Weaning Off Pristiq For Good (Page 16)

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.

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You will find so much information in these posts. I recommend reading them, then discussing with a trusted doctor and continuing too come here for super from people that understand. Good luck and God bless....there is a great life after Pristiq

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It was so helpful reading your posts! I am on day 6 of no pristiq and hopefully nearing the end of these crazy symptoms! Still have some zaps, weird muscle twitches and irritable but nothing like the first few days. I am ready to start a family with my husband and I wanted to be completely free of this drug before we have a baby! It has been a nightmare going cold turkey from 50mg but it is so encouraging to read that you made it through! I hope I can continue to push through this darkness and reach my goal! Thank you for telling your story!!

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HERE'S HOW I GOT OFF PRISTIQ:

I was on Pristiq for four years. I never had any real depression symptoms, rather a lack of energy and I was ultimately diagnosed with hypothyroid. Prior to my diagnosis, however, a doctor had put me on Pristiq saying that it could help with my low energy levels. Pristiq never helped me with energy since my problem was actually undiagnosed thyroid (very common btw). After my thryroid diagnosis, I wanted so badly to be off Pristiq because it was a useless medication for me.

I tried for THREE YEARS to get off Pristiq and failed each time because I couldn't handle the intense withdrawal symptoms. I lurked in this forum and many others and I tried all kinds of methods for getting off of Pristiq. Nothing worked and I felt doomed that I'd be on the drug for the rest of my life.

Eventually I DID get off of Pristiq and want to share how I did it in the hopes to help other people trying to come off of it.

This method took me almost 6 months start to finish but overall it was not difficult and finally WORKED after so many miserable failed attempts. What was good about this method was that I did not experience any extreme discomfort. Also, as a side note, I feel so much better off the drug and didn’t realize that it was stifling my emotions and happiness until after I was off it.

Here are the steps I took:

-For about 6 weeks, I alternated 1 50 mg tablet with 1/2 tablet (I split it with a pill cutter). No noticeable withdrawal symptoms during this time unless I went beyond 24 hours between doses.

-Next, I took 1/2 tablet every day for another 6 weeks. Again, no noticeable withdrawal symptoms during this time unless I went beyond 24 hours between doses.

-Then, I alternated 1/2 tablet with 1/4 tablet for about 6 weeks.

-After that, I took 1/4 tablet every day for about 4 weeks. My original plan was to carry on with 1/4 tablet for 6 weeks total and then alternate 1/4 tablet with 1/8 tablet and so forth. I got somewhat impatient at this point though and thought I'd rework my plan and stop to see if I could get through. My kids were going to be away for the weekend and I felt motivated to just see if I could kick it over the weekend, with the back up plan that if by Sunday I was feeling badly, I’d just go back on the 1/4 tablet and carry on with the original plan.

-I took the last 1/4 tablet on a Thursday.

-Surprisingly, withdrawal symptoms did not set in until Saturday. Symptoms were mostly brain zaps, but also dizziness, feeling a bit unsteady when walking, mild stomach cramps and brain fog/inability to think clearly.

-When the withdrawal symptoms came on, I got in bed to wait out the "storm" and loaded up on everything I researched to boost serotonin:
-800 mg of fish oil every few hours - I believe that would be a hefty dose regularly, but I figured no biggie since I would only be taking that amount during withdrawal symptoms.
-1 tablet Zyrtec - I read that antihistamines can help reduce the brain zaps. (Benadryl might be a good choice if one desired to get sleepy and rest more deeply.)
-Lots of water
-A ton of raw green leafies – romaine, spinach and baby greens.
-85% cacao Dark Chocolate
-Grass Fed, Free Range Beef
-Magnesium Glycinate tablets
-Calcium Citrate tablets
-Vitamin D tablets
-Note some things I didn’t try but that could possibly help include: flaxseed, flaxseed oil, free range turkey, bananas, pasture raised eggs.

By Saturday evening, I kept my eyes closed mostly because looking around intensified the brain zaps. I rested in the dark and listened to audiobooks and podcasts in bed.

I felt quite nervous on Saturday not knowing how long the symptoms would last. There were a few times I thought that I should just continue with my original plan. Mentally, I was hopeful that the symptoms would go away quickly, but was prepared that they possibly could indeed last much longer.

I fell asleep around midnight on Saturday and allowed myself to sleep until I woke up on Sunday - a solid 10 hours.

The great news is that the brain zaps were minimal when I woke up on Sunday. They went away almost entirely by Sunday afternoon and I felt practically no withdrawal symptoms at all by Sunday evening.

