IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas: only Pristiq to go - please help

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

Original topic title:  I survived Generalized anxiety disorder to a very intense degree as well as Major depressive disorder in a very short amount of time, I basically dropped Pregabalin, and clonazepam Now I only have to drop Pristiq( please help me

 

Hey How is this community? I was researching and I found you all. I hope you all are well and doing great. I suffered from Anxiety since I was around 18 years and it would come and go in waves. I never really resorted to Psychotropic drugs. Most of the time my anxiety would spotaneously resolve. I would always stay very active with exercise and swimming and sports. I always had great family and friend support and my disorder never got out of hand. I had bouts of recreational drug use and abuse during my college years but never was an addict( I used MDMA and cocaine). However even with my anxiety disorder I never took this SSRI/SNRI garbage and I suffered from anxiety for 13 years. Essentially it is Garbage. It might help to a degree with anxiety or depression. But I see the damage it does to the beautiful human body. 

 

My anxiety got out of control starting last year and it kept getting more intense. I never dealt with anxiety at this level. It was something surreal. I was just suprised. I always had anxiety. But this was something out of this world. The anxiety kept getting more intense, the spiraling thoughts, then the anxiety took over my body, mind and soul. I was rendered incapacitated. I started to develop depression and also suicidal thoughts. I never dealt with something of this magnitude. It was truly out of this world. I had to take some time from work. I developed a plan to recover. I read self help books. I had family support. I started to exercise intensively and I got on Psychotropic drugs. This took place this year the worst of it from february 2022 to May 2022. I am essentially recovered now August 2022.  Lyrica, Clonazepam and Pristiq. My dosage of Lyrica was 400 mg a day at one point. 

 

Eventually I developed a tolerance to the Lyrica and dropped it ; I tapered it and I got off it without a problem. I also had this weird intuition in my gut. Its very unusual. Its something related to God or a higher power for certain( I am a Christian). Something just told me to drop the Lyrica and I tapered it over a week or two and got off without an issue. I also have a strong brain body connection. I have dealt with anxiety. I also do not always view my anxiety as a bad thing. Even though its force is overwhelming at times I learned to rest in it and accept it and allow the energy to pass. Anxiety is a form of energy. Thanks to God, a higher power or whatever miracle. I survived GAD and Major depressive disorder very rapidly this year probably over 2-3 months. It was very intense but I survived. I now continue to experience anxiety but instead of intense fear, its just amplified energy. My panic attacks dissapeared. I had panic attacks, phobias, and agoraphobia I Survived.

 

Anyways now I just have one beast to conquer. I put my faith in this community to help. I know I can survive this too. This a mere part of the process. I have not been on the SNRI for a long time. I wish I never started. Since February to now August I gained roughly 20 pounds So I only have been on pristiq for 6 months . I went from a nice basically good looking 30 year old male who was 6'2 very fit and 215 pounds to a 30 year old male who now has 235-240 pounds. This was all due to the pristiq and lyrica and I am happy I dropped Lyrica.

 

On saturday 8.6.2022 I dropped my Pristiq from 100 mg to 75 mg. So far the withdrawal has not been too intense. I only have been on Pristiq for 6 months. I kind of want to do a faster taper. Any advice? I have confidence in God, myself, my body, my mind that I will drop this ****. I want to do it safely but if possible a bit quickier. The intuition in my body or some kind of force told me start this now. Now is the time. Now you will get off this crap. I think my Body can do this. I know I can. I am staying positive. The power within. All of us have it. I know some of your journeys have been long. So has mine with anxiety, it has been 13 years of dealing with it. I mostly stuck to exercise and supplements and family and friend support to deal with it and always was successful. This year I started to take this Pristiq crap and maybe it helped maybe it didn't. I think time did. According to most research Depressive episodes and anxiety episode last a year and dissolve naturally.

 

I am standing now at Pristiq 75 mg. I am on clonazepam .25 mg plan on dropping it over the next 2 weeks. Basically have no benzo withdrawal or any issues with that and a high level of discipline and know I will drop it.

 

What is the best and safest way to taper Pristiq 75 mg? with the least amount of damage done? I dropped to this dose on Saturday from 100 mg. Basically I am taking one 25 mg extended release tablet and one 50 mg extended release tablet.  I have been on Pristiq only 6 months. It was a terrible choice. I will never go on any SSRI or SNRI after this. I also do not like the feeling I lived till 30 years old something without pills( supplements okay) but its just crap.

