Comments: Adverse Events Reports Mount For Pristiq
I have already told my story with Effexor.
- 19 months to tapper 225 mg feeling terrible withdrawal symptoms;
- 3 months without the drug I have to have people in my house for one month because I felt terrible physically and emotionally - the worth feeling was a kind of despair I never felt in my life and many other symptoms that I don't want to remember;
- two suicide attempts;
- had to go back to 150 mg of Effexor and will have to take it for the rest of my life unless there is a miracle that can help me.
I don't understand why so little is done against Wyeth.
When I go to drugstores it's usual to see boxes of Effexor being sold.
They don't sell tablets any longer in Brazil.
I had to change to XR version and side effects got worse.
If I miss a dose I have nightmares.
Thank you Wyeth!
You have taken a part of my life and is taking of many others wand is killing some.
But I'm great!
I have to thank the Lord that I'm still able to do many things.
But I'll be paying this Lab a lot of money.
They should donate to Philip because I'm broken because I had to buy psych-drugs without having money in the bank.
Posted by Ana at May 26, 2009 01:37 AM
"I am dizzy, nauseous, can't stop crying, having suicidal thoughts and basically uncontrollable emotionally."
I've been there. Hang in there! Hope you find the best way to be at peace. No matter what way you chose to do it.
I have many testimonies at my blog.
I believe I'll repost some and post others I have in my archive.
Posted by Ana at May 26, 2009 01:40 AM
I never doubted it would be the same old thing. SNRIs are nasty shit. Effexor, Cymbalta and now Pristiq...is anyone actually surprised?
I had a nice battle many years ago with Effexor though I cut a couple of pellets out every few days from the capsule and made it alright...I think it was because I was on so many other drugs at such high doses...it numbed out some of the worst of the shit people go through.
my nightmare drugs to come off of have proven to be Lamictal and Klonopin of the 6 I've withdrawn from. We are all strangely different...
Posted by Gianna at May 26, 2009 05:04 AM
There is a case being tried this week for Pristiq's cousin, Effexor. It still amazes me that physicians don't know about the propensity for violence caused by the antidepressants.
If a person types into Google "Prozac +violence", the top line reads "1 -10 of 1,160,000" Seems like over a million articles should bring some sort of awakening to some of the physicians of the world.
If a person types into Google "Pristiq +violence", there are already 5,850 articles.
Here is the story on the trial using the Effexor defense.
Paragraphs 6 & 7 read: "Levesque added that in this case, they have to carefully review the defence theory that the intake of antidepressant Effexor coupled with the accused's mental health problems, Proulx is diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome and obsessive compulsive disorder, impaired his judgment. According to the defence lawyer, Proulx, 30, never would have killed Michaud if he hadn't been taking that medication."
"'Any new scientific theory brought forward has to rest on solid grounds and be credible,' the judge said."
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Jury+cannot+acquit+accused+murderer+aide+Judge/1628694/story.html
QUEBEC Jurors at the first-degree murder trial of a man charged in the death of Quebec political aide Nancy Michaud started deliberating Monday afternoon after the judge presiding over the trial told them they can render four different verdicts, but that Francis Proulx cannot be acquitted.
Justice Jacques Levesque told the jury of nine women and three men that Proulx has admitted during his trial that he shot Michaud in the head on the night of May 15, 2008 in her home in the small farming community of Riviere-Ouelle, 150 kilometres northeast of Quebec City.
The presumption of innocence doesn't apply in this case, the judge told them, adding they can reach four possible verdicts: not criminally responsible on account of having a mental disorder, manslaughter, second-degree murder or first-degree murder.
"You have to consider all the evidence and only the evidence," the judge said.
Posted by Rosie at May 26, 2009 07:32 AM
Wow, that searchable database for adverse events is something I am embarrassed to say I've never seen before. That's pretty powerful -- a lot like SSRI Stories (ssristories.com) frankly. It's horrifying really. And I wonder how many people saw the segment on boys, breasts and Risperdal on CBS Evening News last night -- very graphic. (Go over to Beyond Meds if you want the link.) Yup, adverse effects are out there by the hundreds, thousands and millions, bankrupting our health care system and eventually our country and ruining countless lives. And with absolutely no healing power at all. People reading this site and others with similar messages need to think long and hard about what they're going to do about it because this is something a lot bigger than wars in the Middle East and it's right up there with climate change as a matter of extreme urgency. A donation to Philip is one place to start.