Note that on Sunday, I continued with all the serotonin-boosting items listed above. Fish oil, dark chocolate, etc.

Overall, these steps/my process did not feel difficult. The worst part was on Saturday evening, simply not knowing how long the withdrawal symptoms would last - would it be a few more hours? a day? a few days? a week? That unknowing was the worst part indeed, but it turned out to not be more than 24 hours.

I am so grateful to be off Pristiq and I pray that this can work for other people out there. I also pray that this medication becomes more strictly regulated with smaller doses available for the purpose of coming off it and that doctors become more educated on just how much of a nightmare it can be to come off this drug.

I hope my story can help some of you out there. I wish you all the best and send you so much love and support.

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I was taking 100 mg of Pristiq a day for depression and anxiety for 9 months. I decided to cut back to 50 mg per day. I did experience some irritability, headaches, spells of dizziness, slight stomach upset. I did time it that I had a few days off work before the weekend, and by the beginning of the week felt better. After 2 weeks at 50 mg, I went cold turkey. Again, a few days off before a long weekend. Experiencing similar withdrawal symptoms, with the addition of some odd dreams and sweats. I am on day 3 of being free of Pristiq , and I have to say that as "uncomfortable" as it is going through the withdrawal, the awakening of sorts I'm feeling is most welcome. I am also beginning to notice my libido returning and I'm laughing more. (I have cried some too!) I am determined to hang in there and I will conquer!! :) my plan for success is to continue exercising, self hypnosis, healthy eating, and positive thinking. Good luck to everyone else in their journey and know you aren't alone.

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That is awesome!!! You will beat this, no doubt about it! God bless !

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Do not go off this medicine cold turkey! It's dangerous! I have a business that is not going well, so I wanted to take a couple days with my family. Thought I had my pills, but actually didn't. Too far from home to get them. Ugh!!! It was only 2 days. Day 1 wasn't that bad. Day 2 I had this horrid headache, was crying, difficult vision issues, ears ringing.. When I go off, I'm going to exercise like mad and pray, but I'm going to taper, and slowly....

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Hi, I'm sorry to hear that, sounds awful :( I left below my weaning schedule in a super lengthy message below. Everyone's different of course but for me it was nasty, but bearable. I was JUST able to power through work although I wouldn't recommend it You should give it a shot :)

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Hello, I am a 57 year old post menopausal woman. I have been on both Wellbutrin XL 300 mg and Pristiq 40 mg for years. I have been having horrible sweats day and night for years now. My GYN tells me that it is NOT hot flashes 12 years out of menopause(sorry gents, but I have to tell this).

My PCP recommended that I wean off Pristiq as sweating is a top side effect. So he switched me to Effexor 37.5 for 14 days then every other day until gone. He gave me 25 pills. I am now on the every other day regimen and the past two days I have been crying for no reason. Being a retired LPN, the only thing I can figure out is that I have been on two anti-depressants (plus Xanax, Trazodone, and on and on) for so long that I am now having rebound depression.

I would recommend that anyone on Pristiq ask about switching to Effexor to wean off of Pristiq. I have had no ill side effects that others have mentioned, except for the rebound depression. I may just have been on two for way too long, or I am someone who needs two meds to combat depression.

Anyway, my point is, ask your PCP to look into Effexor to wean off of Pristiq.

If anyone agrees with me about the rebound depression, please let me know.

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I have been Pristiq free for almost 9 months and counting. I will never take another antidepressant again! I am currently tapering off Alprozolam. I am taking a mega dose of amino acids, minerals and vitamins. I just started True Hope Advanced... We will see what happens... I am scared. I wish not even my worst enemy to go through as much pain as I have been in.'
I lost my mother June 1st and was already feeling pretty bad before she died.. I have been through hell and almost back! I am seeing a psychotherapist and taking these supplements. Here : TrueHope,com
I am hoping this will help me! I know that my brain isn't right after the antidepressants over a 4 year period. They have live coaches that will talk to you and guide you.

On the other hand.. I explained my feeling to the lady and she told me that True Hope is supposed to help replenish what the drugs took from me. Anyone try it ?

