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Magenta: Withdrawing from Pristiq and looking for support


Magenta

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I’ve started using an app called Pixy to help track my mood, so far I’m liking it. Just wanted to share 😊

2016 - lexapro low dose then increased over the years to 20mg

May 2022 - gabapentin 300 mg 3x a day added in 

June 2022 - switched to pristiq 25 mg

Upped to 50, then 75, then 100 mg by October 2023

july 22, 2024 - cold turkeyed pristiq without understanding what i was doing, still on gabapentin 

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19 hours ago, Magenta said:

Thanks @watercauliflower! I was fairly healthy but who knows anymore. I’m really struggling with eating since I’ve stopped medication. I don’t know what path to take and I feel like every person I talk to has a different answer. Feeling depressed and scared. Therapy wasn’t as helpful as I had hoped and so overall just feeling lost. I was numb and not thriving on medication but I don’t know maybe I do need some. Having a hard time knowing if this is just a wave to get through or a sign of something more. 

 It sucks because no one really knows the right thing to do 😕 im hoping you have some luck with outro

2009 (14 years old) prescribed an SSRI for the first time 

2009-2016 Tried a few different SSRIs, nothing stuck or seemed to help. I can't remember exactly what I took other than Lexapro. I was not consistently medicated.

2016 - prescribed Pristiq 50 mg

2021 (ish?) - prescribed Wellbutrin XL 150mg

 

Pristiq taper: 50 -> 37.5 on 7/03/2024, 37.5 -> 25 on 7/19, 25 -> 18.75 on 8/19, 18.75 -> 12.5 on 8/23, 12.5 -> 0 on 9/18 

 

Tapered using pill cutting and dosing 2x per day

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Thanks @watercauliflower I meet with them Friday and it can’t come soon enough 

2016 - lexapro low dose then increased over the years to 20mg

May 2022 - gabapentin 300 mg 3x a day added in 

June 2022 - switched to pristiq 25 mg

Upped to 50, then 75, then 100 mg by October 2023

july 22, 2024 - cold turkeyed pristiq without understanding what i was doing, still on gabapentin 

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The depression is hitting hard and I don’t know what to do. I’m struggling to eat, struggling to cope, struggling to be able to pull myself out of this. I don’t know how to do this. Therapy hasn’t even felt very helpful lately. Starting to get a little ringing in my ear. Terrified about the idea of more medicine but maybe it’s necessary. People keep telling me I need to do something to change this but I am so stuck. 

2016 - lexapro low dose then increased over the years to 20mg

May 2022 - gabapentin 300 mg 3x a day added in 

June 2022 - switched to pristiq 25 mg

Upped to 50, then 75, then 100 mg by October 2023

july 22, 2024 - cold turkeyed pristiq without understanding what i was doing, still on gabapentin 

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Hi Magenta!  I am so sorry this wave is hitting hard.   Please know that I am sending as much kindness and support your way.

Stephanie

Duloxetine 60 mg day1/23-6/23

Duloxetine 120 mg day 7/23-12/23

Tapered to 60 mg every other day 8/23-9/23

Reinstated to 120 mg 10/23

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Thanks @Stephanie389i appreciate you! How are you doing? Hopefully things are going okay. 

2016 - lexapro low dose then increased over the years to 20mg

May 2022 - gabapentin 300 mg 3x a day added in 

June 2022 - switched to pristiq 25 mg

Upped to 50, then 75, then 100 mg by October 2023

july 22, 2024 - cold turkeyed pristiq without understanding what i was doing, still on gabapentin 

Link to comment

Hi Magenta!  Just wanted to say hi and hope you have a better day today.  
 

I had my appointment with a new pain medicine doctor, and it went well.  He spent over 4 hours with me.  I have never had a provider do that.  We went through my complete history of peripheral neuropathy and diabetes.   I am on 120 mg of duloxetine for a numbness and tingling sensation in both of my feet.  A neurologist that my primary care doctor recommended placed me on the duloxetine.  It has never worked and I tried to taper once in 2023.  That taper was not done correctly according to my new  doctor.  It was too fast and the old doctor had me skipping days.  When the numbness and tingling increased in my feet on the off days, the old doctor said that was a sign the duloxetine was working and did not recognize it as a potential withdrawal side effect.  He reinstated me to 120 mg per day.  
 

