cinderellaintheashes: Pristiq to Loxalate / escitalopram

[cinderellaintheashes]

Hi.

I've been on Pristiq since 2014. I've taken varying dosages but have been taking 50mg for a long time now. I've been trying to wean off unsuccessfully since early 2019. The withdrawal symptoms are too serious and long-lasting. It makes it near impossible for me to continue working due to my need to be alert and aware enough to safely drive a vehicle regularly.

My GP has just given me Loxalate 10mg. I'm to begin this over the weekend on the "off" day I've been trying to wean off my Pristiq and continue on Loxalate for a month everyday.

I was wondering if anyone has any additional information they can tell me about Loxalate before I transition onto it and begin my journey of weaning off antidepressants all together please?

Thank you in advance for your time.

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, cinderellaintheashes.

 

Loxolate is Lexapro, the most powerful of the SSRI antidepressants.  You should be aware that all antidepressants are different and work differently, and switching to Loxolate will not necessarily exempt you from withdrawal symptoms from Pristiq.  If in the future you want to get off the Loxolate, you will need to taper it very slowly, and Loxolate/Lexapro is not one of the easiest antidepressants to taper.  I've been tapering Lexapro for almost four years.

 

Some questions, please.

1. What is your GP's plan?  

2. Have you begun the switchover or are you to begin this weekend?   I'm not clear on what you mean when you write, "I'm to begin this over the weekend on the "off" day I've been trying to wean off my Pristiq and continue on Loxalate for a month everyday."

3. In your previous attempts, at what rate did you taper Pristiq?

 

Very probably the reason you've experienced intolerable withdrawal symptoms trying to taper off Pristiq is that you've tapered too fast.  We recommend tapering no faster than 10% of current dose every four weeks.  Some have to go more slowly.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

This link is specifically about tapering Pristiq.

 

Tips for tapering off desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)

 

Before you go any farther, I suggest you take a look at these links of ChessieCat, one of our moderators, who is Australian and has successfully tapered Pristiq from 100mg to a current 0.625mg using a compounding pharmacy to make her doses.

 

My tapering program

My Intro (goes to my tapering graph)

My website

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems.

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems.

 

This is your Introduction topic, where you can ask questions and connect with others members.  We're glad you found your way here.