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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by uncouth on January 11, 2009, at 18:56:49
Hi,
I have decided to go off of my 80mg parnate in favor of trying Pristiq. While like many others, I'm not the biggest fan of SS/NRIs for a variety of reasons, Parnate never kicked in fully like Effexor did for me, despite being at a 80mg dose. I know I could have gone higher, but I also never felt as stimulated as I would have liked, and I know my dr. wouldn't allow me to add methylphenidate to high dose parnate. So at this point, I'm going to give Focalin XR + Pristiq a try and hope for the best.
My DX is bipolar 2 or 3 -- the only hypomanic episodes i've had have been as a result of too-high effexor dosing. I've found that my sweet-spot for Effexor is in the 225 - 300mg range. 300 is a bit too much, and 225 is a bit too low.
I'm hoping someone can help me out with dose equivalencies. Does anyone know, in general, and on average, what a 300mg dose of Effexor would equate to in terms of Pristiq dosage?
It seems odd that Pristiq is only indicated at 50mg and 100mg given that people respond to such a wide range of Effexor dosages.
Thanks for the help.
Posted by Phillipa on January 12, 2009, at 0:33:54
In reply to Pristiq / Effexor dose equivalencies, posted by uncouth on January 11, 2009, at 18:56:49
How bout pristig and wellbutrin? Since bipolar helps to aviod mania. Phillipa I will google and see if a conversion but guessing you already have.
Posted by Phillipa on January 12, 2009, at 0:38:34
In reply to Re: Pristiq / Effexor dose equivalencies » uncouth, posted by Phillipa on January 12, 2009, at 0:33:54
First search on another website hope helps a little. love Phillipa
Pristiq versus Effexor XR
By John M. Grohol, Psy.D.
March 4, 2008
What is Pristiq (desvenlafaxine)? The newest antidepressant approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which will hit the U.S. market in a few months. Pristiq is a drug similar in composition to Wyeths existing antidepressant, Effexor XR (which loses its patent protection in 2010, 2 years from now). It is Wyeths hope that Pristiq, therefore, will replace Effexor XR in a few years time. Why? Because Effexor XR makes $3.8 billion (with a b) a year in sales.Pristiq has shown the same level of effectiveness as many other antidepressants on the market today about a 2 point difference in a depression rating scale, compared with a placebo. This is the same 2 point difference that research last week showed wasnt all that clinically significant in older new generation antidepressants (SSRIs like Prozac and Paxil).
Strangely enough, lower doses (50mg) of Pristiq proved more effective than higher doses (100mg). I believe this is the first time where a drug company has shown in their own data that less of their drug works better than more of it (at regular dosing levels)!
Pristiq, compared with Effexor XR, should be seen for what it is an evolution in an existing chemical compound, trying to address some of the concerns with the current drug. Time will tell whether the side effects are more tolerable than those associated with Effexor XR or not. Because unless Wyeth releases the drug at a lower price point than Effexor XR (which is highly unlikely), Pristiq will have to prove itself as more than just another antidepressant.
Posted by B2chica on January 13, 2009, at 7:55:43
In reply to Re: Pristiq / Effexor dose equivalencies » uncouth, posted by Phillipa on January 12, 2009, at 0:33:54
i'd be cautious about pristiq AND wellbutrin.
both can be activating and if you are bipolar this could certainly set you off.
pristiq (NE) and Wellbutrin (Dopamine)i'd start one and slowly add another but be very aware.
also fyi. i am/was on pristiq and it was working great, however it took Forever to kick in. it was little over 8 weeks before it leveled off in me.
but the results were GREAT.
so hang in there if you can.(i'm only off now because i'm pregnant.)
best wishes.
b2c.
Posted by Phillipa on January 13, 2009, at 20:00:21
In reply to Re: Pristiq / Effexor dose equivalencies, posted by B2chica on January 13, 2009, at 7:55:43
And again congrats!!!!! Love Phillipa
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