About Seroquel And Pristiq For PTSD

[Other]

Hello.

I have a few questions about these medications. They were recently prescribed to me for PTSD and quite frankly from what I've read, they scare me. Seroquel in particular.

I understand that Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) is used to treat depression. I wondered if anyone had tried this medication, and how well it worked/didn't work for you?

For Seroquel, I've read some things, and this drug is scary for me. I don't even understand fully why it was prescribed, as I don't think I was diagnosed as bi-polar or with schizophrenia. I do have troubles falling asleep, but this seems like an extreme sort of solution to that particular problem. The side effects that are possible appear to be literally worse than the symptoms. What experiences have you had with this medication, and what purposes could my doctor have had in prescribing this?

I have not yet had a chance to speak with my doctor about these medications now that I have researched them some. These were the first two medications that the doctor wanted me to try, and they were prescribed during my first visit and directly after diagnosis of PTSD. That was on wednesday, and now it is saturday. I haven't started either medication, but I have them and will be starting both on sunday, with pristiq(50mg) once a day and seroquel(50mg) three times daily.

Thank you in advance for any responses. I truly appreciate it.

-Other

 

[anthony]

Hi Other... Seroquel is typical. Not sure about Pristiq...

 

[Anonymoose]

I'm taking Pristiq for PTSD and depression and it's working very well. I also take Trazodone in the evening. I was prescribed low-dose Seroquel but it didn't agree with me so I went back to Trazodone.

 

[fallout]

I've been on seroquel for a few weeks, and I'm very happy with the way it's working. I'm not bipolar or schizophrenic either, but I was having a lot of trouble with racing thoughts that it has calmed down. For example, I can't hear my own self screaming constantly in my head anymore, so I can think more clearly and my anxiety is better. I know it sounds intense, but it's worth a try to see if it agrees with/helps you. If it doesn't work out, I'm sure your doctor will have other options.

 

[Other]

I do and have had a lot of issues with racing thoughts. If that is one of the purposes of Seroquel, then that may be why it was prescribed. I started the medication, and the only thing I've noticed was that I am constantly feeling "stoned" and tired, maybe a little dizzy. From what I have read, sometimes that goes away after a longer period of time on Seroquel. But, it is an uncomfortable kind of "stoned". I do hope it isn't like this forever.

Thanks for the insights, and thanks fallout particularly, because I can easily relate to what you have said, and I hope in several weeks I will have the same kind of success with the medication.

 

[Borderline]

Hi Other.

I have been taking Seroquel for a few months now. Like yourself I am concerned about taking this medication.
I have had regular tests for diabetes, all have been normal. I have however put on weight, I am less hungry, than I was initially after starting on the Seroquel.
It was prescribed to assist me to sleep, this has worked,I have far fewer nightmares and get off to sleep far sooner, I have started to wake in the early hours again, this is a bit disappointing. It is also to help control hyper arousal, again I have had some very positive experiences in this area.
I am still working with the doctors to find the optimum dose. I can also take an extra dose in the daytime if my hyper arousal is getting to much. This has also been beneficial.
I am at present able to say that Seroquel has been a "qualified" success for me.
The sleepiness will go but I think it increases the level of sleepiness caused by other medications.
These are my experiences of Seroquel, feel free to ask if you have any further questions that I may be able to help with.
Regards.
B

 

[cypher]

trazodone works like a charm for sleeping for me (dos'nt x out the nightmares but at least i'm not up for weeks at a time). hav'nt been on seroquel or prestique. I think seroquel might work for all my racing thoughts though?

 

[Other]

Thank you for the answers.

So far, the seroquel has stopped making me unbearably drowsy all day. Although I do still feel a little "out of it", kind of like a zombie, most of the time.

I suppose most of my concerns stem from the fact that my doctor didn't tell me about any of the other side effects, he simply told me it might make me sleepy.

Should I be concerned about diabetes? Will the doctor help me get tested if I bring it up during a session?

 

[rallynut78]

I got prescribed seroquel for anxiety too and it had the sleepy side effect for me. I stopped taking it because i just didn't like the way it made me feel.

 

[Other]

Without thinking about it, I took about 1000mg of acetaminophen (=2 extra strength tylenol) for a nasty headache, about a half an hour before I took my regular meds. I'm feeling a little extra-tense, and the headache that was only on one side has spread to my whole friggen brain. Could this extra-anxious feeling and spreading headache be because of some kind of drug interaction with Pristiq or Seroquel and Tylenol? I can't get ahold of my doc (been trying but the office isn't open yet.) so, I'm not sure where else to look for information. I don't have a pharmacy yet (I am being given samples every two weeks).

Any thoughts or information would be appreciated.

-Other

 

[cocacolocao]

Pristiq, I believe (correct me if I am wrong this is the new EFFEXOR- invented for patent reasons) is similar to effexor. I have been diagnosed with severe and chronic PTSD since some failry nasty LIFE THREATENING experiences involving guns and terrorists and cosp and organised crime. My crime was I went for a burger.
Anyway, on the subject of Pristiq, my only concern is that if it is anything like its older brother, EFFEXOR, then there are going to be a list of dangers your doctors won't tell you about. I have been taking effexor for almost two years. As a consequence, and only because i dared enter into a sexual relationship again, i discovered I am suffering low libido. This seems to be a common problem with male EFFEXOR users, so I am guessing that PRISTIQ may have a similar impact. What I am not getting is information about the cause.
Now if you are MALE, of REPRODUCTIVE AGE, and may at some stage wish to inseminate someone, well you better take note. I recently discovered the cause for my lack of sexual desire. It seems that a lot of males experience this as a consequence (side-effect) of taking effexor/PRISTIQ??. What is not clear is the cause. Because the drug companies test this shit on rats, and say they have found nowt wrong with it, it passed the FDA criteria. Now the problem for me, is having done some of my own research, (on methadone as well-for pain not addiction) I recently discovered that my

 

[cocacolocao]

Anyway, effexor may cause low testosterone. Ie it may be analogous to chemical castration, the tests bear this out with my testosterone level at 2.7 and my prolactin at 7 or normal. Is this in the literature? No it damn well is not. Too bad if you serve your country, become a ptsd sufferer, take the meds, and as a consequence, lose your ability to reproduce. Think about it.

 

[Other]

I was not aware of Effexor/Pristiq similarities, that is something I will look into, thank you. My doctor has not yet given me any information about either of these, though I will be bringing both up during my next visit.

-Other