Anyone taking Pristiq?

[enitsirhc]

Hi everyone I went to my doctor and she took me off the zoloft and put me on pristiq to help with my panic and anxiety.  Has it helped anyone?  Also she told me to not taper off the zoloft and it's safe to just start the pristiq.

[lauriepoo]

I have been on Pristiq for 5 weeks and I feel great..I am shocked by all the negative responses online..I have been battling depression for years and before this medication I was on Lexapro which did nothing form me.I am able to get up on the weekends and I actually want to go outside now..Please remember that people will post negative experiences before they post positive ones..I have taken 4 or 5 different medications and Pristiq is the only one I can  actually say works..5 weeks and I'm writing this bc I got up early (which never happens)and have time to post before work..

[Markus1]

I agree with you 100%,I've been on various meds over the years and none of them worked,.. Until I got a new doctor, he put me on pristiq,.. And the rest is history,.. I've been on it for a few months now, and it works great,.. It took a while to start working, but once it did,.... Wow,...

[Gina2Westies]

An as immediate relief from a panic attack, Klonopin or Xanax may be helpful to you (to take as needed when you are faced with that situation).

[ettebette]

Not that I'm an expert by any means, but, if you're having panic attacks, you may want to talk with your physician about Klonopin.  Klonopin is a medication specifically designed for panic attacks.  It's my understanding (I could be wrong) that Ativan is a drug that is used for short-term use only.  I take Effexor XR, and I tried Pristiq, and didn't find that it was any better than Effexor XR.  They are essentially the same medication.  Just a suggestion about the Klonopin if you're not getting success with the Ativan.  Best of luck to you.

Ellen

[VCASILLAS]

I've been on pristiq and ativan for a Month now for anxiety and panic attacks. Neither seem to help but I am giving it another month just because I have been in very stressful situations lately that just might be too overwhelming for the medication to help.  

[ettebette]

I think an ssri works mainly on seritonin, where an snri works on norepenephrine and serotonin.  You may want to research this on the interenet.

Ellen

[enitsirhc]

What is the difference between ssri and snri?  

[Ethrem]

Pristiq is nothing but an active metabolite of Effexor (venlafaxine being Effexor and desvenlafaxine being Pristiq). Honestly, it should be about as effective as Effexor is. The only reason it was created is because Effexor's patent (if it hasn't already) and soon will be a generic, cheap drug. The pharmaceutical companies always come up with a new drug to push over the old ones whenever this happens because they don't make even a quarter of the money off of the generic drugs.

Anyway, I would smack your doctor in the face. Its not safe to move straight from an SSRI to an SNRI. You will most likely go through some pretty nasty withdrawals. Even moving from one SSRI to another SSRI, you should taper off one while coming up on the other.

[ettebette]

Hi.  I tried Pristiq in an attempt to help with menopausal symptoms.  I was (and am) on Effexor XR, and Pristiq is almost identical to Effexor XR.  I think the only difference is in their molecules.  I didn't find Pristiq any better (for me) than Effexor XR, so I went back to Effexor XR.  I wish you the best of luck with it.  I hope it works for you.

Blessings,

Ellen