Mermaid Intro

[Mermaid]

I am not currently tapering off any medications, but am considering it.  I found this forum when I was searching for possible relief when I forgot to take my 100mg Pristiq daily dose, was experiencing the fuzzy-headedness and dizziness, and not looking forward to the nausea.

 

I have been on 100mg Pristiq for about 2 years.

 

Anti-depressant history:

I was on various SSRIs for 7 years, including (if I remember correctly) Paxil, Celexa, and Effexor, for last few years with Wellbutrin added. 

 

I tried to go off once slowly, didn't work.  A year later, I did manage to go off with a very slow taper while adding a vitamin/amino acid mix designed for people with bipolar or depression (I'm unipolar).   Perhaps 4-6 months all told, continuing on with the vitamin mix.

 

After being off for maybe 7 years, things were getting more difficult for me.  I had started a business that wasn't going well, and with the need to find a job, I went on Pristiq 50mg then upped to 100mg, and have been on it for about 2 years.  

 

There are two difficulties have been bothering me:  

 

1) dizziness and easily overheating when doing heavy exercising, after getting off the SSRI's. There was some idea this could be caused by after effects of the medication in my system - this was told to me by an organization that uses vitamins and amino acids to help people get off/stay off medications - so possibly biased. (I know pharma company studies are very biased - I don't know about this company). I also didn't know then that people take electrolyte replacement ("salt tablets") when doing heavy exercise.

 

This happened while I was off meds, and now that I am on Pristiq and doing heavy exercise again, I am getting dizzy and overheated (this is years later).  Now I am trying salt tables in addition to water and Gatorade type drinks to lessen the effects, but I got a migraine after exercise last week.

 

2) Missing a day of the Pristiq (I haven't realized it until the next day at time to take), I get very fuzzy headed, dizzy (sometimes can't drive), and sometimes nausea.  This is bothersome.  I'd like to at least get down to 50mg and then perhaps off.  But it always seems like there is a good reason to not throw a wrench into the works of my life.  

 

My attitude has gone from (initially)

I need something so I don't cry all day and can work  to 

wow these meds sound really dangerous and once off, I'll never get on again to 

I'll take them if they will help 

 

~Mermaid

[Rhiannon]

Hi Mermaid, welcome to the forum.

 

Pristiq is a tricky one to taper off, but we have people who've figured it out. Check out this thread: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/876-tips-for-tapering-off-pristiq-desvenlafaxine/

 

I'd also recommend taking a look at the topics pinned at the top of the Tapering thread and the links inside those topics.

 

Other people will be around to welcome you soon. I'm glad you came here for information rather than just trying to quit and becoming ill first. Hopefully with the info and support you get here, you'll be able to reduce or come off the Pristiq without getting ill.

 

Again, welcome.

[Mermaid]

Thanks, RHI. I will definitely not try to quit on my own - I will take my doc's advice and also do my own research.

 

I'll look at that thread.

[Altostrata]

Welcome, Mermaid.

 

Please look at Pristiq adverse effects here http://www.drugs.com/pro/pristiq.html

 

100mg is a hefty dose. It could well be causing adverse effects.