Pristiq and lithium

Common Questions and Answers about Pristiq and lithium

pristiq

Avatar n tn I take lithium Wellbutrin pristiq and clomping. I am going through menopause. I take about 6 six 7.5 hydros a day. I have taken the meds for 20 years, but the hydros about 2 years. Lately I have become morbidly depressed, and I need to know if you guys think its the hydros. Sometimes I do take more, but never more than 10 hydros.
190673 tn?1259203266 I have been taking Effexor XR 450mg and Buproprion 450mg for a couple of years. I'm weaning off the Effexor, going onto Pristiq and continuing the Buproprion.
Avatar f tn Same here Seph,,I take wellbutrin and lamictal and feel great. My Psych NP also added a 50mg dose of Zoloft and this is the best I've felt in years. And great as not in manic,,but just normal I guess, if there is such a thing!
1326513 tn?1276518001 Me too, i have that debilitating depression too. All i can do is shake and fret and wring my hands, and just let my mind race away with fears and what ifs and whys. So far, i've just noticed feeling more foggy and forgetful, and less motivation than before. I hope it turns around soon. I know i've only taken it a couple of days. I have noticed that i sleep hard at night, but i'm still drowsy during the day.
Avatar f tn I am a 52 year old female. Post menopause and on hormones. Just hot my thyroid levels at a good level. I switched from pristiq to cymbalta back in November. I am tired ALL the time. More than when my thyroid was out of whack. Could the cymbalta be causing this and if so, what if I took it at night?
Avatar m tn Lithium and Seroquel together have made the best I have ever been, found risperdal wasn't good for me it gave me bad insomnia. Seroquel is the opposite and makes me sleep but i like that as i think sleep is good for your health rather than insomnia. I am still looking for that pill which makes me back to normal though. I would ask your doctor why he don't want you on seroquel and tell him/her that it has really helped you.
Avatar f tn I am kind of the exception because I am medication resistant and my depression and anxiety is a tough nut to crack. I am currently on a Pristiq, Lamictal and Lithium combination and it seems to be working ok, but the add on of the Lamictal and lithium is only in it's second week so I should know more later on it's effectivness. Are you disagnosed as Bi-polar 1? I am diagnosed as Bi-polar (NOS) Not Otherwise specified.
Avatar m tn Equivalencies are generalizations, and you are an individual. Besides, Pristiq is a different class of drug than Lexapro. Lexapro is an ssri while Pristiq is an snri. And if it were me, which it isn't, I'd start at a low dosage and work my way up on any medication so I could see how bad the side effects were and the lowest dosage at which it works is.
Avatar f tn I will only add one thing to Ryan's otherwise very good post. People do have different reactions to different drugs, even to Celexa and Lexapro or Pristiq and Effexor. While it's true the companies are trying to keep a patented product in their lineup, Lexapro seems to have fewer side effects than Celexa, but many people do find one or the other works better. Same probably with Pristiq and Effexor. But to prescribe both at once is insane.
Avatar f tn I took Abilify for almost a year for Bipolar Disorder II, both in combination with Lithium and on it's own. When I was on the Abilify alone, I noticed uneasyness and racing thought, similar to what cowgirlnerd said. I felt more hypomanic than usual, so I suppose it had kind of an "upper" effect for me. When used in combination with the Lithium, I felt much more balnanced and steady.
Avatar n tn I called the pdoc back and he's having me take a 75 effexor xr and my pristiq 50---I guess a ween off of it, no more brain zaps for now, I dont know what will happen after I stop taking effexor all together, we shall see in a few weeks. As for the comment above, I too have seen people have to pay out of pocket for perscriptions and its usually elderly and people like me, who had been laid off and take medications and are put into a situation of having to pay out of pocket, what to do?
12043143 tn?1423151465 Has your psychiatrist tried some common mood stabilizers such as lithium, Depakote and Lamictal and other known options? It would be worthwhile to ask them what options they are willing to consider. If at any time they say they don't have any more specific ideas ask if they would consider it might be worthwhile to find a referral to a mood disorders specialist.
Avatar f tn I really dont feel depressed at all,I feel ok when i had my clonazepan dosage,but what if I become an addict, how can I start taking pristiq and not being scared? Like I said above , i feel more anxious and panic than depressed. So Pristiq will work with my anxiety? What about Clonazepan withdrawals?