 

They also lie. Pristiq is addictive. They made the chemical like that on purpose. The side effects are horrendous and I am having a doubt in my mind if it truly helps anxiety. It just numbs you out. Maybe helpful to a degree but its just B/S.

 

Edited August 9, 2022 by ChessieCat
added original topic title and spacing

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

Also I will be working today. But tonight I will read and respond. Please help.

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  Congratulations for getting off of Lyrica.  I'm glad you had no withdrawal symptoms doing this.  I agree with you, I believe these psychotropic drugs are crap, and yes, they are addictive in the sense that our nervous system become very dependent upon them.  You say the side effects of Pristiq are horrendous - what are your side effects?  Did you have these symptoms prior to reducing it from 100 mg to 75 mg?   

 

I see you made a 25% drop of your Pristiq from 100 mg to 75 mg.  What withdrawal symptoms are you having from this?  This site suggest that people only do a reduction of 10% of the current dose to reduce the risk of severe withdrawal symptoms.  

 

Can you please give us specific information in your signature about your drug history for all drugs you are on and have been on, especially for the past 18-24 months?  It would be especially helpful to have the details of your drugs in a concise vertical list (no symptoms), only specific dates, include the day (as best you can say for example early March if you don't recall the day), drug names, and dosages of each medication decrease or increase.  Use this example:

 

Feb 15 2020 - June 30 2020 - 25mg citalopram, 2mg xanax

July 1 2020 - Sept 7 2020 - 50 mg citalopram, 4 mg xanax

Etcetera

 

Please read the link below for instructions.  This will allow us to give you the best guidance.  

 

How to List Drug History in Signature

 

Here is some important information about how these drugs actually work.  This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications, and why it's so important to taper slowly and carefully, and be very cautious about changing our doses: 

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

 

Tapering is best done extremely slowly, and we generally taper by 10% of the current dose no more than once every 4 weeks, so that the reduction becomes exponentially smaller.  I know you want to get off this drug quickly, but a too fast taper puts you at risk of developing significant withdrawal syndrome, which can take a very long time to recover from.  People can become incapacitated to the point of being unable to sleep, unable to work, etc.  Also, please don't taper further until you stabilize from your recent reduction from 100 mg to 75 mg., meaning that your withdrawal symptoms are minimal and you feel about the same level of blah from day to day - no major swings up and down.  

 

 Why Taper by 10% of my Dosage  

 

Tips for Tapering Pristiq/Desvenlafaxine

 

We strongly suggest that you only taper one drug at a time.  I suggest that you remain on your current dose of clonazepam while you are tapering your Pristiq.  We suggest people taper their most activating drug first, which would be the Pristiq. If you taper more than one drug simultaneously, and have problems, you won't know what is causing what.  And, it is easier on the nervous system to only have to adjust to one drug being removed at a time.  

 

Taking Multiple Psych Drugs - Which to Taper First

 

Here is a link with checklists of common WD symptoms: 

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen Withdrawal Symptom Checklists

 

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

Stability is really important when we are tapering off psych meds.  Please read the link about stability:

 

Keep It Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

 

I've given you quite a bit of information here.  Please read through it, let us know if you have any questions.  Keep us posted on how you are doing.  

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

My body is handling everything really well. I fought through GAD it was so intense. Super insane fear, panic attacks through the roof. Fear of going crazy. 
My first drop was successful and I want to work my way down from 75 mg now. The withdrawal effects peaked yesterday and included anxiety; headaches, flu like symptoms and also feelings of warmth, sweating and crying spells. I put on good music ; took Tylenol and went swimming and I didn’t fear I have confidence in the human body, spirit soul and mind. My healing journey is almost there. 
the most severe side effects from Pristiq though it does help anxiety it left me feeling like a zombie, oversedated, and 20 pounds of weight gain. I went from a nice good looking 30 year old man who was tall to do one who is overweight.

I can cope with anxiety without this and my body knows it’s ready

I was on clonazepam for 5-6 months but I had a month were I barely took any benzos my current dose is .25 mg and I will drop to .125 mg next week I am not scared of getting off. My body is handling everything so well. I’m continuing my exercise routine and thinking positively and even going to work and thinking positive. I have a strong mind body connection through years of dealing with anxiety and also being always active and athletic. My body and gut feeling gives me cues. And it’s telling me to drop clonazepam next week. I’m ready to feel like  some slight crap  this is nothing. It’s a test I will succeed.