The new doctor agrees with the guidance on this site that slow and steady is the way to go.  Duloxetine has a short half life of 12 hours so on the days you don’t take it the body can be thrown into withdrawal.  I am starting a taper on Monday that will drop me to 110 mg per day.  We will do this for 90 days and hopefully drop to 100 mg per day after that and then 90mg after that.  That will take 9 months and I would like to be off the meds now but I understand why we must go slow.  My central nervous system needs time to adjust to not having the duloxetine.  After I get to 90 mg per day,  he will have me work with a compounding pharmacy to get me the rest of way.  
 

New doctor also referred me to a counselor and dietitian.  See both of those next week.    I have extreme fatigue and no matter how hard I try with my diet, I can’t get my blood sugar or blood pressure down.  He said duloxetine can cause both of those to rise.  We won’t know if that is the case with me until I get further into the taper.   Also didn’t know that duloxetine can cause insomnia which I developed shortly after starting.  Easy to understand why I am so tired if I can’t sleep.  
 

We went over a lot more stuff but for right now we are focusing on starting a slow steady taper,  trying to understand the root causes of my sleep issues and developing some healthy eating habits.   
 

Hope you have good day and beautiful and peaceful window finds you !!!

Stephanie

Duloxetine 60 mg day1/23-6/23

Duloxetine 120 mg day 7/23-12/23

Tapered to 60 mg every other day 8/23-9/23

Reinstated to 120 mg 10/23

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  • Moderator
19 hours ago, Magenta said:

The depression is hitting hard and I don’t know what to do. I’m struggling to eat, struggling to cope, struggling to be able to pull myself out of this. I don’t know how to do this. Therapy hasn’t even felt very helpful lately. Starting to get a little ringing in my ear. Terrified about the idea of more medicine but maybe it’s necessary. People keep telling me I need to do something to change this but I am so stuck. 

 

More medication is really not the answer.  And it's very risky.  My best recommendation would be to struggle less, and accept more.  This is a hard journey, filled with many ups and downs.  You're in a down period right now.  It's part of the process.  We don't need to react to the tough times, and we don't need to fight all the time.  Acceptance and learning to just let our symptoms be makes the journey much more bearable. Work hard to find some non-drug coping mechanisms that work for you, even if that means you spend hours at a time lying in a recliner and breathing deeply, repeating the mantra, 'it's not me, it's just the drugs.'  This is a much healthier way to cope than trying other drugs would be.  I know how hard it is- I'm in a rough patch right now too.  You might consider reading Claire Weekes' book Hope and Help for Your Nerves.  It's a very helpful, and practical take on what I'm talking about here- acceptance.  Sending hugs...❤️‍🩹

1995- 2007- On and off multiple antidepressants (Prozac, Paxil, Effexor, Wellbutrin, escitalopram). Memory poor- can’t remember dates. Always tapered fast or CT.  2007- tapered Wellbutrin, zopiclone and escitalopram over one month to get pregnant.  Withdrawal hell for many years.

2009- Daughter born 🥰 Post partum depression/psychosis- no meds taken.

2016- Back on escitalopram due to job change/anxiety

2022- Severe covid infection- Diagnosed with long covid 08/22.

2023- 01/23- Long term disability approved for long covid.  Started taper under MD advice from 20mg: 11/23- 15mg. 2024- March-10mg. Started low dose naltrexone for long covid-5mg- terrible reaction, reduced to 0.5mg.  April- 10mg escitalopram, 1.0mg LDN. May 1- 9.0mg escitalopram, 1.0mg LDN. May 15- 9.0mg escitalopram, 1.5mg LDN.  June 12- 8.5mg escitalopram, 1.5mg LDN.  July 8- Brassmonkey micro taper started.  8.4mg escitalopram, 1.5mg LDN.  July 15- 8.3mg esc, 1.5mg LDN.  July 18 8.3mg esc, 2.0mg LDN, July 22 8.2mg esc. 2.0mg LDN. July 29 8.1mg esc. 2.0mg LDN. Aug. 24- 8.0mg Esc. 2.0mg LDN.  Aug. 30 7.9mg esc.  Sept. 6 7.8mg esc.  Sept. 13 7.7mg esc. Sept 21 2.5mg LDN. Oct. 4 7.6mg esc. Oct. 11 7.5mg esc. Oct. 18 7.4mg esc. Oct. 25- 7.3mg esc.  Nov. 1- 3.0mg LDN.

