Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 895050

Shown: posts 1 to 24 of 24. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Pristiq help

Posted by ihatedrugs on May 10, 2009, at 15:30:51

Hi
I started taking Pristiq about 5 weeks ago and though in the beginning thought it was working, now I seem to be spiraling down again. I have read somewhere in this forum that Pristiq may take up to 8 weeks to work. Does anyone here have any experience with this med? I really had high hopes and it is so debilitating emotionally when you begin to sense that this is going to be just another med going in the dump box.
I am so tired and disillusioned by this entire neverending process. Why do we have to suffer so much?
I feel like giving up. It is all just so unfair.

...Sorry for the rant.

 

Re: Pristiq help » ihatedrugs

Posted by Phillipa on May 10, 2009, at 17:13:17

In reply to Pristiq help, posted by ihatedrugs on May 10, 2009, at 15:30:51

Hopefully Zana will see this post as working well for her. Also think B2chica took pristig haven't seen any posts laterly from her. Phillipa

 

Re: Pristiq help

Posted by Zana on May 10, 2009, at 18:07:54

In reply to Re: Pristiq help » ihatedrugs, posted by Phillipa on May 10, 2009, at 17:13:17

I have been taking pristiq for just over a month and it has been great-so far. I certainly understand the fear and despair.
It seems a little early for it to poop-out... How long have you been feeling that you are spiraling down? So many factors can contribute. I myself am having a slighly down afternoon. What other meds are you taking? Anything else changed?
I hate drugs too. I hate feeling dependent on them, especially when they fail to hold back the depression.
Let me know if there are other meds or changes in your life that might be contributing to this feeling.
Hang in there. Don't give up on it yet.

Zana

 

Re: Pristiq help))Zana

Posted by ihatedrugs on May 10, 2009, at 20:24:52

In reply to Re: Pristiq help, posted by Zana on May 10, 2009, at 18:07:54

Hi Zana
Thank you for your prompt response. I actually began feeling well during the first couple of weeks of treatment. Then I had a cold and since then it has been going down hill. I have read about some people actually having this happen; where the Pristiq starts working, then poops out for a couple weeks and begins working again at 6-8 weeks. I really hope this is the case. I had such high hopes.
I am also taking Deplin,(methylfolate) ambien and klonopin. I thought about increasing the dose but for what I have read going to 100mg does not make much of a difference.
Hope it goes better this week.

 

Re: Pristiq help

Posted by chumbawumba on May 11, 2009, at 0:34:37

In reply to Pristiq help, posted by ihatedrugs on May 10, 2009, at 15:30:51

This is a new one to me. Sounds like Wyeth is just trying to milk their Effexor patent by tweaking the molecule.

It's like sleeping with your wife's sister, she looks just like your wife so it doesn't count.

 

Re: Pristiq help

Posted by Zana on May 11, 2009, at 8:14:48

In reply to Re: Pristiq help, posted by chumbawumba on May 11, 2009, at 0:34:37

I dunno. I'm not niave about big Pharma but effexor didn't work for me. Pristiq does.

Zana

 

Re: Pristiq help

Posted by Roslynn on May 11, 2009, at 16:49:12

In reply to Pristiq help, posted by ihatedrugs on May 10, 2009, at 15:30:51

Hi, it worked for me for the first two weeks then pooped out at about 5 weeks. In retrospect I kind of wish I had given it longer. It's so hard to say.

 

Re: Pristiq help

Posted by ihatedrugs on May 11, 2009, at 22:22:54

In reply to Re: Pristiq help, posted by Roslynn on May 11, 2009, at 16:49:12

I'm going to stick it out a little longer. It is not like I have much in the arsenal I haven't tried already. I also went to my dr (family physician) because I have been extremely tired and achy as if I had the flu but for more than a month and she told me to stop taking Lipitor for a week and see if that helps. What is funny is that I associate all my maladies to the side effects of psychotropic drugs. I have been gaining weight like crazy and I am barely eating. Pristiq even killed the little appetite I had but today I found out that Lipitor can cause weight gain as well as fatique. So who knew!
I wondered if we were thrown into a deserted island, what would we do. Cry for a week, have a couple of panic attacks and then be cured.
Kind of sounds better than the purgatory we are living.