February 2022 to august 2022 Pristiq 100 mg now down to 75 mg

february 2022 to august 2022 clonazepam .5 mg twice daily as needed 

march 2022 to may 2022 pregabalin 400 mg which I weaned off

I have dealt with anxiety for 13 years since I was 18 years old. This episode was unlike anything ever. I could always cope and never took an SSRI and an SNRI. This generalized anxiety disorder episode left me bed bound and on the verge of insanity. I was always athletic and I have a strong body. My body took a significant hit. I always weight trained and lead an active life style I was 215 pounds and 6’1 30 years old and very active when the episode started. The anxiety is still here but without the fear and I know I will push through I have done it before. I weaned off pregabalin and dropped clonazepam to .25 mg. 
My gad though intense and severe did not cripple me it lead me to thrive and to grow to push through and lead to new heights.  I’m dropping the meds one by one as I’m recovering.

please help

Need to get rid of pristiq

i believe my body adjusted to 75 mg I had some uncomfortable symptoms but nothing severe 

my anxiety episode though severe left me 

now I must drop the meds 

God bless you all I know your suffering

my body was talking to me it’s amazing and my gut feeling

my body told me drop lyrica and I tapered over one week and no withdrawal

my body now is telling me get rid of Pristiq your stronger than this.

a pill can’t save you 

my brain rewired itself though I feel anxious but no fear and every thought is positive. 
I know I will be okay.  I have family support, god and my will strength and I’m 235 pounds but I continue to swim and workout and push myself I even work 

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

Also of note I take Silexan lavendar oil twice daily and some valerian. I think I’ll get through it. My mood is mostly good. I feel positive. I’m physically active and alive. I have a strong support network.

some tears are going down my eyes as I write this I know I will survive.

it’s tough but keep me in your prayers

my gut intuition is telling me get off the meds

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

Thank you for responding I love you all may you all thrive and survive. It’s gotten to a stage of enlightenment for me I am comfortable with the uncomfortable that is all anxiety is and I do not fear

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

I’m lucky as I never had chronic anxiety but I had dealt with intense episodes or time periods of anxiety but this episode blew it out the water. So I never resorted to SSRI or SNRI or benzos 

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

I’m sorry I’m writing in parts but I took 1.5 months off from work due to the anxiety and I have been in work since March and fighting through this it’s literally amazing the power within and the support. I know god is there Too. A higher power is pushing me through. My anxiety and depression resolved with time now it’s time to drop the meds 

[ChessieCat]

Hello and welcome to SA from me as well,

 

As requested above, please create your drug signature.  This is different from the information you provided when you joined the site.  The drug signature appears below every post you make and means that the staff don't have to spend time reading through previous posts to try and get the information they need.  Thank you.

 

3 hours ago, getofflex said:

Please read the link below for instructions.  This will allow us to give you the best guidance.  

 

How to List Drug History in Signature

 

[getofflex]

14 hours ago, IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas said:

My first drop was successful and I want to work my way down from 75 mg now. The withdrawal effects peaked yesterday and included anxiety; headaches, flu like symptoms and also feelings of warmth, sweating and crying spells. I put on good music ; took Tylenol and went swimming and I didn’t fear I have confidence in the human body, spirit soul and mind. My healing journey is almost there.

 

14 hours ago, IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas said:

I was on clonazepam for 5-6 months but I had a month were I barely took any benzos my current dose is .25 mg and I will drop to .125 mg next week I am not scared of getting off. My body is handling everything so well.

 

15 hours ago, IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas said:

Need to get rid of pristiq

i believe my body adjusted to 75 mg I had some uncomfortable symptoms but nothing severe 

my anxiety episode though severe left me 

now I must drop the meds 

 

Please be aware that often withdrawal can sneak up on us weeks or months after a reduction, and tapering too fast tends to have a cumulative effect that may show up down the road.  Tapering two drugs at once is also risky.  Please read/reread the information and links I posted in my first post. 

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

10 minutes ago, getofflex said:

 

 

 

Please be aware that often withdrawal can sneak up on us weeks or months after a reduction, and tapering too fast tends to have a cumulative effect that may show up down the road.  Tapering two drugs at once is also risky.  Please read/reread the information and links I posted in my first post. 

what if my thoughts are all positive? I feel optimistic. I am not fearful. My dose of clonazepam is low. I don’t need it. It’s only .25 mg a day. I’ll drop it in a week or two. I just think everything will be okay. My body and nervous system stabilized today. I sleep 6 hours every night without any sleep aids. I’m doing good. What if there is that belief I’ll be okay and I got this.

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

The first dose drop from Pristiq was a success. Crying spells disappeared.

