is desvenlafaxine (pristiq) used in the uk?

[DannieGirl]

doesn't anyone know if it's used in the uk? if so, how have you found it?

[LaurieR]

Hi,

No, I am afraid that desvenlafaxine is not yet available in the UK. However, do bear in mind that it is just the major active metabolite of venlafaxine, so once you take normal venlafaxine pills, a part of them is converted to desvenlafaxine in your body. This is exactly the same case with paliperidone and risperidone, as in that paliperidone is the latter's active metabolite- they are just marketing it as a new drug!

Hope this helps.


Laurie

[roiben]

I am on Venlafaxine in the Venlalic form (extended release). I do not believe the version you mention is available in the UK.

The Venlafaxine is the first drug to show any sign of helping me, and my understanding is that it tends to be offered once others have failed to work (similar to Mirtazapine, which also did not work for me).

Venlafaxine does however have one of the worse withdrawal records, so I am not sure whether yours will have the same. It means that it is very difficult to reduce the dose and come off it once started and in the system.

Roiben x

[DannieGirl]

i've been on venlafazine and it worked for me, the only anti-d tha worked and it was the 5th anti-d i tried since the age of 13(i'd tried mitazapine twice,fluoxetine twice, sertraline twice, escitalopram once and then venla) ... but it made me have physical problems like a liver function (nothing serious) went down which i thought might've happened because of the bruising, so i asked for a blood test, i bruised like an old person, made my periods go weird. i came off it about a month ago and i've really noticed it... the withdrawl of coming off it was f-ing horredous... i've been offered it again, so i've dne research in other snri drugs and desvenla came up, but i wasn't sure if it was in the uk. i saw the duloxetine...anyone know what that is like?


oh and i'm on quetiapine ... been on it for about 3 years