Pristiq And Bad Side Effects (Page 2)
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This is NOT a good medicine. I felt more depressed on it and had several side effects, nausea, lack of appetite, dizziness, etc. Then, after being on it for 2 weeks, I had a severe allergic reaction to it. So not fun! No more Pristiq for me. Throw the stuff away!

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24

Well it's only day 2 of taking Pristiq(swithched from Viibryd) and my sex drive basically vanished, it was OK on the viibryd but I was curious how this would work. Is there any other men taking this that experienced lack of sex drive in the beginning and does it get better? Besides that Pristiq seems to be working on the depression but I can't live with the sexual side effects I put up with them enough when on Lexapro

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23

Get tested for the status of your metabolic pathways. The one that Pristiq uses, may be blocked in your body. I have that problem with almost all other medications. Pristiq, however, I have no side effects.

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22

I am on my 9th day off it today and it does get better. I was on it for almost two years,helped in the beginning but the negatives outweigh the positive. It is very hard to come off it. It will get better day by day I leave it in my purse just in case but after day 14 I will get rid of them forever. Good luck to you, it is possible to feel normal without them.

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21

I went cold turkey 4 days ago and the brain zaps and ringing in my ears are making me feel crazy. I couldn't quite explain the brain zaps until i saw it written here. I just feel hopeless of ever feeling better.

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20

My discontinuation symptoms were over about two weeks after I had stopped taking Pristiq. The worst part was the first few days, with the brain zaps lasting longer than a week - closer to 10 or 11 days. I felt irritated and emotional. Not sure whether those were was the discontinuation symptoms or the depression coming back. The flu-like symptoms lasted for about 5 to 7 days.

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19

I am seeing a lot of posts on the terrible side effects coming off Pristiq but have also yet to find someone telling us how long it lasts. I'm on my 4th day after going cold turkey and this morning was better than the previous three days but I still feel like a 'drunken sailor'. I went off because of the consistent ringing in my ears which started to drive me crazy. I'll get back on this site to tell you once the discontinuation symptoms have stopped. Good luck everyone!

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18

I have been taking Pristiq for the past 5 months. I have been trying to get off it without success for the past month. I started cutting the tablet in half then in to quarters. I can't seem to get off the quarter though. I am having extremely bad head spins and nausea. How much longer will this last?

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17

I have been on Pristiq for the past year. Though, I wasn't prescribed it for depression it was more for anxiety and mood swings before my period. I gained at least 15 pounds over the year; I watch my food, exercise. No need to gain the weight. My body never felt the same again this past year - and not in a good way. Dizzy, stomach bloating, no sex drive. My doctor stopped my cold turkey on Thursday, said that it also causes premenapausal symptoms (which has been happening for the past six months). Not my time. The side effects, dizziness, low blood pressure and no energy at all with symptoms of a stomach virus. It should take two weeks my doctor said to feel better. Anyone have the same problems?

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16

I started pristiq about 6mo ago and it has wrecked havoc with me , the side effects are as bad as everyone says they are and coming off them is so bad i want to curl up and die, I also beleive my MD didnt really know anything about this drug and it was a willy nilly decision, I tappered and have been off completely for 7 days. I am a 40yo with bi polar have tried many drugs over many many years and found this one to be one of the very few that actually worsen depression and other bi polar symptoms.

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15

To clarify- I am a healthy 22-year-old with no medical conditions of any kind, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. No adjustment period, just a few dozen bricks on my head knocking me to the floor. I'm just lucky I was in my own bathroom. I ACTUALLY was so feverish when I came to that I had to strip immediately or I thought I would get heat stroke. Felt like my circuits were fried!

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14

After TWO DAYS on this medication (16 hours after my second dose), I passed out in my bathroom and came to sweating from every pore in my body. My genitals were throbbing in pain for the rest of the day and some of the next. I now have bacterial vaginosis as a result of this medication (dr confirmed it). So yes, if you want to faint and experience a painful and fiery burning crotch, Ask Your Dr About Pristiq!!

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13

I have been taking Pristiq for about a month and a half. The first week I was sure it was the best med I have tried (seven off the top of my head in the last ten years) but after the third week I started getting headaches, extreme nausea, the shakes, and I haven't had a good nights sleep in weeks!!! I have tried taking it at different times of day (previous meds were best at bedtime, and some in the am, or lunch time) and still, no sleep and I am forgetful and have been, seems silly, but "swollen", like major fluid retention, swollen feet and abdomen mainly, and I don't use the bathroom even half as often. Not to mention the sexual side of this med!!! (not even interested!!!) I am taking a half a day now, and am going off of this stuff ASAP. As a Post Script, my insurance will not cover it because of the cost, even with my history, and with the 50% off card from the manufacturer, it comes to $74 per month, even though this isn't my reason to stop taking it, it is an issue!

