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.
One problem is you will be taking meds that affect the same neurotransmitters, and that can cause an overload. both Pristiq and Elavil affect serotonin, and while Pristiq does so more profoundly than Elavil you could still theoretically run into the problem of serotonin syndrome. You don't say how much you're taking, it could be tiny doses of each, but the risk exists though it's probably not common.
I'm a 15 year old girl and I've had a migraine for close to six months now. It's a constant pain from my temples to over my eyes. I've tried countless medicines and none are helping. When I was in 4th grade(5 years ago) I had a migraine for a month. Eventually it went away, but we had extensive tests, and everything came back clear. My neck hurts, moving hurts, I'm sensitive to light and sound, I'm nauseous, my migraine is very optical.
Well, one of the most serious warnings about starting an antidepressant is they can cause aggressive and suicidal thoughts. I doubt the clonazepam will stop working, but what it's doing is suppressing your anxiety about the thoughts, not the thoughts themselves, most likely, so to me at least it seems an odd choice to deal with that particular problem.
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?
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.
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.
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?
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?
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.
Ive been without Pristiq in my system for 4 days now, and i have been a wreck. Ive been having vivid nightmares, and suicidal thoughts.
This medicine is the real deal, so if someone out there tries it and decides it's not the right medication for you, be careful when getting off of it, because it will mess with your head.
Hi everyone. I saw my neurosurgeon today for follow up and he wants to start me on Elavil 10 mg at bedtime and then increase to 25 mg if needed. He said he thinks it could help my pressure headaches. Has anyone taken this medication and how was your experience on it. Thanks for the continued support.
n pristiq before bed...I suddenly stopped taking pristiq cuz I ran out n my phyciatrist doc office was closed..its beeen 2days now that I haven't taken pristiq..my head hurts bad it feels soar n my neck n ears hurt n eyes a bit..I also have a soar throat..could this b cuz im just stressing n stressing or because I stopped my medication pristiq?? I would like help plzz..im scared..
I am taking Pristiq and not sure if it helps or not. I was taking Eflexor 225 mg daily and this pristiq is only 50 mg. The withdrawal from Eflexor was terrible. Had nightmares and felt like I was fading away while trying to fall asleep. What does low magnesium have to do with depression? Never heard of that before. Can you get this over the counter?
I have been taking the pristiq now for over 3 months, and this is the newest add to my list (klonipin next newest at a little over 4 months -- the rest have been years.) I have just recently started getting these odd shocky type feelings through my arms, legs, sides, neck ... I really don't know how to describe tem, it's not quite electrical, but it's a good analogy. sometimes it almost just feels as if I can physically feel my blood moving through my veins.
Recommended
