Desvenlafaxine for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews

• kit...
• May 9, 2011

Desvenlafaxine "I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder just a few months ago. I'm 25, and let me say this medicine works great. I could tell a difference within the first week, and my husband (whom I was driving absolutely crazy) saw a huge change too. I feel happier now, and the 'manicness' has gone away. I have noticed the weight loss, but not too much. I was weighing in at 160 lbs, and now I'm down to 150 lbs, so 10 lbs in the past 2 months is good. My sex life is back to normal, where I hope it will stay. I feel like a better mother and wife now, all because of Pristiq."

• Jan...
• February 8, 2012

Desvenlafaxine "I have been on a million different medications throughout my life for my bipolar disorder, and nothing seemed to be working. After 2 days of being on Pristiq, my whole life changed. I have only been on it for a short time now, but I am a whole new happy person. I feel like me again. Thank you, Pristiq!"

• Anonymous
• April 2, 2012

Desvenlafaxine "My doctor replaced Prozac with Pristiq in hopes it would be more effective in fighting my depression. At first, I thought I was in heaven. I'm in my late 50s and never felt this good ever. I also lost 30 lbs! As time passed, I became more and more manic (not a feel-good manic either). Had to get off of it. Shame. When it was working for me, it was better than anything I've ever tried."

• Bip...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 27, 2023

"I have been on so many meds to help with my bipolar disorder and depression. This is like a miracle medication to me. I feel good! And have no side effects. I’m not saying I don’t feel down sometimes or even manic at times, but overall I feel good. I’m so happy I started this medication."

• ntu...
• March 23, 2012

Desvenlafaxine "I started taking this medication in conjunction with Lamictal. Although it is not recommended, my psychiatrist suggested for the first few days I cut the 50 mg tablet in half. I am glad I did. After reading everyone's reviews about the stomach upset and headaches, I decided it might be beneficial. I took 25 mg for about 6 days, then upped to 50 mg. I had slight stomach upset and a few mild headaches. I take it as soon as I wake, no later than 8 am. I have seen a huge reduction in my appetite. I was a binge eater of sweets before I started and at 5'3'' weighed in at 150 lbs. In three weeks, I have lost 4 lbs. This is the most stable I have been since I can remember."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 19, 2018

"I started taking this medication along with a mood stabilizer. The mood stabilizer alone didn’t work for my rapid cycling. As soon as I took Pristiq, my cycling stopped and felt ‘normal’ again. No more mania. I’ve been on it for 2 years and it’s been amazing! However, DO NOT stop taking this medication as you WILL suffer withdrawal symptoms that I can only imagine feel like coming off meth or heroin."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 6, 2023

"Compared to other SSRI and SNRI antidepressants I have tried alongside my mood stabilizer, Pristiq is by far one of the best! When I first started it, I will admit I did have some hypomanic symptoms, but they did subside after 2 weeks and ever since then I've felt the most stable I've ever been. The depressive symptoms just present as being a little sad, and my 'manic symptoms' are actually just me being in a good mood now! I also have an OCD diagnosis alongside bipolar disorder, and let me tell you, Pristiq has made those intrusive thoughts all the less scary. However, I should note some negative side effects I have experienced, such as some nausea and vomiting occasionally. I have also since developed a caffeine intolerance, which could also be considered good, given I drink too much caffeine, and it has affected my sexual performance and made it more difficult to finish. It has also helped me drop the massive weight gain I had from when I was on antipsychotics!"

• loo...
• July 9, 2016

"I was on Lexapro for the depression side of my bipolar, and it stopped working, crying spells at work and agitation. Doc just switched me to Pristiq, and so far, I seem to be doing well. I've only been on it for 3 days, the only side effect I am having is feeling very drugged, but the sadness is gone, and I was able to apologize to someone I lashed out at. I'm gonna stay on it, even though I feel drugged, I'm sticking with it. I'm also on Latuda and Trazodone. It sure beats the hell I've been through in the past. I will update in a few months and tell you if I continue to do well."

