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Pristiq

Disvenlafaxine Succinate

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User Ratings

Out of 10

Satisfaction

5.3

4.2 Effectiveness

6.8 Side Effects

5.4 Holistic Benefits

RateADrug users have reported 12 Pristiq side effects and 4 Pristiq benefits.

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Treatment Information

Description | Uses & Side Effects | Warnings

Desvenlafaxine is the generic name and Pristiq is the brand name of this medication.

Desvenlafaxine is the active ingredient of this medication.

The inactive ingredients include hypromellose and microcrystalline cellulose.

It is mainly used in the treatment of depression.

Common Uses:

Used in the treatment of depression.

Off Label Uses:

None noted currently.

Side Effects:
Anxiety
Constipation
Diarrhea
Drowsiness
Dry mouth
Headaches
Insomnia
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Sweating
Weakness

Cautions / Warnings:

Not recommended in patients allergic to desvenlafaxine or venlafaxine.
Not recommended in patients suffering from hepatic or renal conditions, glaucoma, seizures or epilepsy, and/or high cholesterol.

Drug Interactions:
Isocarboxazid or Marplan
Phenelzine or Nardil
Procarbazine or Matulane
Selegiline or Eldepryl
Tranylcypromine or Parnate

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Drew Barrymore

Actress, film producer, and director Drew Barrymore had a troubled childhood. She now suffers from severe insomnia and anxiety attacks.

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More About This Treatment

How does your Treatment Compare?

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Brands	Effectiveness	Holistic Benefits	Side Effects	Number of Ratings
Lexapro	5.79	6.18	3.68	42
Prozac	5.39	5.71	4.64	54
Pristiq	4.35	5.25	5.67	57
Cymbalta	4.16	5.01	5.57	49
Citalopram Hydrobromide	3.28	4.76	5.86	60

View All	About these Scores
	Choose a condition to compare treatments based on user feedback. You can sort by Effectiveness, Holistic Benefits or Side Effects RateADrug user scores, or the number of Ratings. Scores gain significance with the number of ratings, so please share your experiences - rate your drug! Close

Effectiveness of Pristiq by Condition

Click on a condition to view RateADrug.com users ratings

Depression

Anxiety

Fibromyalgia

Menopause

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Effectiveness on "Depression"

About these Results
Out of 100% of people surveyed, these results show the distribution in percentages of how users rate the effectiveness of their medication. Click on the various conditions to see how the effectiveness ratings change. Close

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Moderately

Very

Extremely

How effective is Pristiq?

Reported Changes in Health and Well-Being

Since taking Pristiq, RateADrug survey participants noticed these changes in their health:

Effect on:	Much Worse	Worse	No Change	Better	Much Better
Appetite	4.1%	24.7%	41.2%	24.7%	5.2%
Balance/Equilibrium	4%	21.8%	65.3%	8.9%	0%
Blood Pressure	0%	7.1%	85.9%	6.1%	1%
Breathing	2.1%	7.2%	82.5%	7.2%	1%
Confidence	10.1%	15.2%	34.3%	28.3%	12.1%
Coordination/Motor Skills	1%	16.8%	70.3%	9.9%	2%
Digestion	8.2%	17.5%	69.1%	5.2%	0%
Emotional Well-being	13%	20%	13%	36%	18%
Energy	14.1%	32.3%	31.3%	16.2%	6.1%
Eyesight	9.2%	18.4%	64.3%	6.1%	2%
Memory	11.1%	15.2%	57.6%	14.1%	2%
Mental Clarity	13.1%	20.2%	29.3%	27.3%	10.1%
Pain	6.1%	9.2%	73.5%	9.2%	2%
Patience	8%	19%	26%	32%	15%
Sexual Health	6.1%	19.2%	55.6%	14.1%	5.1%
Skin Complexion	1%	8.3%	84.4%	5.2%	1%
Sleep	11.1%	26.3%	37.4%	20.2%	5.1%
Stress Level	6%	25%	26%	30%	13%

About these Scores
Out of 100% of people surveyed, these results show the distribution in percentages of negative or positive changes in health and well-being experienced by users for all of the categories listed. Close

Commonly Reported Pristiq Side Effects

RateADrug survey participants experienced these commonly reported side effects:

