How fast pristiq

However, night sweats have been reported in people taking a very similar drug called venlafaxine. They can recommend ways to help manage this side effect. However, diarrhea can be a symptom of serotonin syndrome, which is a side effect that can occur with Pristiq.

Serotonin syndrome occurs when levels of a chemical called serotonin get too high in your body. If you have diarrhea along with any of these symptoms, call your doctor right away.

They can recommend whether you need medical attention. This side effect was seen in short-term clinical studies of the drug. Of those taking Pristiq daily for 8 weeks, constipation was reported in:. If you feel constipated while taking Pristiq, make sure you drink plenty of water and include high-fiber foods in your diet. Doing gentle exercise, such as going for a walk, can also help ease constipation.

As an added benefit, exercise is known to improve your mood and help relieve symptoms of depression. They can recommend ways to help treat this side effect. Clinical studies found that this risk is higher in children, adolescents, and young adults under 25 years of age.

This risk is highest during the first few months of treatment and after any changes to dosage. Pristiq is not approved for use in children people under 18 years of age.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, get help from a crisis or suicide prevention hotline. Try the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at The Pristiq dosage your doctor prescribes may depend on a few factors, including how well your liver and kidneys work. The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended.

However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to suit your needs. Pristiq comes as extended-release tablets. You should continue taking 50 mg each day for as long as your doctor recommends.

The maximum dose of Pristiq is mg each day. If you have liver or kidney problems, your maximum dosage may be lower. Higher doses of the drug are also more likely to cause side effects. If you forget to take a dose of Pristiq at your usual time, take it as soon as you remember. Then, take your next dose at your usual time. Doing this can increase your risk of certain side effects. A medication timer may be useful, too.

Pristiq is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. Clinical guidelines for depression treatment recommend that you keep taking your antidepressant for 4 to 9 months after your depression symptoms improve. Staying on treatment helps reduce your risk of depression coming back. In some people, depression is more likely to come back after they stop taking antidepressants.

This helps lower your risk of your depression coming back. If you and your doctor determine that Pristiq is safe and effective for your depression, you may take the drug long term. Pristiq may also be used off-label for other conditions. MDD is another name for clinical depression. MDD is a serious mental health condition. With MDD, you may feel sad and hopeless over a long period of time.

You may also feel irritable, anxious, tired, and lacking energy. As well as having these feelings, you may also have physical symptoms, such as trouble sleeping or changes in your appetite. These feelings and physical problems can have a significant impact on your daily life. In addition to the use listed above, Pristiq may be used off-label.

And you may wonder if Pristiq is used for certain other conditions. Pristiq can reduce how many hot flashes you have and how severe they are. One review of studies looked at people taking desvenlafaxine the active drug in Pristiq. They can discuss with you all of your treatment options and recommend which options are safest for you. One review looked at the effect that desvenlafaxine the active drug in Pristiq had on anxiety symptoms in people with major depressive disorder.

The review found that desvenlafaxine improved anxiety symptoms in people with depression much more than a placebo treatment with no active drug improved their symptoms. One small week study looked specifically at using Pristiq to treat social anxiety disorder. However, this study was small and only included 63 people. Larger studies are needed to know if Pristiq would be effective in treating social anxiety disorder.

Many other antidepressants, including venlafaxine Effexor XR , are used to treat anxiety. Venlafaxine is very similar to desvenlafaxine the active drug in Pristiq. Venlafaxine is approved to treat generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. They can recommend treatment options that are safe and effective to treat your anxiety.

Some other antidepressants are approved to treat OCD. With this condition, you may have obsessive repetitive thoughts that cause anxiety. You may do certain actions to help ease these thoughts and anxieties.

They can recommend treatment options that are safe and effective to treat your condition. Bipolar disorder formerly called manic depression is a mental illness that involves episodes of depression feeling sad or hopeless and episodes of mania having extreme levels of excitement and activity.

People with bipolar disorder may have unstable moods over long periods of time. Antidepressants are sometimes used to treat depression caused by bipolar disorder.

However, the antidepressants usually have to be taken in combination with a mood-stabilizing drug. Otherwise, taking antidepressants alone can increase your risk of triggering a manic episode. If you do have bipolar disorder, your doctor may recommend other medications for you to take with Pristiq.

However, some other antidepressants are approved to treat certain types of pain. Examples of these types of pain include nerve pain and fibromyalgia. With fibromyalgia, people have long-term, widespread pain in their muscles and bones. One study looked at people with diabetic neuropathy.