 

Supplements/other meds: Vitamin D, B12, Claritin, HRT

 

PLEASE DO NOT PM ME!  PLEASE ONLY TAG ME FOR URGENT QUESTIONS!  Thank you!

 

I am not a doctor.  I don't even play one on TV.  This is not medical advice, but based on personal experience.  Please consult a medical professional.

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I do think that new medications may complicate things more especially since you are only 2ish months out of cold turkey-ing Pristiq. I've read stories of people still really struggling more than 40 days cold turkey and I'm sure this site has even longer stories. What's happening right now is not the permanent you, but I know it's hard to see that from the inside. 

 

Reinstating might be a good option for you though... A low dose of Effexor (pretty much same as Pristiq), just enough so that you can have a bit of mental relief. There's no guarantee that it would work though and then you would have to withdraw again when you decide to taper off that. 

 

That might not be popular advice for how far out you are on your withdrawal, I don't know I'm not a mod here. From one "civilian" to another though... No one here (or out in real life) has all the answers and you have to do what's best for you. Try not to let yourself be pressured too much to do things in a way that doesn't sit right with you

 

I am worried about you and I'm hoping that you can stay out of the darkest depths of depression. If you are struggling with thoughts of self harm, I would urge you to tell outro health and then do whatever they say that to eliminate that from happening, medications or no medications. Outside of that, now that you have the information from this site, only you can decide whether to wait it out or not 

 

My hope for you is that you can be alive, stable, and well. In that order. ❤️

2009 (14 years old) prescribed an SSRI for the first time 

2009-2016 Tried a few different SSRIs, nothing stuck or seemed to help. I can't remember exactly what I took other than Lexapro. I was not consistently medicated.

2016 - prescribed Pristiq 50 mg

2021 (ish?) - prescribed Wellbutrin XL 150mg

 

Pristiq taper: 50 -> 37.5 on 7/03/2024, 37.5 -> 25 on 7/19, 25 -> 18.75 on 8/19, 18.75 -> 12.5 on 8/23, 12.5 -> 0 on 9/18 

 

Tapered using pill cutting and dosing 2x per day

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@Stephanie389 I’m so happy you had a good visit!! 
 

 

@Catwoman73 I know I don’t really want to take medication but it’s so hard right now and everyone’s telling me I have to do something cause I can’t keep going like this. I’m looking into some new therapist me or iop programs possibly to help me learn better non drug coping skills. My current therapist just keeps telling me that I don’t want to get better and that’s my problem.

 

@watercauliflower thank you! I talk to Outro tomorrow morning. No self harm thoughts but very obsessive and intrusive thoughts. Have had to take the week off of work and am trying to surround myself with as much support and help as possible. 

2016 - lexapro low dose then increased over the years to 20mg

May 2022 - gabapentin 300 mg 3x a day added in 

June 2022 - switched to pristiq 25 mg

Upped to 50, then 75, then 100 mg by October 2023

july 22, 2024 - cold turkeyed pristiq without understanding what i was doing, still on gabapentin 

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Hi Magenta!  Sending hugs and support your way from the 🇺🇸 USA!   Please keep me in your thoughts as I start my first reduction tomorrow of 10 mg.   Going from 120 mg to 110 mg of duloxetine.  

Stephanie

Duloxetine 60 mg day1/23-6/23

Duloxetine 120 mg day 7/23-12/23

Tapered to 60 mg every other day 8/23-9/23

Reinstated to 120 mg 10/23

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19 minutes ago, Stephanie389 said:

Hi Magenta!  Sending hugs and support your way from the 🇺🇸 USA!   Please keep me in your thoughts as I start my first reduction tomorrow of 10 mg.   Going from 120 mg to 110 mg of duloxetine.  

