![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by rculater on August 23, 2011, at 13:36:13
I suspect this has been asked a few times before.
Any one had experience with both drugs - was there any noticeable difference or is it just a cash cow when effexor went generic ?
Posted by B2chica on August 23, 2011, at 13:47:49
In reply to Is Pristiq really much different then Effexor ?, posted by rculater on August 23, 2011, at 13:36:13
i've heard many folks say it was just for $$.
However, i can tell you that they were worlds apart for me.when i took effexor, i felt numb, unreal, then began to cycle every other day DEEP depression, crazy crying, then to Hypomanic, felt awesome, aggitated, TONS of unrelenting energy almost like i was shaking inside...then back around again.
i couldnt get off that drug fast enough... btw i also experienced that 'craving' for alcohol while on it.With pristiq the first week i started it i felt an upswing, then back down...it then took about 10 weeks to fully kick in.
no extra anxiety, no weight gain.
(i then went off due to pregnancy), started again, though it took 12 weeks to fully kick in this time.
currently on it.
been on it for 8 months.
Posted by Conundrum on August 23, 2011, at 14:28:25
In reply to Re: Is Pristiq really much different then Effexor ?, posted by B2chica on August 23, 2011, at 13:47:49
> i've heard many folks say it was just for $$.
> However, i can tell you that they were worlds apart for me.
>
> when i took effexor, i felt numb, unreal, then began to cycle every other day DEEP depression, crazy crying, then to Hypomanic, felt awesome, aggitated, TONS of unrelenting energy almost like i was shaking inside...then back around again.
> i couldnt get off that drug fast enough... btw i also experienced that 'craving' for alcohol while on it.
>
> With pristiq the first week i started it i felt an upswing, then back down...it then took about 10 weeks to fully kick in.
> no extra anxiety, no weight gain.
> (i then went off due to pregnancy), started again, though it took 12 weeks to fully kick in this time.
> currently on it.
> been on it for 8 months.
>
>
I can't tell you about effexor, but I can tell you that Pristiq kept my suicidal thoughts at bay during the winter and that, to me, is justification enough to consider it a worthwhile med.
Posted by Phillipa on August 23, 2011, at 18:53:40
In reply to Re: Is Pristiq really much different then Effexor ? » B2chica, posted by Conundrum on August 23, 2011, at 14:28:25
My pdoc takes it and says it works? Phillipa
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on August 23, 2011, at 19:43:01
In reply to Re: Is Pristiq really much different then Effexor ?, posted by Phillipa on August 23, 2011, at 18:53:40
Most trials have shown it to be about as effective as Effexor - it was a cynical marketing ploy to try and hang onto profits when Effexor went generic.
If it was a legitimate medical advance, they would have released it years ago.
It isnt bad, its just about the same as effexor, but more expensive
Posted by SLS on August 23, 2011, at 20:13:14
In reply to Re: Is Pristiq really much different then Effexor ?, posted by jono_in_adelaide on August 23, 2011, at 19:43:01
> Most trials have shown it to be about as effective as Effexor - it was a cynical marketing ploy to try and hang onto profits when Effexor went generic.
>
> If it was a legitimate medical advance, they would have released it years ago.
>
> It isnt bad, its just about the same as effexor, but more expensive
Just about the same is not the same. Pristiq works for some people whom did not respond to Effexor. A friend of mine fits into this category. Forget theory. It often leads to invalid conclusions. Is Pristiq better than Effexor? They might get equal numbers of people well; just not the same people. For every new antidepressant drug that comes to market, a certain number of people who had been previously treatment resistant become responders to that drug.It would be interesting to see a study comparing Effexor and Pristiq. I don't think there are any.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on August 23, 2011, at 21:51:09
In reply to Re: Is Pristiq really much different then Effexor ? » jono_in_adelaide, posted by SLS on August 23, 2011, at 20:13:14
Scott in all seriousness if pristiq is effexor technically how are they different? So then is regular luvox (generic yes) really different from Luvox CR? See the pdoc next week and got to do something. Thanks. Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on August 23, 2011, at 23:54:19
In reply to Re: Is Pristiq really much different then Effexor ? » jono_in_adelaide, posted by SLS on August 23, 2011, at 20:13:14
Googled Psych Central Phillipa
Pristiq versus Effexor XR
By John M. Grohol, PsyD
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
What is Pristiq (desvenlafaxine)? The newest antidepressant approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which will hit the U.S. market in a few months. Pristiq is a drug similar in composition to Wyeths existing antidepressant, Effexor XR (which loses its patent protection in 2010, 2 years from now). It is Wyeths hope that Pristiq, therefore, will replace Effexor XR in a few years time. Why? Because Effexor XR makes $3.8 billion (with a b) a year in sales.Pristiq has shown the same level of effectiveness as many other antidepressants on the market today about a 2 point difference in a depression rating scale, compared with a placebo. This is the same 2 point difference that research last week showed wasnt all that clinically significant in older new generation antidepressants (SSRIs like Prozac and Paxil).
