☼ ChessieCat: so I'm not the only one (Pristiq / desvenlafaxine)

[ChessieCat]

Hi Erell,

 

Thank you for dropping by and encouraging me.  I've just discovered diamond painting which I know Carmie loves doing.  My daughter bought me one the other week but because of the pain from my back I had been unable to do it earlier.  But I've been doing it the last few days and absolutely love it.  I'm planning on buying some more to do.

[ChessieCat]

  

I've just posted this to a member but thought I'd post it here for my own benefit:

 

  

I've been tapering off 100mg Pristiq since October 2015.  I've just found these posts in my Intro topic which show that things have improved for me and that I got back my excitement for things and also my imagination.

 

The doses of Pristiq for the dates mentioned:

 

May 2017 - 25mg

Oct 2017 -  18mg

Feb 2018 -  12mg

 

I'm now down to 0.75mg

  

On 9/21/2017 at 3:57 PM, ChessieCat said:

 

Well I have a bit of exciting news.  My daughter and grandson are coming to stay for a few days BUT that's not the exciting bit, the exciting bit is that I am FEELING EXCITED!!!  It's been a long while and it's so good.  At the beginning of May this year, which I was taking 25mg Pristiq, I bought a brand new car and I was excited but it was a dulled excitement, definitely different to how I'm feeling now.

 

 

On 10/13/2017 at 8:59 PM, ChessieCat said:

 

It's really great to be able to share that even after 25+ years of continual use of an antidepressant that the brain does heal.  I mentioned recently that I got excited and it happened again today.  And I got so excited that I jumped up and down.  And it happened twice!!!

 

What had me jumping up and down in excitement?  I got to see a mummy and baby whale tail slapping and breaching.  The background is that I have been on 5 whale watching boats and even though I have seen whales from a distance I had never seen them breach or tail slap.  And what made this an even better experience was that it was so unexpected.  We were checking out a car for my daughter to buy and they live on the coast.  The owners even let me borrow their binoculars.  And yes, she did buy the car too!

 

 

On 2/26/2018 at 4:58 PM, ChessieCat said:

 

Something exciting to report.

 

I've just realised that I've recently been getting my imagination back.  This is what made me realise:

 

...

 

I've thought back over the last few weeks and I've definitely been using my imagination which I hadn't been able to do before.  It took a great effort just to think of basic things and think of words let alone think up new ideas.

 

Yippee!!

 

 

[Johni]

💓💓💓

[ChessieCat]

Thanks Johni.  It's good to check back on your progress occasionally because it helps us to see improvement which we may not notice.  It can be really encouraging when we realise how far we have come and that things have improved for us.

[ChessieCat]

This afternoon I noticed that I am feeling a bit on edge.  Sort of hyper alert.  I'm not sure when it started.  I was feeling a bit bored, not knowing what to do with myself and decided to go and sit out side in the sun and do some puzzles.  I may have been feeling on edge before that but possibly was distracted.  But it may have been the uneasiness that caused me to want to go outside and be in the sun.  I've been reducing my painkillers over the last few days and have only taken a couple of paracetomol early this morning.  So it could be that I'm feeling the wave that had previously been numbed by the pain and/or the codeine.  Obviously I'll never know but just wanted to note it here.

[Tom37]

Just thought I would check in to see how your back injury is going? Do you think it’s slowly improving? Seems like time is the answer in most cases along with pt etc. 

[ChessieCat]

Hi Tom, thanks for dropping by.

 

Throughout the day I'm still noticing that I am a bit on edge.  It's impossible to know the cause, but I think that it is just a result of the combination of things over the last month.  I'm just going with the flow and not stressing about it.  My non drug skills are helping me get through this. 

 

Things are definitely improving with my back.  However, it is taking longer than I expected, but the physio did say it can take up to 3 months to recover.  There is still numbness in my knee which I assume means that the disc is still bulging a bit and is still touching a nerve.  But I'm hardly getting any pain now and I'm only taking minimal pain killers.  I reduced the Mersyndol (paracetamol, codeine, antihistamine) to 1 instead of 2 for a few nights and now I'm only taking 1/2.  I'll then go to 1/4.  I'm doing this to try to reduce the impact of going off them because of the antihistamine they contain.  During the day I am not taking paracodeine anymore, but will sometimes take a couple of paracetamol if I'm feeling a bit achy.