Feel good overall

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

I feel like I’ll be okay. I have only taken up to 1 mg of clonazepam a day at the most during the past 5 months: I’ve only been on Pristiq for 6 months. I haven’t been a long user it’s been short term. I feel positive and upbeat 

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

Can you guys give me a quicker taper method? I haven’t been using this a life time. My body adjusted to the first drop. I was thinking 75 mg-65 mg-50mg-40mg-25 and then maybe hover at 25 mg for a month or two and then taper completely this is over the next 4-5 months 

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

The reason I’m saying this is because I feel good. I think I can handle it. My body and brain are thanking me. It’s a poison 

[Erell]

7 hours ago, getofflex said:

Please be aware that often withdrawal can sneak up on us weeks or months after a reduction, and tapering too fast tends to have a cumulative effect that may show up down the road.  Tapering two drugs at once is also risky.  Please read/reread the information and links I posted in my first post. 

Hello, 
I understand perfectly the desire to get rid of these molecules as quickly as possible, that's pretty much what we all want here.

The reason why we suggest slow methods of tapering is because the testimonies and experience accumulated over the years have shown us that this is the most effective way to get rid of these drugs. 

This has nothing to do with feeling positive or optimistic: regular ingestion of these molecules causes the nervous system to adjust to their presence ; the aim is to allow the nervous system to readapt and regulate itself gradually by progressively reducing the dose, in order to minimise withdrawal symptoms.
Dependency, the remodelling of the nervous system in the presence of the molecules, can happen very quickly: it is often estimated that it only takes a few weeks, or even less, for this to happen.

I suggest you consult these links to better understand these phenomena (and reread the first message from getofflex) :

->why-taper-by-10-of-my-dosage

->how-psychiatric-drugs-remodel-your-brain
 

-> horowitz-2019-tapering-of-ssri-treatment-to-mitigate-withdrawal-symptoms
 

I would also draw your attention to the fact that we do not advise stopping clonazepam at 0.25 mg, and that we also recommend gradual taper from benzodiazepines.
We also recommend that you do not change the doses of several molecules at the same time (please see the links provided by getofflex on the subjects).

As we take a harm reduction approach on this site, we don't suggest "quick taper method" because we have experienced and observed too much of the risks of these methods, and withdrawal symptoms can appear weeks/months after a reduction. Therefore, if a person has been ingesting these molecules for several months, we suggest no more than a 10% drop every 4-6 weeks.

 

Edited August 14, 2022 by Erell

[ChessieCat]

Members can choose the rate that they wish to taper.  It is their decision about how fast they go.  However SA's recommended taper rate is a harm reduction method.

 

I think you need to ask yourself a question.  Do you want to get off your psychiatric drugs with minimal discomfort and be able to live your life as normally as possible whilst doing this, or do you want to risk getting withdrawal symptoms?

 

We have members here at SA who have tried to go too quickly and it has ended up taking them longer than if they had done a steady taper.  Some have ended up changing drugs, which doesn't always work, and some have ended up on an additional drug which will then need to be tapered.

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

What is the best taper method for the Pristiq? The only reason I asked about a little faster is if I could do a taper like this 

75-65-50-40-25-20-15-0 or 75-65-50-40-25-15-0 and doin the drops once a month, I found a compounding pharmacy too to help me. I also don’t want to be on it too long and do a taper over a year. I’ve only been on Pristiq for 6 months I had enough of it 

[ChessieCat]

10 hours ago, IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas said:

What is the best taper method for the Pristiq?

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

I suggest that you have a look at the possible withdrawal symptoms.

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist

 

Getting off a psychiatric drug has nothing the to do with how strong or determined we are as a person.  The brain has adapted to getting the drug and if it is taken away too quickly we can experience withdrawal symptoms.  Generally the faster the drug is taken away the more work the brain has to do to regain homeostasis, which it is always trying to do.  Here is an analogy about sneaking the drug away so that the brain adapts to small changes which generally helps to keep withdrawal symptoms to a minimum: 

 

On 8/31/2011 at 5:28 AM, Rhiannon said:

When we stop taking the drug, we have a brain that has designed itself so that it works in the presence of the drug; now it can't work properly without the drug because it's designed itself so that the drug is part of its chemistry and structure. It's like a plant that has grown on a trellis; you can't just yank out the trellis and expect the plant to be okay. When the drug is removed, the remodeling process has to take place in reverse. SO--it's not a matter of just getting the drug out of your system and moving on. If it were that simple, none of us would be here. It's a matter of, as I describe it, having to grow a new brain. I believe this growing-a-new-brain happens throughout the taper process if the taper is slow enough. (If it's too fast, then there's not a lot of time for actually rebalancing things, and basically the brain is just pedaling fast trying to keep us alive.) It also continues to happen, probably for longer than the symptoms actually last, throughout the time of recovery after we are completely off the drug, which is why recovery takes so long.

