"i was diagnosed with clinical depression over 13 years ago. i took paxil for 1 year and swore i would never take another depression medicine. after some extreme and consistent stress in 2010, i talked to my md and he suggested that my depression would not just go away on its own. after explaining my drug experiences he prescribed lexapro and i took it for about 3 months. it was wonderful except that it just stopped working, i had gained 10 lbs and the sexual side effects were terrible. he changed me to pristiq, which i have been taking for 16 days now. i never had nausea or dizziness. i feel less hungry than i did on lexapro and there are no sexual side effects. at first i felt a bit spacey but now i have more energy."