Levomilnacipran for Major Depressive Disorder User Reviews (Page 3)

• Tis...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 24, 2018

"Well, my Wellbutrin stopped working after 4 years. Explained as tolerance. Switched to Fetzima for 1+ year. First 5 days, I took a lot of naps, dizziness, nausea, and, surprisingly, constipation. By week 2, it subsided and mood was better, but not fantastic. Fetzima was a crutch because I was functional and could get around, but not as well as I used to. But without this crutch, I would be hopping around, if not immobilized, so to speak. It did its job, just nothing special. Better on it than off of it. But depression is back now. I don't recommend Fetzima, but if it works, it works. Give it a chance. Wait 2-3 weeks to see how you feel. I tapered off it and I start back on Wellbutrin today (which for me has been the best med I've ever taken). Best of luck. Remember, each individual has a unique brain chemistry, so meds are always trial and error. If you don't like it, tell your doctor and don't be afraid to switch, just heed warning to withdrawals and taper off accordingly."

• JT2...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 24, 2015

"This medicine can be very dangerous and send you into Serotonin syndrome. I ask everyone out there to please know the symptoms of serotonin syndrome and report to your nearest emergency room immediately if you are having symptoms."

• Jam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 18, 2017

"After taking this medicine for six months now, I feel much better. I have a lot more energy. I could think more clearly. However, when I first started it, I had headaches for the first month, and still to this day, I sweat excessively, but it's worth the side effects to know that my head is clear and my anxiety is half of what it used to be."

• Nic...
• December 10, 2015

"By the afternoon of the first day I started Fetzima, my lymph nodes were swollen and tender to touch. It feels like it just keeps getting worse. I'm now on my 3rd day and have pressure in my face and ear. I thought it was a cold, but after reading some of the posts, I think it may be related to the Fetzima because I have no other 'cold' symptoms. So, I figured I would share my experience so far in case someone else has experienced the same thing."

• JTK...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 4, 2016

"Started on Fetzima 20 mg and increased to 80 mg over two weeks' time. Expected some weird feelings while coming off one med and starting another, but did not anticipate the horrible side effects that happened. By the time I got to 80 mg, my GI tract was raw from mouth to anus. I am now on a PPI to repair my stomach. I also experienced dizziness, eye pain, blurred vision, sadness, forgetfulness, and weird dreams. I saw no benefit from this drug and am currently titrating off under doctor's supervision."

• Bre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2015

"Tried this med after failure with a few other drugs (Paxil, Lexapro, Remeron, Prozac, Buspar). Figured since I really wasn't tolerating the SSRIs that maybe I had a dopamine or norepinephrine problem. I have anxious depression. Could only tolerate this medication for about a week and a half, and I consider myself pretty strong and able to suck it up since these meds take time to work. My sleep became terrible (nightmares, even if I did sleep), and I was super anxious, dizzy, and shaky all day. Week and a half, and I had to call it quits. Would not recommend this if you have anxiety, but then again, some people get anxiety relief from similar norepinephrine drugs (Wellbutrin or Pristiq). Not for me. Oh, and the cost was insane. $300/mo."

• The...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 1, 2019

"After being on literally every other SSRI and SNRI available, I’ve realized that SNRIs are better for me. I tried them all before coming to Fetzima, and when I started it, I finally felt like WOW, this is the one. I didn’t experience any nausea, but I did have a strange testicular pain, as I have seen others mention. Not really a pain, but more like if you were standing out in freezing weather naked 24/7. Which is probably why it is very closely related to the number one side effect and reason I stopped taking it: premature ejaculation. Which is odd for two reasons: 1. Typically, SSRIs/SNRIs cause the opposite (which was true for me), and 2: I have yet to find one other account of this happening. Anyway, I felt amazing mentally, perfect almost, but these two symptoms caused me to go off and then back to it 4 times in 3 years."

• bth...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 30, 2017

"Fetzima has to be the worst drug I've ever taken for my depression. I had been on moderate doses of Prozac for 8 years prior until the drug no longer affected me beneficially. The Fetzima had positive effects at first, but I think it was a placebo effect. A month into taking the drug, I still felt depression and frequently spaced out/felt a mental fog. The physical symptoms also presented themselves. I began to have frequent urgencies to urinate but could not. Always a false alarm. A few weeks later, I developed a clear discharge, which I thought was the result of an STD. My results came back negative for all STDs. I have been off the drug for about two months, and all side effects are no longer present."