Posted by Sara at May 26, 2009 08:39 AM
I started taking Pristiq about a week ago while weening myself off of Cymbalta. I don't know if Pristiq is a good drug or not. I could not get off of Cymbalta by myself (I tried and side effects were awful plus the weight gain during the 4 yrs I was on it). I told the dr. that I wanted off AD's completely and she told me to increase the dosage! I could not get any help from her. I need to know if I am going down another bad road with this new Pristiq drug. Anyone??
Posted by T Golub at August 5, 2009 09:26 PM
The number of reports has gone up to 1361. Of those reports, only 397 were reported by a doctor.
T Golub, Yes, you are going down another bad road. Cymbalta for Pristiq is your doctors way of keeping you on an SNRI. I'm guessing she had samples for you? How nice. NOT.
Posted by Damaged at August 6, 2009 07:54 AM
I've been taking Pristiq for 3 weeks, so far no bad effects. I was very apt to be aggressive before but am not at this time. I'll just wait and hope for the best.
Posted by jean humphreys at August 9, 2009 01:57 PM
Went off pristiq cold turkey after being on it about 3 months. now off about 2-3 weeks. i went off of it mainly because I was gaining weight. Am now taking St. John's Wort and I am depressed and am having trouble sleeping which I was before Pristiq. I'm also having a lot of arthritic pain now. who knows what causes what, but I'm goint to try and lose this weight and exercise and keep on the St. John's Wort.
Posted by nancee at August 10, 2009 05:13 PM
I'm glad I found this article. My doctor said that its likely I have fibromyalgia and there is a trial packet of this stuff waiting for me at doc's front desk. I don't think I'll be picking this up now.
Posted by girlygoth at August 11, 2009 03:12 PM
Dear God...after reading all this the hopelessness is so overwhelming I can't decide what to do. I've had every SSRI available and just finished the chemical weaning of Lexapro....I still take Seroquel to sleep and xanax to stop anxiety but let go of Lexapro and Topomax. I've cut myself way too many times now...I believe in God...I want to be drug free, but the rage inside me is so bad and I don't know how to control it
I'm pushing 54 years old. How much more of this can I take? Not even gonna try the Pristiq now...since "peer reviews" mean more than any dr.'s say so. I started back in the 70's on tricyclics...shoot how much worse can they be. At least back then I only took one pill..Elavil.
Posted by Pam at August 18, 2009 01:22 PM
I have been on pristiq for 3 months and I am now weaning myself off. When it was time for me to skip two days it all when downhill. I missed the 2nd dose and I was ill. i could not walk, I was extremely dizzy and nauseous. Like I had motion sickness. It was terrible. I think someone needs to contact Wyeth. And we should all come forward. It should be taken off the market.
Crystal Amend
Posted by Crystal at August 19, 2009 04:07 PM
I have been taking Pristiq for a year, and have never felt better. My mood is calm and even. My mind sharp and quick.
I'm scared to go off of it.....but it sure makes me feel a lot better.
Posted by Greg at September 2, 2009 12:32 PM
well i've been off and on pristiq twice. the only side affects i have are constipation, diharrea, and trouble sleeping but i already had trouble sleeping so this doesn't bother me much. however see how you feel after going days without using the bathroom. o_O it also causes loss of appetite which can lead to weight loss but as i had problems with binge eating this is a good thing for me. i missed a dose yesterday and ended up having 2 long and really strange vivid angry dreams when i went to bed, nothing scary though. i've stopped taking it once before because of those side affects i'm having and had no withdrawal effects i think a lot of it is psychological, people expect to have withdrawal effects and so they do. other than that i've been on it for a week and already notice that my mood is now optimistic as opposed to the pessimism i used to feel all the time. i'm also more productive. i do feel a tad bit more impulsive but this is also good in my case because i needed to follow set routines and now if i remember i need something from the store on my way home from work i can stop and get it without feeling any anxiety whereas before i just simply could not bring myself to step out of my routine. also if i have an impulse to say visit the library i will go as opposed to before when i would not leave my house even if i wanted to go to the library. now it's like hmm i feel like going to the library all of a sudden... i'm going. i feel much healther mentally and it's great not to feel that lingering cloud of depression anymore!