 

Re: Pristiq help

Posted by floatingbridge on May 12, 2009, at 20:20:49

In reply to Re: Pristiq help, posted by ihatedrugs on May 11, 2009, at 22:22:54

Hi, I'm sorry to hear about your difficulties with Pristiq, and I hope you're feeling some relief. I thought Pristiq was doing nothing for me, but now, 2 months later, I think it's a helpful part of my cocktail. FYI I take 40 mg dexedrine per day (ADD inattentive) and klonopin 1.5mgs per day. What's holding me up? One can guess. Wish I believed in God.

Candace

 

Re: Pristiq help

Posted by desolationrower on May 13, 2009, at 9:58:42

In reply to Re: Pristiq help, posted by ihatedrugs on May 11, 2009, at 22:22:54

> I'm going to stick it out a little longer. It is not like I have much in the arsenal I haven't tried already. I also went to my dr (family physician) because I have been extremely tired and achy as if I had the flu but for more than a month and she told me to stop taking Lipitor for a week and see if that helps. What is funny is that I associate all my maladies to the side effects of psychotropic drugs. I have been gaining weight like crazy and I am barely eating. Pristiq even killed the little appetite I had but today I found out that Lipitor can cause weight gain as well as fatique. So who knew!
> I wondered if we were thrown into a deserted island, what would we do. Cry for a week, have a couple of panic attacks and then be cured.
> Kind of sounds better than the purgatory we are living.

Well most of the time drugs that are effective will show w/in the first 2 weeks, although teh benefits continue to acrue for a while after that. At the same time, people have natural up and down periods, so its hard to know whats causing what. I'd talk to a friend/family memeber and get their opinion on how you are doing, usually others will be more accurate at noticing this kind of thing.

Also, statins cause worsen depression. They aren't a total scam but most people on them would be better off with other nutrional/supplemental things first

-d/r

 

Re: Pristiq help:)-d/r

Posted by ihatedrugs on May 13, 2009, at 23:40:40

In reply to Re: Pristiq help, posted by desolationrower on May 13, 2009, at 9:58:42

You are right. I have seen some gradual improvement over the weeks. Funny thing I stopped taking Lipitor and three days later my daughter commented on how my mood seemed more upbeat. I don't know if the effects of stopping the medication would manifest themselves so quickly but I do feel better physically, not as achy and tired.
I did some research on Lipitor and didn't realize it was so insidious. I'm glad to be off it. I'll definitely manage my cholesterol differently.
Thanks
ihatedrugs


> > I'm going to stick it out a little longer. It is not like I have much in the arsenal I haven't tried already. I also went to my dr (family physician) because I have been extremely tired and achy as if I had the flu but for more than a month and she told me to stop taking Lipitor for a week and see if that helps. What is funny is that I associate all my maladies to the side effects of psychotropic drugs. I have been gaining weight like crazy and I am barely eating. Pristiq even killed the little appetite I had but today I found out that Lipitor can cause weight gain as well as fatique. So who knew!
> > I wondered if we were thrown into a deserted island, what would we do. Cry for a week, have a couple of panic attacks and then be cured.
> > Kind of sounds better than the purgatory we are living.
>
> Well most of the time drugs that are effective will show w/in the first 2 weeks, although teh benefits continue to acrue for a while after that. At the same time, people have natural up and down periods, so its hard to know whats causing what. I'd talk to a friend/family memeber and get their opinion on how you are doing, usually others will be more accurate at noticing this kind of thing.
>
> Also, statins cause worsen depression. They aren't a total scam but most people on them would be better off with other nutrional/supplemental things first
>
> -d/r

 

Re: Pristiq help:)-d/r

Posted by desolationrower on May 14, 2009, at 2:20:16

In reply to Re: Pristiq help:)-d/r, posted by ihatedrugs on May 13, 2009, at 23:40:40

vitamin d3, fish oil, probably k2, possibly niacin. other things too if that doesn't get it under control. and of course proper diet/exercise

-d/r

 