• Cra...
• November 1, 2016

"After trying many other medications and failing, my doctor finally gave me this beauty, and my life is much better. I like myself, my kids, and husband again! Lol. Not only has it given me back my happiness, it also helped me maintain my focus on my weight issues and given me that edge for life I had never ever experienced truly. Side effects of insomnia and suppressed appetite (which is a win when all you do is eat on other meds). The first few days, my heart rate was up but slowed down after the drug was in my system 100. Warning! Do not stop taking abruptly!!! You will feel like a heroin addict with no hit!"

• Anonymous
• March 12, 2016

"I started taking Pristiq 100 mg last July. Initially, I had headaches, mood swings, anxiousness, and found it hard to sleep. This lasted about a week. With the initial combination of melatonin, I was able to get into a routine of taking the Pristiq in the morning and melatonin at night, both roughly at the same time to sleep the same amount each day. For nine months, I have taken Pristiq by itself now and have found that it has significantly decreased anxiety, stopped me from internalizing almost completely, and has reduced my mood swings considerably. I have slightly reduced sex drive, put on a bit of weight, and a want to smoke and fidget. I have found Pristiq beneficial to my life but frustrating at times."

• Kel...
• September 16, 2016

"Worked great up until Tuesday when I had a sudden attack of dizziness that dropped me to the floor. This continued for two days, and I finally called the doc yesterday, who took me off of it. I went back to Lexapro as I had no side effects with it. It's too soon to tell if I will have any withdrawal from it, but I'm hoping not, I have a busy day at work today. I'm glad to be off it, though, I had a dizzy spell a few minutes ago, but it was not bad and stopped quickly. Guess I'll stick to Lexapro and just deal with the depression as it comes."

• Por...
• January 25, 2019

"Was taking with Lamictal for BP2. Wanted to try after having a year of success with Effexor in treating depression 2 years ago. Back then, I was underdiagnosed, so I took no mood stabilizer. Pristiq was nothing near Effexor to me. Was on 25 mg for the past 8 weeks. Week one: insomnia, anxiety, worse mood. Week 2: lifted mood, minor mood swings, mild anxiety, excitability, slight increase in interest in pleasurable activities, slight decrease in confidence, spontaneity, social speaking. Week 3: short depressive episode, apathy, lethargy. Sleep slightly improved. Week 4: everything from weeks 2 & 3. Also, MY FIRST PANIC ATTACK! From then on, heightened feelings that I could have a panic attack if I thought about it. Increased anxiety. Stopped taking it. Although I know I was on a very low dose, I just knew that it won’t work for me. I am on day 3 without it and I feel better, but I know relapse is coming soon, but so is my appointment. Half-life: 11 hours. Really???"

• Sus...
• November 16, 2011

Desvenlafaxine "Pristiq gives me energy and brings me up from the deep depression when no other antidepressant can. I haven't had to take a huge dose to get that effect either, which is fantastic."

• Bip...
• April 26, 2018

"Pristiq is the best medicine ever for bipolar. I'm on 75 mg in the morning and 25 mg in the afternoon."

• Anonymous
• November 18, 2012

Desvenlafaxine "Great medicine! Makes me a bit jittery, but a very light dose of anti-anxiety medicine takes care of that."

• yea...
• May 26, 2011

Desvenlafaxine "I found out that I'm allergic to this medicine. It caused symptoms of serotonin syndrome."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 22, 2017

"Increased mood instability both ways, became really down, and have insomnia, dissociation."

• Bel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 21, 2022

"I’ve never been angrier. No idea what is happening, I’m literally so angry about everything… all the time."

• FL_...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 12, 2018

"Someone posted that Greenstone is owned by Pfizer, and their generic is basically the brand - it's true! You have to special order from CVS, and it's more expensive."

• Hug...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 2, 2021

"I feel less irritability."

• blo...
• November 30, 2020

"This desvenlafaxine doesn't work along with Effexor, Abilify, Seroquel, and Zoloft, and definitely do not take Latuda unless you want to have body Tourette's for the rest of your life once you stop."