Weaning Off Pristiq For Good (Page 3)

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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I haven't really heard of someone starting on a dose so high. Did your dr give you any reasons as to why he started you there?

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300mg seems high. I have talked to several people who were or are on Pristiq and never heard of them taking that much. I have been able to get mine compounded and feel like I am turning the corner easier than 50 mg every other day. I am taking 20mg every day for a week now and will start maybe 10 mg a day in 2 weeks or so. Good luck. It's been tough!!

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I started out taking 50mg, went to 100mg pretty quick, then up to 150mg and now to 200mg. I've been taking it for, I guess about a year total now I would say.

I've been on a ton of other antidepressants in the last 5 years (Citalopram, Lexapro, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Zantac, and also Xanax for anxiety and Adderall for energy/mood lift) so it makes me kind of mad that my doctor would put me on such a high dose of a pill that's so hard to come off of when I would most likely have to come off of it some time seeing as how I haven't had success with any of the other pills. I basically had to twist her arm to let me go down to the 150mg that I'm on now and pretty much brushed me off when I said I want to eventually go off of it completely. Maybe its just something I'll have to do on my own?

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It's important to have the weaning process monitored, cause as you have prob read, this drug is such a pain to get off! If you do do it on your own, just take it nice and slow...I'm on 50mg now every 36 hours, and like I have said, if I go beyond 36 hours I start to get horrible withdrawals! Just take it nice and easy and listen to your body, you know it best.

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getting off pristiq was soooo hard, but once I was off.. It was worth it. I woke up one day after trying to get off of it for a month, I decided I needed to find the strength. So I gave myself a timeline, and rocked it! After 36 hours, the withdrawals were horrible. But once I made it through 48 hours..it didn't get any worse really! I threw away the rest of my medicine because I would have taken it if I had it around. Im not suggesting you do the same, I just didn't have control. I wish you the best in that you find the strength to conquer this evil drug

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To Kendall:
That is awesome! Congrats!
I was thinking about doing the same thing once I slowly get down to 50 or 100mg. I head the drug stays in your system for about 3-4 days and then its all out. Does anyone know if this is the case?
I think I'd rather just suck it up and have 3 or 4 days or a week of feeling like total crap instead of going slowly and having months of feeling kinda crappy. Any thoughts?

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Hi there, I would rather risk 5 days of misery then a long period of semi misery but I may be rare. Malik acid helps with the Brain zaps and exercise helps too. I would bike 10-20 miles when I would feel like crawling out of my skin. I tried to stay busy even though it took every bone In my body to leave the house. Good luck. If I can do this, anyone can!

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If i remember, it takes 3-4 weeks to fully get into ur system. Not sure if that is the same to fully get out.

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Cool, thanks for the advice!
Is malik acid something you took as a supplement or do you think just drinking a lot of apple juice or eating fruit would help?
I've also heard fish oil helps stabilize moods a little bit so I might try that as well.

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All good fats are great for Braun health. Take fish oil and add avocado to each meal. Cook with coconut oil and cut out all starch. These will help stabilize your mood on a regular basis. I'm going to stop the Pristiq after a trip next week and I plan to do it pretty quickly. I'd rather have short term misery than long. Also, I've also already started taking GABA in the evening. It's a calming neurotransmitter. A compounding pharmacist also recommended L Theanine. Good luck!

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GABA is the best! Anytime I am in a situation where I feel anxious. I take 2 GABA and im free of anxierty. Whether it works or is in my head. I don't care! Herbal supplements saved my life over anti anxiety meds and I was in a really bad place. Im excited to hear your progress after your trip. Hang in there!