Re: Pristiq help » ihatedrugs

Posted by Vincent_QC on May 15, 2009, at 8:56:48

In reply to Pristiq help, posted by ihatedrugs on May 10, 2009, at 15:30:51

> Hi
> I started taking Pristiq about 5 weeks ago and though in the beginning thought it was working, now I seem to be spiraling down again. I have read somewhere in this forum that Pristiq may take up to 8 weeks to work. Does anyone here have any experience with this med? I really had high hopes and it is so debilitating emotionally when you begin to sense that this is going to be just another med going in the dump box.
> I am so tired and disillusioned by this entire neverending process. Why do we have to suffer so much?
> I feel like giving up. It is all just so unfair.
>
> ...Sorry for the rant.
>

Hi ihatedrugs ;-)
I'm on day 3 of the Pristiq... What I can say for now is that i'm very sensible to meds and their side-effects... and what surprise me the most, is that it's the first AD I try who don't produce on me a single side-effect. I take my 50mg pill in the morning and forget it...

I heard that's he had lower results as an AD's, compare with the other ones...but I think it's related to each person, metabolism and things like that.

I was on the Effexor-XR 2 times before and had tons of side-effects, increase anxiety and worse social phobia than ever... it was getting so much nervous that I was taking more and more benzo drugs with it...

Strangely, the Pristiq is the active metabolite of the Effexor-XR... so why I don't feel any side-effect with the Pristiq? The only explanation I can give is that everyone absorbs and metabolizes a drug in different ways... I think the fact that the Pristiq only contain the active metabolite of the Effexor-XR make it more easy to absorb by the system... and the body don't have to metabolized the drug 2 times...and you encounter the differents side-effects of the others metabolites of the Effexor-Xr...

I see it as a kind of Celexa VS Lexapro ... Some people will improve on the Celexa and others will find it not good at all...and some peoples will only improve on the Lexapro and don't feel any improve on the Celexa...that's weird... I had no reaction on the Celexa at a high dose, exception of a huge weight gain and I had the worst time of my life on the Lexapro last fall... had to get an augmentation med to help me with the fatigue and the lack of motivation and interest (Ritalin + Wellbutrin-SR)... that's cocktail didnt work at all and I ending quit cold turkey all the three drugs at the same time, with a beautifull weight gain of 30-35 pounds and a worse than ever SAD, GAD and depression problem...

So don't give up... Pristiq can be a good AD choice for you...

Personnaly , I find it harmless... so I hope it will work... i'm use to over-react on new meds... but this time I cant told anything except that I dont feel anything different...

Ho by the way, what is your dosage? I'm on 50mg... but I know you can go to 100mg... but the more higher you go and the more side-effects you will have...studies from the pharmaceutical compagny who produce that med show a good improve and less side-effects on the 50-100mg group...200-300mg had poor results and more side-effects(strange no) and the 400mg group had good improve and less side-effects than the 200-300mg groups!!! I don't understand why they obtain such strange results...they explain that in the 200-300mg group, they had more different ethnies in that 2 groups...

I wish you good luck !!!

Take care of you!

Vincent ;-)

 

Re: Pristiq help

Posted by B2chica on May 15, 2009, at 11:11:25

In reply to Re: Pristiq help, posted by ihatedrugs on May 11, 2009, at 22:22:54

haven't been here for a while but saw this thread and would like to chime in.

i was on pristiq. my experience was this.
the first week was Great, then it died down gradually over the next few weeks i got worse and worse, i REally wanted to give up, but pdoc and T both told me for some people it takes 6-8 weeks to really tell. AND since i really didn't have any other options before tca/moai trials i figured i had to hang in there.
doc even upped me to 100mg at one point. i noticed no difference at all.
so went back down.

Finally pristiq kicked in for me it was about 8-10 weeks later. but once i leveled it was Great.

i got pregnant so went off it, but i definately plan to get back on it when the time comes.
i do hate the 'start up' time. but i am SO glad i stuck it out.

******************
so i guess my advice is if you aren't having any side effects, and you feel able, try to hang in there at least 8 weeks to see if it works. augment if you have too.
but most of the people that i've talked to that its worked for has taken at least 6 weeks to get to that functional level.