 

I will tell you what happened to me which might help you to understand how powerful these drugs are.

 

Two weeks after reducing my dose of Pristiq from 100mg to 50mg I was not able to type.  Leading up to this I was experiencing very bad brain fog; even walking took my full concentration.  Being a professional typist for many decades when I wasn't able to type I knew that something was very wrong.  After I took more Pristiq, only 4 HOURS later (hours NOT days) I was able to type again and the brain fog lifted.  There was no way that this was placebo.  I had a benchmark so I knew for certain that it was because of the drug.  When I first started to taper after I found SA I made a 10% reduction and got very bad ear pain.  I took some cold medication but it didn't make any difference.  I ended up taking a little bit more Pristiq (updosed) and about 4 hours later (again) the pain went.

 

I took 6 years to taper off 100mg Pristiq.  Yes it was a long time but it was worth it.  During the majority of that time I was able to function reasonably well.  Most of the major issues I had were right at the start after I had reduced by 50% and got very bad withdrawal symptoms.  I have now been off successfully for 9 months.

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

@ChessieCat How are you today? Anxiety and depression suck. I feel you I had Major depressive disorder this year and anxiety. But everything resolved. It took about 6 months or so. I was on 3 medications. I used the medications as tools and I tapered off two basically pregabalin and clonazepam. I dropped my Pristiq to 75 mg from 100 mg and I felt terrible for about 9 days now I’m fine. I didn’t use these psychotropic drugs for a long time. You know it hit me earlier than most people in this forum and I feel bad for you guys I really do; I know how bad anxiety is I was bed ridden for 10 days and even had those suicidal thoughts and intense fear and panic . These psychiatric drugs can be a tool but the real cure is yourself and time my episode was intense but it resolved naturally, maybe a lot of you have it even worse than me, my psychiatrist told me I was the ideal patient though and also I have a tough attitude I had to take a leave from work and when I get back to work my anxiety was still rough and I had panic attacks but I pushed through the BS and my brain realized with time I’m allright there are still days I feel uneasy sensations but I read so many self help books changed my thinking patterns quickly and got out of this fast and in fact I know this anxiety can make me a stronger and better person and enjoy life more and take the small things for granted my outlook is way more positive since the episode ended and I don’t let the negative get to me; maybe I can even embrace the anxiety and maybe it’s not always a bad thing I’m at level were I have this but it’s a mild nervousness now and I come to accept it live with it and flourish . It took me 6 months to realize that and that I’m okay. I still have anxiety but that fear and that insane level of intensity is gone. And I mean a lot of people on this forum just overdid it with these medications. I think the human body can also recover remarkably. I believe I can taper a little bit quicker  probably by the end of the year I want to get off or to a low dose like 25 mg. 

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

Like the reality is the medication helps without a doubt. It decreases the negative thoughts and rumination for me but also it’s not a cure and it does turn you into a zombie as I said before they should restrict the use of SSRI only for severe cases and even put a time limit on it for 6-9 months. Our medical system and the mental health care system is tough even the therapist don’t truly care. They recommend being medicated which I think is terrible. It’s really come down to it you have to have a good support system and rely on God and your inner strength. It’s hell I’ve been there done that. I’m so lucky I’m out of it so quick. The medication isn’t a cure if it was it wouldn’t be on the market the pharmaceutical companies are clever they make medications like antidepressants that with time you become hooked on it and your body dependent and at the same time it damages your body ( weight gain) etc and if this continues then it’s a dominoe effect now because you have been on an SSRI for 2 years you develop hypertension and high cholesterol and here I’m gonna throw some pills at you to fix you more : it sucks. Anyways I read a lot of good self help books and if somebody needs help with coping with anxiety reach out 

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

Though these drugs are addictive there is a difference between somebody who has been on it for 2,3,10,20 years and somebody like me 6 months and I needed them. I want to taper over the next 4 months possibly max 6 months but I also don’t see the point of prolonged tapering. Why taper something for 8 months if I only took it for 6

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

I wanted to ask you all though. I found a compounding pharmacy and I wanted my taper to look like this 

75-65-50-40-25-15-0

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

Just now, IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas said:

I wanted to ask you all though. I found a compounding pharmacy and I wanted my taper to look like this 