Thinking of you and hoping it goes well!! 💜

2016 - lexapro low dose then increased over the years to 20mg

May 2022 - gabapentin 300 mg 3x a day added in 

June 2022 - switched to pristiq 25 mg

Upped to 50, then 75, then 100 mg by October 2023

july 22, 2024 - cold turkeyed pristiq without understanding what i was doing, still on gabapentin 

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On 10/2/2024 at 4:56 PM, Magenta said:

The depression is hitting hard and I don’t know what to do. I’m struggling to eat, struggling to cope, struggling to be able to pull myself out of this. I don’t know how to do this. Therapy hasn’t even felt very helpful lately. Starting to get a little ringing in my ear. Terrified about the idea of more medicine but maybe it’s necessary. People keep telling me I need to do something to change this but I am so stuck. 


from what I hear, many many struggle at this amount of time off (4 months, is it?) I hear 4-6 months off are the hardest. I’m sorry you’re struggling. Praying for a window for you, too 🩶

Sertraline 25 mg (Jan 2016)
50 mg (Feb 2016) Down to 25 mg for second pregnancy (2019) 75 mg due to PPA (Sept 2019) Down to 25 mg for third pregnancy (2020) 50-> 75 mg ->100 mg (Jan 2023) Felt good for long while so reduced to 75 (Nov 2023). Back up to 100 after some symptoms of anxiety (Dec 2023) 125 (Dec 2023) didn’t help so->150 mg (Feb 2024) Horrible adverse reaction to 150/kindled 
Doc suggested lowering Sert and add Buspar. Started 2.5 mg 3x per day same day at going down to 100 mg Sert. 

March- CT’d buspar and dropped down to 87 mg Sert. 
Intermittent .25 or .50 Xanax use. Like once a week. Haven’t taken it since April 2024. 
Found SA, stopped the madness.
(April 2024) hold at 87 mg -micro tapered a few mg over 1-2 months but should’ve held longer after stabilizing at 87

(8.31.24) 84.6 mg • (9.22.24) 83.9 mg accidental small drop due to scale malfunction; plan to hold here for at least a month. 

(Current: Natural Calm: 50-100 mg per day in water, 0.5 mg melatonin nightly) 

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1 minute ago, AAOffZ said:


from what I hear, many many struggle at this amount of time off (4 months, is it?) I hear 4-6 months off are the hardest. I’m sorry you’re struggling. Praying for a window for you, too 🩶

I’m only about 2 and half months off unfortunately and am scared it’s going to get worse 😕 I’ve been looking into working with outro health so hopefully that will help. 

2016 - lexapro low dose then increased over the years to 20mg

May 2022 - gabapentin 300 mg 3x a day added in 

June 2022 - switched to pristiq 25 mg

Upped to 50, then 75, then 100 mg by October 2023

july 22, 2024 - cold turkeyed pristiq without understanding what i was doing, still on gabapentin 

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23 minutes ago, Magenta said:

I’m only about 2 and half months off unfortunately and am scared it’s going to get worse 😕 I’ve been looking into working with outro health so hopefully that will help. 


Always a good idea to have supports in place regardless of where you’re at in your WD journey. You are smart to do that. Hang in there. You’re not alone 🩷

Sertraline 25 mg (Jan 2016)
50 mg (Feb 2016) Down to 25 mg for second pregnancy (2019) 75 mg due to PPA (Sept 2019) Down to 25 mg for third pregnancy (2020) 50-> 75 mg ->100 mg (Jan 2023) Felt good for long while so reduced to 75 (Nov 2023). Back up to 100 after some symptoms of anxiety (Dec 2023) 125 (Dec 2023) didn’t help so->150 mg (Feb 2024) Horrible adverse reaction to 150/kindled 
Doc suggested lowering Sert and add Buspar. Started 2.5 mg 3x per day same day at going down to 100 mg Sert. 

March- CT’d buspar and dropped down to 87 mg Sert. 
Intermittent .25 or .50 Xanax use. Like once a week. Haven’t taken it since April 2024. 
Found SA, stopped the madness.
(April 2024) hold at 87 mg -micro tapered a few mg over 1-2 months but should’ve held longer after stabilizing at 87

(8.31.24) 84.6 mg • (9.22.24) 83.9 mg accidental small drop due to scale malfunction; plan to hold here for at least a month. 