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12

I was put on birth control recently - Aviane 28. Prior to that I was a very anxious person, but not sad. Two weeks later I woke up and felt like there was no point in anything. Went to the doc and fell apart. He prescribed Prestiq. After the second day I felt great, back to my old self. On day 4 I had a horrible headache which was still there on day 5. Took my BP and it was 180/106. I am a 42 yr old healthy female with normal BP of 118/70. Went to the doc and he took me off the Prestiq immediately - cold turkey - since I wasn't on it for very long. My BP is still high and Im having to take clonidine until I get detoxed. In the meantime, I feel like hell. I am nauseous, can hardly walk straight and have a terrible headache. I will never take this stuff again. I have two children to take care of and this has made me pretty much unavailable. After much thought my doc and I both agree that it was the birth control that put me in deep depression. Unbelievably wild and apparently unnecessary ride I'm going on now.

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11

I've been on it for about 3 months and I think it's great. Had terrible side effects at first, but these went away after the first month or so. I feel better than I ever have and others notice the change in me. I know different meds work in different ways for different people, but I have no complaints other than the initial side effects.

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10

have felt more depressed on this medication. at first i thought it was working and i felt more focused and was excited thinking this was a great medicine but within a weeks time i started feeling different, not myself, tired, very irritable and short tempered. i am a very patient person but began to fly off the handle very easily in the 2nd week. this medicine is not for me. called my md as i was crying in my car. she never called me back.

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9

Not everyone experiences all of the side effects from any given prescription drug, some people experience all of them and some none.

Csharp66 you do need to be aware though that natural remedies, such as herbal supplements can carry as many side effects and be just as dangerous as prescription drugs, in addition, they are not proven to actually work.

Have you discussed various alternatives with your doctor?

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8

I decided not to take Pritiq, too many side affects. I do not want to put my liver and kidneys thru all that. I am going natural, it is the best way for me. Good luck!!!!

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7

Hello!
I was started on Pristiq (50 mgs, once a day) approx. 2 months ago (perhaps a bit longer w/ the samples?). I had had *enough* of the side effects (including the sensation that bugs were crawlling beneath my skin: that eventually subsided). But becoming so bloated and thick (gained about 6 or 8 pounds) to the point of actually looking *pregnant* (!), was the final straw. I was put on a weaning-off protocol (one day on/one day off, during an 8 day period), which ended on Tuesday (it's now Saturday night): On Thursday, I presented with Migraine (!) (something I have occasionally had, but this was of a different nature), nausea and dizziness. Today, (Saturday), I have had flu-like symptoms (no fever but aches and chills) in addition to headache, nausea and feeling sea sick with slightly blurred vision; also emotionally shaky (panicky and suddenly tearful). Being inactive, from needing to lay, still, in bed, I'm certain has not helped. I'm an (ordinarily) slender, active/athletic and youthful 50-something. And I've been having one heck of a during the past 3-4 days getting off of this medication! The withdrawal feels worse than the side effects. I applaud those who have had good results with Pristiq and hope it will continue to help. And I identify with those who have had a miserable time of it. I have *never* felt this poorly from stopping any medication. And, frankly, feel that my doctor did not know enough to have reassured me so thoroughly about Pristiq's efficacy and absence of side effects. (How could she have? The drug's only been around a short while.) For those who have had ill-effects, it is imperative that your doctors submit your symptoms to the drug company: This is how they (the drug company) formulates its published list of potential side effects and withdrawal symptoms. I wish there were a more effective, pain-less and sure-fire way to treat depression! I believe this is my first time, ever, on a message board. Best wishes to you all - UrbanGal

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6

I have the same horrible withdrawal symptoms as some of you have mentioned. If I am late on taking my medication, I get so dizzy, nauseated and horribly sick! I feel like I am withdrawing from heroin or something. I want to get off of it, but I am scared I will have to take a month off of work and go to a drug rehab clinic to do so. I have been on almost all of the anti-depressants and NEVER have I ever felt like this when even missing ONE dose! Im actually scared!

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5

I tried Pristiq two days ago, my md said to cut it in half so it was 25 mg, I felt like a Zombie, I was so tired and light headed, it ruined my whole day. I could not function. I was supposed to ride my motorcycle and climb and that was a big no. I called the pharmacist I know and he said to stop it. My md is out of town. I am told it takes a couple days to agree with your body, I am scared of that note.

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