Weaning Off Pristiq For Good (Page 15) (Top voted first)

I just wanted to tell all of you trying to get off pristiq, its possible. I was on pristiq for severe panic attacks for 6 months. It saved my life. It gave me a chance to slow down my career, gave me a huge wakeup call. This drug put a cloud over my brain. I was not my happy, fun loving self. I was like a step ford wife. You can't wean off this pill. I was on 50 mg. I did every other day for a month. Every third day for two weeks then cold turkey. It really was not so bad. I layer on my couch for three days, cried a bit and watched movies. I'm happily on all holistic medications, no longer a slave to Pristiq. If I can beat anxiety, anyone can. My biggest advice.. Exercise. Next, surround yourself with positive people. Three, talk out your problems. Good luck.

REPLY

REPORT

Duff. Take ur time. For me I feel he more gradual I went the better it is. You can get pristiq compounded. I am on 20 mg every day. I tried 50 mg every other day and it was not fun. I am just about ready to go to 10 mg a day. Good luck it is so hard.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi Danielle, I can see I'm a bit late with a response but wanted to say that I take 150mg a day, which seems to be a high dose from what others are saying. I've been on 150mg for at least 2 years. I'm planning to go off it though as (contrary to what others are saying) I find it to be really helpful and am happy with it. I usually take it at 6am and, if I sleep in, I start to get withdrawal symptoms (mainly dizziness) by 10am. Thanks everyone for your useful comments.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I agree with you. I found excersie to help even when weaning off Pristiq. As tired and ill as felt as soon as I started to excercise I felt better. I'm also losing weight that I couldn't seem to get rid off no matter how hard I tried when I was taking Pristiq.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Belle,
I'm glad you're having success. I too have been noticing that if I don't take my pill first thing in the morning, or if I sleep in too late, I start to feel withdrawal symptoms. Before I was on Pristiq, I used to be able to sleep 14, 15 hours easy. Now its more like 8 and done. It does make me feel more productive when I get up early and I definitely feel better physically. I guess that's a good side effect! :)

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I am on pristique 50 mg for about 2yrs for panic attacks and major depression. Now these are not so bad but still present. Have learned breathing that is very helpful. I am on other meds for mood stabilizer so it's hard for me to separate the side effects to the drug. I have to dig a word or thought out of my brain a lot. I want to wean off - not sure what everyone means by "brain zap" though. Thanks.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I am on day 3 of cold turkey. I took lexapro for 5 years due depression following the death of a loved one. For the last couple of years, I have felt like a zombie. I talked to my dr and he switched me to prystiq. I've been on it for almost two months, and I seem to cry more now than I ever did without an AD. I was taking a half dose for about a month, and I decided to stop taking it altogether this week. I have been irritable and crying a lot. The brain zaps are horrible. I'm so glad that you've all posted about them, or I would be so scared. I just feel all cloudy and like I can't hold my head up. Today, I am very nauseated. I'm hoping that I will feel better soon. I just want to be the real me again. How long will the nausea last? I hope this gets better soon. I don't want to give in and start taking it again, but I am feeling pretty terrible...

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Kristi.. I can not tell you what it feels like to quit cold turkey. I did 50 mg of pristiq every other day and that was horrible. For me, I was able to get compounded pristiq in 10 mg tablets. I took 2 a day for 20 mg total and am now doing just 10 mg a day. This has been tough but tolerable. I am close to trying 10mg every other day and then be done within a month or two. My best advice would be to do it a LOT more gradual!! All of your symptoms are the same of what I had. Best wishes!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I am also on this drug origionally 50 then up to 100mgs. I have noticed a lot of side effects such as eating non stop, really bad nightmares and hot flushes ive only realized since reading this that it was the drug all along. I have been on a few ad but i notice if i miss taking this one the verdigo is terrible, my heart races i really think. i need to get back down to 50mg if i have any chance at getting off it. Thanks everyone is great to know ur not alone.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I've been on Pristiq, 50mg a day, for anxiety for about eight months now, and I really, really want to get off it. I've put on weight even though my eating habits haven't changed. I have trouble sleeping, and even when I sleep through the night, I still wake up feeling tired. I sweat at the drop of a hat. A pet I've had for eighteen years recently died and I didn't feel a thing. I want to mourn her but I can't. And I blame this stupid drug. I was originally supposed to be on it for only six months, but the doctor decided to keep me on for another six. I just don't want to stay on it, it's horrible.

