoloft (which I hated) and Celexa (which was okay). Fetzima seemed to work well! No more bouts of crying or crazy attitude. But my blood pressure and heart rate skyrocketed! While exercising, my heart rate would increase to 200 bpm! Resting could sometimes be 120 bpm! And although the feelings of depression had subsided, I had my heart to worry about. Not worth the overall long-term damage to my body..."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 27, 2017

For Depression "Update: I've been on Fetzima for 5 months. It has worked better than any of the other 30 meds I've tried. It took 4 months for my arms' itching side effect to go away, and soreness of my mouth's upper roof and upper gums is also gone. My heat and sweating are almost all gone. If I stay on the couch, I have no sweating, but when I do anything such as brushing my teeth, I get so much sweating. Normally, I don't sweat. These side effects do go away, so don't give up on this drug too soon. I don't get that drugged-out tired feeling from the depression anymore. I do have a little anxiety from Fetzima, but it is usually when I'm in bed trying to sleep more when really I had enough sleep, which is good because that keeps me from escaping into bed."

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 8, 2015

For Depression "I have had severe depression since my teens and have been on antidepressants for many years. Fortunately, I have had beneficial effects from several over the years. The most effective treatment to date has been a combination of Wellbutrin and Cymbalta. I took that combination for ten+ years and, unfortunately, I recently started slipping downward, increased depression, and feeling out of control. I was prescribed Fetzima (transitioned off Cymbalta) and completed the starter pack with the only benefit being increased energy. My Dr. then increased the dosage to 80 mg and have been at 80 mg for two + weeks. I have never felt (for lack of a better word) so crazy in my life! I have been so irritable, angry, depressed, and unreasonable and feeling."

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

For Major Depressive Disorder "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."

• che...
• October 29, 2015

For Depression "Horrible. I have suffered from anxiety and depression for many years. The doctor decided that I would try this medication. I have tried over 30 medications with no results. This medication significantly increased my anxiety. I have social anxiety and normally only become anxious in social situations. When taking this medication, I became anxious 24/7, and the anxiety intensity also increased. I felt like I was dying."

• Cap...
• July 29, 2015

For Major Depressive Disorder "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."

• Squ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 20, 2014

For Depression "Started on 20 mg daily and went up to 40 mg. Little or no mood changes. Some of the worst side effects I've experienced: loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, and premature ejaculation. Pain with urination. Initial loss of appetite, which then seemed to swing the other way and make me want to eat constantly. Very increased irritability, to the point that I caught myself screaming insults at the computer or other drivers (in private, thankfully), pounding my fist on the desk, and having to plug in headphones and crank the music loud enough so that all the little noises around me didn't make me scream in anger."

• Dea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 27, 2014

For Depression "I started Fetzima at the request of my doctor, as my mood was very dull, and I was using alcohol to help with anxiety. After 8 weeks at 40 mg, I could not handle the excessive sweating that was so bad I was showering sometimes 4 times a day and washing my sheets almost daily. The worst part was the excessive pain after intercourse that would almost bring tears to my eyes from the pain. I have since been moved to another SSRI."

• Sev...
• February 12, 2016

For Depression "So far (knock on wood) I have not experienced any MAJOR side effects, but I plan on checking back here after being on the medication for longer than a week. I have noticed the sweating (not severe though), my doctor did warn me about it before I started taking it. The first day I had a HORRIBLE headache and was dizzy most of the day. It was gone after my first night's sleep on it. I can't make a good or bad judgment on it YET, however, if in a month I experience anything else, I will check it. Well, I'll check in here either way because these forums with REAL experiences helped me when I was first introduced to this drug, as I had never heard of it before."

• AXF...
• May 2, 2015

For Depression "I've been on Fetzima for about 2 months. I've noticed improvement in my mood and general outlook, and have experienced some of the typical and more minor side effects, but the ocular symptoms are most worrisome. After about a month on this med, my lower right eyelid began twitching intermittently. It does so on a regular basis, and now I am experiencing a strange tightening in my eyes and blurred vision. It flares up randomly, and generally, my eyes now feel like they're too big for their sockets. Progressive worsening concerns me as does permanent damage to my eyes. My doctor recommended a daily dosage of magnesium and increased water intake. Unsure if I should continue to try and stabilize the symptoms or stop altogether!"

• Jil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 6, 2014

For Depression "I've been taking this for almost 2 months. After doing more research, I've realized it isn't for me. I feel no worse or better than when I started it. I have post-traumatic stress disorder, and this doesn't seem to be helping at all."

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

For Major Depressive Disorder "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."

• Tin...
• January 19, 2016

For Depression "I tried 40 mg of this medication for about 8 weeks. Initially (1st 2 weeks), it seemed to work. Then, for the last 6 weeks, it seemed not to work. I had side effects of tummy pain, leg cramps, and irritability. My doctor insisted I was getting better and just needed a higher dose. So she put me on 80 mg of this medication. I began to experience extreme bursts of anger and negativity, which, of course, only worsened the depression. I also had horrid stomach pain and couldn't tolerate it. After going off the medicine, I felt much better. No expense, no leg cramps, heart rate down, rage bursts abruptly stopped after about a week. Yay, I guess. Back to Amitriptyline..."

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

For Major Depressive Disorder "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

For Major Depressive Disorder "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

For Major Depressive Disorder "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."

• asd...
• June 4, 2014

For Depression "The potential side effect list became my life. I got everything, the extreme sweating, nausea, dry mouth, constipation... all of it. Had to stop going to my daily kickboxing classes completely because I'd get dizzy and throw up every five minutes until I stopped working out. I had to plan taking it around being able to spend two hours in bed not moving in air conditioning just to keep it down. Saw 0 effect on mood. I was switched to a new one yesterday, and hopefully life gets better."

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

For Major Depressive Disorder "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."