New to depression drugs - kind of afraid - Any help?

I can't imagine what you've had to endure, I hope that your surgery problems can be resolved to your satisfaction. I'm not going to be much help here. Every little bit helps, I hear...

I know several people here have talked about Pristiq. All I can remember is one young lady had stomach aches for a few weeks and I think was able resolve that with her doctor.

I know what you mean about psychiatrists. The last one I tried just took basic information, prescribed the same 50mg, a starter dose, of Pristiq and when I went back in a couple of weeks, he read everything I had told him from the first visit out loud while I stared out the window. In fact, I interrupted him, smiling and said, I know all this, but you go ahead and familiarize yourself again.

I only had stomach discomfort on the first day, then nothing afterward. Eventually though, it had an undesired sexual side effect so I stopped taking it, never went to a higher dose. I think you're okay taking it long enough to see if it helps, if not, it shouldn't be too hard stopping. I had no problem but everyone reacts differently and probably the longer you take it the more slowly you need to stop.

They all have risks, I don't like taking meds either. Here is a site with more information on Pristiq.

Another thing you can do, is type, Pristiq in the little search box on this page and you can read other person's stories and questions about this drug and their experiences.

Hello, Berei.  I'm sorry you've been so depressed - two years is a long time.  The fact that the first drug helped tells you something.  Why did you stop taking it?  Sometimes it takes a month or two for a drug to start working properly.  Did you quit taking it on your own, or did you decide that with your doctor?  Your doctor might have seemed to be too quick in his assessment of you, but I'm thinking that it might just be because he has a lot of experience with this.  Psychiatrists who don't do therapy generally don't get into a lot except for the first visit - they just want to figure out what will work.  If you need medication to feel better, there's nothing wrong with that.  I've been on an antidepressant for over 20 years and I may never go off because I've tried a couple of times and then the depression comes back and I have to start all over again.

If you don't like or trust your doctor, maybe you need to find a different one.  But I think you should try trusting him for a while and see how this new medication works.  The issue of whether it's a strong drug or not is kind of irrelevant because different medications require different dosages and everyone's body chemistry is different - one person might need half of a mg. while somebody else might need 2.  It's just the way your body processes or metabolizes the drug.  Have you tried therapy at all?  That could be very helpful, as well, in handling your depression and what happened to you.  That was a trauma, in a sense, and it can take a while to accept it.

I would encourage you to listen to your doctor about the medication, ask his advice before stopping a drug because the minute you feel better may not be the best time to do it and he should be aware if you do something like that.  If you had some other kind of illness that required medication, you would most likely take what the doctor prescribed, so maybe you can think of this like that, a condition that you have that requires medication for some period of time.  If you feel like a drug isn't working or is making you feel worse, you can tell your doctor right away and he can help figure out what to do.

Hope this was of some help.  Antidepressants have saved many lives so I hope you won't be so afraid of them.  Their purpose is to help you feel better so you can get your life back.  Let us know how you're doing.

Hi there

This Prestiq sure is popular!  I have seen a great surge here on this site as far as people being prescribed this medication.  I have not taken it myself but many members have...like Paul.  And as he said...just do a search on our site and you will see what other members are saying about their experience.  I am sure it will be different for everyone.

I guess the main thing is...what brought you to the psychiatrist in the first place?  What issues would you like help with?  And can an antidepressant help?  You talked about Zoloft...did you go off of it because you are afraid of taking medication for the long term?  What are your biggest fears when it comes to taking antidepressants? 

Medication is just one tool....therapy is another...there is also....support groups, natural supplements, exercise, meditation, light therapy....there is probably an endless number of things which can help one's mood.  Medication can get you over the bad humps though...to get you on your feet again and take the edge off.  But medication will not take away all your troubles or the need to work on emotional issues.

I don't blame you for being cautious.  I feel it is better to think this through than to take antidepressants just because a doc has prescribed them.  Do you think they will help?  What do you hope taking them would accomplish? 

Let us know your thoughts...the best we can do is to listen and support you with whatever choice you make which you feel is right for YOU! 

Thank you for your question.