Best of luck all.
b2c.

 

Re: Pristiq help

Posted by Vincent_QC on May 15, 2009, at 15:22:35

In reply to Re: Pristiq help, posted by B2chica on May 15, 2009, at 11:11:25

> haven't been here for a while but saw this thread and would like to chime in.
>
> i was on pristiq. my experience was this.
> the first week was Great, then it died down gradually over the next few weeks i got worse and worse, i REally wanted to give up, but pdoc and T both told me for some people it takes 6-8 weeks to really tell. AND since i really didn't have any other options before tca/moai trials i figured i had to hang in there.
> doc even upped me to 100mg at one point. i noticed no difference at all.
> so went back down.
>
> Finally pristiq kicked in for me it was about 8-10 weeks later. but once i leveled it was Great.
>
> i got pregnant so went off it, but i definately plan to get back on it when the time comes.
> i do hate the 'start up' time. but i am SO glad i stuck it out.
>
> ******************
> so i guess my advice is if you aren't having any side effects, and you feel able, try to hang in there at least 8 weeks to see if it works. augment if you have too.
> but most of the people that i've talked to that its worked for has taken at least 6 weeks to get to that functional level.
>
> Best of luck all.
> b2c.

HI b2c,
Thanks for your post ;-) That's a good advise and I will follow it this time... it's too soon to talk about an augmentation, since that's net because you don't have side-effect that is not effective, but I will see...I will do at least 5 weeks at 50mg, anyway my next PDoc appointment is only the 17th june... so I will see with the PDoc and write on "Office Word" a daily report of how I feel everyday...for the social phobia, general anxiety, depression, motivation, level of interest, change in the sleep or the food (bulemia)...things like that...it will help me and the PDoc to understand what the Pristiq really do to me...

I never do this before and this time, I want to do a proper try of this med, begin with the slower effective dose and be sure to not increase it before i'm sure that dose is not enought... I will avoid some possible side-effects that will start with the dose increasement...

The goal is not to make me feel like a zombie , kind of experiences I had with all the newer SSRI'S or SRNI's before... and i'm happy that for the first time, I don't have a single side-effect...

I have only one wonder about the Pristiq... The gastric by-pass that I had back in 2001 make my digestive system to don't aborbe all the things I eat... I have only 1 meter of intestine who work, the other part is cut... so I hope the pill have the time to desintregrate before it's coming out of my system... so maybe it's why I dont have side-effect also...because I dont absorb it very well... but I will see, if no change appears after 5 weeks, a dose increasement will be the next option before I give up...

thanks a lot again!!!

Vincent ;-)

 

Re: Pristiq help)B2chica

Posted by ihatedrugs on May 16, 2009, at 2:31:26

In reply to Re: Pristiq help, posted by B2chica on May 15, 2009, at 11:11:25

I think it is beginning to work. I am on week 6 and I'm seeing a slight improvement. The consensus seems to be as you say, it takes about 8 weeks to feel a positive change.
Thanks for your comments and congratulations on your pregnancy. I hope all goes well.

 

Re: Pristiq help)Vincent

Posted by ihatedrugs on May 16, 2009, at 2:36:51

In reply to Re: Pristiq help » ihatedrugs, posted by Vincent_QC on May 15, 2009, at 8:56:48

I too haven't had undesirable side effects except for some appetite loss in the beginning, however no weight loss despite barely eating.
I think and hope this med will work and make a dramatic difference for all of us.

Good luck
ihatedrugs

 

Re: Pristiq help)Vincent » ihatedrugs

Posted by Vincent_QC on May 16, 2009, at 6:30:57

In reply to Re: Pristiq help)Vincent, posted by ihatedrugs on May 16, 2009, at 2:36:51

> I too haven't had undesirable side effects except for some appetite loss in the beginning, however no weight loss despite barely eating.
> I think and hope this med will work and make a dramatic difference for all of us.
>
> Good luck
> ihatedrugs

HI ihatedrugs!
I wish you the same... I really hope it will work !!! I will think positively!!! ;-)

I even dont feel the usual "Effexor-XR" side-effect of a decrease appetite loss, I feel no side-effect at all... i'm so surprise that I will write it again and again in my posts!!! hahaha

Life cant be worse and the Pristiq cant worse it more...the no side-effect help a lot... ( I mention it again...lol), that's a major improve over all the others SSRI's and SRNI's... so I have nothing to loose about wating 6 or 8 weeks before I see some improvements...

