Weaning Off Pristiq For Good (Page 9)

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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Hi DS - i am a lawyer too and I think we are especially susceptible to anxiety. I feel for you. My advice would be to ask your doctor for both valium and valdoxen. In the first few days of withdrawals, I was having approximately 30mgs a day of valium (3 x 10mgs doses) and then down to 15mgs a day for a few days and now i am back to my usual regime of 5 - 10mgs a day as needed (when i feel panicky). Valdoxen is an extremely good medicine - at least, that is what i thought until a couple of weeks ago when i started zoloft, and now it no longer seems to be working - and it will help you get to sleep at night.

The valium and valdoxen should get you through the first week of withdrawals. After that, you will be through the worst of it.

Best of luck my friend. Dont work too hard. You should definitely take sick/stress leave from work while you are going through this

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Yolanda, what they do is they order the drug in powder form and put it in a slow release capsule. I ordered 10mg like 60 at a time but like I said I should have done like 40,30,20 then 10mg. I think i ordered about 3-4 bottles over 2-3 months or so. Plus, my insurance covered it!! I would just google, compounding pharmacies in your area. I have one good one in my area.

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Please post the name of your compounding pharmacy. I cannot find one in my area that is familar with Pristique.
Thank you

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it would be worth a try. I notice small variations in every one of my prescriptions Bottles/batches. I'm rather sensitive to meds and I have to deal with an entire month of subtlety and change in each bottle. so I do worry about trying to get off of this product and anything that would help would be so great. I will say that this product has been a game changer for me because I was a super mass after Botox poisoning. I had never had anxiety in my life and Botox Cosmetic changed my life within a week after injection - I had full blown panic attacks and a multitude of other symptoms of anxiety and Botox side fx that were separate. Functioning for me would not have occurred without the use of this product and I am grateful for what it's done till now. I feel so much better over a year later and eventually would like to be free of any of it as I always have been careful what I put in my body. Thanks for educating me everyone..

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Pinepharmacy.com is the name of the compounding pharmacy

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This is good to know...the last time I checked on this (w/a local pharmacy), they would not touch the Pristiq due to the time release nature of the medication.
I am finally (and thankfully!) about 2 months now of being completely off Pristiq (after being a slave to it for over 2 years)... I am taking 10mg of Lexapro which definitely helped me with the process. I would like to get off of this as well - but after a year of being out of work, can't afford to take any more downtime at the moment.
My next most important task will be to help my 18 year old son get off Pristiq now...he was put on it before I was (at only 16) - too long of a story to go into here - but he has experienced the same numbness and lack of motivation that I did while on the drug (among other side effects). So far, we have been able to get him from 100mg to 50mg (with about a week or so with what he described as "waves of depression") - and he has been at the 50 for about a month now. It would be great to have the compound option for him to ease the transition if I can find a pharmacy that will work with Pristiq.
Best wishes to all of you!!
Karen

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LN Thank you

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Cheryl,,, if I remember your Dr. will have to write a prescription. It really helped me doing it gradually. Best wishes.

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Something I think is important to note (and distinctive about Pristiq) - is how difficult it is to come off of this drug.
Side effects are one thing (and I know there are lots of possible side effects w/most drugs), but the "discontinuation symptoms" with Pristiq have been described as almost intolerable. Yet, the medical community (prescribing doctors, pharmacists, etc.) are not made aware of this (except for by their patients it seems). I have filed a complaint directly with Pfizer (and was transferred to someone in India to take the details of my complaint) - and believe that Pfizer should either: A) make this drug available in lower dosages B) be required to put a specific warning related to the discontinuation symptoms C) my preference - have this drug pulled the drug from the market!
I have no doubt this is a "heavy duty" drug - and one that is being heavily marketed to women in particular (found an ad recently in my Prevention magazine).
My problem again w/this drug is not just the side effects (which I honestly feel had a huge negative impact on my life) - but the way that has been manufactured to be so difficult to come off of... as I mentioned, I am now on a low dose of Lexapro - and last week had to miss a dose due to a delay in the authorization for my re-fill. Although by the end of the 2nd day I started having a mild headache and felt a little yuck - it was NOTHING like my experience of missing a dose of Pristiq.
MAJOR discontinuation symptoms (which it seems only people that have taken Pristiq understand) that left me non-functioning (brain shocks, strange dreams, dizziness)...which made it incredibly difficult to get off of...pretty much like jumping off a cliff!! Anyways, I've learned some very valuable -and difficult "lessons" through all of this - just hope that other "unsuspecting" people out there will do their homework/due diligence before getting on this drug....or that the manufacturer will do the right thing and pull this medication from the market until they learn more about the side effects/discontinuation symptoms.
Another two key points (which I am sure I've posted on previous posts), is that this drug was NOT approved by the EU - AND there has already been a 65 million case suits filed by the shareholders against Pfizer (for not fully disclosing the potential side effects).
To me, it makes sense that this would cause a major red flag and reason for possible "pause" with the distribution/marketing of Pristq, but instead it seems that they decided to market it even more to make up for the "loss" they experienced when the drug was first released and did not perform as they had expected..
I have actually considered contacting an attorney for legal advice on this, but quite honestly have not had the time and/or resources. After being out of work for a year - and finally able to think clearly, I am doing my best to make up for lost time - and get my head back above water professionally and financially.
After all the research I have done on this (in my efforts to figure out how the heck to get off this drug) - I KNOW I am not alone in experiencing hardships as a result of being on Pristiq. Just wish there was a way to prevent other people from going through this experience...
Karen