Effect on:	None	Mild	Moderate	Strong	Severe
Abdominal Pain	74.2%	13.6%	9.1%	3%	0%
Allergic Reaction	96.9%	2.1%	1%	0%	0%
Anxiety	60.6%	16.2%	14.1%	6.1%	3%
Blurred Vision	68.2%	13.6%	9.1%	9.1%	0%
Breathing Difficulties	86.4%	4.5%	4.5%	0%	0%
Change in Sex Drive	48%	14.3%	18.4%	12.2%	7.1%
Change in Weight	62.5%	25%	12.5%	0%	0%
Cold Symptoms	77.3%	13.6%	4.5%	4.5%	0%
Confusion	90.9%	4.5%	0%	0%	4.5%
Constipation	54.7%	10.7%	21.3%	8%	5.3%
Depression	63.6%	18.2%	9.1%	4.5%	4.5%
Diarrhea	80%	9.5%	7.4%	3.2%	0%
Difficulty Urinating	81.8%	10.4%	6.5%	1.3%	0%
Dizziness	57.6%	23.2%	9.1%	8.1%	2%
Drowsiness	71%	9.7%	6.5%	6.5%	6.5%
Dry Mouth	52%	20.4%	13.3%	12.2%	2%
Erectile Dysfunction	91.3%	4.3%	0%	4.3%	0%
Fatigue	39%	19%	17%	16%	9%
Fever	90.9%	9.1%	0%	0%	0%
Gas	63.6%	13.6%	18.2%	4.5%	0%
Headache	47.5%	21.2%	17.2%	9.1%	5.1%
Insomnia	59.4%	19.8%	10.4%	8.3%	2.1%
Irregular Heartbeat	72.7%	0%	9.1%	13.6%	0%
Irritability / Impatience	60%	14.1%	12.9%	10.6%	2.4%
Mood Swings	54.5%	27.3%	9.1%	0%	4.5%
Muscle Cramping	81.8%	13.6%	4.5%	0%	0%
Nausea	68.6%	10.5%	10.5%	8.1%	2.3%
Relaxed / Calming Sensation	52.2%	18.8%	20.3%	5.8%	2.9%
Sensitivity to Light	86.4%	4.5%	9.1%	0%	0%
Sexual Dysfunction	65.4%	7.7%	12.8%	7.7%	5.1%
Stomach Ache	86.4%	4.5%	4.5%	0%	0%
Sweating	41.2%	17.6%	35.3%	0%	5.9%
Tremors	88.9%	0%	0%	11.1%	0%

About these Scores
Out of 100% of people surveyed, these results show the distribution in percentages of the severity of side effects experienced by users. Scores gain significance with the number of ratings, so please share your experiences - rate your drug! Close

Less Commonly Reported Pristiq Side Effects

RateADrug survey participants experienced less commonly reported side effects:

Effect on:	None	Mild	Moderate	Strong	Severe
Aggressive / Impulsive Behavior	75%	12.5%	12.5%	0%	0%
Amnesia / Memory Loss	68.8%	18.8%	6.2%	0%	6.2%
Blurred Vision	51.3%	19.7%	11.8%	10.5%	6.6%
Change in Weight	52.6%	21.8%	11.5%	11.5%	2.6%
Confusion	44.4%	33.3%	11.1%	0%	11.1%
Coordination / Balance Problems	66.7%	0%	11.1%	11.1%	11.1%
Depression	44.4%	22.2%	22.2%	0%	11.1%
Disorientation	87.5%	6.2%	0%	0%	6.2%
Double Vision	88.9%	0%	0%	0%	11.1%
Energy Loss	56.2%	18.8%	25%	0%	0%
Erectile Dysfunction	77.8%	11.1%	11.1%	0%	0%
Fainting	93.8%	6.2%	0%	0%	0%
Feelings of Anger / Rage	75%	18.8%	6.2%	0%	0%
Hallucinations	88.9%	0%	0%	0%	11.1%
Impaired Thinking / Judgment	87.5%	6.2%	0%	0%	6.2%
Increased Depression	79.2%	5.2%	10.4%	3.9%	1.3%
Indigestion	75%	6.2%	12.5%	0%	6.2%
Irritability / Impatience	50%	41.7%	0%	8.3%	0%
Liver Damage	98.7%	1.3%	0%	0%	0%
Nausea	33.3%	33.3%	16.7%	16.7%	0%
Reduced Libido	57.9%	13.2%	18.4%	7.9%	2.6%
Relaxed / Calming Sensation	44.4%	22.2%	11.1%	22.2%	0%
Seizures	96.1%	0%	2.6%	1.3%	0%
Sexual Dysfunction	45.5%	9.1%	18.2%	18.2%	9.1%
Slow Reflexes	87.5%	6.2%	0%	0%	6.2%
Slurred Speech	93.8%	0%	0%	0%	6.2%
Suicidal Tendencies	81.2%	13.8%	2.5%	2.5%	0%
Sweating	0%	0%	0%	100%	0%

