AriesRam: currently tapering off 200mg Pristiq

[AriesRam]

Hello, I'm just sharing my journey with Pristiq, a medication that I was on for 8 years, but only wanted to be on for 12 months at max. 

 

As of 01/11/22, DD/MM/YYYY, I'm no longer taking Pristiq. I've actually finished my last dose 2 days ago. I started taking Pristiq at 19, so 8 years ago. It was prescribed to me because my temperament went from chill, to extremely aggressive. Apparently I have Borderline Personality Disorder (Diagnosed by a mental health care team, confirmed by a psychologist, confirmed by a psychiatrist and confirmed by 2 doctors). Additional diagnoses are fear of open spaces and severe depression with sui__dal tendencies. Contributing factors are past childhood trauma and my best friend, my father, passing when I was a teen. Despite being 11 years ago, I still, to this day, cannot easily talk about it without tearing up. 

 

Nonetheless, after a few very bad, extreme, aggressive episodes, I was put on fluvoxamine. This did absolutely nothing except for make climax near impossible and arousal impossibly hard to achieve. I was then put on Pristiq. It started out at 50mg, and throughout the years, while attending various psychologists, doctors and mental health groups, it eventually rose to 200mg in 2021. I was never comfortable taking such a high dose, as I knew already that Pristiq had assisted my disconnection to the world with my already lack of empathy. It just seemed to enhance it. For many, many years I was a brick. I used to joke that if someone were to pass away in front of me I'd barely blink an eyelid. A joke I say, but sadly, this was true. The only two emotions I knew were anger and sadness. Deep anger, and deep sadness. With the assistance of a new and incredible psychologist, I realised antidepressants are really not that needed. At all. Perhaps in a very small and specific circumstance. 

 

In 2022, September, I decided I had enough. My current psychologist, whom I credit this to, helped me realise that it's not medication I need to control my feelings, it's me. I needed assistance in making me understand what I'm feeling and how to manage and deal with these feelings. As he says, being sad, angry, happy, excited, etc, it's perfectly okay, as these are normal human feelings. What's not okay is putting a blanket fix over them. I just need help how to deal with these emotions, not hide from them.

 

So as of 2 days ago, after a rapid taper (I do not recommend, even with an iron will like myself, it is quite painful, and I'm still experiencing brain zaps, headaches and dizziness), I'm clean from Pristiq. I found this website by typing into Google "I feel scared I no longer take antidepressants". Because I do. They were a safety net, a fake one, but a safety net. 

 

I've written this more as a journal, as I find writing difficult. 

 

I'm very determined to permanently cease all antidepressants. They're nothing but a dreadful solution. The solution being "let's remove all your feelings so you can't feel anymore". A chemical lobotomy. 

 

It is okay to feel, you are human after all. Sometimes we just need help in managing these feelings. And that's okay. We all need help from time to time. Humans are downplayed. We are such a ridiculously sophiscated piece of biology, and we've barely scratched the surface of how we work. So I do recommend reaching out, and if you have and aren't satisfied, by all means switch psychologist, doctor, health care provider. I went through 3 psychologists to find this good one. 

 

Additional information for future self:

Pristiq ceased as of September 30.

Quetiapine is at 100mg daily 

Vitamin B12 Complex 1 daily

Zinc enhanced 1 daily

Signed 1/11/2022

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @AriesRam

 

As I understand it, you decided to quit 200mg Pristiq -- an exceptionally high dose far outside medical guidelines -- fairly abruptly.

 

You are aware that you risk severe withdrawal and possibly protracted withdrawal for many months. 

 

How may we assist you? To help us out, follow these instructions Please put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature You may need to use a computer to do this.

[AriesRam]

On 11/5/2022 at 4:15 PM, Altostrata said:

Welcome, @AriesRam

 

As I understand it, you decided to quit 200mg Pristiq -- an exceptionally high dose far outside medical guidelines -- fairly abruptly.

 

You are aware that you risk severe withdrawal and possibly protracted withdrawal for many months. 

 

How may we assist you? To help us out, follow these instructions Please put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature You may need to use a computer to do this.

Yes I was extremely, extremely reluctant to go that high, but the mental health care team that was managing me really pushed for it. Even this year, about 4 months ago, they wanted me to go to 250mg. But I adamantly refused 

 

I'm just here to post my journey and see if anyone else has quit pristiq from such a high dose 😊

 

Yes I do understand it was fairly abruptly. I did taper down from 200mg to 100, then 100 to 50, then 50 to none over the course of a month and a half 

[ChessieCat]

Please create your drug signature.  We need to see the date and the dose that you took on that day.  Please follow these instructions which Alto provided in her post:

 

On 11/5/2022 at 5:15 PM, Altostrata said:

To help us out, follow these instructions Please put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature You may need to use a computer to do this.