(Current: Natural Calm: 50-100 mg per day in water, 0.5 mg melatonin nightly) 

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30 minutes ago, AAOffZ said:


Always a good idea to have supports in place regardless of where you’re at in your WD journey. You are smart to do that. Hang in there. You’re not alone 🩷

Thank you! I’m so happy to have this community 💜

2016 - lexapro low dose then increased over the years to 20mg

May 2022 - gabapentin 300 mg 3x a day added in 

June 2022 - switched to pristiq 25 mg

Upped to 50, then 75, then 100 mg by October 2023

july 22, 2024 - cold turkeyed pristiq without understanding what i was doing, still on gabapentin 

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Hi Magenta!  Just wanted you to know that my first day of the reduction from 120 to 110 mg is going okay.   Hopefully tomorrow will be okay as well 🤞🏻.   Sending my support to you!!  Keep us updated 😊

Stephanie

Duloxetine 60 mg day1/23-6/23

Duloxetine 120 mg day 7/23-12/23

Tapered to 60 mg every other day 8/23-9/23

Reinstated to 120 mg 10/23

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22 minutes ago, Stephanie389 said:

Hi Magenta!  Just wanted you to know that my first day of the reduction from 120 to 110 mg is going okay.   Hopefully tomorrow will be okay as well 🤞🏻.   Sending my support to you!!  Keep us updated 😊

So glad to hear it! Fingers crossed it stays good! 

2016 - lexapro low dose then increased over the years to 20mg

May 2022 - gabapentin 300 mg 3x a day added in 

June 2022 - switched to pristiq 25 mg

Upped to 50, then 75, then 100 mg by October 2023

july 22, 2024 - cold turkeyed pristiq without understanding what i was doing, still on gabapentin 

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@Stephanie389 and @watercauliflower and @AAOffZ just wanted to check in and see how everyone’s doing?

2016 - lexapro low dose then increased over the years to 20mg

May 2022 - gabapentin 300 mg 3x a day added in 

June 2022 - switched to pristiq 25 mg

Upped to 50, then 75, then 100 mg by October 2023

july 22, 2024 - cold turkeyed pristiq without understanding what i was doing, still on gabapentin 

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Hi Magenta!  Day 2 and I am doing okay.  No real withdrawal symptoms.   How are you?  

Stephanie

Duloxetine 60 mg day1/23-6/23

Duloxetine 120 mg day 7/23-12/23

Tapered to 60 mg every other day 8/23-9/23

Reinstated to 120 mg 10/23

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@Magenta I’m still struggling. So many stick thoughts. My brain can’t relax. Anxiety, agitation, the works. 

Sertraline 25 mg (Jan 2016)
50 mg (Feb 2016) Down to 25 mg for second pregnancy (2019) 75 mg due to PPA (Sept 2019) Down to 25 mg for third pregnancy (2020) 50-> 75 mg ->100 mg (Jan 2023) Felt good for long while so reduced to 75 (Nov 2023). Back up to 100 after some symptoms of anxiety (Dec 2023) 125 (Dec 2023) didn’t help so->150 mg (Feb 2024) Horrible adverse reaction to 150/kindled 
Doc suggested lowering Sert and add Buspar. Started 2.5 mg 3x per day same day at going down to 100 mg Sert. 

March- CT’d buspar and dropped down to 87 mg Sert. 
Intermittent .25 or .50 Xanax use. Like once a week. Haven’t taken it since April 2024. 
Found SA, stopped the madness.
(April 2024) hold at 87 mg -micro tapered a few mg over 1-2 months but should’ve held longer after stabilizing at 87

(8.31.24) 84.6 mg • (9.22.24) 83.9 mg accidental small drop due to scale malfunction; plan to hold here for at least a month. 

(Current: Natural Calm: 50-100 mg per day in water, 0.5 mg melatonin nightly) 

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@Stephanie389 that’s great news! I’m still really struggling. Yesterday I got a slight reprieve from mental symptoms because I was attacked by physical symptoms. Not looking forward to seeing what today will be.

