Pristiq for Anxiety and Anxiety Attacks
October 23, 2009 | Posted by SWilson Pristiq or its generic form called desvenlafaxine may be prescribed for anxiety disorders or depression. Pristiq may reduce anxiety attacks caused by panic disorder. Pristiq for anxiety is an effective medication for many people.
The antidepressants that are often prescribed to treat anxiety disorders such as Paxil are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Unlike these common antidepressants, Pristiq affects both serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmitters. Many antidepressants including the SSRIs increase the levels of serotonin in the brain. Pristiq and other selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) increase the levels of serotonin and norepinephine in the brain.
It is recommended to take Pristiq with a full glass of water. People should take this medication as prescribed by the doctor or psychiatrist. Abruptly stopping the medication can cause uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, sleep disturbances, and the sensation of a mild electrical shock.
One of the common side effects of Pristiq is suicidal thoughts. These suicidal thoughts are most common when beginning this medication. They often stop after taking the medication for seven days. The suicidal thoughts from Pristiq can be worse for people under the age of twenty-four years old.
When taking Pristiq for anxiety the person may develop other side effects. Other side effects of Pristiq include drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, loss of appetite, blurred vision, dry mouth, sleep problems, mild headaches. People may experience sexual side effects of Pristiq such as decreased sex drive or impotence. If the side effects of Pristiq are bothersome, the person should discuss this difficulty with their doctor or psychiatrist.
At the time this article was written, Pristiq was featuring a coupon offer on their website for fifty percent off the prescription price or insurance prescription copay for Pristiq. Offers like this from pharmaceutical companies can be extremely helpful for people struggling with the costs of prescriptions.
The person should not get discouraged if the anxiety is not improving with Pristiq. It may be necessary to try several different medications before finding the best prescription drug for the person’s anxiety. If a family member has anxiety that is effectively treated with a medication, let the doctor or psychiatrist know. Many times, a medication that effectively treats a family member’s anxiety will also work for other family members.
Categories: Treatment for Anxiety, Treatment for Panic Attacks | 
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6 Comments »
I just started Pristiq 3 days ago and it is my first time on a anti-depressent. I feel as if my axciety is easier to control but when attacks accurr they are more sever. I hope that it gets better but like I said I’m only 3 days in.
Antidepressants can take weeks before the user receives the full benefit of them. If the panic attacks continue to be more severe after trying Pristiq for a couple weeks, I would discuss this with your doctor. The doctor may want to replace the Pristiq with another medication, add another medication, or change the dosage of the Pristiq. The good news is that you have taken control and sought treatment for your anxiety. Well done! As always, please ask your doctor if you have any questions about the medication, side effects, or your anxiety. That said, I would love to hear how you are doing.
Interesting site and good information. I am getting t0 stressed about my work and debts but feeling very panicky. My partner does not understand and this not helping either. I am glad someone is there to help me, thankyou
My teenage son is getting stressed out and I my looking for some help so happy to bump into your site. I have bookmarked you to see what else there is for him. Thanks to you
Lexapro helped the most for anxiety and panic but caused daytime drowsiness even though I took it at night, I also take Imipramine and Clonazepam. So I decided to stop Lexapro and try Pristiq, and have been on 50 mg for ten days. Have had no side effects at all, but anxiety is coming back within last couple of days.
Thank you all for your comments. For those who have recently starting taking Pristiq, you may not be receiving the full benefit of the medication yet. Please don’t get discouraged. Of course if you continue to have anxiety and the Pristiq isn’t helping after weeks of taking it, then I would call the doctor or psychiatrist. I have not tried Pristiq, but I am on Paxil which is the same class of medication. I know they say that Paxil takes 4-6 weeks to get the full effect of the medication. If anyone knows about how long it takes for Pristiq to be at therapeutic level, please leave a comment. I’ll do a little more research when I get a chance and see if I can find the answer.
One thing I did find is that Pristiq has an offer to pay half the co-pay for people on Pristiq. This offer is on Pristiq.com.