Being on that med for a complete different problem than only a regular depression ( I dont mean that depression is not a HARD and DIFFICULT disease, that's not the point)... I have a atypical depression (lost of motivation, lack of interests, eat more, sleep less, not sucidal at all) that atypical depression is comming from my untreated problems of SAD, GAD, panic disorder with agoraphobia and body dismorphic... I hope the PRistiq will help me...

SAD tend to be very hard to treat when it's the primary problem, but the primary problem seem to change to another one at some point in my life, now I experience more panic attack with agoraphobia and without agoraphobia than anything else...yes I have a constant SAD, cant go alone outside my house to do my regular activities like going at the shopping center alone, but sometimes I force myself to do it and each time I see this as a major improve... thanks for the CBT where at least, I learn the technic of exposure time in social situation... I go there, stay there until my anxiety level increase and decrease to the starting level...and go out of that public place as soon as my level of anxiety return to the normal... Anyway....

So another time, I wish you good luck and keep the faith... see all the small improves as a victory!!! ;-)

Have a nice weekend !

Vincent ;-)

 

Re: Pristiq help)Vincent

Posted by jimsapeck on May 26, 2009, at 11:03:20

In reply to Re: Pristiq help)Vincent » ihatedrugs, posted by Vincent_QC on May 16, 2009, at 6:30:57

I just came on this site and saw the thread.
I started Pristiq several months ago. I started with a quarter tablet because I am so sensitive to drugs. I got fairly immediate improvement and it was great. After a while it became less effective. I've been afraid to up the dose to the normal dose - I'm not sure why. Usually my dr. is hands off and lets me adjust. I just saw on the Pristiq site that they say don't crush or cut a pill. So maybe I'll call my dr. for advice.
When it isn't working, things suck. My PRIMARY desire in life is ENERGY! I can get that from a working Pristiq. I'm also exploring Core Energetics.
One final thought: I usually get sick twice when the seasons change. I have not gotten sick at all since I started the Pristiq and I am sure that is why!

 

Re: Pristiq help)Vincent » jimsapeck

Posted by Vincent_QC on May 26, 2009, at 14:18:23

In reply to Re: Pristiq help)Vincent, posted by jimsapeck on May 26, 2009, at 11:03:20

> I just came on this site and saw the thread.
> I started Pristiq several months ago. I started with a quarter tablet because I am so sensitive to drugs. I got fairly immediate improvement and it was great. After a while it became less effective. I've been afraid to up the dose to the normal dose - I'm not sure why. Usually my dr. is hands off and lets me adjust. I just saw on the Pristiq site that they say don't crush or cut a pill. So maybe I'll call my dr. for advice.
> When it isn't working, things suck. My PRIMARY desire in life is ENERGY! I can get that from a working Pristiq. I'm also exploring Core Energetics.
> One final thought: I usually get sick twice when the seasons change. I have not gotten sick at all since I started the Pristiq and I am sure that is why!

Strange... I use it only one week... Had the same bad reaction than the one on the Effexor-XR... not sure if I was absorbing all the dosage because of the gastric by-pass... see and feel nothing, just a worse energy level and craving for food... So I stop it... I wonder if it's even effective... peoples seem to complaints a lot about the fact that it's lost his power fast...

And i'm also sensitive to meds...start at 50mg ... feel nothing really, just bad side-effects... And welcome home VIVID DREAMS when you stop it... Have vivid dreams since 6 nights... so it have to do something inside the brains to produce such a withdrawl effect...

I think the world of Psychiatrict meds have to be thinking in another way... we needs more meds who sork on different neurons on the brains than only the SE and the NE...and the DA... most of them dont work anyway and things dont involve a lot since the 50's... they just make the meds less dirty... by doing this they also remove a lot of good things who made the older drugs more better to treat severe depression and anxiety disorder (SAD, GAD...)...