 

@AAOffZ I am so sorry! I’m right there with you. Hope it eases up for us soon 

2016 - lexapro low dose then increased over the years to 20mg

May 2022 - gabapentin 300 mg 3x a day added in 

June 2022 - switched to pristiq 25 mg

Upped to 50, then 75, then 100 mg by October 2023

july 22, 2024 - cold turkeyed pristiq without understanding what i was doing, still on gabapentin 

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Hi Everyone!  I am having a few stomach issues that I won’t go into since that might be too much information.   But so far with this first taper of 8.3%, things haven’t been bad.  I might have a little dizziness but I can function.  I’m only a few days so we will see how things progress.  Appreciate the support as I was really anxious about starting a taper again.   Hope everyone has a great day and catches a positive window of relief!

Stephanie

Duloxetine 60 mg day1/23-6/23

Duloxetine 120 mg day 7/23-12/23

Tapered to 60 mg every other day 8/23-9/23

Reinstated to 120 mg 10/23

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Well the depression fog may be lifting a little bit. Still feel a lot of fear and intrusive thoughts but I can also find moments of peace. Coming off this medication and feeling less numb has made me question a lot of things that seemed like they were “working” so I’m facing a lot of tough questions and trying to figure out the best path forward for my healing. I have been doing emotional release tapping and I have really been enjoying those sessions a lot. I also get to work with outro health and meet with them again next week to talk next steps. I’ve been thinking of everyone here but have to be careful with how much time I spend online searching for answers to questions that don’t really have answers.

2016 - lexapro low dose then increased over the years to 20mg

May 2022 - gabapentin 300 mg 3x a day added in 

June 2022 - switched to pristiq 25 mg

Upped to 50, then 75, then 100 mg by October 2023

july 22, 2024 - cold turkeyed pristiq without understanding what i was doing, still on gabapentin 

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Hi Magenta !  So glad to hear that things might be improving a bit for you.  At times, during this journey have spent way more time than I should have online looking for answers because I felt the medical community had none.   I can’t say that helped me much in retrospect.  I understand your point.  Happy the tapping is helping!  I am trying to take long walks outside and spend time with nature.   I am still okay with my taper just mild stomach issues and dizziness.  Both seem to be easing.   Tomorrow marks 7 days for my first dosage reduction.  Please let us know how you are feeling when you are online.  Just know that we all care about you and are here to support you!

Stephanie

Duloxetine 60 mg day1/23-6/23

Duloxetine 120 mg day 7/23-12/23

Tapered to 60 mg every other day 8/23-9/23

Reinstated to 120 mg 10/23

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Thanks @Stephanie389!! I’m really enjoying the tapping even though it means lots of crying lol. Aren’t the stomach issues the worst? I haven’t eaten a good meal since I stopped my medication and sometimes I just don’t know what to do with that. When I try to eat something other than my safe foods I feel so sensitive to it. It doesn’t help that I don’t feel hungry in the same ways I used to but maybe that’s also cause I’m struggling to move my body as much. I hate that it’s all connected so much

2016 - lexapro low dose then increased over the years to 20mg

May 2022 - gabapentin 300 mg 3x a day added in 

June 2022 - switched to pristiq 25 mg

Upped to 50, then 75, then 100 mg by October 2023

july 22, 2024 - cold turkeyed pristiq without understanding what i was doing, still on gabapentin 

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Realized I haven't posted an update in a while! The depression fog definitely lifted and I've been having a nice little window here. Been able to work a bit after having to call out for basically two weeks in a row and also eating a bit more. Had a good meeting with Outro and we are going to stay the course of holding without reinstatement since it's been about three months since my last dose. I found a new therapist who I really click with who is helping me with more CBT based skills that I've never really learned from the depth/talk therapy I've been doing for years. All in all I'm hanging in there and trying to work on growing my confidence in myself and my ability to handle emotions! 

 

 

@Stephanie389 @AAOffZ @watercauliflower also wanted to check in and see how you all are doing? 

