Pristiq is horrible... a friend of mine, with Major Depressive Disorder has been on Effexor for years... a pharma sales rep got her doc talked into switching her to Pristiq... she went immediately into Effexor withdrawal... Pristiq is a completely unnecessary and barely disguised attempt to prevent revenue drain from patent expiration... GREAT job Wyeth!

My grandmother, grandfather and aunt smoked 2 packs a day when i was growing up. Grandma quit because she had a heart attack and as told to. She just did, cold turkey. As for my grandfather and aunt- they went slowly from 2 packs down to one pack, and then cut back a cigarette from that last pack every few weeks til they got down to one, and then quit.

they were all successful until they died- but grandpa did enjoy a cigar ever now and then.

I only smoke -2-3 cigs a week on average. So I don't think I would ever need this drug. But I am telling my friends who are smokers who think Chantix would be a help to come over here, make a cup of coffee, and read read read.

I reported my adverse effects to the FDA several months ago. They started within days of taking Pristiq. It was just about the scariest episode I have ever been through in my life. I thought I was going to have to be hospitalized. It took me weeks to recover after taking Pristiq for only a few days.

Another example of a marketing of an old drug with a new name, just out to cause people continued problems. Extending sales at the expense of lives , there's the pharma game.

Interestingly, Pristiq is one of only two non-generic ("top-tier") antidepressants that WalMart will cover in its new down-sized employee prescription drug plan (the other is Lexapro).
I cannot think of one evidence-based reason why this [barely] modified version of Effexor would merit a place in WalMart's otherwise restrictive formulary. Any ideas, Phil?

I have a friend who just started Pristiq. Her gynecologist told her it was an antianxiety medication. I'm especially concerned about her being on this drug because she is 5'1" & only weighs around 100 pounds. I can only imagine what an adult dose is going to do to someone at her weight. Which brings me to another question. Why don't they take weight into consideration in determining dosage? They seem to start someone who weighs 250 on the same dosages they start someone who weighs 300 pound male on the same doses they give 100 pound women. Doesn't make sense.

I was in the middle of editing my sentence in the previous post when I accidentally hit submit. I meant to say, They seem to start someone who weighs 250 at that same dose they give someone who weighs half that - obviously whether the patient is male or female is irrelevant.

I was on Pristiq for about a month and it made me very jittery/agitated. Yuck.

Regarding Wal Mart's coverage of Pristiq, it may be because it is an SNRI while Lexapro is an SSRI and thus provides an "option". Or maybe they struck a deal.

I've been on Pristiq pretty much since the beginning of this year and I am doing better than I ever have before. And trust me, "before" was pretty crappy. I've tried all kinds of drugs with horrible side effects. I was at the point of thinking about ECT for help with my major depression that I've had for years. I'm not saying that it's the cure all, but I do like this little pill more than any others I take.
Just thought I'd throw in something positive about Pristiq.

I've been on Pristiq for 6+ months and so far it's the best thing i've been on (major depression for over 10 years). The most annoying side effect I had was the need to yawn nonstop for about the first week. I think that each person is different and not every drug can help EVERYONE. Saying things like "Pristiq is horrible" can be damaging for those trying to find another option with their psychiatrist. In my opinion, for those struggling, try to find help from a great psychiatrist and not your regular doctor.

I am the person that wrote the patient report and am on day 10 of the withdrawal with no sign of relief in sight. For the many people this drug helps there is a handful of peole that it harms significantly. I realize this drug may be beneficial to some people and I think that's great. But what about the rest of us that are sufferring from these severe side effects and withdrawal symptoms? Is it worth it? To those of us suffering...the answer is an emphatic NO!

I too had a horrible experience taking pristiq for a severe episode of major depression. Days after I started the drug, I began to feel incredibly impulsive/compulsive and irritable with racing thoughts. My mental and physical stamina on the drug was zero, and I felt exhausted all the time, drained from pervasive anxiety. My appetite was insatiable; I gained about 10 pounds on the drug. The side effects were as bad or worse than the initial depression. When I stopped taking the drug (without doctors order) after 2 months of hell, I felt enormously better. The withdrawal was not bad, only several headaches during the first week and frequent tinnitus.

