Anyone take Pristiq??

Holly J · Post by **Holly J** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 9:38 am

I got samples of it today and i doubt ill take them but just wanna know if anyone has taken this anti-depressant before. Apparently its a newer form of effexor

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 1:00 am

Hi Holly.

I just switched from Cymbalta to Pristiq today as a matter of fact! Never before had I gained weight on a medication until Cymbalta so my doctor switched me over.

Pristiq is basically Effexor XR (a patent extender because it runs out in 2010). The only difference seems to be that Pristiq can be started immediately at the therapeutic dose of 50 mg. Since that is the therapeutic dose there is not need to titrate, which allows you to find out much faster whether the medicine works or not.

I'd love to here if you try it and what you thought!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 1:16 am

well i didnt take mine so please let me know how this works for you. Just very curious. I need to gain weight so that wouldnt be an issue for me. lost so much weight the past 4 months

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 6:18 am

I have been on Pristiq for about 3 weeks and it is making me worse. I am crying all the time and I think it is raising my blood sugar. I am sleepy and irritable. I was on Welbutrin and Effexor for years - did okay but it sort of petered out. Then the doc left Welbutrin but dropped Effexor and gave me Cymbalta. Did affect blood sugar and not of much help. Now she has me still on Welbutrin and on Pristiq; dropped Cymbalta. I'm not going to wait the next two weeks to go back to her - I know that sometimes the "wrong" antidepressant can make one worse, and that's what Pristiq is to me. I've also had flushing and sweating, anxiety, trouble falling asleep but then sleeping inordinate amounts of time and very increased irritability, also some diarrhea. Also bizarre dreams. So I'll call and see if I can get in to see her sooner. I've been on many antidepressants and the only other one to have really adverse effects on me was Prozac (extremely heightened anxiety and inability to sleep).
Pristiq may work for others - everybody is different. I'd be interested to know if anyone else has thought it raised their blood sugar (I am a diabetic). Nowhere in the literature have I seen this (rarely, they say, it lowers blood sugar), but am curious if it has raised it for anyone else.