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Very well said Karen!

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I was switched to Pristiq for depression/anxiety by a new GP as Efexor was causing havoc with my libido. This only helped for a short while, my doctor told me that i can take Viagra to fix the problem that is now happening on Pristiq as well. Initially I was on 50mg, then increased to 150mg after losing my mum, I've never been happy on it, I'm working and studying and the study has become extremely hard, could not remember anything I read. Memory is something i never had an issue with, I've been doing brain training exercises for over 20 years. Since being on this drug, my memory is poor, cholesterol went through the roof and cant be controlled, I've been diagnosed with liver disease, my skin does not react well to sunlight for long periods, I've gained 60lbs, I'm constantly tired, irritable and suffer insomnia.

I spoke with another doctor and told him the whole story now he has me weaning off Pristiq so I'm finally coming off it after being on it for almost 5 years. The planned reduction, is from 150 to 100mg for 2 months, to 50mg for 2 months, switch to Efexor 75mg (and 0.25 Xanax 2 times a day for 3 days, then once a day for 3 days) then just efexor 75 for 2 months, reduce Efexor to 37.5 for 2 months, switch to Prozac 10mg with the Xanax repeat for 6 days, then just prozac for a month, each month cutting the prozac by half for 2 months...at the end 0.25 xanax once a day for a 2 weeks to reduce brain zaps, 1/2 xanax to a week, then nothing...12 months to get off this awful drug.

After the first reduction in Pristiq, I was able to maintain an erection for longer than a few minutes. I'm about to drop Pristiq to 50mg.

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Very interesting tapering Slim. it seems very complicated and As many of these other drugs have a variety of their own side effects -it could be really challenging. I appreciate you sharing though and I hope things work out for you so keep us posted. I've experienced weight gain, memory issues, lethargy and the sweats have chilled out. its all just a big pain in the ass.

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AGREED..!
You CAN do this - just takes some diligence and support (doctor, friends, family -and holistic support can help get you through the process)....Best Wishes!!

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Hi i was on pristiq 50 mg for last nine months.. It helped my anxiety but i gained 50 lbs... 1 month before i started jogging everyday 40 minutes plus heavy weight lifting excercise.. I just discontinuid this medicine suddenly while i was on vigorous exercise.. I didnt feel any withdrawal symptoms

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Thank you - that is good to hear (and know)... my oldest son has been on 50mg for a few months now, but unfortunately on 100 mg for the 2 years prior.
I will be sure to encourage him to include a strong work out/exercise program when he is ready to altogether discontinue...
From all that I have read and heard about Pristiq over the last year or so, it seems that the longer time that someone is on it - and the higher the dose, the harder it is to come off of...which makes sense I suppose.

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For everyone's benefit. We did find a compounding pharmacy. Taking 20 mg in am and 20 in pm (original dose was 50mg 1x a day). 1 week in. So far so good. I will keep you posted. Thank you LN.

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Can you provide the name of the pharmacy? That sounds like it could offer a way to truly "taper" off this medication... thanks!!

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Awesome about the compounding!!! It really helped me...been off it for over a year!!

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We used Beacon Pharmacy in Southington CT. They delivered it via US postage. I talked to Nicky who was compassionate and caring. She made capsules with time release in them in varying dosages. Today starts 20 mg in am and 10 mg in pm. Dr wanted her to taper by missing days. But fortunately for these forums i was informed this is not the way to go. I hope this helps you.

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PS this is not medical advice. I am not a doctor. Use the information at your own risk.

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