Strangely enough, lower doses (50mg) of Pristiq proved more effective than higher doses (100mg). I believe this is the first time where a drug company has shown in their own data that less of their drug works better than more of it (at regular dosing levels)!
Pristiq, compared with Effexor XR, should be seen for what it is an evolution in an existing chemical compound, trying to address some of the concerns with the current drug. Time will tell whether the side effects are more tolerable than those associated with Effexor XR or not. Because unless Wyeth releases the drug at a lower price point than Effexor XR (which is highly unlikely), Pristiq will have to prove itself as more than just another antidepressant.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on August 24, 2011, at 0:53:57
In reply to Re: Is Pristiq really much different then Effexor ? » SLS, posted by Phillipa on August 23, 2011, at 23:54:19
Pristiq is desvenlaflaxine, this is a metabolite of venlaflaxine, so, when you take an Effexor capsule, your body naturaly metabloses it into Pristiq as part of breaking the drug down and getting rid of it.
Posted by floatingbridge on August 24, 2011, at 2:06:40
In reply to Re: Is Pristiq really much different then Effexor ?, posted by jono_in_adelaide on August 24, 2011, at 0:53:57
> Pristiq is desvenlaflaxine, this is a metabolite of venlaflaxine, so, when you take an Effexor capsule, your body naturaly metabloses it into Pristiq as part of breaking the drug down and getting rid of it.
>
>Jono, I think in the metabolizing process, different things occur. Effexor and pristiq were vastly different for me. I did much better with effexor. It had a mental sharpening effect as well as an energizing effect that pristiq did not provide me. I actually took pristiq at night. That would not have been possible for me with effexor.
They seemed about equal for me, however, in their wickedly awful withdrawal. A forgotten dose of either would make me feel very ill. That's how I would realize I had forgotten it.
Posted by rculater on August 24, 2011, at 3:55:50
In reply to Re: Is Pristiq really much different then Effexor ? » jono_in_adelaide, posted by floatingbridge on August 24, 2011, at 2:06:40
Just found out Pristiq is not available in UK or EU anyway. From what I see application for approval was withdrawn.
Posted by SLS on August 24, 2011, at 5:11:30
In reply to Re: Is Pristiq really much different then Effexor ?, posted by jono_in_adelaide on August 24, 2011, at 0:53:57
> Pristiq is desvenlaflaxine, this is a metabolite of venlaflaxine, so, when you take an Effexor capsule, your body naturaly metabloses it into Pristiq as part of breaking the drug down and getting rid of it.
What is your hypothesis, if any?
- Scott
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on August 24, 2011, at 22:19:16
In reply to Re: Is Pristiq really much different then Effexor ? » jono_in_adelaide, posted by SLS on August 24, 2011, at 5:11:30
Scott, I'm not quite sure what you mean, I have no hypothesis, I was just making a statement thatt he body metabolises Effexor into Pristiq
Posted by Conundrum on August 24, 2011, at 23:56:08
In reply to Re: Is Pristiq really much different then Effexor ?, posted by jono_in_adelaide on August 24, 2011, at 22:19:16
> Scott, I'm not quite sure what you mean, I have no hypothesis, I was just making a statement thatt he body metabolises Effexor into Pristiq
Venlafaxine is active in the body before it is broken down into pristiq. If one looks at affinity charts you can see that venlafaxine has some affinity for the dopamine transporter. Desvenlafaxine has negligible affinity for this transporter, meaning the part that binds to that receptor may be on venlafaxine molecule or some other metabolite of venlafaxine that is not desvenlafaxine. Venlafaxine also seems to have a higher serotonin to norepinephrine ratio than desvenlafaxine, so these could explain some of the clinical differences.
Posted by SLS on August 25, 2011, at 7:39:44
In reply to Re: Is Pristiq really much different then Effexor ?, posted by jono_in_adelaide on August 24, 2011, at 22:19:16
> Scott, I'm not quite sure what you mean, I have no hypothesis, I was just making a statement thatt he body metabolises Effexor into Pristiq
Sorry. I assumed.
I thought you were intimating that Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) acted exactly like Effexor (venlafaxine), and that there was no difference in therapeutic outcome for any one individual. Do you feel that Pristiq is nothing more than a patent extender?
- Scott
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on August 25, 2011, at 22:14:09
In reply to Re: Is Pristiq really much different then Effexor ? » jono_in_adelaide, posted by SLS on August 25, 2011, at 7:39:44
I guess Pristiq might suit the odd individual better than Effexor, but it doesnt seem to be a huge theraputic advance over Effexor, no
Posted by SLS on August 26, 2011, at 4:41:24
In reply to Re: Is Pristiq really much different then Effexor ?, posted by jono_in_adelaide on August 25, 2011, at 22:14:09
> but it doesnt seem to be a huge theraputic advance over Effexor, no
I would agree with this excerpt. However, it would be difficult to convince someone who responds to Pristiq but not to Effexor that Pristiq is not a huge therapeutic advance. I know one person who thinks Pristiq is a miracle drug. For her, Effexor was ineffective.
Let's arm ourselves with as large an arsenal as possible.
- Scott
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.