Side effects of Pristiq

Hi, I have been on Pristiq-generic for about 2.5 years, now on 25 mg. I have actually gained some wt. No appetite, increased constipation, sweating, insomnia. Apathy, no sex drive, on and off anxiety and agitation, terrible sweating. I hate this stuff and I thought Effexor was bad.. I want to get off of it. Also, it seems to make me more impulsive and irresponsible. Any suggestions?

Hi, @jeanmnyc - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I merged your post with this one, as you mentioned wanting to get off of desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), and members in this thread have been discussing just that topic.

Here is an article with some general Mayo Clinic information on antidepressant withdrawal you may find useful: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/expert-answers/antidepressant-withdrawal/faq-20058133.

I'd also like you to meet @casey0603 @netty @nonnivee @losangeles90027 @bonny @missymooha and others from this discussion who may have input on some of the potential side effects you've experienced on this medication and how they worked with their physicians to taper off desvenlafaxine (Pristiq). @gailb may also have some thoughts for you.

How has your depression been on this medication?

My depression on this Medicine for the last 2.5 years has not responded so well.. First started off on 25 mg.. I am very drug sensitive, then up to 50 mg. It helped some, but I found myself more apathetic, wanting to take naps, not wanting to eat, worsening of constant bloating and constipation. It seems to make me in a strange, semi- nasty mood, more apt to lose my temper faster, etc. No sex drive, sometimes feelings of total detachment.. When I try and decrease it, the crying spells start. I was on regular Effexor before that for about 10 years, non- XR. It worked okay at 50mg., then I went down to 25 mg. on that due to about a 20 lb wt. gain. Getting off the Effexor was Hell. Pristiq seems to want to cause me to really lose it and break things and insomnia. I have gained about 7 lbs on it., despite not wanting to eat. I hate that it made my IBS and bloating worse. I am trying to take one tablet a day at 25 mg, current dose and 1/2 tablet every other day per my MD instructions. I am having way too much stress and worry right now. I am literally sorry I ever took anything back in 1996 for the depression. So many side effects.. I also have GAD, can get panic attacks, some agoraphobia. My Psych lied about this med and I didn't want to take it. I saw what it did to my identical Twin Sister.. she was more hostile, angry. I am also on Clonopin for the anxiety and panic attacks and GAD.. 25 years and sorry I ever took that at all. My Neurologist wants me off of it. Sick of being not me, depersonalization, despondent, without energy, or a nervous wreck. Tired of being Fat, despite hardly eating. I can't deal with much now and will leave things undone. I am doing a job search again at 60 and that is not good. The confusion also is worse with this medicine, I believe. I can't think, focus, concentrate. I look like Hell.

I have just weaned my self from Pristique it is several weeks now. I was on 50 Micrograms a day and I started week 1. M50:T25:W50:Th25:F50:S25:Sun50.
I did this by cutting the tablet on my doctors advice as there is no smaller dose. The following week I increased the 1/2 tablets to 4 days the 3rd week all 1/2 tablets then 5th week 3 days then 6th week 4 days no tablet 7th week no tablets. My doctor gave me panadol fort for the migraines and stemetil for the nausea. I only took as needed I had 2 scripts for stemetil but only used a few panadol forte. Mainly at night so I could sleep. When I was completely off I developed flu like symptoms with sever neck shoulder and head pain she gave me 1 script for valium and that fixed it one tablet one night . I still get some zapping at night but all the other symptoms are gone except the ones like poor memory, I had increased bladder weakness and memory but its all settling now and I feel so much better. I also found that Migrastick peppermint and peppermint tea were helpful as I didn't want to be taking the stemitil all the time. I still get brain zapping mildly at night and I heard that drugs like Pristique have a "protective" attribute so one you stop taking them thinks that have not been a problem for a while become a problem again until totally free of the pristique so I experienced bladder weakness and very poor short term memory but that is already improving. I am so glad I am off the drug at last. I feel much more motivated since stopping this drug. I was prescribed for situational depression so there was no need to stay on it forever. But it was hard to come off It took me several gos. Cheers

Hi, @joannapickford7 - thanks for sharing your experiences with tapering off of desvenlafaxine (Pristiq). Sounds like your doctor was very responsive to side effects you had while weaning off of the medication.

Is your doctor hopeful that the bladder weakness and poor short-term memory will fully improve with further weeks or months off the desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)? Are these causing problems with your day-to-day living?

Not really I just had a few more "accidents" than usual but that has pretty much gone. My memory is bad tho I hope it improves. I walked out the door and drove places without my handbag 3 times! I always take it with me! Hopless.

Hey guys I’ve been taking 100mgs of desvenlafaxine for 6 months now I’m trying to get off of it and my dr has me going down to 50mgs a day for two weeks, I’m on day 4 how much longer are these crazy withdrawls gunna last I’m really struggling with my anxiety and depression, along depersonalizion. Thanks

@happyguy
Hi guy
Were you on 50mg for 2 weeks or were off it entirely in 2 days.
If I was stopping it I would decrease it by 5mg every 4 weeks, 10 mg tops as long as I didn’t have side effects. Never decrease an Antidepressant by 50%.
Of course everyone is different but if you want the best chance of not going through withdrawals you need to go slowly, by slowly I mean 5-10% decrease of your dose preferably every 4 weeks. Some might be able to do it quicker.
Are you planning to use another Antidepressant? The following is just something to think about.
The probability of being depression free in 5-10 years (don’t remember the exact time but it’s more than 5 years but less than 10 years) is much greater in people who use alternative or natural methods. It has also been shown that the recurrence of depression is significantly less. A major problem with these medications is that they don’t cure you or help you understand the cause of your problems.
These medications can cause sexual problems which can become permanent and irreversible.
I hope your feeling much better soon,
Jake

Have a look at my post back up a bit it needs the help fo a decent doctor who you trust and I have documents how I tapered and what I used to help me over come those very nasty side affects.

I have just weaned my self from Pristique it is several weeks now. I was on 50 Micrograms a day and I started week 1. M50:T25:W50:Th25:F50:S25:Sun50.
I did this by cutting the tablet on my doctors advice as there is no smaller dose. The following week I increased the 1/2 tablets to 4 days the 3rd week all 1/2 tablets then 5th week 3 days then 6th week 4 days no tablet 7th week no tablets. My doctor gave me panadol fort for the migraines and stemetil for the nausea. I only took as needed I had 2 scripts for stemetil but only used a few panadol forte. Mainly at night so I could sleep. When I was completely off I developed flu like symptoms with sever neck shoulder and head pain she gave me 1 script for valium and that fixed it one tablet one night . I still get some zapping at night but all the other symptoms are gone except the ones like poor memory, I had increased bladder weakness and memory but its all settling now and I feel so much better. I also found that Migrastick peppermint and peppermint tea were helpful as I didn't want to be taking the stemitil all the time. I still get brain zapping mildly at night and I heard that drugs like Pristique have a "protective" attribute so one you stop taking them thinks that have not been a problem for a while become a problem again until totally free of the pristique so I experienced bladder weakness and very poor short term memory but that is already improving. I am so glad I am off the drug at last. I feel much more motivated since stopping this drug. I was prescribed for situational depression so there was no need to stay on it forever. But it was hard to come off It took me several gos. Cheers

Lik