Pristiq is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). It works by restoring the balance of certain natural substances in the brain (serotonin and norepinephrine), which helps to improve certain mood problems.
Pristiq is used to treat major depressive disorder.
Pristiq may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Important information about Pristiq
Do not take Pristiq if you are allergic to desvenlafaxine or venlafaxine (Effexor), or if you are also using a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate). You must wait at least 14 days after stopping an MAOI before you can take Pristiq. After you stop taking Pristiq, you must wait at least 7 days before you start taking an MAOI.
You should not take Pristiq together with venlafaxine (Effexor).
You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment. Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of Pristiq. It may take several weeks or more for your symptoms to improve. For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Do not stop using Pristiq without first talking to your doctor. You may have unpleasant side effects if you stop taking this medication suddenly.
Before taking Pristiq
Do not take Pristiq if you are allergic to desvenlafaxine or venlafaxine (Effexor), or if you are also using a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate). You must wait at least 14 days after stopping an MAOI before you can take Pristiq. After you stop taking Pristiq, you must wait at least 7 days before you start taking an MAOI.
You should not take Pristiq together with venlafaxine (Effexor).
If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take Pristiq:
bipolar disorder (manic depression);
liver disease;
kidney disease;
heart disease or high blood pressure;
a history of stroke;
glaucoma;
seizures or epilepsy;
a bleeding or blood clotting disorder; or
high cholesterol.
You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant such as Pristiq, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Tell your doctor if you have worsening symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.
Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment. FDA pregnancy category C. Pristiq may be harmful to an unborn baby, and may cause problems in a newborn baby if the mother takes the medication late in pregnancy (during the third trimester). Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Pristiq can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give this medication to anyone under 18 years old without the advice of a doctor.
Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: $100.00| Rating: 9
PROS:
Works great
CONS:
This works great at 100MG daily for me for depression.I have not noticed any side effects.Price is off the charts but in my opinion worth it,
Hope.Floater Member
Registered: January 2013 Location: some place special Posts: 41
Sat April 13, 2013
Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 7
PROS:
works for depression
CONS:
withdrawl is hell
Medication worked for me other med's dont seem to work CAUTION strongly suggested when with drawing.
KeepingPace Junior Member
Registered: May 2012 Location: Hell I think Posts: 14
Sat July 7, 2012
Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 6
PROS:
I am still alive- , neglible side effect- I think
CONS:
not overly effective , pretty pricey
I have been on almost every med for major depression- I'm not bi-polar, but I don't feel good most of the time. I have felt better but I have also felt worse so it is really a coin-toss sort of med.
Black Swan New Member
Registered: January 2012 Location: australia Posts: 5
Sat January 7, 2012
Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: $5.60| Rating: 7
PROS:
it make me feel stable just after i take it, my anxiety has reduced by around 20%. and my depresison by 30%
CONS:
when i stand up or sit up to fast i gets lots of dizzy spins, my balance isnt that good(altho it never has been), and if i miss a tablet i go haywire.
if i miss just one tablet, i have a very very very bad day it normally hits in the early afternoon, e.g. bad thoughts, i get over emotional, i cry alot, i feel like i do not know what is going on. physically i get nausea and dirareer, bad headaches to. HOWEVER, when i do not miss a tablet, my day is pretty good, i have more confidence and that enables me to go out into the community i still get anxiety around strangers and when i actual get there but i am able to get there . my depression is better i dont cry as much and i am more stable and not likely to breakdown/ i feel like i can sort of cope more with fighting my depression.
i said in the cons part about my balance sometimes i loose balance standing on a flat surface, this has happened most of my life but unfortantly it has got a little worse now im on pristqi. also if just have to be careful how fast i get up/ stand up as i get dizzy spins and nausea if i do it to fast. (altho this could be the seroquel or endep i am also on, but they are taken of a night time and not a morning).
Are you suffering? Veteran Member
Registered: April 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 309
Fri July 15, 2011
Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: $60.00| Rating: 8
PROS:
helps with the depression, stabalizes my mood
CONS:
none
This anti-depresent has helped stablize my mood.
erin654 Junior Member
Registered: May 2011 Location: Orem, UT, USA Posts: 16
Sat May 21, 2011
Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 7
PROS:
lessens depressive episodes
CONS:
I get nauseus, lightheaded and hot if I miss a dose
I don't always get to pick up my refills from the clinic before I run out so missing doses makes me pretty sick. For the most part though, the medication does what it's supposed to.
Ygrec23 Bloviator-in-Chief
Registered: April 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 2907
Sun June 20, 2010
Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 10
PROS:
No side-effects; effective within a few days of starting
CONS:
None
I know the above sounds ridiculously good, but I'm afraid it's true. Starting in 1993, I've tried every single SSRI and SNRI that came on the market. Some had side effects, some had none. Not one of them worked except Prozac, which pooped out after six weeks. I haven't the vaguest idea why Pristiq worked. I understand that Pristiq is a derivative of a drug that's been on the market for a while. I can't offhand remember its name, but I tried it too and it had no effect for me. Pristiq puts a floor down below which I cannot go in terms of depression. I used to think about s*****e absolutely ALL the time. Pristiq cut that by 95%. There are no emotional or mood side effects, just that floor. Doesn't make me sleepy or tired, doesn't make me "up" or jittery. Since we're all different, no one can promise it will work on you the way it's worked on me, but it's certainly worth a try.