Posted by aaron at September 2, 2009 11:26 PM
I have been taking Prozac on and off for about 15 years. When I started taking it I was hearing all kinds of terrible things about it but I tried it anyway and it really helped. The problem is that I didn't continue to take it as I should, I was missing dose after dose. I have been put back on it half dozen times or more. I can in all honesty say that it did help while I was taking it right. then it got so the PTSD started and that didn't help with that as good. I also have very aggressive behavior. I can be just as calm as possible and all of a sudden I just get so angry. Anything can set me off. I get so mad and can't control the anger and rage nor do I even know why I am like this. So I have been given samples of Pristiq to try. My doctor toldme that if I did not like it or if it didn't work or if I had side effects that were intolerable we would stop them and just go back to the Prozac. I was told that I would more likely lose weight with the Pristiq as I did with thte Prozac. I don't need to take something to make me bigger or increase my blood pressure. I do take medicine for my blood pressure but it's not what doctors would call really bad hypertention. Regardless, I am so confused. The pharmacist told me the only way that I would know how it was going to affect me, my body system is to try it and take it from there since everyone's system responds differently to different medicines. I just want to be happy. I have to be on some kind of antidepresant and I do know this. I refuse to take Paxil or Zoloft because I have heard some really bad things about them from family members. My daughter that is 25 took Pristiq for about 6 months. She started with 50 mg then went to 100. after that she went back down to 50 and they weaned her off and thank God she has done great coming off of it. It did help her anger issues and depression. So what are we as patients supposed to do. We hear something bad about everything. It is to the point that you can't feel safe taking anything anymore. I hope someone has an opinion for me. I did like the one that has been taking the Pristiq for a year and is doing so good. That did make me feel some better about trying it. I do agree with my pharmacist, that nobody will know how a medicine (any medicine) will affect them until or unless they try it. So what would any of you do? Prozac or Pristiq?????????
Posted by Debra at September 3, 2009 04:27 AM
I have been on Pristiq for almost one year. I have had no noticeable physical side effects, however, just last week I did have labs done and my cholesterol is elevated. I also took Effexor XR about 10 years ago and let me tell you it was hell. I swore I would never take an ad again. But life happens and with a family history of people who don't handle depression very well (meaning taking nothing at all and living miserably and treating others miserably) I chose to get help. I have never had any noticeable side effects unless I missed a dose--then I would feel "swimmy". I have to admit, I was forced to go through something last year that I never thought I could make it through and I do believe Pristiq made my experience manageable and kept me with a positive outlook on life--which I didn't have before I started taking it. There are risks you take every day when you walk out your front door. I am a mother of three and still remember not wanting to walk out the door because I had lost interest and found it very hard to manage day to day. I'm staying on it for now because I believe its done more good than harm. Considering its still relatively new, I don't know what the long term side effects are. I pray they are few. I hope this helps someone. Weigh your pros and cons.
Posted by Julie at September 3, 2009 06:37 AM
Crystal;
Skipping doses is the worst thing to do. You need to gradually reduce the dosage but at a consistant level. Skipping doses is like going down a hill at 100mph, slamming on the breaks, then accelerating, then slamming on the breaks again. See if you can find a compound pharmacist.
Posted by Damaged at September 3, 2009 11:27 AM
My doctor just put me on Pristiq, but I only have minor depression and didn't want to take Zoloft anymore because of the zombie effect it made me feel. I am 44 and I have very hight Cholestrol and Triglestorites (sorry misspelled). Why would my doctor put me on this medicine when it causes your cholestrol levels to go up. I'm not so depressed that I need this to risk a heart attack. I've just been on Zoloft for 18 years and can't quit now!
Posted by Carol at September 5, 2009 08:09 PM
Debra and Carol, I used to think I had to be on some type of antidepressant for life. This was in spite of the fact that I was growing very apathetic and didn't give a bleep about anything. It also didn't seem to faze me that I was suffering cognitive issues. But I was so spellbound by the medication that I continued to have that belief.