75-65-50-40-25-15-0

How functional would I be? Considering I only used the meds for 6 months. I want to say one thing to you all and I love you all and I know your suffering. At the peak I was having panic attacks 24:7, I was agoraphobic, I was incapacitated for 2 weeks and had a 50 day leave from work. But now it’s gotten to a point were I’m just surprised I recovered so quick; I mean I’m back at work doing good my anxiety is a 2/10 and those feelings of fear are gone. I feel happiness. There are still days I’m left a bit so to say traumatized like wow wtf just happened to me. What’s interesting in my case it was an intense episode and I’ll be honest with you guys I had a lot of stress last year at work and a bad thc edible trip and that set me off it caused my mind to spiral 

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

I had a good support network; family and friends and this strong will to live. It was intense. The intensity of this episode of GAD blew my mind. I mean I had other times I had GAD I never resorted to SSRI or SNRI and my GAD is kind of like coming in waves there can be several years of life with mild to moderate anxiety and I just kind of exercised a lot stuck to my routine and took herbal supplements( lavendar) and it subsided occasionally low dose Xanax .25 mg. But my anxiety never reached these proportions this was next level stuff; literally thought I was gonna go crazy. I can’t believe I survived. Anxiety is a mind game and to me it’s gotten to the point were I convinced myself I’m okay and I’m experiencing anxiety but without freaking out. Once your at that level your good. It’s nothing. You realize it’s nothing. I mean I feel for you all. I know what SSRI and SNRI and benzos do. I threw all of my clonazepam into the trash. This week I’m on .125 mg and I’m done and I only left 7 .5mg tablets and I told my psychiatrist I don’t need anymore prescriptions for it . I gained 20 pounds on Pristiq. Needless to say I’m working out a lot, going to the gym, exercising and swimming and pushing myself. I have no boundaries. I’m doing fine I feel fine my first drop by 25 mg for the Pristiq and getting clonazepam down to .125 mg and I’m okay.

I just don’t get why it takes 20 years for people to realize these medications can’t fix them? 
It’s different I’m young just turned 31. I haven’t been on it a long time and I have this confidence I’ll be okay. I did the first 25 mg drop the symptoms peaked and I’m fine. I listened to my body my body told me about 10 days ago get rid of this crap it’s not gonna fix you. It just blows my mind why people stay on it 24/7

 

Edited August 16, 2022 by ChessieCat
unbolded text

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

I’m recovering from anxiety still and I have set backs but in 6 months I believe I gained a full understanding of my anxiety disorder and I still have to study myself a bit more my thoughts and thinking patterns and so forth. I threw away pregabalin no problem. I was on 400 mg and I tapered that quick and no crazy withdrawal barely anything 

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

We are outcasts we live in a system were they don’t care about us. Mental health is stigmatized and even finding a good therapist is hard( it’s terrible) . I mean anxiety is rough I don’t even get how I recovered so fast I can only say god and good family support I love them and I pushed through for them. And also a strong mind. I have a degree and I’m college educated if I must say I won’t say the specific profession for private reasons. I read so many self help books and tried my best I want 110 percent to get out of this. It was mental and physical it was a challenge like nothing else in my life. It blew my mind the intensity of the fear and panic attacks was next level my body was shaking and I could not even talk or keep a straight face the suicidal thoughts were relentless ; my family thought I would go crazy. I rebounded from that 

[ChessieCat]

Members can decide what speed they wish to taper at; SA does not make any members follow SA's tapering method.  But if you decide to go fast and you end up getting bad withdrawal symptoms please don't expect the unpaid volunteer peer support staff to fix the problems that you have created.  SA is staffed by a small number of people and we prefer to spend out valuable time helping members who choose to follow SA's tapering method.

 

It is better to taper in such a way that you don't get anything more than mild withdrawal symptoms.  We have SA members who have had one or more of the following happen: ended up bedridden, having their relationship break down, losing their job, having to live with a relative of friend.

 

If you get withdrawal symptoms after making a reduction, it is important to listen to your body/symptoms and not make another reduction until you are stable.

 

You have been given the information about tapering and how the brain adapts to the drug and how the changes need to be undone carefully.  This topic has helpful links: 

 

Important topics in the Tapering forum and FAQ

 

I am not willing to spend any more time trying to convince you that a psychiatric drug needs to be tapered carefully.

 

Please do not tag me.

