Weaning Off Pristiq!! Help!

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I have been on pristine for many years! My doc had said to go down to 50 mg for 3 weeks then none. I go in to see him in 3 more weeks- I am a mess!! Crying a lot and brain zaps (good term) from other messages. I hope to God this gets better soon.

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1

Hello, Sue! How are you doing?

Yes, if you were on it for such a long time and abruptly stop taking it, then such rebound and withdrawals effects will usually occur.
That was still a relatively high amount to have you stop on.

Learn more Pristiq details here.

The preferred method now is usually to do a very gradual taper, by slowly lowering the medication and starting to skip doses.

Did he give a reason he was having you stop at 50mgs?

He could have had you use the regular release formulation and just cut them to lower it further for awhile.

When I stopped Zoloft after being on it for several years for OCD, it took several months for all of the symptoms to finally taper off.

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I've also been on Pristiq for years, it was only on the market around a month when my doctor put me on it. The only info out there was from the company. I later learned all the awful the side effects, weight gain, I'd break out horrible sweat, brain zaps, among them. I first contributed to pre-menopause, but then as time went by I realized it was the drug. This is the only AD I've ever been on.
I changed doctors around a year ago. We talked about weening me off. Unfortunately at the same time I lost my job, marriage and we also had just lost several family members in a short time. So I stayed on until now.

To get off this nasty drug I first went from 100mg to 50mg. I had a weeks worth of free samples. The effects weren't as bad as I worried they'd be. Then I cut the pills for a couple of more weeks. I gradually started taking smaller amounts. Today is day 3 of complete withdraw. I've experienced the weird dreams, brain zaps (really bad), nausea but the worse was last night, I woke up hallucinating. I swore I saw a very, very large spider climbing up my wall. It wasn't a dream, I know I was awake and I knew it wasn't there. I turned on the light and of course nothing. I fell back asleep, again woke up seeing the spider on a different wall, again turned on the light and nothing. It was a very strange experience, and one I wasn't expecting. I think I may have a couple of more days of feeling lousy, but that's ok. I'm off work for several more days and I will be OK! Hopefully, the side effects will start getting easier.

Today is Thanksgiving, and one of the many things I'm thankful for is being almost completely done with this drug. The son of a very good friend has just started on AD's. She doesn't know what he's taking, I told her under no circumstances should he go on this drug.

Good Luck to anyone trying to get off this drug! It can be done, just be patient. I tried several times, but this time I've gotten through the worst. I look forward to just feeling myself.



.

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3

How did you go off it? Im having them every 3rd day now.i hate the way its making me feel. Ive been on them for nearly 4 years. Any hints of how to get of would be good.
Thanks leanne

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4

My doc put me on a very lose of Prozac to wean off Pristiq. I was getting the nausea, brain zaps, but no bad dreams as mentioned!!! I am FINALLY feeling better after weeks of low dose of Prozac and NO Pristiq. My doc says to go completely off Prozac after 2 weeks. He says he has never seen this before as bad. I think just because it has taken me so long. So do not despair.....it takes different people different amounts of time to get off these drugs. BTW, I have been on anti-depressants of different kinds for 24 years!!!

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5

I just started cutting the pills. I went from 100 to 50 for a week. Then for a few weeks I started cutting them to 25 and less. All over about a month or so. I never skipped days. It's been about 3 weeks and I still have the brain zaps. But most of the other symptoms have gone away. Occasional weepy days still, but other things are going I in my life also.

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6

Find out about taking a low dose of Prozac to help. I am hearing that is quite common in helping to wean off Pristiq.

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7

Hi I was just wondering if anyone out there taking pristiq has had any sudden weight loss I heard about gaining weight but can it be that some people may loose the weight instead of gaining it if anyone out there has had that happen please write back would like to hear your story cheers...

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8

I have not lost or gained weight and it has been several months since weaning off Pristiq. I was hoping to lose a few!