,br>
It was only when one of the meds I was on, Remeron, caused a hearing loss that I began to rethink my position. A year later, after leaving a stressful job, I decided to slowly taper off of a then 4 med cocktail.
Three years later, I am down to 1 med (4mg of Doxepin). I am not going to lie and say it has been easy. Also, after suffering horrific insomnia, I had to put my tapering on hold so I didn't lose my job.
However, once I stabalize, I will taper by microdoses. I don't care how long it takes as long as I am off eventually.
Other than the insomnia, I have not come close to relapsing in spite of dealing with many stressful issues including the death of a family member. It is hard to quantify the improvements but in a nutshell, being off most of my meds makes me feel like a real human being instead of a dulled robot.
Personally, I have found that fish oil capsules, vitamin D, and a good multi greatly help. You're not stuck taking ADs forever.
But if you decided to taper them, it is important to do it at 10% of current dose every 3 to 6 weeks. With Pristiq, as damaged said, you will need a compound pharmacist.
Zoloft comes in liquid and can be tapered that way. You can also buy a digital scale from Ebay and measure your doses that way.
By the way, I have been on meds since 95 .
I hope my experience helps someone.
Posted by AA at September 6, 2009 09:14 AM
I was put on Pristiq about 7 weeks ago. I also have heart issues and very high cholesterol. I stated turning black and blue all over my body.I went to the E.R. and the doctors thought I had been beaten. A day later I was discharged after going thru every test to man, only for the hospitalist to tell me it was my Plavix doing that. I advised the doctors I had been on Plavix for quite a while and never had this happen to me. The doctor told me to put make-up on my hematoma's if I didn't like them. I was furious because I knew something else was wrong. My neice called me right before I left to go home to tell me what she found on the web about Pristiq's side effects. Severe Bruising and bleeding!!!!! Why didn't these doctors in the E.R or the Hospitalist or even my own darn doctor know to look at this. I don't believe doctors dig deep enough about these kinds of drugs and we the patients get wounded because of them. Not only physcially, mentally but finacially. It just probably cost me over $8000.00 to find this out and did so without the help of a medical professional.
Posted by Moe at October 12, 2009 07:28 AM
I just took my first dose, 50mg of pristiq and within 2 hrs was nasuated and 3 hrs vomiting,
Am hesitant to continue. Is this a common side effect?
Posted by Betty at October 21, 2009 10:37 AM
i am approaching my 4th day on pristiq and do not know if i should continue. i have had naseau,blurred vision and can get very little sleep. i assumed these symptoms would go away after a while and am afraid of the withdrawel effects. After reading other peoples reaction, I feel positive I will stop taking it.
Posted by faye payne at October 23, 2009 02:22 PM
DO NOT TAKE PRISTIQ!! I was on it for about 3 weeks and stopped taking it after reading posts like these and realizing all my awful side effects were from the Pristiq. Naseau, nightmares, extreme anxiety, headaches, blood pressure spiked big time (sweating constantly). Pristiq also effects bleeding and blood clotting, which caused break through bleeding even though I did not miss any doses on my birth control (which went away by the way as soon as I went off it). But be CAREFUL quitting cold turkey. It was the worst withdrawl I ever experiences. Constantly crying for any/no reason, unable to leave my apartment for work and class, and crazy mood swings. It did not help at all do not let your doctor talk you into taking this. Pristiq has no business being on the market and I think it's shameful that psychiatrists are prescribing this awful awful drug. These forums online are infinitely more helpful then any of my doctors have ever been. Everyone should take their treatment into their own hands and research these "anti-depressants" themselves. After 6 years I am still searching for any medication that actually works for me. Sounds like everyone else is in the same boat unfortunately.
