pristiq for effexor

Update: Wyeth drops out of European sales of Prstiq after studies show its inefectiveness

Cleared for marketing as an antidepressant in the U.S., Pristiq is based on the active ingredient in Wyeth’s now-off-patent blockbuster Effexor. Some doctors and researchers question whether the drug is much different from–or better than–other antidepressants already on the market.

Pristiq not working (from Psychobabble)

After a week and a half on pristiq (Wyeth’s new drug to ‘improve upon’ Effexor which is going generic (so Wyeth reps are no longer distributing free samples to docs … JUST A WARNING to those this applies to), I spent several hours researching this drug today and finally realized that what I am experiecing is Effexor Withdrawal Syndrome! (without the brainzaps, probably because pristiq which is actually a natural compound created by our bodies and the chemical that effexor aides in producing) is providing some assistance.

Here’s a sample, probably the best I’ve found so far from the PsychCentral Blog, and be sure to click on Carlat’s 5 main reasons NOT to take Pristiq. Crazymeds has a forum on Effexor and Pristiq well worth looking into as well.

Just a reminder for those who don’t know what Effexor withdrawal is like: major mood swings, chills, sweats, feverish, exhausted, anxious, emotive, confused, terror, headaches ….All this because I mistakenly checked the wrong box on the HIPPA form and have no coverage for meds or anything other than MM and still pay $740 per month.

Don’t you just love these guys? Don’t you?
Here’s the official site

And here’s Wyeth’s analysis of withdrawl syndrome obtained from downloadable directions to health care practitioners.

<there>have been spontaneous reports of adverse events
occurring upon discontinuation of these drugs, particularly when abrupt, including the following:
dysphoric mood, irritability, agitation, dizziness, sensory disturbances (e.g., paresthesia, such as
electric shock sensations), anxiety, confusion, headache, lethargy, emotional lability, insomnia,
hypomania, tinnitus, and seizures.

Also just found this description of Serotonin Syndrome which explains why you would have to stop Effexor before starting pristiq… altho some docs are mixing the two until the pristiq starts working effectively …

Wyeth, based in Madison, N.J., said net income declined 6% to $1.12 billion, or 83 cents a share, from $1.20 billion, or 87 cents, a year earlier. Results for the latest quarter included charges of $110.5 million related to Wyeth’s cost-cutting program, which includes the elimination of about 6% of its work force so far.

Sales rose 5% to $5.9 billion, with virtually all of the gain coming from the weak dollar. Wyeth’s biggest product, the antidepressant Effexor, had sales of $1.02 billion, up 5%.

Wyeth executives indicated their focus won’t be solely on prescription drugs. The company plans to build up its nonpharmaceutical business, which includes consumer health care, nutritional and animal-health products. WSJ July 24.

~ by boatsie on July 25, 2008.