Weaning Off Pristiq For Good (Page 21)

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

How do you feel different now? Anything specific about the differences mentally, emotionally, etc?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Month ago stop taking pristiq I was taking for 3 years,not feeling very vell very empty no point to leave.when i was on pristiq felt alright until last year ,felt like piece of furniture and i thought i stop this,no idea what to do next,feel very empty.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

So sorry to hear you feel like this. Do you see a therapist? Have you tried yoga, exercise, maybe an acupuncturist can work on your emotional blockage. I find volunteering, hiking and journaling helpful. You need to find your passion. There is a reason you are here. Give yourself a big hug and take care of yourself. Please see someone to talk to. Maybe find a church.... God bless.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I was on Pristiq highest dose for 6 years! I wanted off of it but no one would help me. I tried weaning but would always go back because of the withdrawals. I finally went cold turkey. Symptoms were bad for 1st week but we're less by week 2 after about 4 weeks all symptoms were completely gone. It was not easy but I told my loved ones what I was doing and with there support and understanding I am no longer on any depression or anxeity meds. I hope this helps

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I was on Pristiq highest dose for 6 years! I wanted off of it but no one would help me. I tried weaning but would always go back because of the withdrawals. I finally went cold turkey. Symptoms were bad for 1st week but we're less by week 2 after about 4 weeks all symptoms were completely gone. It was not easy but I told my loved ones what I was doing and with there support and understanding I am no longer on any depression or anxeity meds. I hope this helps. Oh and make sure you have at least a week free from work.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I was on Pristiq for about 3 years. I thought about going off around 6 months ago, but then read so much about how horrible the withdrawal symptoms were that I changed my mind. I would get Vertigo within 12 hours of a missed dose. Over the past few months I really felt like it wasn't helping with my depression and so this week with my Doctors blessing I went off of it cold turkey. She has put me on brintellix, but I'm not sure if I will stay on it or not. I'm going to give it a try for a month. As for my withdrawals - Day 1 was just Vertigo. Day 2 HORRIBLE. Crying, brain zaps,severe (probably shouldn't drive) vertigo, Day 3 Better moderate vertigo, brain zaps at night. Day 4 - Today! A few Brain Zaps mild vertigo! So I'm hoping that by the end of this weekend I will be over the withdrawals! Bonus- Libido is back. This will make my husband happy!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

You can do it!!!! lucky for your husband, too

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Thanks great news I have only just started taking it and I was worried incase it was hard to get off but after reading your post it gives me hope .. Thank you

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

SDub..

I am in the same boat. Me and my other half are getting married in just over 2 months, and we want to start a family. My dr told me to do the every other day and then after one week of doing that just stop. Im on 100 mg, and have been for 2 yrs. Well i just skipped a dose last week to give it the first attempt. About 6 hours after missing my first dose, i started having sode effects. I was getting real dizzy and nauseous from being dizzy. My eyes hurt. And i got pretty anxious. I took my pill the next day. 2 days after missing my dose, i was still getting anxious and dizziness. I ended up taking it every day since. Im so scared to come off of it. Idk what to do....

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Reassuring to read your post. I'm in the midst if coming off prestiq. My dosages same as yours. I do believe I will get there but it is such a strain on myself and more importantly my husband and kids. I will get there.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

I posted here in February of this year, asking for advice about getting off Pristiq. Since then, I have started doing what I think is necessary to do it myself, without a doctor's help because frankly, my doctor is the one who put my on this and didn't do much of any kind of monitoring after -- even when I explained that I was fatigued and depressed. I know there are good doctors out there who care and who want to help, but I think when it comes to psych meds, GPs know very little and are content to prescribe the anti-depressants that "usually" work for "most people" but beyond that, they don't have much training.

I have tried getting off Pristiq for years, always with the most horrible outcome possible - shakes, lack of balance, severe depression, vomiting, brain zaps so severe I couldn't drive, nausea and worst of all, self-doubt about my sanity.

This time, I decided I would power through it. I've been on 100mg for about 5 years. I decided (and logic would tell us) that we can stretch out the weaning process for as long as we'd like but the longer the process, the more time our bodies have to adjust to the "new" dose and then going down again is hard.

So here's what I'm doing, and today is my first day at 25mg. I started going down in dosage 2 weeks ago.

1) I cut the 100mg pills in half for 2 weeks.

RESULT> A few crying spells on days 1-7; mild nausea and GI issues and a low, "buzzing" headache.

RESULT> A feeling of motivation that I haven't felt in some time. I tackled tasks that have been sitting there for some time.

RESULT> Hopefulness - another feeling I haven't experienced in some time. I felt that maybe, just maybe, I would start experiencing life with a full spectrum of healthy emotions including (but not limited to) JOY.

2) I have begun exercising at least 2 days on/1 day off at a pretty high level of exertion. I do about 45 minutes of running or stair climber at the gym, and then some weights three times a week. I was skeptical that this would be of noticeable help in this journey off my medication but I am here to tell you that there is absolutely no way I could do this and have any hope of making it through without exercise. It's true what they say --- there IS an anti-depressive effect to exercise.

In order to make myself stay on course with exercise, I tell myself on the way to the gym that it's "time to take my pill" --- sure exercise takes an hour and taking a pill takes 30 seconds, but I am telling you that the effect is very, very similar.

