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Pristiq (desvenlafaxine)

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Posted 5/4/2019 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hello! Although I am not new to HealingWell, I am new to this particular forum. I have recently (several months ago) gotten on Pristiq for depression. I now seem to feel exhausted all of the time as well as muddle-brained. I was wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience with it. It is doing a great job of controlling my symptoms of depression, anxiety, and anger, however, and I'd love to remain on it, but I cannot take this constant feeling of malaise and grogginess. Coffee does not good. Anyone have similar issues? Thanks!
Posted 5/4/2019 9:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hi SouthernChick,

Welcome to the depression forum! I take 150mg of Pristiq a day. I been taking it since about 2010.

I have chronic fatigue from fibromyalgia so I take Adderall. So I can't really tell if Pristiq makes me feel groggy or malaise.

I would talk to your doctor about it. Maybe there is something that they can do to help. Are you positive it is the Pristiq making you feel this way? Sometimes it is something else and it is just at a coincidental time of the medication.

Do you walk? I find walking increases my energy and also helps me feel better emotionally.. Our weather is just now nice enough to walk. So I am enjoying it.

I hope you get some answers and that you find a way to feel better. I am glad you are feeling better with the depression though. I would stick with the Pristiq just for that reason.. Maybe add some Wellbutrin or something.

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 5/5/2019 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Karen. I am hyper-sensitive to drugs and a little goes a long way with me. Always have been. I am only on 50mg but I swear it is taking a toll on me! I can't fathom adding another to counteract the fogginess and malaise. No, I am not certain it is the Pristiq, but that is one of the side effects and it did start at the time I began taking it. I took Wellbutrin for decades and then switched to another drug and was unable to get back on Wellbutrin due to head explosions and other problems. I walk, but haven't gotten much in lately due to rain and back pain that I can't figure out. I'll talk to my doc, but was just wondering if anyone else on Pristiq had experienced the same mush feeling.
Posted 5/5/2019 10:36 AM (GMT 0)
Have you ever tried Effexor? It is similar to Pristiq. Maybe it wouldn't give you that feeling.
Posted 5/5/2019 12:57 PM (GMT 0)
No, I haven't. But I'll def ask my doctor about it. Thanks!
Posted 5/29/2019 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
I was on Pristiq for 9 years. It controlled my depression well. I know in the first month or two there can be some side effects that go away once your body gets used to the medication. I don’t remember exactly what I felt the first month taking it but eventually it worked well without any major side effects. I was switched to Cymbalta to see if it works better for my pain from Lyme disease but I have to say I liked Pristiq better. Everyone’s chemistry is different though. I didn’t do well on Wellbutrin at all. The meds that worked the best for me were ones that had very little side effects from the start.
Posted 5/29/2019 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Inspiredby3,

Welcome to the depression forum. I take Pristiq and it works well for me too. Did the cymbaltra help with your pain at all? Effexor is like Pristiq and sometimes for some people helps with pain. It didn't really help me though for pain. Neither has Pristiq. But it helps a lot with depression.

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 5/30/2019 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
I took Effexor (venlafaxine) years ago, and while it helped my depression, it made me extremely tired, so much so that my kids noticed and started complaining that I was taking too many naps. I switched to something else - I don't remember what now.
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