• DoJ...
• November 14, 2015

"Was only able to manage a week on this drug. 40 mg. The side effects were pretty intense and intolerable. Cold sweats, nausea, headaches, and sexual dysfunction were very strong. Maybe some other less noticeable side effects as well, didn't stay on long enough to pinpoint. I did not notice any benefits during my brief use. I am also taking bupropion and did not adjust my dose after starting Fetzima, which I now realize I should have considered. Fetzima has a 1:2 serotonin:norepinephrine reuptake inhibition ratio, most SNRIs have between 20:1 to 5:1, so Fetzima is fairly unique and probably could have replaced my SSRI and bupropion. Found something new and won't be trying again, the side effects were just too bad."

• Kel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 29, 2017

"Another fail. I had the opposite side effects as most people, though. I was drained. I was the opposite of constipated. I got chills/goosebumps, but painful ones. I had some sweats, but mostly painful goosebumps. I already feel like crap with depression. I don't need another medicine to make me feel worse. Cymbalta had a similar effect on me. I was sick and drained. Effexor didn't have that issue, just some nausea, and I did feel energized, but it would take me 10 minutes to urinate. Fetzima was my 20th antidepressant. I am looking into a clinical trial of ECT and Ketamine. I am over those useless medicines. I can't believe this garbage retails for $400/month. I got it at no cost with the savings card for the first month."

• bor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 24, 2016

"I gave it a 5 because I'm only on day 5 of treatment. The only reason I'm leaving a review is because the side effects have been awful already. I've vomited every single day between last Wednesday (first dose) and today (Monday, 5th dose). I've had a killer headache 3 out of 5 days. I can't sleep for longer than a couple of hours, which makes no sense as I'm on 2 different sedatives - I should definitely be sleeping. And I've been constantly covered in sweat. Even when I feel cold, I'm sweating like an animal. I haven't noticed any mood changes (positive or negative), which is expected because of the short time I've been taking it. I just thought I'd share the side effects and hope they go away with continued treatment!"

• Lun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 12, 2019

"One of the only medications that has helped me with my depression without making me feel exhausted or like a zombie. Needing to do something for anxiety on the side as well since it doesn't help much, if at all, with anxiety. But overall, I have had a lot more good days on Fetzima. My mood is a lot more stable and generally a lot more good days."

• Clo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 22, 2019

"After over 25 years on every major antidepressant there is, I would find after a few years it stopped working. So this time my doctor suggested Fetzima. I took 20 mg the first 2 days, then 40 mg for a week, now I have been on 80 mg for 4 days. Although my mood is better for the most part, I’m so nauseous and constipated I don’t think I can continue this. I see my doctor next week, in the meantime, I’m going to go back down to 40 mg. Disappointed as I had high hopes for this one."

• dia...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 5, 2017

"I had been in bed, depressed for like six months. I had tried several antidepressants that did not help for some reason. My doctor at the time gave me samples of Fetzima. I had never heard of it. So, over time it began to work, and it was a miracle for me because I had literally given up on life itself. I was thinking about changing because I have severe back pain, and some antidepressants say they help with physical pain, but I think of how far I've come from being suicidal and not able to get out of bed or stop crying. I will stick with the Fetzima. Thanks to whoever makes it, you helped me a great deal. I say the good outweighs the small side effects I get, like sweats and back pain. Worth a try."

• 323...
• September 28, 2016

"I was diagnosed with depression when I was 14 years old. Now that I'm 22, I decided to take control. I was basically a guinea pig by trying all sorts of different medicines to help me feel better. I was just recently diagnosed with anxiety and also PTSD. I started to talk to my doctor after my episode, and she put me on Fetzima. At first, when I started it, it made me sick and nauseous, and I was constantly so tired. She helped level the medicine out and put me on Wellbutrin to help keep me less tired. With these medicines, I have been on them for 2 months, and I can honestly say I feel normal again. I still have negative thoughts, but they only last a few seconds. I love Fetzima. It has seriously changed my life for the better."

• ch1...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 5, 2018

"I have been on everything you can think of. This, along with Wellbutrin, has been the only thing to keep me out of a constant depressive state. I still have my bouts of depression (currently in one), but they are never as severe as they were when I was on SSRIs."