About these Scores
Out of 100% of people surveyed, these results show the distribution in percentages of the severity of side effects experienced by users. Scores gain significance with the number of ratings, so please share your experiences - rate your drug! Close

Episodes since taking Pristiq

Since taking Pristiq Rate a Drug survey participants reported these episodes:

Auto Accident	1.1%
Fall	1.7%

Hospitalization	1.7%
Seizure	1.1%

About these Results
Out of 100% of people surveyed, these results show the percentage of users who have experienced any of these episodes while taking their medication. Close

How does your experience compare with other Pristiq users?

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User Comments about Pristiq

10 Apr 2012

I had been taking Prozac for a number of years and had started having a really foggy, "removed from body" feeling. I felt like I was not really participating in life but just watching it go by. I tried taking several different anti-depressants but had the same feeling. With Pristiq my mind seems clearer and I feel as if I have more energy. I have been satisfied.

—Posted by Anonymous

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17 Mar 2012

Initially - the first 30 days I truly THOUGHT this was a wonder drug. Lately, I am wondering - I have no sex drive - low energy - don't seem to want to be around people much (used to be very social) - have odd pains throughout my body - truly BAD acne...? I guess it is helping... mostly though it just seems like I am this calm person who just floats through the day... doing what needs done.. eating because I need to - taking ok care of my house and dog - getting enough sleep... and not much more.. Therapy? The usual questions - how are you feeling - good - sleeping ok? great - I'll see you in a month..

—Posted by Is this what a "normal" life is??

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17 Mar 2012

I have been on Pristiq for over a year, everything u are describing is what have been feeling for ages. They say let's increase the dose, I am now on 300mg and still no change. Everything is an effort, no energy, have lost friends due to me being unsocial which I was not like this before I started this med! & no this is not normal. Therapy is just the same questions every week

—Posted by "Had enough"

08 Dec 2011

I am 18 years old, male, and have suffered with mild to severe depression for two years. It had caused a major loss in weight (40 lbs- from 160lb to 120lb), and a general lack of motivation. I am heavily involved with school and my academics are much higher than average. I feel that I needed to get a hold of my self and do something about my depression, so I seeked assistance through the medication route. My doctor gave me two weeks of a trial (50 mg, 1 time a day) of Pristiq. The first week was utter hell; I lost about 9 lbs due to my lack of appetite and I felt nauseated all the time. I am now on day 31, and am starting to feel better. Instead of having bad days 13/14 days, I now have two and three days in a row that are moderately better. My doctor will be increasing my dosage to 100 mg, once a day after 8 weeks on my current dosage. So far, I feel this medication has worked for me.

—Posted by Thebeez

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15 Nov 2011

I am very grateful for the past two years of Pristiq usage. It helped manage my ADHD symptoms which were the cause of my depression, as well as alleviating my depression. 7 years earlier I had been on Effexor, and this was a much better experience. The negative effects were less and the positives were more. Overall I would take this drug again if needed, which I hope it will never be.

—Posted by Alaskanmama

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17 Mar 2012

Since getting off of Pristiq in November my sex drive is WAY up, my energy is up, and life is better. Grateful for the help it gave, but it was definitely short term.

—Posted by Alaskanmama

28 Sep 2011

I was on this drug for 3 weeks @ 50 mg and it made my condition which was mild depression and anxiety way worse. Way worse then I could've ever imagined. Panic attacks, agitation, irrational thoughts, trembling etc.. Doc said to stick with it but it just got worse and the withdrawl was equally bad. Never ever will I try an SNRI again. A very scary and dangerous drug.

—Posted by heath

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