Weaning Off Pristiq For Good (Page 11)

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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Dear Lavindrye,

I hope you will hang in there. The journey off of P is not for the faint of heart. But I did it and I have been off for a year this November.

After getting what I knew was dangerous advice from my doctor's PA to cut the pills - I went to an apocothary and had the druggest help me by crushing and capsuling my redused dosages in safe measure. This apocothariest was a gift from heaven. He told me he had helped MANY people wean from this drug and had a personal disdain for the drug. company who had created it without a way to stop Taking it.

While weaning very slowly, he had me get my hormones checked and he got my hormones balanced naturally with bio-identical harmones, which is often the culpret for depression in the first place.

Then he got me on high doses of B-12 and turned me onto a program by Donna Pessin "unique healing" to get my colon back into optimum health.
I had virtually no clue the role colon health plays into serotonin levels in the brain etc. and it was a very easy fix.

By the time I was off of P, my symptoms were very slight. And more importantly I had been treatingy body and brain while weaning so the need for an anti-depressant was almost non-existent.

I am completely free now and profoundly grateful. I never tried acupuncture, but I've heard it can be incredibly effective.

I wish you great strength in your journey and hope to hear back on your success.

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Thank you for your detailed reply! I really was not sure if my initial reply was even going to be noticed since it had been so long since the last post. I have been on fifty mgs of Pristiq for almost two years and ran out of my medication two times. Both times I crashed hard, I thought it was just me because while taking this medication I do not notice what it does... I also take Buspirone with the Pristiq, only twenty mgs per day. I had severe crying episodes, paranoia, shakiness, things I did not associate with the lack of Pristiq because that is how I would get when my symptoms were giving me a 'bad' day. I suffer from Borderline Personality Disorder and have weaned myself from cutting, among other self destructive actions. After learning about my mental disability, I learned what NOT to do in order to be somewhat 'normal', like other normal folks. You know, putting everything around me in an order, everything has a home and everything goes in its home. This way I would not go nutzo because of not being able to find a nail file or something else stupid like that lol.... I also learned to hold my tongue, I was quick to 'give my opinion' on things that I probably shouldn't have... I now practice calmness and understanding, lots of patience and listening before speaking... It is hard but I bite my tongue. I meditate often, everyday. Jody Whiteley on YouTube is an Angel! She has guided meditations for everything; depression, anxiety, procrastination, studying, lucid dreaming and dream recall among countless others. Her voice is so soothing, she is a natural. You should check her out if you get the chance. She is my addiction! =)

I am not sure I will stop taking Pristiq until I am sure I can find a suitable replacement. It has actually been a relief since I have begun taking it. Depression does not even begin to describe what I feel when I am unmedicated..

Take care and I hope to hear from you again while you on your journey to an antidepressant free life...

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HELP! I only have 2 Pristiq pills left and my Dr.s receptionist gave me a few samples, but said they have not been getting more samples and that she gave me all they have. I really NEED this for Major Depressive Disorder and before when I was off of it for a week, my Daughter said that if I did not get back on it, she was moving out until I did. Right now I have VERY IMPORTANT things I HAVE to get done and I can not function without taking Pristiq. I there any way to get free for the time it takes to apply to Pfizer and them to answer and get meds. to me, I really need help or suggestions fast. Can anyone help me? Thank You ahead of time!

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I hope you get help! God bless!

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I was on 200 for a year then 100 for just over a year then 50 for nearly 2 years. Ive just started to get off and I feel terrible. Nausea, dizzy, cant sleep, headaches cant concentrate. Im now having a pill every 3rd day. Felt great while I was on them no crying ot panic attacks but think they were stopping me from being really happy, just want to be off them and feel normal again.

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Leanne,

It is important to get to the bottom of WHY you were having those symptoms prior to going on Pristq. So that you can address that situation and not fall into a bad place when you wean off.

For me, my harmonies were out of balance and my intestinal track was way out if wack, both of which have strong influence on the body's release of seratonin to the brain.

I had no idea ... And most people don't.

Sometimes it can be triggered by a tragic event, prolonged stress, etc.

Do you know the origin of your depression and anxiety?

It is important to know and address this prior to coming off of any medication like this.

Being armed with this information will help you prepare and tackle it from another (possibly more healthy) angle

And of course, the goal is to handle it once and for all. But that isn't always possible.

I have been off a year and had a apocothariest from a special pharmacy to help me wean so the process wasn't so severe.

I will occasionally feel a little anxiety coming on and now treat it with natural items that I obtain from the health food store. Some of them work within moments - amazing really - and I no longer walk around in a Pristiq daze.

What ever path you choose. I wish you the very best in your journey toward wholeness .

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How can I taper off fine. I have two weeks worth left 50 a day and want off. Each pill is 2.57 each I can not afford more.

