Weaning Off Pristiq For Good (Page 13)

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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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 have been on Pristiq for approx 12 months and antidepressants for 7 years. I have decided I want to know me without medication. I am so scared about how hard this is going to be. I have two children and work full time. Any advice.

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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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Anne, please read some previous posts around pages 4-5. You can have your pristiq compounded at a pharmacy. Google compounding pharmacies in your area. You can have it made into lower doses in a slow release capsule. The weight gain and loss is true. I put on about 20 pounds and lost it when I finally got off! My experience is to taper down 10mg every 2-4 weeks. Once you feel stable on the lower dose then reduce it 10 mg again. When you finally get to 10 mg daily then you can do every other day or something similar. Good luck!! All the other advice here is helpful as well. Like exercise and eating well!!

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Thanks so much for the advice! Im going to drop from 100 to 50 mg over this week, then will drop to 20 again after that. I've gone cold turkey off medications before, but none have had described symptoms like pristiq! Ill check in with everyone regularly!

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Good for you! I would recommend having some sort of support system in place - a few close people around you who can encourage you as you are going through this process. Will you be switching to a different medication? I found that a low dose of Lexapro helped to some degree (but that is one i had been on before that worked well for me...). Also remember good nutrition, rest and just giving yourself a chance to adjust... it is not an easy process but it is possible to get off pristiq - you CAN do it!! Take care and God bless!

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

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HI all

I have now down 5 days on 50 mg of prstiq (i was on 100 for a year) - i haven't had ANY symptoms, changes or effects….. Is this normal? Has anyone NOT had side effects coming off it???

I will say i also came off zoloft and effexor with no side effects… My concern is that day 7 or somethignits all going to hit me?

I plan to stay on the 50 for another 2 weeks or so then drop to every other day on 50 for a while - depending on how i feel.

Any advice welcome!

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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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So i have now done 2 weeks of 50 mg (down from 100) - i seriously had almost no side effects. The only things i experienced were:
1) very odd, vivid dreams
2) some night sweats
3) first 2 days some zapping in hands and legs with a little numbness - went away completely after 2 days

today is the first day with no pristiq altogether. Again no side effects (so far) except the same zapping and numbness i had when i dropped from 100 to 50.

I assume the next few days will be the test. I was advised to go to one 50mg every tother day for another 2 weeks but i may just cut off completely now, i don't think I'm too prone to serious side effects…

:)

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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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Julie - i TOTALLY agree with the weight thing. I cannot fit into any of my clothes - this is why I'm going off it…. Im good now but the weight thing upsets me.

It was my first full day off it yesterday. I was fine during the day but overnight i couldn't sleep, terrible dreams, kept waking up in shock, worst worst night sweats, and the zaps were bad. I also feel really slow - although that could be because i have not slept.

IM okay today - no nausea or anything like that, just really really tired, slow and a bit sore from no sleep. I think I'm going to hit the gym to reenergize and try to last another day without anything so i can take one tomorrow for work. that way i can go 1 every 2 days….

I will say thought, that a day without it and my digestion actually works - crazy the difference in only 1 day!!!

can't wait to get off this med!

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Hi, wanting to give some comfort to those trying to get off Pristiq, I am now taking 1 50mg tab every 4-5 days, so about 3 a fortnight - I have been on this dose for months and am happy to stay on it indefinitely as after about 5 days I still get the head spins, one tablet does the trick, it is a very low dose but enough to also stop the anxiety, I just feel normal and also the 8kg (16lb) I put on with the medication has completely dropped off without any change to my diet etc. I guess one day I will stop all together and that is more likely now I am relaxed about my dose and not trying so hard to get off it - hope this is of some help to someone - good luck

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To answer Debra's question:

GABA can be purchased at most health food stores. I get mine from: Uniquehealing. It works like a dream on anxiety and quickly. :)

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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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Hey aldri

I just came off pristiq. I was on 100. Then I dropped to 50 for 3 weeks with minimal side effects. I them planned to do 50 every other day for a few weeks.

The first day I didn't take it I was fine during the day but when evening hit was a total mess. Couldn't put thoughts together enough to pourydelf a glass of water! Didn't sleep, all the zaps you eo reD about, disorientated, blurred vision, and feeling like I was out of my body. It was very rough. I felt so bad that I figured it could get any worse so decided to ride it out and go cold turkey. Those effects lasted 3 days then tapered off significantly to where I barely noticed. I am now 2 weeks without. It was rough but worth it.

I will say that excersize was the best thing to counter any effects. No matter how bad I felt I moved.y thought was to replace the chemical drug with endorphins from excersize and I noted in the days I did not the side effects were worse.

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