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.