Weaning Off Pristiq For Good (Page 12)

Updated

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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221

I have gone of prestiq after being on the drug for 3 years. with the great help of dr. john grey,s utube video I suggest you watch his video on utube.

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222

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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223

Can you put the link you are referring to from Dr. John Grey. I can't seem to find it.

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224

Hi Meemee....looks like you best Pristiq!!! That's awesome! Remember, your children will deal with grumpy people in their lives, so grumpy Mom is fine as long as we're not destructively grumpy. Moms tend to be hard on ourselves. Sometimes children are acting up and we get grumpy....unless we are verbally/physically cruel....a grumpy Mom is better than a drugged up Mom. Think what you would want for them, if they were grumpy, natural reaction or muted? God is hearing our prayers....your children are blessed to have such a caring Mom. Please keep in touch.

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225

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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226

Off pristiq 2 days and topomax 1 week. OMG the vomiting, getting off due to migraines, dr put me on topomax for pristiq caused migraines. I may have to take a week off (self employed). Scary s*** for sure!

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227

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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228

Try taking omega 3 this really helps when coming off meds

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229

Im wondering how all of you are doing? Michelle, Meemaw, and all of you! I hope great!

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230

Thanks Cheryl. I' m on day three of withdrawal. Brain zaps are ridiculous. Your comments and advice have been the most helpful and positive I've found. I have really appreciated it. It's great to know that I will get through it after a bit of hard work.

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231

Someday soon....this will be just a ridiculous memory! You will be just fine, Susie :) God bless

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232

HI there! I am so happy I stumbled across this post! I am at a month and a week of no pristiq. I tapered myself off over a 3 month span. My Dr was not listening to me when I would tell him the side effects. My side effects were BAD. I am now looking back at how bad this drug is! I was prescribed alprazolam with the pristiq. The alprazolam was keeping me from going complete ape s*** crazy with adrenaline flashes. I had tried 5 meds before this one and hands down Pristiq and Viibryd were the worst ! I wanted to ask how you are doing ? Did you take any benzo to help you get off ?

I am currently taking .5 of alprazolam in the am and the full 2mg before bed... Its been working for me so far. I am still paranoid and have crying spells. I just remind myself that it will take a few months to feel better. After reading many posts I see I am not the only one that knows the crazy thoughts and feelings that come when getting back to somewhat normal.

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233

Anthony, my daughter did not take Benzo. I will be praying for your quick return to "somewhat normal".... Who is normal anyways? Lol

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234

HI there! Thank you for the reply. I hope that your daughter is doing great! As for me, one day at a time sometimes hour by hour.
I will not give up nor will I EVER take another antidepressant. See I was really abused badly as a teen/child and this medication just threw it all back in my face but twisted. I went to therapy for 4 years in my teens for abuse. I currently went through 3 therapists that were a waste of my hard earned money. I guess if you live in Orange County everyone is "supposed" to have $ to throw around.. Not me .. I work very hard for what I have. Needless to say I will give my MD one more chance on any suggestion then I will get a second opinion.
I have a question for you though. Did your Daughter have any crazy feelings when on the med? Did it get worse when she quit? For me when I was on Pristiq and Viibryd they made me a spaz and my anxiety was like a full blown panic attack all day every day. Now that I am off I am trying to just get back to my "normal". I thank you for your time

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235

Hi Anthony, Yes, she is doing very well, thank you :) I'm sorry you went through that as a child, you didn't deserve that. Maybe look for some free group counseling sessions.... like they have for Al Anon. I know I had to help with that, and it's free! I asked my daughter about the emotional stuff..... she said she cried for 3 hours when she killed a spider in her room, while coming off of pristiq. I do know she screamed at me a lot :/ She's doing great now and you will be too! Please keep in touch, I'll be thinking and praying for you! Nancy

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236

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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237

Hi there - you are absolutely correct...I had called the manufacturer directly last summer when I was trying to "taper off" pristiq, and was told that due to the time release nature of this medication, that it should NOT be cut in half. I was advised to "slowly taper off" - but unfortunately the manufacturer (Pfizer) has not provided a way to safely do so. My experience with getting off Pristiq was pretty traumatic...I ended up going cold turkey and was so dizzy, disoriented (and depressed) that I had to go stay with my sister for a month to get through it... not a fun experience to say the least, and the whole thing has really had a negative impact on my life. It took me several months to get my brain chemistry "stabilized" again (after being off pristiq). I am back on Lexapro which seems to be working out OK and overall feeling much better - and more like "myself" again (instead of numbed up zombie). I know that every medication has its possible side effects - and works differently for different people...BUT I believe that Pristiq should not be on the market - or at least not so widely prescribed. It is a heavy duty antidepressant/anti-anxiety medication that pretty much puts a "blanket over the brain". But the fact that is nearly impossible to "taper" off this drug is my primary complaint... the manufacturer needs to at the very least make available this in lower doses so that it possible for someone to get off of this medication. Take care and hang in there - you CAN get through this!!

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238

Omega 3's did seem to help... my doctor prescribed xanax too (to help get me through the worst of the "discontinuation symptoms"). But I think that should just be a temporary aid, as xanax in itself can be very addictive.

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239

I am now day 5 off pristiq I was on 50mg first then went up to 100mg then added a booster pill at night. I started taking this pill because I am 48 turning 49 with an 7 year old boy who has special needs and a 5 yr old girl that has global speech etc I couldn't cope I have had no help from anyone in family all I heard from them was that I was a terrible mother etc if I wrote it all here it would turn into a book so I went to my doc and said I need to be able to be here for my children I am depressed, anxious, etc he gave me pristiq 50 mg and at first it was great, words just washed off and didn't effect it, so no matter what was happening which was allot I remained calm and in control it was awesome until the 50 wasn't working anymore so the up doses what a huge mistake that was I was worse and self medicating side effects headaches every day so I took codeine now I'm hooked on that. I finally convinced doc to give me Wellbutrin which I have tried before but now that I am day 5 and all that I've gone through I'm scared to take it. The first day I was so tired off balance and woke up every time I would turnover in bed run to the bathroom throwing up from extreme nausea, it went on all night the next day I slept and I was up at night the nausea was horrible I've lost my appetite feeling anxious and the brain zaps is my brain waking up from being asleep for many years because of this stupid pills I would recommend to never take it. My dad died I did CPR on him never done it before I cracked his ribs and kept going till the paramedics game and all through this pristiq kept me calm and I took care of everything. On this drug I was dead it wasn't living I still loss of appetite nausea anixety but I refuse to ever take it again. I went cold turkey as doc said I would be fine. He lied. I was only on 100mg for 1year and was on 50 for about two years never again I keep taking deep breaths when I start to get overwhelmed, and I stopped self medicating it going to rough but I'm determined to do it, we are meant to feel, be alive to live, things happen in life and no pill is ever going to change that.

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240

You have a winner's attitude.....you are a great mother because you want to be there for them, instead of drugged up. It is soon to be a year since the worst days of my life, watching my daughter go off this drug. It was awful!!! But she is doing great now...she realized that being in touch with her feelings is so much better than having none. Still struggles with anxiety, but exercising, regular sleep and good diet has helped. She saw a acupuncturist during the discontinuation of Pristiq, it stopped her nausea, headaches, vision problems, brain zaps, stabilized her moods....she didn't want to go, so it wasn't psychosomatic. I pray for you and your children....give yourself a hug, because you are doing awesome!

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