• ch1...
• November 28, 2017

"I have been on every antidepressant made, it seems. This is the best one by far. Everyone noticed a significant difference within less than a week. I was up to 120 mg a day due to my extreme anxiety and not able to leave my house. The 120 mg had everything under control, and I wasn't even having to take my Xanax, but my doctor felt I had begun to become 'flat.' He dropped me back down to 80 mg, and now all of my anxiety, irritability, and inability to focus have come back worse! I actually have a call in to him to see if I can go back up to 120 mg. Even with the issues I am having now since my dosage was reduced, I still think this has been the best medicine I have taken."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2016

"My experience with Fetzima has been terrible. I have never had so many side effects in my life with a medication. At 20 milligrams, I felt a little sick to my stomach. After two days, the Dr. told me to increase to 40. I felt more sick and then got a bad headache. The pharmacist said this should go away after a couple of weeks. In about a week, I started throwing up and sweating along with the headache. My doctor told me to reduce the milligrams to 20 again. I didn't feel any better. Now I have gone off it after 2 weeks and 3 days. It's been another 4 days, and I'm still deathly ill. Hopefully this will go away soon. The medication started to help the depression and anxiety, but I can't live with the side effects."

• smo...
• December 6, 2015

"I have been on and off different antidepressant meds for years. I started Fetzima at 20 and ramped up to 160. Couldn't really tell much difference. I also take 400 mg Wellbutrin twice a day and Deplin (supposed to help stuff cross the blood-brain barrier). I was only on Fetzima a few months (3-4?) with questionable improvement. I have now weaned completely off and now starting Lithium. Starting with 300 mg but will eventually be at 900 mg. Changed Wellbutrin to name brand (NOT generic) 300 mg SR daily along with the Deplin. I just need something to help soon. I have been fighting this for so long, and I am almost at the end of my rope. I have been unemployed for over a year, which just adds to the stress and strain."

• Toa...
• July 12, 2018

"Told my doctor I wanted to switch my meds because I’ve been on a huge dose of Celexa for years now. Was hoping to bring my mood back up and gain some motivation back. It’s been a month since I started Fetzima, and I’ve been crying every night. I feel angry and have worse depressed thoughts. On top of that, they’re way more expensive than my Celexa (something like $140 CAD for 30 tablets, I have no insurance)."

• Joe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 11, 2016

"Flu-like symptoms, totally unable now to control my blood sugar (way too high 150 to 200, I'm 5'6" and weigh 220), totally unable to control my blood pressure - it's 220/110. Very regularly I'm a heart patient on Ranexa, on depression - some improvement (very little) on anxiety. Every day I take it, my confrontational assertiveness and anger continue to grow. I have some serious meds for insomnia that are now useless, totally not sleeping. I may have to 'admit' myself to get a better solution sooner."

• Zum...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 18, 2018

"I went on Fetzima after Cymbalta stopped working for me. I'm on 40 mg (about to start the tapering process, wish me luck...) and I take it alongside Lamictal 150 mg and Klonopin 0.5 mg (twice a day). I had high hopes for Fetzima, but it's been a huge letdown. I've stuck with it for nearly 6 months because I really wanted to give it a chance (and I'm running out of options...), but it never delivered. In fact, my anxiety is the worst it's been in years, along with compulsive skin picking and trouble falling asleep. I also have food cravings with associated weight gain (SSRIs wreaked havoc on my weight, but switching to SNRIs really helped... until Fetzima). But the worst side effect by far is the headaches. I was hoping they would eventually go away, but I still get almost daily headaches that sometimes degenerate into crippling migraines. OTC painkillers do nothing to alleviate them, and they are the main reason why I've decided to stop Fetzima - nasty side effects with no benefits."

• Ger...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 25, 2018

"Heart rate went from 65 to 70 BPM to 100 - 105 BPM with Fetzima, which is crazy. I have testicle pain and always want to pee, and always sweating. Feel like a zombie. Got a blackout and hit my head on the wall, never happened before. 4 days at 20 mg, 3 days at 40 mg, but side effect was already high at 20 mg."

• Cas...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 30, 2017

"I have had depression most of my life, but well controlled. I had a very traumatic experience that totally changed my life. It totally turned my life upside down. My doctor prescribed Fetzima. This helped to some point. I still don't feel like I can be myself and enjoy life. I have been better on other things."

• Lin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 26, 2018

"After sobbing for the past few days and literally breaking down, my husband became really upset. He started reading about Fetzima and came to the quick conclusion it was the drug making me sick. I’ve had extremely hostile moments, road rage, anxiety, feeling hopeless, and today I even blurted out I feel I might die. I know it’s the Fetzima. I don’t think I will make it until the drug wears off. I've been on it for 2 months. It was not until the symptoms had gotten so severe that I figured it out. To make everything worse, when I reported these symptoms to my doctor, nothing was changed."