3) I am taking fish oil supplements. I do not know if they are helping --- it's difficult to say at this point, but I'm doing it anyways. I'm also taking iron and Vitamin B12 and 6.

4) When I start to feel myself getting sad for no apparent reason, I tell myself that it is a feeling that I am having and it is not because of any other reason than my body is adapting to something new --- the tears and sadness are a symptom of medication leaving my body; not a feeling or a state of being that will last. This is probably the hardest part.

It is 11:20am on my first day of 25mg, which I will be doing for 2 weeks (or splitting 4, 100mg pills). I feel a bit of a haze and a bit sleepy, but nothing that is changing my mind. I am here at work and I am being productive and I've laughed and smiled a few times and I am optimistic.

One foot in front of the other. If this plan of mine is of interest to others out there experiencing the same or thinking about weaning off pristiq, let me know and I'll keep updating it. I know that support is instrumental for me.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I think you are awesome!!! You are taking control of your life!! God bless

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Why thank you!!! I'll take all the support I can get! :-)

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

My son's blood pressure dropped to a dangerous level when he tried to stop, is this normal.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have been on Pristq for almost 4 years and it has caused me grogginess and insomnia, I was put on it when I took a health diagnosis really bad, it caused me great stress. Doctor said I was depressed. I was scared because of health diagnosis, but not really depressed, but I listened to my doctor and filled the prescription, took it during the day and felt very groggy and tired, and still had to try and function cause I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, and had to deal with that to. Then I went back to him saying I couldn't sleep and felt worse and I was crying and very upset then we switched it to night time. Oh also I was hospitalized to cause I suggested it cause I felt horrible, now I am thinking it was the Pristq, here I thought it was the scare of the diabetes diagnosis, so I was admitted to psych and they got a diabetic dietitian to talk to me and I was more scared, I was not put on medication for the diabetes doc said I could do it by diet if I wanted to so that's what I decided. Anyway the whole experience was not what I expected, know one would listen to me after a few times going back and forth to hospital that It was the medication I figured out through the past years, and dealing with the diabetes which is a very hard life change. Your depressed they would all tell me and then the anxiety started after being on Pristq. It's been a hard hard past 4 years with not much support and told so many different diagnosis adjustment disorder, depression, anxiety, ect. I tried to go off it once through a compound pharmacist and near lowest dose felt suicidal, I had chills and anxiety worse, that was a year ago, I went back on Pristq, couldn't handle withdraws and still don't feel right sleep is off and anxiety is still up and down. My mom passed away 8 months ago My family gets upset with me when I cry, husband just kind of ignores my feelings, she was my best friend and I miss her so so much, I am grieving her and there isn't much patients with others in my family for me, my extended family brother that lives in my town totally turned me down on supporting me in my grief, Pristq does not help the sadness I feel. It's very hard for me to talk about my moms death cause it hurts soooo much. Like I said I was a happy person then this all came down I have tried other meds but feel awful on most and the main side effect I get is tired and grogginess I thought it was the diabetes but I have been in remission from it for 3 years all A1cs are normal. It's hard to tell what's causing what. I'm so fed up. I hate being lonely like this it makes you feel like your the only one going through this my friends are having a happy life like I use to, and I feel stuck on meds that make everything worse, I've also read there's legal cases because of Pristq. So that's my story, it's not the best of drugs and I wish there was a diagnostic to say if you were truly depressed instead of guessing. And some doctors are just too quick to put you on something, instead of trying to get you the proper support without scaring you.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I'm so sorry you're going through this. You will miss your Mom forever, but it will get a little easier. Be good to yourself, because that is one person you can count on.

As far as pristiq and other stuff...I'm a big advocate for acupuncture and take time reading all the great info here. See if you have any support groups for grief in your community. Maybe volunteer somewhere, do it in your Mom's honor. I've been volunteering at the VA in honor of my dad, who's gone. Volunteering helps me feel better, too. God bless you in this journey!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Don't use any meds. Read all about them first. I'm on 6000 mg of Sodium Valporate + 400 mg Pristiq per day. After 3 years all the side affects are starting to show. I'm better off on Cannibis because it will never give me these side affects and it does the same job.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

My husband passed from an unexpected heart attack.i had already been on pristique a couple mths.im so depressed having panic attacks and im so afraid.i know this isnt normal.i told my doc he wanted me to stay on it longer.my depression is so bad.i told him i need something different.im on 50 mg of pristiq.he gave me 25 mg of pristiq and prozac.he told me to take the prozac daily and 25 mg of pristiq for a week.im so afraid i have tried to taper down once.does anybody think taking the prozac will help me.i died inside im also in therapy.my husband was only 45 and i found him.i pray this works.i have a 16 yr old son depending on me.hes my world.i dont like the pristiq at all.has anybody else switched like this? Please if so i need some info from people who have gone through it..bless u all.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I wish I could give you a big hug. I'm so sorry, you definitely have reason to feel depressed and anxious. I pray that you find comfort with the knowledge that God is with you. Your son is a blessing. Keep him as a healthy focus. I recommend constantly the help my daughter received with acupuncture. It was amazing for her. As others have found....eating well and exercise are helpful. Take care of yourself. Nurture yourself at this overwhelming time. It will get better. God bless you and your son. Your husband is still with you, feel his strength and love.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Thank you for your kind words.i will try acupuncture.i wish i could get a hig.my hearts broken.i want off the pristiq so bad.ty again and GOD BLESS YOU

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

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