1489588 tn?1303998295 When I take Savella and Pristiq together, it works wonders. When both my pain dr and my psychiatrist got together and said I couldn't take them together, I became very depressed after getting off of Savella. I didn't want to kill myself, but I sure didn't want to live. Lyrica put me to sleep in horrible ways, Cymbalta doesn't work for me and anything like Prozac or Lexapro or Zoloft is candy to me. I also take Norco.
Avatar f tn I just started Pristiq and Im also on ativan and abilify............wondering if anyone else has taken these meds together.I felt great after taking the pill last night now today im kinda scared and spacey feeling...any thoughts?
1172209 tn?1263427216 I've been on lithium for several years. At first I gained weight but after I got used to it my body just levelled off. If I was worried about anything it was the depression that was making me gain weight not only from eating but also not moving around much. If lithium gives you a few extra pounds it might be an ok thing if you get your life back. You have to watch your salt intake. Sure too much is bad but having the levels fluctuate isn't so good either.
717440 tn?1292743742 Hi, once in a while when I take my meds without food, I feel very ill, almost flu-like. I get hot and cold and hang out by the toilet. my pdoc hasn't sent me for bloodwork in a few months or more (can't remember last time I went... ok, I checked my calendar; Nov 19 and I started lithium Nov 27). I have a thyroid problem and it runs in the family. I've already been told to look for a new pdoc. I just want to know what the symptoms are if you are getting toxic from the lithium...
Avatar m tn I believe you mentioned homeopathy. Keep in mind when reading the above that tiny studies done many years ago and have not passed into common usage says something. Also, the drug you're on now directly targets norepinephrine neurotransmitters, which is what phenylalanine targets -- basically it's adrenalin, so it's going to be much stronger than taking anything that lightly stimulates it.
1450085 tn?1298941702 Pristiq and Effexor are essentially the same medication, so the switch should be relatively easy, and save you some money, too. I'm not sure I understand the switch, because Pristiq is the new Effexor, so if it isn't for financial reasons, kind of hard to see the point of going through it. Certainly some people have different reactions to them, and so just because Pristiq works also doesn't guarantee Effexor will work, and it might work better, who knows.
Avatar f tn I have also developed a thyroid nodule (after 2 years on lithium) and am taking 100 mcg of synthroid a day. Did the lithium cause the thyroid problem and is it reversible if the lithium is stopped?
1326513 tn?1276518001 I'm a bit surprised your doc didn't give the pristiq a bit more time to work, but he no doubt had reason for doing so. Remember, you are 'coming down' from a period of 'high anxiety' so you naturally will feel the way you do. Also the medication is getting into your system and more often then not symptoms like you are now having will taper off and go away shortly. if they get too severe then call the doc right away.
759115 tn?1256997490 My mom's taking Pristiq and she feels that it has fewer negative side effects and does a better job controlling the depression than Cymbalta and Lexapro.
6726276 tn?1421126668 m now on Pristiq which is Effexor metabolite. Pristiq is less side effects. Both may work differently. For me, Pristiq work better. Pristiq may also reduce sexual desire but not like Effexor. Also, it work differently from one to another. Google on Pristiq if it available where you live.
Avatar n tn I guess there are a lot of side effects though from the lithium. So if anyone has also had lithium with RAI please post!
455167 tn?1259257871 m taking 50mg pristiq and 75 mg effexor daily for 7 days, and then 50mg pristiq and 37.5mg effexor for the next 7 days. My therapist has suggested this dosing to make the transition gradual. I was just curious as to anyone elses experience with such a change, good or bad.
Avatar m tn my son on high dose of lithium he is having memory lost problems and problem focusing !!!! is ant body had similar problems with lithium also ??????
606378 tn?1297304964 I had a horrible experience with Pristiq. I would suggest that if you do decide to take it that you become aware of all the possible side effects and if you begin to have any side effects, contact your doctor right away. I took Pristiq for about 3 1/2 weeks. My doctor did not warn me of possible side effects and I didn't read about possible side effects early on. At first, I didn't notice anything unusual. I actually thought the drug might be helping a little.