I forgot to take one the other day and I experienced pangs of dizziness, what I think others in this forum have referred to as brain zaps, but I think I can stand them. The other side-effects should be tolerable for me, too. The only thing I'm not sure about is how I should do this. I was originally thinking I would cut each tablet in half and take them daily, but someone said this is a bad idea. I only have seven pills left before I have to get another dosage, but I really don't want to if I could go cold turkey, and it could work as I have a week off from next Monday. Or I could go the slow and steady route and wean off them from every two days, then three then four etc. I'm just really not sure, does anyone have any tips?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

HI Kendell-Thank you for your encouraging story. I have been on Pristiq for only three months (for anxiety) and it has done nothing for my anxiety. I actually feel more anxious on it and the dreams I have are just out there. My PC doc prescribed it to me and said it would it help with anxiety, no such luck. He wants to up my dose 100 MG...NO WAY. I have been off of it for over 48 hours. I am doing ok so far. I take 1000 mg of fish oil, I take Tian Wang Bu Xin Pian 8 pills three times per day, exercise, chruch, and do acupuncture. What are you thoughts? I am a little afraid of feeling "out of control" with my thoughts and the panic that may come with it. I am remaining positive and praying and relaxing. Any additional advice would be great and many thanks for sharing!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi Jennifer.. I'm sorry you are feeling yucky. I remember those out of control thoughts. No anti anxiety meds worked for me. You should look into some herbal supplements such as GABA. A big thing for me is staying busy when I get nasty thoughts. Put your mind on one task and own it. Crafts are great projects for me to keep busy with. Good luck and hang in there.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi I was on pristiq for two years and although did help. Anxiety the depression part wears off and I am so sleepy I too trieD acupuncture, church, and took those Chinese pills but they made me worse. I'd u notice anything? I have not tried GABA yet I would rellt like to but not sure if u can take it with antidepressants ? My psychi peanut know either I have been on viibryd 10mg and Prozac 5 mg and tired lays nd depressed lo anxious at times. Yesterday prescribed me Wellbutrin and I'm underweight but nervous to start it. Has anyone? Alp tried same that was suggested too but I haven't tken it yet? Please reply if anyone has experience.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I remember when I came off of Cymbalta is was HORRIBLE! I've been on Pristiq now for 2 years and also plan on coming off of it! One thing I did do while coming off of Cymbalta was used 2 vitamins that help replace Serotonin and Norepinephrine. 1 being 5HTP

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Just wanted to share my story with Pristiq. I was on it for around 3 months and never felt any kind of improvement. I begged my doctor to take me off it and he recommended 1/2 a pill every day. It was horrible - headaches, nausea, dizziness, mood swings. The works! When I told him how terrible I felt he just gave me some meds for nausea and for dizziness and said I just had to tough it out. I tried that for 3 weeks and only felt worse. Finally I decided to do some research, online and with other doctors and this was the recipe that got me successfully off Pristiq:
Week 1-3: 1 pill every other day.
Week 4-6: 1 pill every 2 days
Week 7-8: 1 pill every 3 days (I felt really sick the first 3rd day but it got OK after that one night).
Week 9-10: 1/2 pill every 3 days
Week 11: 1/3 pill every 3 days

I know it was a long process but it did get me off the medication with minimum discomfort. I did feel dizzy some days but work and driving, etc was no effort.
I found that I felt much better on the days I had big meals and drank a lot of water.

