I have depression, anxiety, and ADHD. I take Xanax for occasional anxiety and Concerta for ADHD. I've been on just about every antidepressant there is for depression. The latest were Cymbalta and Pristiq. Pristiq makes me just kind of Blah. Really don't want to do much. I took Cymbalta a few weeks ago and almost immediately felt motivated! However, I didn't really want to act on it very much. For some reason or another, I quit taking Cymbalta (going off was terrible). I'm back on Pristiq and still have the Blahs. My psychologist suggested adding Wellbutrin, but my nurse practitioner said no--too much serotonin. She said Zoloft and Wellbutrin. I don't want to take Zoloft because of the side effects and I'm afraid to take Wellbutrin because of the anxiety side effect. Many years ago, not long after I was first diagnosed, I took Prozac and Wellbutrin. They worked wonders! I tried that combination again several months ago and was terribly agitated about EVERYTHING! I've read about some conjunctive therapies for Pristiq, but don't know what to suggest to my doctor. I also have a hard time getting to sleep sometimes (my mind won't shut off, but I can sleep for hours once I get to sleep), and I can no longer take my beloved Ambien because of sleep apnea. I just changed clinics but I'm thinking of going back to the old one. My gene test says Pristiq is the best for me, Wellbutrin is in the "ok" column, and Cymbalta is in the last "must watch" column. I've just got to have some relief and I'm at my wit's end!
How long does it take Pristiq to become effective on major depression, anxiety, and motivation?
Question posted by CatMa on 24 Nov 2020
Last updated on 24 November 2020 by WildcatVet
Answers
Hi, CatMa!
This is from the literature I've read on Pristiq:
"Sleep, energy, or appetite may show some improvement within the first 1-2 weeks. Improvement in these physical symptoms can be an important early signal that the medication is working. Depressed mood, anxiety, and lack of interest in activities may need up to 6-8 weeks to fully improve.
Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness"
The name of the game with almost all antidepressants is patience and giving them a "fair trial" which can sometimes be a couple of months. Of course, there may be side effects but anxiety over them is just going to make things worse and they generally resolve within days to several weeks.
Personally, what's working well for me is a combination of bupropion (Wellbutrin), buspirone (BuSpar) for anxiety, lamotrigine (Lamictal) which is a mood stabilizer, and methylphenidate (Ritalin) for motivation. It's may seem like a lot of meds but it works for me with no side effects.
It may give you some options to consider and/or discuss with your health care professional(s).
Best regards and I hope the Pristiq will help you!
It may take roughly about 4-6 weeks for the full effect. Some may experience effects sooner or later. Everyone reacts differently to these medication. Just give the medication time to build up in the system. Best of luck, fingers cross that Pristiq will be the suitable med to help decrease your symptoms.
Related topics
generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, motivation
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