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Taking 20mg of pristiq. Most of the withdrawal symptoms are tolerable, but having trouble with insomnia. Dr. prescribed Ambien. What are all ur thoughts on this. I feel like if I can sleep, I can turn the corner and lower my dose of Pristiq to 10mg. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

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Your post was excellent and I'm experiencing very similar withdraw symptoms. I was on 50mg for 2 years then my Dr. increased it to 100mg. However I also began taking Wellbutrin. After changing Dr's I was advised to ween off of the Pristiq by reducing to 50mg. I took that daily for two weeks. I ended up having to stop cold turkey because I couldn't afford the refills during an insurance lapse. It's my 3rd day and it's definitely not easy but I'm determined not to become dependent on it again. I'm suffering from hot flashes, nausea, unable to sleep, sometimes I can't eat even if I'm hungry. I'm having trouble standing for more than a few minutes so I've been lying around a lot. I definitely wouldn't be able to wok in this condition so my leave of absence is a saving grace! Lastly, I'm having nightmares when I am able to sleep - mostly weirdly related to things or people in my life that I've previously had regrets about. And I can cry at the drop if a dime losing my breath, but I let it out for a minute then really strive to pull myself together. I'm not ready to stop Wellbutrin b/c I don't want a severe relapse of depression but I definitely don't want to be dependent on a Pristiq considering the withdraw. Experiencing brain zaps also but determined to be a fighter. It helped to be open about this with people that understand rather than think it's "just all in my mind." Hopefully I'll be able to stop Wellbutrin (150mg) one day, but for now I'm taking it one day at a time and hoping the side effects end soon. It's hard to lie around feeling ill knowing you have to defer through it. I wish anyone experiencing the same the best and trying to remain as optimistic as possible. The tears are streaming down my face as I type yet I still feel stronger!

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I was prescribed Ambien as well which helps at times. However I faithfully only sleep 4 hours. I try to avoid taking it everyday. Being able to be online during my odd awake hours has helped. Other than that, I'm just falling asleep whenever I can rest. Ambien seems to cause some weird dreams though - which an either e helpful or concerning. I'm guessing my mind is freeing itself from what was being subdued for so long.

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To Rose - I understand you regretting not going on the trip, but if you ad went you may have been even more miserable! I forced myself to go on a planned trip w/my boyfriend after 1st starting meds and I slept the entire time. He spent most of the vacation alone while I buried my head under the covers. You've got to put your health and healing 1st. More trips will come that you'll truly be able to enjoy! Best Wishes!

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Just wanted to post a note about my progress:
I started on 200mg of Pristiq and went down to 150mg for about two weeks. The first two days were a little tough: I was randomly crying and kept having hot flashes. But after that I felt perfectly fine. I am currently on 100mg and have been at this dose for about 4 days. Yesterday and today I felt very sick: fatigued, unable to concentrate, out of it, hot flashes and chills, mild fever, sweating, nausea, loss of appetite, etc. I'm getting a bit better this afternoon but I'm hoping my condition continues to improve over the weekend. So far, everything is going better than I was expecting. Thanks for everyone's input on this site!

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I was prescribed pristiq for depression and anxiety. I was also taking olanzapine at the time. I was put on medication for depression at the age of 14. I am now 29 and until last summer I was drugged up and in a fog. I take nothing now. Pristq was by far the worst drug I have ever come off of. Even the anti-psychotics were easier than this poison. I would not recommend it to anyone. I was severe twitching for over 6 months afterwards and terrible nightmares when I could sleep, not to mention the awful side effects while taking it. I was also on 50mg and they were slow release so it's not recommended to cut them in half. Terrible drug.

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Danielle, take your time. The best advice I have gotten is to reduce the dose, then stabilize for at least 2 weeks to a month. I was able to get mine compounded and made into 10mg capsules. I went from 50 mg every other day, which was intolerable, to 20mg every day which has been OK. I tried 20mg then 10mg the next day and am not ready. Best of luck, it is so hard!!! I am determined though!!

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I have been on Pristiq 50 mg for 2 years and am having a very difficult time coming off.I went every other day for three days along with taking 20 mg fluoxetine. And now am completely off of Pristiq for about 2 weeks. I am having trouble eating, sleeping, crying, anxiety and anxiety attacks, Some days are better then others but can't wait to find some relief. I feel so isolated at times. Any advice????

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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.

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