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

Quick update to you all. Much love to you all. I decided to taper a bit faster. I had a couple of rough days. I am currently down to 50 mg from 100 mg . I tapered around 50 mg in a month from 100 mg to 50 mg.  It's rough I am not gonna lie. But I know its gonna work out. I only have been on this crap for 6 months. My anxiety has been heightened, dealing with brain zaps, body aches and pains but have no insomnia actually sleep ok around 6-7 hours every night. My mood is really good and I have been exercising consistently and even going to work and working out. I break out in sweats and have been getting brain zaps. I have been using Magnesium, Fish oil daily. I use meclizine and tylenol as well as naproxen to help with the withdrawal. So far nothing life threatening and am pretty functional have moments were I feel like crap but pushing through. I am gonna stay on 50 mg until I stabilize and I can feel its happening soon within the next week or two. I am remaining strong and patient. Of quick note Clonazepam .5 mg Has been completely tapered already and as has Pregabalin 400 mg.

My journey through Anxiety Disorder and through Major depressive disorder was very brief and very intense but a successful journey. 

My journey through Medication withdrawal- I am taking them down like dominoes , Pregabalin, Clonazepam and now Pristiq.

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

Wow all I can say wow. All of these medications SSRI and SNRI are crap. I will never use them again. They do not have help that much. 

 

I do not think I Will be bed ridden. I appreciate your advice and I understand you all are volunteers. You have to understand from my end, I started to feel this medication out and my body was signaling me please quit this.

 

All of my friends know that I have a good mind and body connection and that I can subjectively very quickly feel out how alcohol, drugs etc effect me. I am sensitive and I have a good mind body connection. The reason I started to taper Pristiq because I am came to the realization my anxiety disorder is gone, I feel generally okay. I lived most of my life with anxiety and depression and never resorted to SSRI or SNRI however this year my GAD and depression got so intense but thank the Good lord it was brief, the intensity was through the rough, I mean panic attacks constantly 24/7 I would sleep 15 minutes a night, I was agoraphobic at one point this year, suicidal it was rough but got through it . I mean I always dealt with anxiety but I always approached it rationally and got through it but this year it was out of this world.

I survived needless to say.

 

Something inside me my soul, my body were screaming get rid of pristiq. I could tell it was effecting more than just my brain, 

 

I read your posts on surviving antidepressants, i know that these psychiatric drugs effect our hormone levels and many other body systems. I was always fit my whole life, able to run a lot and able to swim a lot and i always used exercise as a huge outlet for my anxiety. Before i started pristiq i was 31 years 6'2 215 pounds and for my age in excellent shape, able to workout without a problem for 1 hour just excellent body shape. The pristiq messed me up im at 245 pounds now. I am always craving sweets , my metabolism is off. Luckily i am tall so i hold the weight well but im fat. My friend was laughing at me you gained weight etc. And he knows i was always fit my whole life and i told him its the medication. It really screwed my metabolism.

Second- i am sorry to post in caps lock, but please hear me out, i would always wake up with erections my whole life i noticed 2-3 months ago. In the morning my erections are gone.  So i know that pristiq had an effect on my testosterone levels. Even though right now i dropped to 50 mg , i am starting to get my natural libido and erections back way better than 2-3 months ago  and i am looking better like my body metabolism and testosterone levels are starting to rebound. 

My head feels fuzzy, and my cognitive functions are a little off right now.  I am experiencing brain zaps,i am experiencing cognitive and mental symptoms from dropping to 50 mg. However my body feels better, my energy levels are higher, my erections are better, i can exercise and move quickier again even at 245 pounds. Somehow its weird like mentally i feel crappier but physically better. So please hear me out. I am young and yea pristiq had an effect on my testosterone levels and so forth. I really dont want to go back up again. I am at 50 mg and hoping to god i can survive this and you all must understand why i chose a quickier taper. Please if anybody can help me, i feel like my body feels good on 50 mg and i dont want to go up. I can take it slower from here. 

 

On 8/16/2022 at 1:08 PM, ChessieCat said:

Members can decide what speed they wish to taper at; SA does not make any members follow SA's tapering method.  But if you decide to go fast and you end up getting bad withdrawal symptoms please don't expect the unpaid volunteer peer support staff to fix the problems that you have created.  SA is staffed by a small number of people and we prefer to spend out valuable time helping members who choose to follow SA's tapering method.

 

It is better to taper in such a way that you don't get anything more than mild withdrawal symptoms.  We have SA members who have had one or more of the following happen: ended up bedridden, having their relationship break down, losing their job, having to live with a relative of friend.

 

If you get withdrawal symptoms after making a reduction, it is important to listen to your body/symptoms and not make another reduction until you are stable.

 

You have been given the information about tapering and how the brain adapts to the drug and how the changes need to be undone carefully.  This topic has helpful links: 

 

Important topics in the Tapering forum and FAQ

 

I am not willing to spend any more time trying to convince you that a psychiatric drug needs to be tapered carefully.

