Weaning Off Pristiq For Good (Page 19) (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.

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Hi there I'm trying to get off pristiq in a month or so and I wanted to know what natural alternatives have helped u. I'm really scared to do it but I don't want to be on medicine for ever.

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Michele....you will find a lot of info in medschat. My daughters been free since May...this time last year she was scared to death to stop. It was difficult, but she found help with good diet, exercise, a few tough days....acupuncture stopped many of the withdrawal symptoms(headache, light sensitivity, extreme irritableness, brain zaps, nausea, vomiting). Life's not perfect, but that's how life is....she's much more alive in her life now. Good luck....give yourself time to get through some tough days in the beginning....

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Can't say enough about acupuncture... that helped my daughter very much. Find a reputable acupuncturist that specializes in drug withdrawal. God bless and good luck...... you will get through this!!!!

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Not sure how you were on 25 a day when 50mg is the lowest dose for this medication. Sometimes people will cut the pill to taper off. Did you cut the pill in half? I had a bad experience with that a few months ago when trying to taper off. Upon cutting the pill, I think too much of the drug went into my system too fast. At one point I had a bad nosebleed. Could this have been caused by too much, too fast norepinephrine going into my system, which maybe is dangerous. I was told the coating on pristiq provides the extended/slow release feature of pristiq, so once you cut the pill it changes how the pill works.

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Kendall,
You mention that you are on holistic meds. How are those working for you? I'd be interested to know what you're taking because at this point I'm not sure what to take, if anything. The psych started me on strattera because I have ADD. It ended up being a drug that helped me get off the pristiq. I'm not taking either drug now. Physically, I feel fine. Its been about a month.

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I was on the same dose as you for similar reasons. Pristiq allowed me to be a robot when I needed to be. I titrated off and it's been two weeks since I've had any and I still get the brain zaps. How long before the brain zaps go away?

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Dancing Queen,
Are u having some bad side effects from the pristiq? After being on it for a while I felt so blah. I've been off now for a month or two and I am feeling more depressed than when on the drug. I've been on this ride for 20+ years! I am in menopause now, and I do think hormones play a role in this depression thing. I think PMS and perimenopause are worse, though. If u really want to get off pristiq, though, have your doc put u on something else, like Prozac (I've read on survivingantidepressants.com) and then wean off the pristiq. That's about the only way to taper because u can't cut this pill! If u cut it too much drug dumps into your system too fast. So, good luck with your journey!

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I"ve tired a few antidepressents (zoloft, effoexor) neither of which i felt good on. I felt great on prisqtiq but i can't handle the weight gain! plus I'm really through the short term anxiety i had, so time to go off it. In stopping the other 2 i just stopped. I didn't really experience anything too bad so i didn't think going off pristine would be bad either… but after reading this forum I'm a little concerned…. should i be? has anyone actually had success with this drug? And did anyone experience weight loss after coming off it?

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You can do it!!!! We are all here for you! God bless

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That is good news! How long where you on the medication? I have read somewhere that the length of time someone is on the medication can impact the discontinuation symptoms. I had been on pristiq for over 2 years, and even going from 100mg to 50 had a big impact on me... maybe you will be fortunate and an easy time with it! :)

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Hi Karen

I was on it for about 9 months. I used it to take the edge off and work through my issues with therapy, now I feel great and don't need it anymore. I had great experience with pristiq - mo side effects EXCEPT a 30 pound weight gain (in 9 months!!), despite workouts and strict diet.

As I said, don't want to think I'm over it with no issues but I honestly haven't experienced anything yet.

Love to hear from anyone else who has gone through this similarly.

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where do you get Gabatone?

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I have weaned off pristiq. It took a total of 3-4 weeks with me taking it every other day and then going down to none the last week or so of that time period. It wasn't easy, but I am so glad I am off. It messes with your excretory/digestive system. You don't see yourself as big. Somehow you are in a fog about the problems you have which can be good, but you don't know when you are full. So you keep on eating. Then after being off pristiq, and I have gained at least 30 points. I am like how did I get to this point, I would never have done this when I was not on it. To Kendall, what holistic medicines are you on? I am interested. However, overall, I don't know why I went on pristiq. Doctor said because I was having problems with PMS, so I should try this.I was on it for 9 years, and I am sure it helped some. However, I think it really messed with my body's system with weight.

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Hi Julie. I was wondering how things were going for you. I have been in pristiq for 4 years for anxiety. It has helped with that but i am now 25-30 lbs heavier than i was and i wasnt thin before. Also my cholesterol levels are up. Im 41 and i want to get off. I have tried doing every other day but i cant handle the side effects. I need to have a smaller dose. Im on 50 mg. has anyone done the compounding thing suggested by LN.

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Thanks for the response Anne. I have to boys 12 and 9. Who have lots of activities. I dont have the opprotunity to be out if commission for a week. I am a beast when i am off it for one day. I need to find a way to wean off very slowly. Did you have any weight gain.

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Thanks again Anne. I guess I'll try to take some vacation time and get away with a friend to a summer cottage in the mountains to go through the last steps of withdrawal. I am gonna see if I can find a compounding pharmacie in my area to se if they can make lower doses of pristiq to start me off. Has anyone found that the weight came off more easily once they were off the meds.

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I went cold turkey, first 2 days not bad, then the zaps and nausea started along with some pretty scary nightmares. The dreams only lasted 2 nights. The zaps, nausea and dizziness lasted a few more days. I was not able to drive for about 8 days....I would say just do it cold turkey if you can, but be careful about driving while detoxing....I'm fine now...So for those of you just starting to wean it only took me 9 days, the worst being day 3 thru 7. Also my digestion is back to normal I just need to loose the weight I gained while on it and I now have energy again....Good Luck...

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Iam on 200 mg a day and have been up n down to 50 mg but back up to 200. Thishs gone on for about 5 years. It doesn't hold me anymore the brainzaps start about 18 hours after dose. I feel more depressed then I was before and my anxiety is through the roof. I seriously detest this medication. I want off it but the zaps are so hard to handle and being a mum I have to function. When I try cold turkey I feel like iam on the nod and can't keep my eyes open. Has anyone else been this way as well. Iam loosing my way with this fight.

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Are you seeing a therapist?

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Yes I am and it's not working. I don't feel I have problems related to stress at all. I was watching Star Wars during my first attack and it lasted a week. Nothing that serious has happened in my life to just all of a sudden turn mental problem into physical symptoms. Only guess is chemical issues? Don't know but the attacks are severe and scary as he'll.

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