Effexor improved?

I always have to be the first on the block. Taking Effexor XR with no problems but Pristiq is new, better, different so. Ta dah! first to order pristiq in my pharmacy, I win! Now the concerns come after the switch. We all have used "New and Improved" products to find ourselves perplexed as to "what were they thinking?". Much to our dismay the loved, tried and true is just a memory. Luckily in medications original formulations remain and are altered for patent reasons and the new, better, different versions actually are just that. Effexor XR worked fine for me. I assumed the altered lowered mg version would be just as effective with less chemical and less side effects as with Lexapro vs Celexa. WRONG, maybe. Effexor was approved for depression and anxiety. In getting to know Pristiq, anxiety is not listed as treated. Was this planned by Wyeth? Was it intended to and not perform?
Is treating anxiety a negative characteristic? Where did that area of treatment disappear to? Add to this no reduction in side effects, low difference in effects from placebo and I am skeptical. Any info regarding why anxiety or GAD is not positively affected by Pristiq as with Effexor please inform. So far doing well. Day 6 and no complaints. Peace, Boz

I am doing very well on pristiq. No panic attacks, and slept for the first time without ambien cr in months.

Often the change in the med is miniscule and is done for marketing and sales reasons. "New and improved!!" sells. And the drug companies can charge the exhorbitant 'new drug' fees to recover their research and development costs... which are questionable when the change in the med is miniscule.

I have switched to Pristiq 50 mg. When I did take Effexor XR 150mg/day and missed a dose I fealt depressed. If I went 2 days I experienced brain shivers. I can describe this as an electrical shock feeling in my head, and my body going one way and my brain trying to go some other way. It was quite discombobulating.

Effexor XR is a horrible drug to have to go off, the side effects are truly horrendous, even going quite slowly in weaning. Maybe the Pristiq is not that way?

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bmoz said:
I have switched to Pristiq 50 mg. When I did take Effexor XR 150mg/day and missed a dose I fealt depressed. If I went 2 days I experienced brain shivers. I can describe this as an electrical shock feeling in my head, and my body going one way and my brain trying to go some other way. It was quite discombobulating.

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Yep withdrawal was awful...electric shocks in my head...bad dreams of floating....seeing people....

TJ

Just letting you know I am doing great on Pristiq. 2.5 months after switch from Effexor xr

yes i remember the electric shocks lol crazy