![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by shearmadnesss on October 15, 2008, at 21:34:39
I was put on the drug pristiq last march or april because Lexapro was not working for me anymore. I don't think that Pristiq has ever worked. I have lost 20 lbs due to the fact that I can't eat, hardly sleep and feel awful. I am so emotionally vulnerable right now that I had to take time off of grad school and can hardly bear the depression I feel. I got diagnosed when I was sixteen and now I am 26. I have been on every drug in the book and some things helped a little, but I feel as if depression is ruining my entire life. Please help. :(
Posted by azalea on October 15, 2008, at 22:09:44
In reply to Pristiq- Not working, posted by shearmadnesss on October 15, 2008, at 21:34:39
Good news is that some medications helped you a bit. Which meds provided benefit? Any of the meds make you feel worse?
Sometimes a combination of meds works best. There are many options for augmenting Pristiq or you could try switching to a different class of meds. There are many options and you'll likely find something that works. We're here to help!> I was put on the drug pristiq last march or april because Lexapro was not working for me anymore. I don't think that Pristiq has ever worked. I have lost 20 lbs due to the fact that I can't eat, hardly sleep and feel awful. I am so emotionally vulnerable right now that I had to take time off of grad school and can hardly bear the depression I feel. I got diagnosed when I was sixteen and now I am 26. I have been on every drug in the book and some things helped a little, but I feel as if depression is ruining my entire life. Please help. :(
Posted by shearmadnesss on October 15, 2008, at 22:20:11
In reply to Re: Pristiq- Not working » shearmadnesss, posted by azalea on October 15, 2008, at 22:09:44
Posted by Phillipa on October 15, 2008, at 23:12:34
In reply to Re: Pristiq- Not working (nm), posted by shearmadnesss on October 15, 2008, at 22:20:11
I'm so sorry you must and do sound miserable. Is there any med you think might work? Love Phillipa
Posted by sam K on October 16, 2008, at 10:25:56
In reply to Pristiq- Not working, posted by shearmadnesss on October 15, 2008, at 21:34:39
hey im sorry that you this way. I know what it feels like to think depression is ruining life. I hope you get better! anyway, pristiq didnt do much at all for me.. anti depressant wise. It took away panic, but really thats pretty much it. Ive never understood what people ment when they said ADs numbed them until pristiq. It just made everything hurt less.
Posted by shearmadnesss on October 16, 2008, at 12:45:52
In reply to Re: Pristiq- Not working, posted by sam K on October 16, 2008, at 10:25:56
what DID work for you? I am so desperate and so sick of feeling like this that I will try anything. I just am so confused because everyone is saying pristiq is the way to go...and I gave it time...and more time...and even more and now I am soooo sick of it. I have severe clinical depression and anxiety. It does not help that I am a perfectionist and always hard on myself. My doctor for the past 10 years moved on to a different sort of practice and though I like my psychiatrist I don't necessarily think she's helping me all that much.
Posted by azalea on October 16, 2008, at 14:24:49
In reply to Re: Pristiq- Not working, posted by shearmadnesss on October 16, 2008, at 12:45:52
It sounds like Pristiq is not the right medication for you. If you've tried multiple antidepressants and haven't had remission, you might consider a mood stabilizer such as Lamictal or Lithium. Bipolar spectrum disorder has symptoms of both anxiety and depression; this is best treated with a mood stabilizer. Check out www.psycheducation.org if you're interested in additional information about bipolar spectrum disorder.
> what DID work for you? I am so desperate and so sick of feeling like this that I will try anything. I just am so confused because everyone is saying pristiq is the way to go...and I gave it time...and more time...and even more and now I am soooo sick of it. I have severe clinical depression and anxiety. It does not help that I am a perfectionist and always hard on myself. My doctor for the past 10 years moved on to a different sort of practice and though I like my psychiatrist I don't necessarily think she's helping me all that much.
Posted by shearmadnesss on October 16, 2008, at 15:34:26
In reply to bipolar spectrum? » shearmadnesss, posted by azalea on October 16, 2008, at 14:24:49
Funny you say that, i AM on lamictil.....I was doing some research though and JUST (about an hour) got a consult with a different psychiatrist and he said that he hardly prescribes it. I am very glad I contacted him though because I feel a lot better for my future.
Posted by dapper on October 16, 2008, at 15:43:05
In reply to Pristiq- Not working, posted by shearmadnesss on October 15, 2008, at 21:34:39
Sounds kinda like me. 26 years old, I barely managed to finish my bachelors, everyday an incredibly painful struggle. My 'normal' self would love to go to grad school and move forward, but the thought is almost laughable.
Well keep in mind that TMS is now available as a new treatment option. Also agomelatine is not too far off from approval and is generating a lot of excitement as to being a very effective, different type of drug. I just try to remember there are things on the horizon. Best of luck.
