Taking Pristiq for Anxiety: How Long it Takes to Work & More
speciality medications
Pristiq, a popular medication that patients use to treat their major depressive disorder, is a prescription-only medication that many (many) have benefited from.
But not all of those who benefit have major depressive disorder.
Pristiq, when used strategically by a patient under the supervision of a licensed healthcare professional, can also help people manage their generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and other anxiety-related conditions.
Those who deal with clinical anxiety on a regular basis know how much an effective treatment is needed. Pristiq can be just that—but, before starting a new antidepressant medication, it’s always a good idea to know precisely what makes Pristiq effective, how quickly it works, and otherwise how it compares. (Knowing this information can help reduce your anxiety further!)
We’re here to help. Here’s what you need to know.
What Is Pristiq? (And How Does It Work for Anxiety?)
Pristiq is an SNRI.
If you’re familiar with anxiety or depression medications, you may already know about SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. These types of medications work by influencing the way serotonin moves through your brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that people often associate with happiness.
An SNRI, or a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, works on serotonin and another neurotransmitter: Norepinephrine.
This dual mechanism can help some patients experience enhanced relief when compared to medications that affect serotonin levels alone. Norepinephrine is often associated with mood, focus, and stress responses. Having more of it can help patients experience more focus, a more regulated mood, and a more manageable response to stress.
When a patient takes Pristiq, they should be able to expect alleviation for the following symptoms:
- Persistent worry or fear
- Restlessness or agitation
- Difficulty concentrating
- Physical symptoms of anxiety, such as muscle tension and rapid heartbeat
Pristiq is primarily a medication approved for major depressive disorder, but some physicians may prescribe it off-label for anxiety use.
Whether your doctor recommends doing this will depend on your unique set of symptoms, health goals, other medications, and lifestyle.
How Effective Is Pristiq for Anxiety?
Anecdotally, many who take Pristiq specifically for anxiety do report significant symptom relief.
But that’s not all. There are several clinical studies that show Pristiq can effectively reduce the severity of anxiety symptoms — especially for any patients who experience anxiety as a part of their depressive disorder.
One thing that may help give Pristiq its efficacy is the fact that it’s an SNRI, not an SSRI.
For many patients who have not responded well to SSRIs, working with Pristiq and getting the benefit of norepinephrine management can be a good idea.
Of course, your mileage may vary. Pristiq isn’t necessarily for everyone.
Have a frank conversation with your doctor about your symptoms, and they will help you determine if Pristiq is right for you.
How Long Does Pristiq Take to Work for Anxiety?
When you’re dealing with persistent anxiety, patience can feel like a luxury you can’t afford.
So let’s get straight to it: How long does it take for Pristiq to work for anxiety?
For most people, benefits start to show up within 1-2 weeks of consistent Pristiq use. If you’re experiencing severe anxiety symptoms on day 1, they may not be completely gone by day 14—but you should start to see some improvements in that time.
What’s important to know now is this: Pristiq does not kick in immediately.
If you’re having a particularly acute or severe anxiety attack, Pristiq will not help you in the moment. There are other medications or treatments that may be able to provide relief in those circumstances.
Instead, Pristiq does require some time to gradually build up in your systems and, during those initial 10-14 days, start to balance your neurotransmitters to get you your hoped-for stress and mood responses.
As Dr. Brynna Connor, M.D., a board-certified family medicine physician who specializes in regenerative medicine, puts it: “SSRIs and other drugs that affect serotonin brain pathways often take longer to start producing an effect, but they are known to work better, have fewer side effects, and are less likely to cause dependence.”
A Possible Pristiq Effect Treatment Timeline
Here’s a rough timeline for what you might expect to happen after starting Pristiq:
In the first 1-2 weeks, some patients report feeling subtle (but real) improvements in their mood, anxiety, and even energy levels.
However, it’s important to realize that there are some who are still waiting for the medication to “kick in” at this time.
After about 3-4 weeks of taking Pristiq on a regular basis, patients are usually starting to notice more substantial improvements in their anxiety levels — e.g., reductions in anxiety symptoms, especially intense or severe ones.
For many patients, weeks 6-8 are when the full benefits of Pristiq are realized.
Conversely, if you’ve been taking your Pristiq diligently and you aren’t really feeling better, this may be a good time to check in with your healthcare team.
After 8 weeks, most patients should be at a maintenance phase in their relationship with Pristiq and their anxiety.
If you’re not where you want to be at this point, talk to your healthcare provider; they may recommend adjusting your dosage or combining Pristiq with alternative therapies.
One thing to note, here, is that it’s critical to have some way to track your progress, objectively (especially for people with anxiety).
The human brain is very, very good at noticing when things are bad and less great at noticing when things are slowly getting better.
It’s very possible to get to week 8 of treatment and have a hard time identifying how you’re really doing, or if you’re doing better than you were previously.
If at all possible, try to start some form of progress log to note down your symptoms. Write in it every time you have an anxiety attack, or scribble down (or tap out) a sentence or two at the end of each day.
You may also be able to ask an extremely trusted friend or family member to keep tabs on your external mental state, but it’s always best to get this straight from the source—you.
Even if you don’t feel like your updates are that scientific or detailed, having this log to look back at after 6-8 weeks of Pristiq treatment will be a godsend.
Pristiq Dosage for Anxiety: What Else You Need to Know
Usually, Pristiq is available in doses of 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg tablets.