Posted by Natalie at October 24, 2009 06:36 PM
My story with Pristiq seems different from all the rest. I have always been a clinical depressive, but I have always been able to function. Just sad and miserable everyday. I started taking it 4 months ago after trying everything else and although I can't actually say I was depressed on it I will say I ceased to function. I became numb. I put things off, I slept all the time, I didn't even have the energy to shower. Everything became a chore but I didn't care. I became comfortably numb. About a week ago my son pointed out these things and I was somehow able to look at myself and see what was happening so I went off Pristiq. Needless to say I feel like I am coming out of a 10 year coma. The withdrawal symptoms are horrible. I'm dizzy, shaky sick. I have ringing in my ears, I almost feel like I'm going to have a seizure but I feel alive again. I can actually think & remember things. I'll take the withdrawal symptoms anyday compared to the non-existance of the last 4 months. GET THIS CRAP OFF THE MARKET!!!!!!1
Posted by Karen at October 26, 2009 07:51 AM
Pristiq has changed my life for the better. The truth about any drug is they affect everyone differently. I only felt a little nausea the first couple days of taking it and have not had any side effects since. I am not depressed anymore, I am social and active, and just got engaged. It is true that some people will have bad side effects but it is also true others won't. I would not make a decision to take or not take Pristiq based on other peoples results...everyone's body reacts differently. Try it out for yourself and make sure you give the drug sometime to start working before you give up on it. Hope this helps!
Posted by Michelle at October 27, 2009 01:54 PM
I've been taking pristiq for 5 months or so. I've been diagnosed with major depression minor with signs of PTSD. I function with or without medication not because I want to but because I have 2 children and a husband I feel obligated to do it for. That's where the (minor) comes in. When I started to feel like driving my car into a brick wall every day (alone) and the compulsion to cut myself was getting just to feel numb became overwhelming I knew I needed help before it was out of my control. I liked pristiq at first because it took effect fairly quickly. The fact that I shook a little or that I almost felt numb was ok. I could still sense the anexiety and torment but it was on the outskirts of my thoughts not
reachable. As time has passed though, I realize I'm just functioning, never really happy. No ups, just lows on
ocassion that are more manageable. However, I've noticed my anexiety is more frequent and my lows are are getting worse. I go to my Dr. About it tomorrow though I'm really scared what he'll say or try to change. The last time I told him it was working that well he put me on Geodon with the pristiq and I felt like I was losing my mind. My head hurt, I couldn't think clearly, felt like my equilibrium was off. He had told me then that I may have to go into the hospital Which I had already contemplated (because of the sucidal thoughts ) until
my medication was straightened out. Ugh... Is there anything out there that really helps?
Posted by Beverly at October 29, 2009 11:06 AM
Started taking Pristiq a month ago and it's been the wirst thing I've ever done to myself!! In the last 4 days I have had the most incredible ANXIETY, THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE, SHAKES, FEELING OF BOTH CHILLS AND HEAT WITH NO FEVER, LACK OF SLEEP, LACK OF MOTIVATION, SADDNESS.... you name it. I can barely function. Happily I have a great Dr. who's taking me down from (only) 50mg (1/2 pill every other day until Sat. this is Monday). He, too believes it's the Pristiq causing all the problems. While he says that everyone absorbs it in different ways it can be hell for some of us. Clearly it'd been hell for me. I just want this over with.
Posted by EBS at November 9, 2009 06:57 AM
I have been on Pristiq for about 2 months and I like it. The beginning side effects were manageable and went away. The only adverse effect is sleeplessness which I take Melatonin for and it's not every night. Could not take other anti-depressants like Effexor or Lexapro
Posted by Mary at November 10, 2009 09:12 AM
I just started "Pristiq" and have been fighting depression for the last 15 years. Some meds helped for a while and then they eventually failed. If this med causes me any of the issues listed here I will sue my freaking shrink for damages and then the drug company. This so called science of "psychiatry" is nothing but a game of chance and the odds are all in favor of seperating suffering people from there money.
Posted by Rachel at November 10, 2009 10:03 PM
I have been on different medications such as paxil, cymbalta then eventually Pristiq because I did not like the flat affect from the other drugs. I had been on and off medication for depression/anxiety for 1 1/2 years after the death of my son. It seemed to work for a while. I did have severe sweating at points then changed the times I would take the medication and it helped with that.
