Effexor and Pristiq are not the dance thing. Sane family. Venlafaxine vs desvenlafaxine. Pristiq had added benefit of norepinehprine uptake inhibitor or something. Weird that everyone is getting prescribed 50mg when the added benefits dont kick in until 100-150mg. Before swapping drug altogether (depending on non mental side effects) try upping dose first maybe.
Pristiq is nothing but an active metabolite of Effexor (venlafaxine being Effexor and desvenlafaxine being Pristiq). Honestly, it should be about as effective as Effexor is. The only reason it was created is because Effexor's patent (if it hasn't already) and soon will be a generic, cheap drug. The pharmaceutical companies always come up with a new drug to push over the old ones whenever this happens because they don't make even a quarter of the money off of the generic drugs.
I was on Effexor XR for a few months, but I couldn't take getting sick whenever I forgot to take a dose. My doctor switched me to Pristiq, which works the same way as effexor.
I haven't had any problems with weight gain on either of the meds, though. I've actually lost a bit of weight since starting pristiq. I've been on it for months and my depression and anxiety have been put in their place!
Your eating habits may have changed a bit.
I am currently on Prestiqi.. so far it has been the best for me though!
Ever since I have been on anti'd's and birthcontrol I have had a huge amount of weight gain around my stomach! Regardless of what I would do I couldnt loose it! I was looking at the side effects of a iud, and actually had my husband remove it that night! a month later I am down 11 lbs, and considering stopping my prestiqi! I have been doing a 20 min work out dvd 4 times a week and eating very heatly!
Desvenlafaxine ( Pristiq ) is a novel form of the isolated major active metabolite of venlafaxine, and is categorized as a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). It works by blocking the transporter "reuptake" proteins for key neurotransmitters affecting mood, thereby leaving more active neurotransmitters in the synapse. The neurotransmitters affected are serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline).
Many find that adding Wellbutrin in a small dose to their SSRI helps with the weight and sexual problems, but it has to work for that to happen, and to add it to Pristiq, assuming again the Wellbutrin was working, is to double the effects on norepinephrine. Could help some, but maybe too much stimulation for others.
Tell him
or her that you feel Pristiq is not working for you. That you feel that Pristiq
has made you gain weight and that you now have carb cravings that you
never had before and that you want to stop taking Pristiq. A friend of mine
was prescribed a drug by her family doctor which created similiar side
effects as you have described. She went back to her family doctor and told
her she didn't want to be on this drug anymore and that she wanted to
stop taking it.
I gained 12 pounds in the last 2 months, and panicked. My doctor says that this excessive appetite and weight gain come from the positive effects of Effexor, as patients start enjoying life again. I said to him it is not like that for everyone because I used to eat in excess only when I was depressed and anxious. Another unbearable problem is constipation, from which I have suffered all my life. Effexor makes it even worse.
I am wondering if anyone can help. I am on Armour Thyroid for Hypothyroidism, Pristiq for depression, Protonix for GERD and HRT. I know the Pristiq can cause it, but the dry mouth started years after I started the Pristiq. I just sent my doctor an email questioning whether Thyroid problems can cause dry mouth. Anyone have any ideas or answers? Thanks!
Hi:
I have general anxiety with a tendency towards social anxiety. I used to have panic attacks but haven't had one in a couple years. I also suffer with depression. What drug has helped you? I am now taking Klonopin for the anxiety and Prozac for depression. I would like to cut the Klonopin or at least cut down (now taking 1 mg/day). The Prozac isn't helping my depression at all and I have given it months to work.
My psychiatrist switched me to Effexor because he says they are the same and I am tapering off. I did NOT gain weight on Pristiq and I think the sexual side effects weren't as bad. I can tell the difference on Effexor.
I wouldn't be worried to start it if you need something, but I'm not sure yet about getting off. It's basically like Effexor, so I assume going off it will be like Effexor and that's supposed to be tough.
I have been on both citalopram and prozac but citalopram was longterm weight gain, dry mouth and headaches and prozac major short term weight gain. Came of prozac for that reason after only a few months and wonder if it would've settled with time, or go back to the one i was on for 12 years but had some side effects including weight gain.
Doc says my last option is mirtazapine but it is also an appetite stimulator.
Effexor and Pristiq are 99% the same drug in terms of active chemical. Pristiq being Desvenlafaxine and Effexor being Venlafaxine. In fact if you look at the molecular chart for the two drugs they even bind the same.
Funny thing is you know why Weith pharm released Pristiq? (a drug much like Effexor) Because the 7 year patent on Effexor was close to an end and Weith didn't want to lose market share. In comes Pristiq (Name brand only for another 7 years)
It's all about the money.
Recommended