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9

Prestiq and Crazy K, this is what I was prescibed for depression. I hate the day allowing a medical professional to play with my brain. Physicians get kick backs to get patients on these drugs. The brain is made of cells, once the time release gets in your brain, medicine automatically releases amounts to get in your head, you will pay a price to physically and mentally get this junk out of your brain. Thsi is the worse thing ever created, a time release formula of anything. Think about or look up on pc how many antidepressants are recalled, For sure maybe some people may need an antidepressant, but a patient has a right to know the dangers and how they leave your system any medication. A lot of people do not understand you can not take meds and stop because you do not feel okay, espescially something that can not leave the system without severe side effects. That causes more illness than you started with, there should not be time release meds. on any, meds need to be antidote as a poison to get this out of someones system immediately, not suffer to a point of self destruction..Sad life depends on a physician help, not a pill time release especially. There are medications to get this under control, but it is a crime to ask for a med that you know will help, but it comes down to trying a different antidepressant. I feel there should never be anything you take, should be available to leave within a few days.

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10

I just returned from the doctor's office and he is taking me off of Pristiq 50mg that I have been on for only two months, due to uncomfortable side effects. ie: night sweats, jumpy, sucking mouth/tongue movements, etc. Before going on Pristiq I was on Abilify, 5mg, since 2003 for Bipolar Disorder. It was working very well, but there were rumors that it could be the cause of compulsive gambling problems. This has been an ongoing problem for me, so the doctor switched me to the Pristiq. He told me to cut the tablet in half for 4 days and start back on the Abilify, 5 mg. I am concerned about this after reading all of the posts, describing the problems with this titrating solution. Any help would be appreciated.

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11

Has anyone gotten off of Pristiq & no longer have withdraw symptoms? My dr is weaning me (was taking 100mg) for 6 weeks.

Weeks 1-2 = 75 mg
Weeks 3-4 = 50mg
Weeks 5-6 = 25mg

I've cut pills to get the 75mg dose. My psych is also a pharmacist & said this is fine & safe (despite the CVS pharmacist telling me it's not recommended).

I started 50mg a few days ago. Thoughtout this whole taper, I've had flu-like body aches (advil helps) & some "eye dizziness). So far, the body aches are the most troublesome.

I might also mention I'm slowly being titrated on Viibryd. The changing of meds is Bc Pristiq never worked for me. If anything, it made me feel sosced out at times and have me bouts of weird derealization.

I'll try & remember to post updates.

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12

Lesweet1971 and all, how did the tapering off of the Pristiq go?? I am trying to wean myself off - after two years at 50mg. I am been on a myriad of different AD for over ten years, and want to see if I really need drugs. I never questioned my Dr, with in hindsight....may not have been a good thing. I have been sober now 13 years and think I can handle my life. I am not adverse to using an AD if needed, just don't thin I do anymore. I have started every other day - a week ago. All's well so far. But if anyone has ANY suggestions PLEASE write. Thank you.

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13

How do you cut them in half? I have a pill splitter but with the coating they don't evenly split.

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14

I got off Pristiq with very few bad effects by cutting the pills and tapering the dose down very slowly. I used a pill splitter and didn't worry that the dosage was never even (they don't split evenly). I found this method much better than taking them every other day which left me feeling sick when I tried to go off completely. I couldn't afford to feel unwell as I couldn't take time off work and looking after the kids so slowly reducing by cutting them was the best option.
Best if luck.

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15

Yes I know that this medication has severe weaning off side effects, as most have
But pristiq has made me feel normal again, I have been on pristiq for about 4 1/2 years and plan to stay on. My life was like being in a prison with out it. Anxiety, panic attacks, light depression, and the toll a panic attac/ anxiety takes on your body. If you don't need this med I say find something lighter. All the best to all who suffer and remember exersise helps a lot for our infliction

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16

I think he is wrong. I did 25 for awhile and stopping Still made me feel sick. Be careful

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