2016 - lexapro low dose then increased over the years to 20mg

May 2022 - gabapentin 300 mg 3x a day added in 

June 2022 - switched to pristiq 25 mg

Upped to 50, then 75, then 100 mg by October 2023

july 22, 2024 - cold turkeyed pristiq without understanding what i was doing, still on gabapentin 

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Hi Magenta!  I have thought of you often this week and tried to send some good vibes your way.   I am happy to hear that you are enjoying a window of relief.   I think that has been the biggest challenge for me so far.  There will be days of waves and days of beautiful windows.   Being kind to ourselves is key!   
 I am doing okay.  The first week of my taper was not so bad; however, this week has been a struggle.  I am just so irritable.  I am trying to isolate myself from my partner so I don’t project my irritation.  This is hard since we both have jobs where we work remotely.  Last week’s stomach issues have subsided and I do not have the fatigue this week.  My sleep is somewhat better.  I did meet with my new doctor and he wasn’t surprised.  He said 120 mg of duloxetine a day is an incredibly high dose.  Even with a small reduction amount some un comfort is expected.   I don’t have any increased tingling in my feet like I did when I tried to taper a year ago and was alternating days.  Apparently my old neurologist wasn’t that informed and didn’t know that might force you into withdrawals on the days you do have take duloxetine.   He said it was a sign the medication was working and had me reinstate to 120 mg.  That is how I got here.  Nutritionist is working with me on good eating habits and cutting down on my sugar.  I am keeping a food diary and that is eye opening.   My diet  is so bad.  Amazing how my primary care doctor who was treating my diabetes never really talked to me about my diet.  He just gave me a prescription for Metformin. Also,  I do think the duloxetine made me eat more.  My records show that I gained 30 pounds after starting it.  Sounds like we are both learning some new skills!  
 

 I had hoped to speed up the taper but after this week, I will be following my new doctor’s advice to go slow and steady.  He wants to see me in 6 weeks and we will decide then if I reduce down to 100 mg per day or stay at 110 through December.  The goal he said is to not have to reinstate to a higher dose.  He said it is okay if I have to take my time at each reduction.
 

I am so grateful to have the support of everyone here on this forum.   My partner tries to help and I am grateful but unless you have taken these drugs you don’t understand what they do to your brain and personality.   On the flip side,  I know he has suffered with my mental changes due to the duloxetine over the past few years.  We were assured by the neurologist that prescribed them to me that I would not have any changes to my mental health from them because I wasn’t taking them for mental health issues.  This was bad advice!  Keep us posted and sending good thoughts your way for this window to continue!!!!
 

 

Stephanie

Duloxetine 60 mg day1/23-6/23

Duloxetine 120 mg day 7/23-12/23

Tapered to 60 mg every other day 8/23-9/23

Reinstated to 120 mg 10/23

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@Stephanie389 I’m so happy to hear some things are starting to feel a bit better this week! I hope they continue to improve. This new doctor sounds great and informed about things, I’m so glad you found them!! 
 

yes, this site is so great and I’m so thankful for it. I’ve been having some insomnia and will come on read success stories but just completely space on updating about myself 😂

2016 - lexapro low dose then increased over the years to 20mg

May 2022 - gabapentin 300 mg 3x a day added in 

June 2022 - switched to pristiq 25 mg

Upped to 50, then 75, then 100 mg by October 2023

july 22, 2024 - cold turkeyed pristiq without understanding what i was doing, still on gabapentin 

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The insomnia is the worst!  You are tired but your mind won’t let you sleep.  I need to correct one of my statements above.  My previous neurologist had me skipping days on my first taper.  It was on the days that I did not take the duloxetine that I would have the increased tingling in my feet.  It would normally start in the late afternoon.   At that point I was taking 60 mg every other morning.  My doctor said it makes sense that this was a withdrawal symptom since duloxetine has a 12 hour half life.   Yes!  My new doctor is much more informed.   The nice thing about him is he isn’t anti drug or pro drug.  He is for what works for the individual patient.  He has never once said that should or shouldn’t be the case.  He said you know your body.  Be kind 😊 to yourself ( my new mantra)!!!!

Stephanie

Duloxetine 60 mg day1/23-6/23

Duloxetine 120 mg day 7/23-12/23

Tapered to 60 mg every other day 8/23-9/23

Reinstated to 120 mg 10/23

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  • 2 weeks later...