This is a painful condition resulting from nerve damage in people with diabetes. Two other studies looked at people with fibromyalgia. Stopping Pristiq suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms. Doing so will help you avoid withdrawal symptoms. Drinking alcohol can increase your risk for having side effects from Pristiq.

These side effects include:. Drinking alcohol can also make your depression symptoms worse. Other drugs are available that can treat major depressive disorder. Some may be better suited for you than others. Other SNRIs and drugs from other classes of medications are also available to treat depression. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you. You may wonder how Pristiq compares to other medications that are prescribed for similar uses. Here we look at how Pristiq and Effexor XR are alike and different.

Pristiq contains desvenlafaxine, while Effexor XR contains venlafaxine. Both drugs belong to a class of antidepressants called serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors SNRIs. A class of medications is a group of drugs that work in a similar way in your body. Desvenlafaxine and venlafaxine are closely related. Venlafaxine the drug in Effexor XR is metabolized broken down by your liver. Desvenlafaxine is known as an active metabolite of venlafaxine. Everybody responds differently to treatment.

In general, it can take several weeks to feel the full benefits of a prescription antidepressant, although some people will start to feel better sooner. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you may have.

For tips on having that conversation, download the Savings Card Tip Sheet. There are 2 ways to use the card immediately. To learn the full details of who is eligible, please see the full Terms and Conditions. To get a Savings Card, register here and then download your card or have it sent to you via mail, email, or text. You can activate your Savings Card here. You can use the Savings Card at any participating pharmacy. PRISTIQ may cause or make some conditions worse, so tell your healthcare professional about all the medical conditions you have or had including:.

Before taking PRISTIQ, tell your doctor about all prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements you take or plan to take including:. Your doctor may want to decrease your dose slowly to help avoid side effects. Some of these side effects may include:.

And when it comes to antidepressants, there are side effects. Many people shy away from antidepressants due to side effects. It can take time to find the right medication for you.

You and your doctor can determine if the benefits of treatment outweigh the burden of side effects. These will often improve over the first week or two as you continue to take the medication. Sexual side effects, such as problems with orgasm or ejaculatory delay, and blood pressure increases often do not improve over time. Increased heart rate, low blood pressure, increased salivation, irregular menstrual cycle, increased frequency of urination, changes in taste, increased liver enzymes, low sodium symptoms of low sodium levels may include headache, weakness, difficulty concentrating and remembering , teeth grinding, difficulty urinating, angle closure glaucoma symptoms of angle closure glaucoma may include eye pain, changes in vision, swelling or redness in or around eye , serotonin syndrome symptoms may include shivering, diarrhea, confusion, severe muscle tightness, fever, seizures, and death , hypertensive crisis severely elevated blood pressure , myocardial infarction heart attack , Stevens-Johnson syndrome rash.

To date, there are no known problems associated with long term use of desvenlafaxine. It is a safe and effective medication when used as directed. Desvenlafaxine should not be taken with or within 2 weeks of taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs.

Desvenlafaxine may increase the effects of other medications that can cause bleeding e. Sleep, energy, or appetite may show some improvement within the first weeks.

Improvement in these physical symptoms can be an important early signal that the medication is working. Depressed mood and lack of interest in activities may need up to weeks to fully improve.

Depression and certain other psychiatric disorders are themselves associated with increases in the risk of suicide. This risk may persist until significant remission occurs. In short-term studies, antidepressants increased the risk of suicidality in children, adolescents, and young adults when compared to placebo.

Short-term studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults beyond age Adults age 65 and older taking antidepressants have a decreased risk of suicidality. Patients, their families, and caregivers should be alert to the emergence of anxiety, restlessness, irritability, aggressiveness and insomnia. All patients being treated with antidepressants for any indication should watch for and notify their health care provider for worsening symptoms, suicidality and unusual changes in behavior, especially during the first few months of treatment.

Last Updated: January This information is being provided as a community outreach effort of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists. This information is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. This information contains a summary of important points and is not an exhaustive review of information about the medication. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified medical professional with any questions you may have regarding medications or medical conditions.

Never delay seeking professional medical advice or disregard medical professional advice as a result of any information provided herein. Pristiq may cause drug discontinuation syndrome. This is a form of withdrawal that may happen when your body becomes used to Pristiq.

When you stop taking the drug, you may experience certain side effects. If you want to stop taking Pristiq, talk with your doctor. This will likely involve lowering your dosage, possibly over the course of several months.

The sections above describe the typical dosages provided by the drug manufacturer. Only take Pristiq exactly as prescribed. Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your current dosage. Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date.

However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication.

The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.

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