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There are many suggestions in past posts that will help. daughter split her 50's until gone than went thru a very difficult 4 days, on day 4 went to an acupuncturist that specializes in drug withdrawal..... instant relief for her. She was on academic detention last year and just received her fall grades...all B's and A's.....brand new girl. Still suffers with sherry, but learning to handle stress with proper eating, exercise and being less hard on herself and others. You can do it!!!! Don't expect it to be easy though. Good luck and God bless!

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Hello!
My husband is weaning off of this drug, doing all the things you advised and he is definitely improving with the whole withdrawal stage. We are talking through the rebound, he is exercising and the brain zaps are improving. I did however want to ask you what holistic meds you are on as we would definitely want to go that route. Thanks for sharing your story, it has given him peace of mind that the brain zaps and head aches, fatigue and rebound symptoms are within what is to be expected and will improve.

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I am on day four of cold turkey. I should have never started taking pristiq. Had I known how hard it was to come off of I never would have used it. I was on it for a year or so because of lack of energy and thought process. At first it went well but the last fee months I was angry. I could hide my anger from my family but I was making bad bad decisions! Bad! Financially bad and selfish! I had to stop taking it and find out who I am again. I hope and pray I can manage the withdrawals. I cry a lot but I must go on and take care of my family!

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will be praying for you! you will make it through this keep going!!!

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Are you sure cold turkey is best? I have a nurse friend and suggested taking half, going down to a very low dosage. Then stopping. I was only on 25 a day, so I have gone down to 12.5. Then after I feel adjusted, I will go every other day until cold turkey. You may want to try this and exercise daily. I hope you can find a way to help you get over this. I know the feeling, it made me not like myself. I used to never get upset or not much. If I did get upset, it was sadness, not anger. I think it has the effect on me of stress and anger. So I like you want to get over this stuff soon and deal with my depression/stress in ways such as exercise, encouraging people and prayer.

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Keep going....you'll get past the withdrawals and it will be just a bad memory. Might seen insurmountable now, but it will pass! God bless

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thanks Nancy. I am doing a lot better today. I am starting to feel like I can do it. I didn't taper because I just didn't want to drag it out anymore than I had to. I was just so angry. I may be in a lull but at the present on day 6-7 I am not angry and actually feeling hopeful. I will keep you posted if I have dificulties later.

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Thank you for the update. Glad to hear that you're doing ok. Soon you'll be free! Please keep me posted and continue to believe. You're doing heart! My thought and prayers are with you.

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I am taking SamE and St Johns Wort as I come off the pristiq. I think they are helping. I have outdoor activities and animals and children so I HAVE to keep going. I was only on 50 mg. If I would have been on 100, I would have gone to 50 first before cold turkey. I did try an every-other-day weaning one time but it was horrible! Up and down, up and down! I'd rather just get it over with. Once I tried tapering also but the pill may be time released or something because I was extremely agitated when I tried to do that. People say they have brain zaps but I am not sure what they mean by that. I have complete loss of thought processing for a few minutes sometimes. Is that what a brain zap is?

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Sounds like you are doing things the right way for you! I believe the term brain zap is the perfect description. You would know if you were having them. It's like a zap noise in your head, mostly when you move the head. Very irritating, grating feeling. They do disappear, thank God. Be kind to yourself during this transition. God bless!

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I have been on Prestiq for over two years. I have tried to taper off on several occasions but notice that my moods swing so much and I seem so manic that I decided not to do so again. I recently ran out, on a Wednesday, and I forgot to call to get the refill. I remembered to call on Saturday (so this would be day 3 w/o meds) but my RX had run out. Meaning I had to wait until today, Monday, to phone and get the refill. I decided to investigate how others tapered off or and stopped this med. I have decided to try and see how I do 'cold turkey'. Thus far, the results have been typical of what the side effects say. Emotional, mood swings, night sweats (like crazy), VIVID dreams, little sleep, unable to concentrate, dizziness, tired, agitated, diarrhea, some nausea. I am keeping a journal and I'll add some exercise in today. I'm a bit weepy also. I'm 54. Wonder if the taper off effect lasts longer in those that are older. I'm fairly miserable but the fact that you can't get off of this drug reasonably is alarming to me. I'm ready. Thank you for this site. It is a welcome relief. Ks

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Dear Kathy, You are right about everything! Read through the comments, you'll find much help. It will be very difficult, but will get better :) Acupuncture, exercise and eating well really helped.my daughter. God bless!

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Well Nancy, it's been 21 days off Pristiq. I had to go on Prozac for a while at 40 Mg becasue I was so grumpy. No place for grumpiness with kids. I am now a little uncaring, which is how prozac works I guess. I have to now get off of the prozac. I will wait another 10-15 days and try to taper down to 20 Mg. It is my hope to be off of all of these drugs soon so I can know who I am and get in touch with God again. I just want to experience real feelings and emotions and not ones that come from a drug. Thanks again, I'll check back in soon.

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