@Stephanie389 I'm so sorry I somehow missed your above reply! I need to find myself a doctor like yours! How's everything going?? 

2016 - lexapro low dose then increased over the years to 20mg

May 2022 - gabapentin 300 mg 3x a day added in 

June 2022 - switched to pristiq 25 mg

Upped to 50, then 75, then 100 mg by October 2023

july 22, 2024 - cold turkeyed pristiq without understanding what i was doing, still on gabapentin 

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Well I would say I'm back in a little wave not being helped by it being that time of the month. 

 

It's presenting itself in bad health anxiety and with the agoraphobia that makes being seen in person difficult. I did an at home urgent care for one thing and saw my doctor virtually for another and everyone says I'm okay but my anxiety voice thinks that because my doctor couldn't see me in person then something must be missed. I'm feeling concerned about my physcical health obviously. My weight dropped right when I stopped pristiq and I've been struggling with food ever since. After the initial drop it seems to have leveled out but I'm still struggling with food I'm either not hungry or don't know I'm hungry or only want to eat a little bit. I don't know if I know what feeling full feels like anymore. And naturally weight loss and lack of appetite is associated with every scary health problem it seems. I keep having to remind myself I'm in withdrawal and this didn't come out of nowhere but sometimes that just doesn't work as well as others. I've also really bad acid reflux a few times since stopping, two were so bad that they made me sick which then makes me even more concerned. I'm going to try and work with my therapist on exposure to get to my doctor. Although, I don't know that will make me feel any better because she said she thought I was okay when I Talked to her and didn't push for me to come in and be seen and I didn't feel all that reassured from that. Well my anxiety didn't. I'm considering maybe seeing about working with a nutritionist. I did start with a new therapist who is more CBT based and it has been going well. I have actually been leaving my house for small excursions more than I have in years which has felt amazing. If I could just get a handle on all the physical worries then I would be in a place that I would feel good about I think. One of the good things is that even through all these thought spirals I have not made it to a panic attack which is a huge win that I will take. 

 

Anyone have any tips for how they dealt with any food/eating changes? 

2016 - lexapro low dose then increased over the years to 20mg

May 2022 - gabapentin 300 mg 3x a day added in 

June 2022 - switched to pristiq 25 mg

Upped to 50, then 75, then 100 mg by October 2023

july 22, 2024 - cold turkeyed pristiq without understanding what i was doing, still on gabapentin 

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Hi Magenta!  Thanks for the update!  So strange how these drugs impact us all differently.  After the first 3 weeks on duloxetine, I developed a huge appetite especially for things like cookies and potato chips.  I gained 25 pounds on this drug.   This is not good since I have type 2 diabetes.  My old neurologist never warned me about this or any other side effects.   I wish I had some advice here to help you eat more.  I do think a dietitian might have some good advice.  I am working with one to help me loose weight and I find her very helpful.  I am tracking everything I eat on an app on my phone.  It is helping me see how bad my diet is.  I have lost about 2 pounds over the past month.  Not much but we are focusing on sustaining the weight loss.  Keep getting outside. Small outings add up!  Being in nature helps me keep my mind off how irritable I feel.  I have done better this week and feel the irritable feelings to be subsiding.  A small window has opened for me and I think it is widening. 
 

I meet with my new doctor in the next few weeks and I think I will stay at 110 mg per day until the end of the year.  The first reduction hasn’t been horrible but it did impact me.  With the holidays coming in December, I have lots of work and family obligations and don’t want to be in the middle of a bad wave.  I am trying to accept that slow forward progress is better than going backwards.  Holding at 110 mg is okay.  This functional medicine doctor has been great.  I have days when I get really down on myself for trusting my old neurologist.  I am reminded of the Maya Angelou quote “Now I know better so now I do better.”  I have to move forward with the guidance of my new and knowledgeable doctor.   Let me know how your week goes.  Hoping you can eat and find a good window.  I think you are doing great!  

Stephanie

Duloxetine 60 mg day1/23-6/23

Duloxetine 120 mg day 7/23-12/23

Tapered to 60 mg every other day 8/23-9/23

Reinstated to 120 mg 10/23

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