![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sac on May 30, 2015, at 9:20:45
I started Pristiq 50 mgs about two months ago. At first, I seemed to tolerate it well but I was switching over from Prozac 40mgs. which I have been on for years. Perhaps the Prozac still being in my system was helping me tolerate the startup on Pristiq. Well now two months later I have had several panic attacks which I have not had in years thanks to the Prozac. My mood has worsened and I feel the ugly depression slowly creeping back and trying to take me under. I'm scared that I have destabilized myself by the switch to Pristiq. I was very anxious last week and called my doctor to ask to switch back to Prozac. He said to increase the Pristiq to 100 mgs. and see how I feel. Well, first of all i am already anxious and getting paranoid and depressed and so I am reluctant to increase .
I am scared that I could become psychotic since I also have a history of psychotic depression and do not ever wish to experience that again. Other issues I have with Pristiq is it's causing mood swings and headaches. Plus, I don't have insurance and it costs me $280 a month. Anyone have any experiences with Pristiq?
Posted by SLS on May 30, 2015, at 9:52:42
In reply to Destabilizingwant to discontinue Pristiq trial, posted by Sac on May 30, 2015, at 9:20:45
> I started Pristiq 50 mgs about two months ago. At first, I seemed to tolerate it well but I was switching over from Prozac 40mgs. which I have been on for years. Perhaps the Prozac still being in my system was helping me tolerate the startup on Pristiq. Well now two months later I have had several panic attacks which I have not had in years thanks to the Prozac. My mood has worsened and I feel the ugly depression slowly creeping back and trying to take me under. I'm scared that I have destabilized myself by the switch to Pristiq. I was very anxious last week and called my doctor to ask to switch back to Prozac. He said to increase the Pristiq to 100 mgs. and see how I feel. Well, first of all i am already anxious and getting paranoid and depressed and so I am reluctant to increase .
> I am scared that I could become psychotic since I also have a history of psychotic depression and do not ever wish to experience that again. Other issues I have with Pristiq is it's causing mood swings and headaches. Plus, I don't have insurance and it costs me $280 a month. Anyone have any experiences with Pristiq?I can understand your doctor's thinking regarding increasing the Pristiq. I have not seen 50 mg/day perform well overall. He might be thinking that you are deteriorating because you are relapsing for not being on Prozac as well as not being on an effective dose of Pristiq. It would be as if you were taking nothing at all for an extended period of time.
I can also understand your thinking regarding increasing the Pristiq. I'm sure you know that Pristiq is an active metabolite of Effexor. How did you react to Effexor? My impression of Pristiq is that it is somewhat superior to Effexor. However, if you reacted badly to Effexor, I would be inclined to think that a similarly bad reaction to Pristiq at this point warrants consideration of discontinuing it. Have you ever had a psychotic reaction to any antidepressant? If so, which ones?
- Scott
Posted by Sac on May 31, 2015, at 9:52:01
In reply to Re: Destabilizingwant to discontinue Pristiq trial » Sac, posted by SLS on May 30, 2015, at 9:52:42
Thanks for your reply. I have never been on Effexor so I can't compare the two. I was on Cymbalta some years back with some success. With my first major depressive episode in 1987 I was put on imipramine as there were not so many choices back then. I did experience psychotic episodes when I started this medication. I was too young to realize what was happening could have been a result of the med and I just thought I was getting worse. I actually stayed on imipramine until 1993 when I was switched to Prozac.
So now I am scared to increase the Pristiq because I already have some anxiety, suspiciousness, and paranoia creeping in at 50mgs.
Posted by SLS on May 31, 2015, at 10:16:03
In reply to Re: Destabilizingwant to discontinue Pristiq trial » SLS, posted by Sac on May 31, 2015, at 9:52:01
> So now I am scared to increase the Pristiq because I already have some anxiety, suspiciousness, and paranoia creeping in at 50mgs.
I guess the main question is: What are your baseline symptoms when you are not being treated? If they include those things that you described here, I would think it possible that you are relapsing rather than reacting badly to the Pristiq. If, however, these symptoms only occur in association with medication, I think you may have to consider discontinuing the Pristiq.
I am sorry that you are struggling.
- Scott
Posted by Christ_empowered on May 31, 2015, at 13:36:11
In reply to Re: Destabilizingwant to discontinue Pristiq trial » Sac, posted by SLS on May 31, 2015, at 10:16:03
ummm...I wouldn't take it, especially since its cost$ so much. Can you get a different AD w/ a sedative or antipsychotic?
Posted by Horse on June 1, 2015, at 12:16:32
In reply to Re: Destabilizingwant to discontinue Pristiq trial » SLS, posted by Sac on May 31, 2015, at 9:52:01
I had a similar reaction to pristiq and needed to discontinue. I pushed mine to 100 mg and experienced a worsening of side effects. Good luck.
Posted by b2chica on June 1, 2015, at 20:28:06
In reply to Destabilizingwant to discontinue Pristiq trial, posted by Sac on May 30, 2015, at 9:20:45
keeping in mind everyone reacts differently i just wanted to put in my 2cents.
i did horrible....horrible on effexor, but pristiq worked quite will for the last 7 years ( except about 2times a year when i have dysphoric episodes), however, it Never worked for me at 50. i was always on 100 for it to work for me.
best wishes.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.