Posted by azalea on October 16, 2008, at 16:18:16
In reply to Re: bipolar spectrum? » azalea, posted by shearmadnesss on October 16, 2008, at 15:34:26
Quite the coincidence! Lamictal is used for treatment-resistant depression and variants of bipolar disorder (as well as epilepsy). What dose are you on? Some people experience antidepressant effect as at 50mg, while others benefit from traditional mood stabilizing doses of 200mg. Off-labels some pdocs go above that if there is therapeutic benefit.
There's anecdotal report that the combination of Lamictal + Wellbutrin has power antidepressant effects. Perhaps something to consider.
Glad you're feeling better about the future.
> Funny you say that, i AM on lamictil.....I was doing some research though and JUST (about an hour) got a consult with a different psychiatrist and he said that he hardly prescribes it. I am very glad I contacted him though because I feel a lot better for my future.
Posted by theo on October 19, 2008, at 20:47:09
In reply to Pristiq- Not working, posted by shearmadnesss on October 15, 2008, at 21:34:39
My pdoc said he has had many patients that started Pristiq and worsened their depression. He doesn't use it anymore.
Posted by friendlyzombie on October 25, 2008, at 8:27:56
In reply to Pristiq- Not working, posted by shearmadnesss on October 15, 2008, at 21:34:39
If things don't improve, you may want to try Lexapro again (see my post below).
Now that I'm off Pristiq and back on Lexapro, it's working like a charm.
I'll never forget (recovery/self-help guru) John Bradshaw's opening statement to a packed weekend workshop audience a few years ago: "I'm on Lexapro and I feel great!"
Blessings,
friendlyzombiePosted by friendlyzombie on October 13, 2008, at 14:23:43
In reply to Re: Pristiq » friendlyzombie, posted by Phillipa on August 15, 2008, at 0:26:41
Sorry for the very slow response, Phillipa.
With Lexapro, that's the way it works for me. It poops out about every 9-12 months and I have to go on a different med for about a month. After that, it works perfectly again.
friendlyzombie
> So if you give a med a rest it works for you again? Could be the fillers and binders in the generic that make the difference. I really don't know. Phillipa and thanks for letting us know you will update us.
> I was put on the drug pristiq last march or april because Lexapro was not working for me anymore. I don't think that Pristiq has ever worked. I have lost 20 lbs due to the fact that I can't eat, hardly sleep and feel awful. I am so emotionally vulnerable right now that I had to take time off of grad school and can hardly bear the depression I feel. I got diagnosed when I was sixteen and now I am 26. I have been on every drug in the book and some things helped a little, but I feel as if depression is ruining my entire life. Please help. :(
Posted by lesweet1971 on September 3, 2014, at 8:39:36
In reply to Pristiq- Not working, posted by shearmadnesss on October 15, 2008, at 21:34:39
Did Pristiq continue working for you? Are you still on it all of these later? I'm having similar issues. I was on Cymbalta for 6 years and it worked great. Pooped out so they put me on Pristiq. After a month it was still not real effective so they added Wellbutrin. That did nothing so they added Lamictal 2 weeks ago. I'm not sure the Pristiq is working.
Wondering what you found to work and to see how you're doing 6 years later!
Thanks, Lisa
Posted by SLS on September 3, 2014, at 10:11:11
In reply to Re: Pristiq- Not working, posted by lesweet1971 on September 3, 2014, at 8:40:52
> Did Pristiq continue working for you? Are you still on it all of these later? I'm having similar issues. I was on Cymbalta for 6 years and it worked great. Pooped out so they put me on Pristiq. After a month it was still not real effective so they added Wellbutrin. That did nothing so they added Lamictal 2 weeks ago. I'm not sure the Pristiq is working.
>
> Wondering what you found to work and to see how you're doing 6 years later!
>
> Thanks, LisaHi Lisa.
What is your diagnosis?
Do you experience any improvement at all with Pristiq, or is it completely ineffective?
Adding Wellbutrin was a good choice, even if it doesn't work out for you. Lamictal was a reasonable choice, too. It sounds like you have a good doctor. You might not see any results from Lamictal until you reach a dosage of 200 mg/day. Unfortunately, it might take 4 - 5 weeks to reach that dosage. You might want to ask your doctor about using low dosages of Abilify. It often helps antidepressants work better. Adding Remeron is also a possibility.
If it turns out that Pristiq is ineffective, what drugs are being considered as a substitute?
- Scott
Posted by B2chica on October 1, 2014, at 23:56:12
In reply to Re: Pristiq- Not working » lesweet1971, posted by SLS on September 3, 2014, at 10:11:11
pristiq didn't work for me until i went up to 100mg (am). also the first time i was on it, it was close to 10 weeks before i Truly felt the benefit. i went off of it for my second pregnancy, when i went back on it, i swear it took about 12 weeks. i had to augment with zyprexa in the interim.
and the duration was pretty typical for most users.
HTH
Posted by Phillipa on October 2, 2014, at 22:27:52
In reply to Re: Pristiq- Not working, posted by B2chica on October 1, 2014, at 23:56:12
How are you long time . P
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.