has anyone tried pristiq?

My doctor put me on pristiq and I am afraid to take it. I took Zoloft while pregnant and stopped about a month after my daughter was born. I felt good then. Then my gp put me on Lexapro and that zonked me out. Back to Zoloft again. I feel just like the depression commercials describe. I hate it. I just would like to know if anyone has been taking it and how you feel on it. Thanks :)

[JG525]

I've been on Pristiq.  My GP gave it to me.  I've been on it for about 6 months and it's fine for me.  It's most effective dose is 50mg, which is equivalant to 150mg Effexor XR I was told.  My psychiatrist switched me to Effexor because he says they are the same and I am tapering off.  I did NOT gain weight on Pristiq and I think the sexual side effects weren't as bad.  I can tell the difference on Effexor.

I wouldn't be worried to start it if you need something, but I'm not sure yet about getting off.  It's basically like Effexor, so I assume going off it will be like Effexor and that's supposed to be tough.  My depression was mild and was helped by Pristiq, but I probably shouldn't have been on an AD at all.

Some say, including my psychiatrist, that Pristiq is just a way for Wyeth to make more money when their Patent runs out on Effexor ER.  I don't know though...I liked it.

Jenny

[Hensley258]

I took Pristiq for about 8 months. It worked "ok" for me but not good enough so in the end my P-doc switched me to a more effective tri-cyclic.

I will warn you (maybe this was just in my case) but the withdrawl (withdrawal) I experienced with Pristiq was beyond bad. It lasted for 8 horrible weeks and during the worst part of it even walking was difficult because my head was so swurly.

Now keep in mind that I used to take Effexor XR for 4 years at 300Mgs a day. The withdrawl (withdrawal) from that was bad, but nothing near what I experienced with Pristiq.

Finnaly after 8 weeks the withdrawl (withdrawal) faded. I swear I thought I was going to be stuck like that forever.

Then again I will take risks with medication to get relief. I will and am willing to accept the worst antidepressant withdrawl (withdrawal) from a new medication in hope that it works and I can stay on it.

IF Pristiq would have really worked good for me then I would say the end withdrawl (withdrawal) would be worth it when time to change meds came.