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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Laney on May 26, 2012, at 11:28:06
I might be trying one or the other?
I know pristiq is more expensive but is it superior? What are your thoughts? Is withdrawl from pristiq the same as effexor??
Can't take abilify right now! Too expensive!!!
Thanks! Laney
Posted by Christ_empowered on May 26, 2012, at 11:47:17
In reply to Pristiq or Effex: How are they different or alike, posted by Laney on May 26, 2012, at 11:28:06
I can't tell you from data or personal experience, but I've read the Pristiq is just Effexor 2.0...not that much different.
I think effexor xr comes in generic now. My wild-*ss guess would be that they're comparable, at least on the group level. I'd try cheap effexor first. If that doesn't work at all, go for something else. If you get a partial response, maybe...maybe...consider Pristiq.
That's all I can think up.
Posted by Phillipa on May 26, 2012, at 17:09:34
In reply to Re: Pristiq or Effex: How are they different or alike, posted by Christ_empowered on May 26, 2012, at 11:47:17
Laney I know my old pdoc that retired took pristiq and liked it a lot. She had gotten depressed from a horrible car accident she was in and was in the hospital long time. Recognized she needed an ad and chose pristiq? Did you google for any patient reviews? It's time release know that. Google Effexor vs Pristiq. No way to get the abilify. So sorry. Phillipa
Posted by psychobot5000 on May 29, 2012, at 1:22:22
In reply to Pristiq or Effex: How are they different or alike, posted by Laney on May 26, 2012, at 11:28:06
> I might be trying one or the other?
>
> I know pristiq is more expensive but is it superior? What are your thoughts? Is withdrawl from pristiq the same as effexor??
>
> Can't take abilify right now! Too expensive!!!
>
> Thanks! LaneyHi Laney,
I haven't done specific research on these drugs, so don't take this as gospel, but I can probably help answer your question. Apologies if I'm covering material you already know.
Effexor (venlafaxine) is almost the same molecule as Pristiq (desvenlafaxine). The difference is that effexor is the racemic mixture of the molecule. Here's what that means. Many molecules, including drugs, have a mirror image that also exists, and tends to be formed at the same time. So Effexor is actually two extremely similar molecules mixed together: the right (r) isomer, and the left (s, for sinister, (which means left) I assume) isomer. Pristiq, in contrast, is just the r-isomer.
Why split up the drug? Sometimes there are legitimate reasons, such as when the second isomer causes unwanted side-effects (this may be the case with provigil (a racemic mixture) and nuvigil, which some say causes less stomach trouble.
However, usually creating a new drug like pristiq is simply an excuse for a drug company to take a successful drug whose patent has run out, and repatent the active isomer, so they can charge a great deal, again. I've always assumed that was the case with Pristiq, though I haven't actually researched it. I see some company publicity labeling pristiq as the 'active' isomer. That's fine, but if the other isomer is inactive, it probably just means you need to take twice the dose of effexor as you do of pristiq, and you'll get the same effect. Were I you, I wouldn't pay the extra money for the new drug, but that's just a hunch.
Best,
pb5000
Posted by b2chica on May 30, 2012, at 15:40:54
In reply to Pristiq or Effex: How are they different or alike, posted by Laney on May 26, 2012, at 11:28:06
Hi.
i've tried both. Pristiq is a metabolite of Effexor however they both fucntion a little differently. Dont rule out both if one doesnt work for you. I tried effexor and had HORRIBLE side effects. finally years later and running out of options i decided to try pristiq. it worked Great. However it took about 10 weeks to really work. the start up is long but it was worth it.i think the withdrawl for both is about the same. with pristiq i ran out of meds and couldnt get more for a few days and had brain zaps and eye weirdness. Not fun...but i was also off other meds suddenly as well. so who knows what it was from.
anyway. if you have the time, give pristiq a try. and also i heard that 100mg is not much better than 50. which is what everyone gets to start. i tried 100 and no difference for me. so went back to 50.
Best wishes.
b2c
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