That's what I think...

 

Re: Pristiq help

Posted by zeitguest on July 1, 2009, at 1:10:41

In reply to Re: Pristiq help » ihatedrugs, posted by Vincent_QC on May 15, 2009, at 8:56:48

I'v been on Pristiq for 7 weeks now (the first 4 weeks at 50mg, the rest at 100mg). So far it hasn't had much of a positive effect -- perhaps a slight mood elevation, but very negligible compared with my experience on Prozac. Side effects are as mild as the primary effects -- slight drowsiness in the afternoons, a slight lessening of sex drive and performance (but nothing as drastic as I felt on Prozac). No weight gain or loss.

At this point I will stick it out for the remainder of my 8-week prescription. But I am wondering now if this drug is for me. Not a lot of bang for the buck.

 

Re: Pristiq help » zeitguest

Posted by Vincent_QC on July 1, 2009, at 5:41:29

In reply to Re: Pristiq help, posted by zeitguest on July 1, 2009, at 1:10:41

> I'v been on Pristiq for 7 weeks now (the first 4 weeks at 50mg, the rest at 100mg). So far it hasn't had much of a positive effect -- perhaps a slight mood elevation, but very negligible compared with my experience on Prozac. Side effects are as mild as the primary effects -- slight drowsiness in the afternoons, a slight lessening of sex drive and performance (but nothing as drastic as I felt on Prozac). No weight gain or loss.
>
> At this point I will stick it out for the remainder of my 8-week prescription. But I am wondering now if this drug is for me. Not a lot of bang for the buck.

Well, don't give up... sometimes, a slight improvement is better than nothing... except if you pay it 300$ each month for it!!! ;-)

I was not for a long time on it... it's seem to have the same side-effect profile than the Effexor-Xr... the main difference is the fact that the Pristiq, who is the active metabolite of the Effexor-XR, don't involve the whole process of your body metabolising (bad word in english, I know!!!) the Effexor-XR into the Pristiq, so someone with a poor metabolism can react more well with the Pristiq... and someone with a good metabolism will not be able to tell the difference between these 2 meds...

Normally, a 3 months trail is good enought to say if a med work or not... but at this stage and with so little improvements, maybe it's not worthing the price to pay for it...

 

Re: Pristiq help

Posted by Buckeye Fan on August 10, 2009, at 4:53:17

In reply to Re: Pristiq help » zeitguest, posted by Vincent_QC on July 1, 2009, at 5:41:29

I switched from Zoloft to Pristiq two weeks ago...and so far it has gone well.

The new drug is certainly more excitable to my system...but that seems to be leveling off.

I was having a pretty moderate to severe depression that lasted 8 months...and now I clearly feel better. The old AD had pooped out.

Pristiq does increase anxiety tho...and I cant sit still for very long, AND I am up at 4:30 am every morning ( instead of 6:30)..and find myself very "manic"...anyone else experience any of these side-effects? Do they last?

BF

 

Re: Pristiq help

Posted by Buckeye Fan on August 23, 2009, at 7:23:42

In reply to Re: Pristiq help, posted by Buckeye Fan on August 10, 2009, at 4:53:17

Well, since I last posted...I had ran-out of the 2 week sample the Pdoc gave me,,,so I switched BACK to 100 mgs of Zoloft...because of the price of the Pristiq...($300.00!!!!!!)
Unfortunately the reinstatement of Zoloft didnt work..and my depression worsened.

I went to my first Talk Therapy session...and he and I agreed that I should I should give Pristiq a fair try...since it did seem to help.

He took me down to the Pdocs office..and I received another two week sample...PLUS a promotional CD from the Pdoc, whereby I can get Pristiq free !

So I am on day 5 of the reinstatement.

I am hyper...aggitated...cant sit still...my mood flucuates from manic to near suicidal...all within the same day!!!!!!

I have not worked since July 16...so I KNOW that is adding to my restlesness and anxiety, and I also know that it takes more than 5 days to see how the Pristiq will work once my system adapts to it..( 2-4 weeks)

Any advice...insight or suggestions in the mean time?

Feel like I am going nuts!

BF


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