 

Please do not tag me.

 

Edited August 31, 2022 by ChessieCat
changed capitalised text to regular text and added spacing

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

On 8/16/2022 at 1:08 PM, ChessieCat said:

Members can decide what speed they wish to taper at; SA does not make any members follow SA's tapering method.  But if you decide to go fast and you end up getting bad withdrawal symptoms please don't expect the unpaid volunteer peer support staff to fix the problems that you have created.  SA is staffed by a small number of people and we prefer to spend out valuable time helping members who choose to follow SA's tapering method.

 

It is better to taper in such a way that you don't get anything more than mild withdrawal symptoms.  We have SA members who have had one or more of the following happen: ended up bedridden, having their relationship break down, losing their job, having to live with a relative of friend.

 

If you get withdrawal symptoms after making a reduction, it is important to listen to your body/symptoms and not make another reduction until you are stable.

 

You have been given the information about tapering and how the brain adapts to the drug and how the changes need to be undone carefully.  This topic has helpful links: 

 

Important topics in the Tapering forum and FAQ

 

I am not willing to spend any more time trying to convince you that a psychiatric drug needs to be tapered carefully.

 

Please do not tag me.

 

Again i know all of you advise a slow taper and i understand that. The reason i went quickier is as stated above the pristiq was effecting my health especially my physical health in a bad way.

I know these medications- ssri and snri do not just effect our brains as well are being lied to. They have multiple effects on the body and although they are not psychologically as addictive as per say illicit drugs. Their physical dependency can be just as bad.  My head feels fuzzy and off this morning but my energy levels are okay. My body is so strong, its fighting this poison and quickly recalibrating itself. I know I can end up in bed and bedridden but I do not see that happen rather the ladder I am pushing through the withdrawal.

 

So if anybody can give me an advice on how to do a quickier taper but safely for pristiq please do so.

I know you went through pristiq. And let me ask you this? Did you gain any positives from pristiq? 

 

Edited August 31, 2022 by ChessieCat
changed capitalised text to regular text and added spacing

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

I WOULD  say that my withdrawal are at a moderate level but not severe. They were worse a few days around friday last week. Right now I would say they are continuous but diminishing in intensity. 

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

@ChessieCat sorry about tagging you but I needed your response. I dropped 50 mg in a month and I have only been on Pristiq for 6 month this is my 7th month. I had a few rough days but I never became bedbound in fact I was going to work and exercising. I felt crappy no doubt.  You have to hear me out! But now I actually feel great. I’m sorry. I was getting side effects from the Pristiq a lot of weight gain, a slowed down metabolism and sexual dysfunction and also an over medicated feeling. Guess what? This past month I’m beginning to lose weight, I actually feel more energetic and my sexual function is better. I think that not every taper or withdrawal is a nightmare story. I stabilized on 50 mg right now I think I should do it faster cause I feel like the Pristiq was making me feel crappier I feel more clarity and more energy. Can you explain why I’m going through the withdrawals like a breeze and actually feeling better? And can you give me explanation why my taper is going smoothly even though it’s quick. I mean the first 7 days were rough on 50 mg but now it’s good I feel a lot better. In my case a quick taper will be better. I was getting a lot of nasty side effects from Pristiq. Please feel me out. I’m planning on tapering slower and ending by the end of the year 

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

@ChessieCat I get the feeling people on this website get frustrated if someone tapers fast and with no problems and I think that is beginning to be my case and I mean I came here for support so feel me out. I’m feeling better as I’m tapering quick I plan to taper from 50 mg to zero by December and so far it has been good so I don’t see why it will go bad. 

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

@ChessieCat the case has been for me the first 7 days after a dose drop are rough but by no means am I bed bound. I’m moving, working pushing through on day 8 more energy and more mental clarity. My appetite normalized and I feel better 

[IsurvivetheworstthatGADhas]

@ChessieCat a lot of things are taking into consideration when tapering medication including general health, anxiety level, metabolism And age. I do not think it is always necessary to do a 10 percent taper every month in fact my case is showing that a faster taper is sometimes good too. I feel like my brain and body are adapting to the new dose quickly and not even suffering severely it’s a miracle. My recovery from anxiety and also withdrawal from medication has been nothing but a miracle I’m taking them down quick lyrica, clonazepam and now Pristiq. I have a strong body and I thank god for it. I have been exercising and physically getting stronger through this process even though I put on weight I’m not bed bound but quickly tapering and being active. Explain that to me