Switching From Pristiq To Generic Desvenlafaxine (Page 4) (Top voted first)

I was switched from Pristiq to generic Pristiq (Desvenlafaxine) which if I understand right, is really Effexor. Is there a possibility this could be causing my severe fatigue? Has this happened to anyone else out there?

REPLY

REPORT

Re: K2SO (# 69)

I switched to the green stone brand because my insurance dropped Pristiq and I have spiraled down. It doesn't seem to have worked for me.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Jim (# 88)

Check again or ask the person who prescribes your pristiq if they have them. My doctor gave me mine

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Jim (# 94)

Pfizer RxPathways connects eligible patients to a range of assistance programs that offer insurance support, co-pay help, and medicines for free or at a savings. Enter the name of the medicine you've been prescribed. You can search one medicine at a time. Then answer a few questions to see which available program(s) may be right for you. Check it out at: pfizerrxpathways.com

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I was recently switched to generic Pristiq about a month ago. I have been experiencing episodes of extreme fatigue about an hour after taking it in the morning. I’ll feel perfectly fine one minute, the next minute I can’t keep my eyes open. My father one day said I sounded like I was drunk on the phone and at times I feel drunk. It’s gotten to the point that I couldn’t keep my eyes open while driving on the freeway and nearly got arrested. I’ve been calling my doctors office day after day since this incident, but my psychiatrist has yet to call me back. Has anyone else been experiencing these symptoms?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: FloridaNeil (# 120)

I completely agree that the greenstone one does not work as well. At least for me.

I have gained weight rather quickly, have been having suicidal thoughts, and walking depression.
I don’t want to harm myself, but it’s more like if I got into an accident and died - I would be ok with that.

I also don’t think it’s good that when I walk into a store or wherever and feel like just laying on the floor right there. Right in the middle of the store. But that’s where I’m at.

I have talked to my doctor to get name brand again. They were fine with it.
Now I have to get my insurance co to work with me.

I’m really tired of all this BS. I just want to feel “normal.” This should be a nonissue to get the meds I need to help me with that. This really needs to change.

Anyway, good luck to you all. Hopefully we will all get the meds that helps us best.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Kate (# 128)

Go to Canada Drugs. If you just type that in your browser it should come up. Go to 'Place a New Order'. Your doctor will need to fax them your prescription when they fax him/her with the request (I called mine to let them know it was coming). They will let you either send a check or if you have an American Express they will just charge it. My 84 day supply cost $313 and that included shipping from Australia; it took about a week to get here. I was skeptical but it's the real drug as like everyone else on this forum I have suffered the side effects from the generic. This looks exactly the same and after a month on it, I can confirm that it is the real drug.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Preska (# 137)
my insurance is AETNA PPO and they paid the price I get through Aetna home delivery 90 day supply for $15

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: preska (# 145)

I did call my insurance company to find out if it was okay to switch and if they would pay for it and they told me they would. I have Aetna PPO. My doctor just wrote brand on the new script. I do not have a copay and I get it through Aetna home delivery. A 90 day supply for $15.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Maria (# 4)

I switched to generic also. Was on it for 3 months and my depression came right back. My doctor put me back on the Branfs and I am fine now.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I was very fatigued when on the generic for sure - I believe it was from the meds.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I noticed fatigue tooo !!! I was on brand name pristiq for over 4 yrs and it was changed to generic this month . I was thinking it was just me but I don't feel the same either . Do u feel any better ? I will talk to my dr about it

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I am supposed to start the generic version. Are you sure about this generic company?. If so I will ask the pharmacy to get that, if not I don't even think I am going to even start this antidepressant. Thanks for your help.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

You were lucky. I requested that brand name and my insurance company only approved one particular generic. At least that is what CVS told me. I just wonder if they told me that because they did not have greenstone. I may check with my insurance company.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Just a heads up on the generic thing with Pristiq. Generic Pristiq is desvenlafaxine succinate, generic Khedezla is desvenlafaxine HCL. How Khedezla was able to get around the Pristiq patent and exist is an interesting story I am sure, but they have the same active ingredient but the 'salt" that they are attached to is different. From what I learned Khadezla just had to prove that their drug worked the same in terms of release and concentrations of desvenlafaxine in the blood as Pristiq to get approved. For those on the CVS/Caremart drug plan as I am, it is important that your pharmacist order desvenlafaxine succinate rather than the HCL form because the copay (with my plan) is 5 dollars for the succinate and 100 dollars for the HCL form. I know because I had a huge fight with my local CVS because they didnt know what was going on, they did not call caremart as I told them to, so I had to do so myself on my cell and have them talk to the pharmacist as the cvs folks were insisting the hcl form was generic pristiq. Got it straightened out only for them to try the same thing with the next refill but I reminded them of what happened last time and haven't had a problem since. As to how it works compared to pristiq I am not sure, I have had more palpitations (skipped beats, PVCs) of late but that might be to steadily lowering the clonazepam I am also on (in addition to 10 mg generic lexapro and 7.5 mg mirtazepene) and/or other stressors.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Same here. I'm not as alive so to s peak as I was.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I am having the same issue. Been on the generic the past month and a half. I am now having depression n thoughts of not being here. Is this happening to anyone else w/the generic? Are there any remedies other then having to take the name brand which is no longer affordable?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

You are the consumer & customer, if they won't order then you can easily find a pharmacy that will... CVS will wine & moan about it but Target CVS & Costco have no issues and are always supportive when they see it is actually brand name repacked as generic

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Well I was at my doctor's today and have been feeling much more anxious and just not quite as good and it dawned on us it must be that the generic is just not working as well. I've been on 50 mg and she is doubling it. Anyone been on that high dose and if so what happened. Also she said I may be able to get coupons on line for the pristiq and go back on it as it is so expensive.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

did you have any trouble with the Breckenridge generic for Pristiq? I was sent it and just started and I am pretty nervous about it now.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

So maddening!! I switched because of insurance change no the cost. Then after about 3 months when I went for my 6-month check my dr said look in line for a coupon!!!! Why don't they tell us this when we are forced to switch instead of us having to go through hell and our spouses??? Hate it. Anyway I now pay $15.00 a refill unreal!!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

My doctor has suggested changing to paroxetin. I have read a lot of reviews and majority are negative about the paroxeti...

16 REPLIES

I have been on generic Subutex for about 3 years. Prior to that I was on Methadone then switched to Suboxone. At 1st I t...

2 REPLIES

After 6 yrs on zoloft it no longer helps much. I felt great for 2-3 years but know it time for a change. I had a genetic...

1 REPLY

I've been on brentillix for about 3 weeks. It HSS been a God send, up until about a week ago. I woke up with s sever...

1 REPLY

I've had it with the generic Adderall CVS brand Actavis. I used to take the brand name and had no issues. Switched i...

3 REPLIES

I can't afford insurance under Obamacare, and I lost my Medicaid last December because the governor vetoed it's ...

3 REPLIES

For at least a year or more I've been taking pristiq (generic) and simvastatin at the same time. I felt that the pri...

4 REPLIES

Are there any alternatives to Exsira (desvenlafaxine) for treating depression? I take it for this purpose and it works w...

I have been on Toprol XL 25mb twice a day for almost 6 years. Love the drug, but it appears to be wearing off. I am expe...

2 REPLIES

Is it safe to switch from Metoprolol ER to Diltiazem CD without tapering off Metoprolol? And how long does it usually ta...

1 REPLY