Generally speaking, doctors will start patients off on a 50mg dose for anxiety. From there, you can take more or less as needed. Just don’t do that on your own!
If you suspect that you need to have a smaller or larger dose, talk to your doctor, and make sure you have a log of your experiences to show them.
The dosage that works best for you, your brain, and your body will depend on factors specific to you ranging from:
- Your specific symptoms and their severity
- How your body responds to the medication
- Any other medications or treatments you may be using
- Your overall health, including liver and kidney function
Once you and your doctor arrive at a dosage plan for you, do not deviate from that plan … even if it seems very clear that you’re going to need to change your dosage.
Your doctor will want to monitor you carefully as you work towards your best possible dose.
The Potential Side Effects of Pristiq
Pristiq, while being a safe medication that can do a world of good when used properly, does have side effects to consider. So do all powerful medications.
Usually, side effects associated with Pristiq will be mild or at least will go away as your body gets used to the drug.
That said, it’s a good idea to know what you might be up against.
Common side effects of Pristiq include:
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Sweating
- Dizziness
- Insomnia
- Loss of appetite
- Constipation
- Fatigue
There are, unfortunately, some Pristiq side effects that are a bit more serious.
These should be rare, but it’s a good idea to know they could happen. They include:
- Increased blood pressure
- Severe dizziness or fainting
- Abnormal bleeding or bruising
- Signs of an allergic reaction (such as rash, itching, or swelling)
If any of these side effects occur, talk to your doctor at once.
Pristiq Dose for Hot Flashes: Can It Help?
Pristiq can do more than help with anxiety.
In some circumstances, Pristiq can be prescribed off-label to help people manage their hot flashes. For people undergoing hormone therapy or managing postmenopausal symptoms, this can be a godsend.
Pristiq is not approved specifically for this purpose.
However, for some people, taking SNRIs does result in less frequent, less severe hot flashes. Norepinephrine can have an effect on body temperature regulation, so taking a medication that affects norepinephrine affects hot flashes, too.
If you’re interested in taking Pristiq to manage your hot flashes, talk to your healthcare provider. Make sure your healthcare team knows your full medical history, then chat with your doctor to see if this is a good path forward for you.
Potential Interactions: What to Avoid While Taking Pristiq
Pristiq is a medication that most people tolerate very well.
That said, there are some substances and medications that interact with it.
When medications interact, that’s not always a good thing: Sometimes, interactions result in less-effective treatments, or, worse, even harmful side effects.
When you start taking Pristiq, your doctor will remind you about any other medications that you need to steer clear of. For now, here’s a quick rundown so you know what to expect.
Don’t take Pristiq and other mood stabilizers or antidepressants. Doing this can result in too much serotonin, which may be the definition of having too much of a good thing.
Too much serotonin can result in agitation, confusion, muscle stiffness, and even cardiac issues.
Don’t take Pristiq and blood thinners or NSAIDs. Taking Pristiq can increase your risk of bleeding, which, when taken with a blood thinner like warfarin or an NSAID like ibuprofen, can be particularly dangerous.
Don’t take Pristiq and drink alcohol at the same time, when at all possible. Doing so can intensify the side effects you may feel when taking Pristiq alone, including drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired motor skills.
Does Pristiq Help with Panic Attacks?
While Pristiq is not explicitly approved for use in the treatment of panic attacks, it can help, yes.
Many people who take Pristiq for anxiety do, anecdotally, report reduced panic attacks—reduced in both intensity and frequency.
This happens because Pristiq and its serotonin-and-norepinephrine, dual-action power can help reduce the type of nervous system activity that’s often associated with panic attacks.
If you’re considering taking Pristiq for anxiety and you also suffer from panic attacks, speak with your doctor.
Upon hearing this, your doctor could recommend either Pristiq alone or Pristiq as part of a larger treatment plan for your anxiety and panic attacks.
How to Save on Pristiq: Tips for Affordable Treatment
Pristiq can be life-changing when prescribed by a certified healthcare professional and taken with care.
That doesn’t mean it’s easy to find — or remotely affordable.
In the United States, patients who buy Pristiq may pay around $15.50 per tablet. When you consider that this is a medication that most people will have to take on an ongoing basis, it’s clear that that’s an unmanageable cost for most. (In one year, that’s over $5,500.00 on just this one medication.)
Interested in saving up to 65% on this name-brand medication?
Through NorthWestPharmacy.com, you can buy Pristiq for about $5.30 per tablet.
Or, if you’re interested in saving even further, you can also buy generic desvenlafaxine succinate, the unbranded version of Pristiq, through NorthWestPharmacy.com for about $3.00 per tablet.
Is Pristiq for Anxiety The Right Choice for You?
Pristiq can be a good choice for many patients if they’re working with a healthcare professional to treat depression, anxiety, or even hot flashes. As long as you make an informed choice and your healthcare team seems to think it’s a good idea, you’re likely in good hands.
Interested in a way to order Pristiq online without breaking the bank?
You can buy brand-name and generic Pristiq online through NorthWestPharmacy.com—for savings of up to 65%. Just a few clicks, and your Pristiq will be mailed directly to your front door.
Browse our selection of mental health medications or speak with a friendly customer service representative to explore your options. The team at NorthWestPharmacy.com looks forward to serving you!