I was on Pristiq for 4 months. The results were incredible for me. NEGATIVE is the big weight gain. I'm 128 lbs. and jumped to 144 lbs. Talk about depression......I thought I had it before, now I really have it. I've pulled myself off of it, and I'm on day 4 weaning. I'm very irritable without it, but really I couldn't bear the weight gain.

I've been on pristiq for 3 week and I feel worse than I did before. I was on lexapro 20 mg and it wasn't quite doing what I wanted it to, so my Dr. suggested Pristiq. The only positive I've found it the return of my Sex drive, but who can enjoy that when you're a raving lunatic the rest of the time? I've had all of the possible side effects and then some. I'm going back to my doctor and getting back on lexapro.

I took Pristiq fior three weeks I had every simption on the paper ,I went threw the worst withdrawels I thought I was going to die but thank God I didnt I told my doctor no responce from him yet.

I've been on Pristiq for a couple of months now. I feel amazing, have no desire to kill myself or anyone else, no side effects and I've lost 5 lbs. I'm glad there are as many choices as there are different people.

I am on day 4 of pristiq withdrawal and am in absolute hell. I have severe vertigo. I can barely move my head. I am completely bedridden. I am also extremely nauseous. I also have sudden rapid heart beats, chills, and headaches. I honestly feel like I am dying. My mom even offered to take me to the ER but I know they wont be able to help me. If I can convince just one person not to take this medication I will be happy. because if you think it will help you = just wait until you have to get off it.

I have to ditto what Desperate said. I was hospitalized for depression at age 12, now, at 34 I've battled depression all my life but have had it under control. My Dr. put me on Pristiq b/c his first two choices, Wellbutrin and Cymbalta had Blue 1 dye in them and I'm allergic. I have tried several different antidepressants in the 22 years since I was first diagnosed and this is by far the worst medication I've ever put into my body. Someone on another post called it poison and I have to agree, I cannot wait for it to be out of my system. On the medicine (took for 6 weeks) I felt dizzy, had the vertigo, balance issues, severe nausea, insomnia, rapid heart beats (diastolic bp was 92, normally around 60), concentration problems and completely jittery. Who would have thought stopping the medicine would be even worse. I'm two weeks off the medicine and hit rock bottom about 9 days after I stopped it. I hadn't felt that bad since the day I went into the hospital at age 12. I did not want to live another day. The nausea is worse off the medicine. My Dr. has put me on Effexor to help lessen the effects and it has at least made me functional. This medication has given me a complete lack of trust in the FDA and scared to death to put anything "new" in my system.

I have been taking Pristiq for almost a month now to treat general depression/anxiety. The first week was not too bad, nausea aside. I had the vivid dreams and vertigo as well but was starting to wake up feeling pretty good.

I thought it would start get better but around week 2 side effects started to get worse. My previously tolerable tinnitus is blaringly loud and noticeable in the daytime where it wasn't really before PLUS my ears also have a muffled sound to them. The nausea and stomach problems (constipation AND soft messy stool) are horrible and i feel most of the time. When i am not sick i feel like binge eating because i am so hungry and dizzy. Then i wind up feeling sick again with my heart slamming in my chest. I don't get out of bed until 3 pm and then i don't want to see anybody because i feel so crappy. I have also put on 9 pounds in less than a month
(i was trying to lose weight). This is not fun.

I was on effexor a few years ago and while it had some early side effects it eventually felt pretty happy and functioned normally. I am not sure how long i'm going to give this one. It seems from what i have read that people having similar side effects as i am don't see much of an improvement with this med and maybe it's just not the right one for me??!!

I have been on Pristiq for almost a year. It really helped me a lot. I became more steady in my moods, my depression went away and I lost weight. I was ready to stop taking it because I feel I am better and I can't afford the drug. My nightmare came with trying to stop Pristiq. I weaned to every other day and experienced mind zaps, balance problems, eye tracking problems, head aches, concentration problems and sadness. Then I totally stopped...I had to go to the ER. I was shaking uncontrollably. I am not like this ever. I am in good shape and generally very healthy. I had to wean again and I am no on day 6 of totally stopping again. It is hellish. I am working but I feel like a zombie, the mind zaps bother me the most. Terrible feeling when your head seems like it is full electricity. Pristiq helps but comes with consequences.