3 months after being on the medication I now how these medical issues:
My blood pressure went sky high 178/110
Last lab results showed cholesterol at 213 with triglycerides at 300
I had a history of Hypoglycemia (which is a precurssor from Dm ) but suddenly developed Diabetes with hgb a1c at 8.3 and cbg as high as 376
I am a nurse.. and I have to question if all this is due to the medication, especially since high bp
and increased triglyceride levels are listed as serious side effects.
My blood pressure before taking this medication was always in the low 130's / over 80's
My blood sugars were typically 105-110 and raised to about 140-150 after meals
I stopped taking the pristiq and switched to Wellbutrin that is working for me.
I am now taking Metformin for DM, HCTZ for high BP and asprin.
I have only been off Pristiq for about 1 1/2 weeks I am hoping some of this will reverse
Posted by Laurie at November 11, 2009 06:55 PM
I've been taking pristiq for 2 months now. I'm just starting my 3rd. I take 50 mg every morning. Never miss a dose. But this week I ran out and couldn't afford to refill my script until payday which was 4 days away. I called for samples from my dr. office to get me by but they were out. Within 48 hrs of not taking a pristiq pill i began having symptoms of dizziness, feelings as though my entire body was having a heartbeat, a pulsation, disorientation feelings, high emotionality, crying and agitation. I couldn't take it so I went ahead and refilled my script and hoped my check would clear because I couldn't imagine going another day or 48 hrs without it. The withdrawal symptoms began so quickly and were so pronounced. As soon as I took another pill I began feeling better.
I'm concerned though because while taking this medication (I suffer from depression and severe anxiety) I have experienced heightened levels of agitation and anger and aggression. I have had more thoughts of suicide than ever before in my entire life (I have never ever felt like that). And then there are the lows that seem lower sometimes than when I'm not on any medication at all. I feel deep hopelessness and loneliness and sadness. I cry constantly sometimes.
So...the question is...is it just me and my depression and anxiety or is it the pristiq or a combination of both? And why don't they tell you pristiq is just effexor in a new package? I didn't know that until just now readying everyone's comments. hmmm. i've taken many different anti-depressants and i don't know what to do.
Posted by MM at November 12, 2009 05:54 AM
DO NOT TAKE PRISTIQ!!! This drug has destroyed my life. In Sept. 2009 after being on this medication for 1 month I attempted suicide.My mood was getting more & more agitated as each day passed until I finally snapped. The only reason I am here today is because my son came home early and found me near death, 1 more hour would've been fatal. I have lost my job and health benefits because of this. My doctor refuses to see me because I told her I am done with anti-depressants (having been on them for 15 years)and actually hung up on me when I asked her why she wanted to put me back on medication when I have finally detoxed from all this crap and I actually feel better than I ever did on them. She wanted to put me on Lithium and when I refused she cut me off. Thanks, you asshole. I am using the time off to deal with the side effects of withdrawal, the worst seems to be crying a lot. I have made a pledge to myself to come back stronger than ever. I am constantly researching ways to be happy and drug free. Diet & exercise definitely help. Don't let doctors railroad you into these drugs. They are impossible to get off of until something horrible happens to snap you out of it and the doctors will never help you stop taking them because its easier for them to write out another prescription.
Posted by Carol at November 18, 2009 09:46 AM
We all have to keep in mind that every person's body and brain chemistry is different. What makes one person feel good might severely affect another. Lexapro made me have INSANE panic attacks and outrageous outbursts of crying. Cymbalta might as well been a sugar-pill... did nothing for me. I've been on Pristiq for a year now. At first, it made me feel SO much better but I gradually started to slip back down again, so my Dr. has me on 100mg now. Must say, I feel so much better.
I'm so sorry for all of you that have had a bad experience with it. It definitely makes me scarred to go off it!
Hang in there everyone! You're SO not alone in this!! =)
Posted by Gena at November 18, 2009 02:18 PM
I started taking pristiq 9 months after my son committed suicide. I felt it helped. Was getting samples from my Dr for several months. Then the samples stopped. I had to buy it. $57.00 for 15 pills. Outrageous. I can't afford that, so i started not taking it. Well things got bad and i started taking them again. BAD DECISION. Things got even worse. I don't know what to do now. My life is a living HELL.
Posted by Denise at November 18, 2009 06:45 PM