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Karen and Anthony.....I wish you the best. Depression and/or anxiety creates a difficult struggle... I thank God that you have help while dealing with it. You are stronger than you know. I remember a sermon that compared human struggles to a chick trying to peck its way out of its shell....it's that struggle that makes it strong....it wouldn't survive if someone just cracked it open.....it would miss the development necessary for survival. Peace, prayers and thoughts to you :)

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Hello there, I have been on pristiq for a long time and trying to wean off of it . I was on 100mg now 50. But i was told to take the 50mg for 2 weeks then stop, and maybe up my welbutrin if i feel too bad coming off of it. then start weaning off welbutrin if i decide to. I am not real sure what to think about just going down to 50 for 2 weeks then stop all together. I am starting my second week now and will be done thurs. any thoughts about weaning in that way ? I take meds for depression , that was my reasoning to be on them .

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You will probably have a rough week....sorry to say. Read through these past posts, there is a wealth of information. Make sure you have a trusted psychologist to help with your depression..... many posters recommend exercise, good diet and other good ideas. God bless ....you are stronger than you think

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Hi , I've been on this medication for over 6 years , I want to get off this ? I'm starting tommorow only taking it every second day for now . What else so you recommend . Vinnie

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Great amount of helpful information on this post. Good luck and God bless!

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Thank you so much, i have been on it for 5 or 6 years. I am also on welbutrin and dont want to take 2 meds like that. I am weaning down like half of a half 50 and just keeping a little in my sytsem til gone which has been a week now, only have few left. what do you do holistically now ? Thanks, Jill

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Hi all, 2 months now free of pristiq and I thought id share how I'm recovering. I was originally getting much much happier now that the "zombie" effects of pristiq are gone, still exhausted 24/7 not sure if that's related or not. Then, I started to feel the bleak feeling of depression at a family lunch, ended up crying for no particular reason. Next day I had a 9 hour shift, but ten minutes into it I broke down in tears. Usually with anxiety-caused tears I'd sort of get it, calm myself down in fifteen minutes or so and go back to work. This felt like more of the deep despair that I knew I wouldn't "get over" so quickly. Which made me really fear that the depression is coming back. Although the days following this have even a bit better. I'm taking up regular acupuncture now in the hope it will help both anxiety and depression (and the muscle tiredness and exhaustion I forever suffer from). My acupuncturist said she thinks my depression may have been caused by glandular fever, that that's super common? Today was day one of my *regular* acupuncture (if had it twice before) and I came home with a herbal supplement called Magnol one. Googled it, and it's for "excessive fatigue, lack of energy, feelings of demoralization,
Vital exhaustion with overlapping patterns of depression". Well that sums me up perfectly, I hope it helps! Also going to try and finally start eating better. I don't know about everyone else here, but my choices of food are pretty bad and an obvious contribution to feeling crappy all round. If anyone's interested in further updates of the acupuncture and the supplements, let me know.

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Hi. I have been on pristiq 50 for over a year. I have been having a great amount of hair loss in the past month. I thank everyone for the information posted because I want to get off this med. I didn't see anyone staying hair loss however. Can anyone comment on that. Seeing my dr next week hopefully to get off this med !!!

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I've been on Pristiq 50mg for 7 months, I want to stop taking it. I have bad suicide thoughts and I can't get myself to do anything but watch TV, even going to work is a struggle. My NP wants me to take 100mg, but I'm not. Has anyone gone cold turkey, I want to try that, one day I missed my dose and the next day I was so sick. But I still want to try. Can anyone give me some advice please, I'm very scared, please

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Faith, there are all kinds of suggestions in this post...please read. If you are having horrible thoughts you need to have a professional to talk to. My daughter was there(suicidal) too...I was also when in my early 20's. I'm so happy I'm 57 now! I want another 57, at least. The things making you sad now will be a dinky memory someday. My daughter found help from accupunture to wean of pristiq. She hated that medicine. She also found exercise. Never exercised before and now a year and a half after being through with pristiq. .....she is so strong. Her self confidence is much better, has helped with negative thoughts. She still has anxiety but is going to try yoga. You may need to find a medication or not. Work on that with your doctor. Start a gratitude journal so you are focused on finding positive things in your surroundings on a daily basis. I also recommend finding an awesome church...that was my God send. God bless you Faith..

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Thank you Nancy, for your kind and helpful words. I'm 54 and been struggling a long time. I was always into going to church and working out, even volunteering in a ER, but I lost all of it and just buried myself. I'm gonna try real hard to get through this but it's been very hard with no family or friends to turn to, not one. I just read about someone writing they're loosing there hair, that's strange because 7 years ago when I started all these meds because of a bad break up, my hair was falling out, and still is all the time. It's so embrassing because it all over my house, if I don't where it tied back , I can feel it falling off onto my arms. Doctors have said I've lost more than half my hair and just say most women do, I know feel its all these meds. Thank you all for your feed back and will take all the help anyone can give. Thank you !!

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