Good luck to everyone! Hope you will soon be free from this horrible medication.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I was on Presiq for almost 2 years- I had to get off b/c I found out I was pregnant. Dr. rx effexor which is the drug to wean you off Presiq since Presiq does not come in a lower dose then 50. I had extreme dizzy for 2 days and then was perfectly fine the entire rest of my pregnancy with nothing. I then went back on for post pardom. I now am weaning off again and getting the "zaps" you all talk about. I am not sure if the pregnancy had anything to do with how easy it was the first time but there is hope that it wont be that bad to get off., I am hoping this time is as easy as the first. Everyone used to tell me I was so "blah" now hearing all your stories I see it was the meds doing it.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I'm weaning now with the intention of going more natural with amino acids that build seratonin etc. I read Julia Ross, The Mood Cure! Awesome resource! I'd love to know what you're doing now naturally. thanks

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I read, Julia Ross, The Mood Cure & learned about 5htp & DLPA. How long did u take 5htp? Do u feel like your mood is better?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I was up to 100 mg per day and, like others in this forum, when I began to no longer feel any benefit, I thought "why am I taking it?" Under a doctor's supervision I went to 50mg for a week to 25mg for a week and then off. I am actually here because brain fog, interruption in thought and challenges with focus remain. I think it's been about two weeks. Comforting to know my challenges are not uncommon but remain disconcerting. Did someone mention a month until the head clears? Thank you!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Kendall, I was wondering what holistic medications you are now taking to treat your depression.

I also want to say that I forgot to take my Pristiq two days in a row and it was just awful!! I realized, after some reflection, that the drug had not been helping me after three years on 100 mg and that, if anything, was responsible for the low energy and fatigue I've been feeling since I've been taking it. It really hasn't helped with my depression as it did in the past when I took it many years ago as Effexor. But, I want to offer something that might be very helpful to those weaning off Pristiq which I am deciding to do. Choose a healthy multivitamin to take everyday. I have heard that this helps a lot with withdrawal symptoms. I am currently taking one and am convinced that if I had not been my withdrawal symptoms would have been much worse. Also, I read about that having a diet of healthier whole foods and taking a protein powder with denatured whey is actually a treatment for detox and really great for your health, anyway. You can buy a good protein powder that has denatured whey online or at like The Vitamin Shoppe. An excellent brand is Whey Cool, though a little more on the expensive side.

I hope this helps people!!

Warmly,
Hope

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

hi there I just read your response and I too was on pristiq for years and then switched to viibryd but I still have depression and anxiety badly also I am30 as of yesterday and do not menstruate due to low hormones which makes me frail and weak. Please contact me and you gave me hope to go to the pharmacy and get off this stuff and on natural hormones I cannot take the synthetic BC from my Doc it exagerbates my depression very bad please help..

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

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...

16 REPLIES

Hi, I am a female 44 years old, started taking pristiq about 4 1/2 years ago, decided to wean off at the beginning of De...

6 REPLIES

I was told that people who are addicted to Xanax can be weaned off of it with this Propranolol Hydrochloride 40 mg pill ...

10 REPLIES

Please also help, I need some help trying to get off percocets for good. I have had back surgery now and everytime I try...

11 REPLIES

I was told to get off Pristiq by a Neurologist and my GP. My doctor put me on Prozac to help with the symptoms of withdr...

3 REPLIES

I have been taking 8 mgs. of Dilaudid 4 times a day for the last 6 months for a chronic illness. 3 months ago I had surg...

79 REPLIES

how long does it take to be weaned off a medtronic pain pump with the med. dilaudid the pain management wants my daughte...

39 REPLIES

My Son went to the Dr. for anxiety and depression, pristiq created more problems for him, panic attacks, insomnia, loss ...

13 REPLIES

I have been on Fentanyl patch the 50 for about 3 years and kept telling the doctor I was having side effects. I am being...

7 REPLIES

Has anyone here had any experience weaning themselves off of zubsolv? I've been on it for almost a year now and I re...

5 REPLIES