 

The hydrotherapy twice a week and other exercises 3 times a week that I'm doing are certainly aiding my recovery.  Even though I'm becoming more active physically and mentally I'm not sleeping as well as I had been.  I think it might be from being overstimulated.  I'm going to start doing some short periods of walking on the treadmill.

 

 

[Tom37]

Glad to hear things are improving for you especially on the pain front. Don’t be surprised if takes a few months to get full recovery either and by that I mean get your strength back etc so it doesn’t happen again. 
 

It’s definitely a challenge mentally to go through something like this even not being in wd. Even though I’ve found it a struggle of late using all the coping skills learnt through wd definitely helps.

[ChessieCat]

1 hour ago, Tom37 said:

It’s definitely a challenge mentally to go through something like this even not being in wd. Even though I’ve found it a struggle of late using all the coping skills learnt through wd definitely helps.

 

Experiencing withdrawal is an experience I could have done without.  However there have definitely been some positives come from it and the non drug coping skills I have gained have been a huge benefit.

[ChessieCat]

Just wanted to note here that I might have missed my evening dose of 0.25mg last night.  If I did miss it then it was a 1/3 reduction in dose.  Because of my back issues, I hadn't counted out my capsules for the taper so I wasn't able to count what I had left to work out whether I had taken it.  I thought about taking a 0.125mg capsule so that it would be either a small increase or a small decrease, but I decided that I wouldn't bother.

 

I've just realised that last night I was thinking that 0.25mg was a small amount.  Which was when I was taking a larger dose.  In hindsight I should have taken 0.125mg.  Oh well, I change it now.  Hopefully if I did miss the dose things don't worsen too much.

 

Other than the above things are going fairly well all round at the moment.  Still have some numbness in my knee but getting body strength back with exercise.

[ChessieCat]

Withdrawal wise things have been a tiny bit worse lately.  I'm not surprised after all that has happened and what I've been taking recently.  It's just a bit of a nuisance, I know what it is, what is causing it and I know it will pass.  The main thing I have been noticing is waking up with a bit of dread every morning.  And I've also had a few times where I haven't been able to move.  Neither of these last very long, but I am aware of them returning.  The slight hyper alert feeling is hardly there now.  I'm no longer taking codeine at night and I'm sleeping well which is a blessing.  I've had a bit of a flare up with my bulging disc and have been taking ibuprofen for 1 week but it is now causing an upset tummy.  This afternoon the physio will be assessing me.

 

LIGHT BULB MOMENT.  Here I have been thinking that I have to work with dividing up a capsule at the end of my taper to get doses lower than 0.125mg.  I've just remembered that the compounding pharmacist told me he can make a liquid which will last for 1 month so I have that option available for my final doses.

 

 

[Dejavu]

I feel a little silly trying to give you advice, since it's usually the other way around. I know you're coming up on zero very soon, but do you think, in light of (1) COVID, (2) your back issues and (3) the fact that you might have skipped a dose last week, you might take a 2 or 3 month hold? It would be heartbreaking for you to stumble after such a deliberate, careful taper. You give so much to other people, Chessie. Maybe it's time for you to be as generous with yourself as you are with others and take a little vacation from tapering.

[ChessieCat]

Thanks Dejavu, and no, it's not silly, it is very much appreciated.  It's good to get another person's thoughts.  That finish line is just so close I am starting to picture the flag waving and the crowds cheering.  And I've even planned what I'm going to do as my "prize".  I might be going to do a meerkat encounter.

 

I've had to plan my taper around both the capsule dose amount and the quantities of each dose.  This has given me the mindset that I have to stick to the plan.

 

However, I have checked my capsule spreadsheet this morning and I do have enough left over capsules of 0.5mg and 0.25mg to do a longer hold now.  I will be at the end of my 6 weeks on 0.75mg on Friday.  I have decided that I will stay on 0.75mg for an additional 3 weeks.

 

At the end of the 3 weeks I will reassess and if necessary I can add an extra 2 weeks.

 

Thanks again.

[Dejavu]

A meerkat encounter sounds like such fun! What a great day that will be!!!

 

A bit of a hold sounds like a great idea. I know how miserable morning anxiety can be (in fact, I'm there right now, unfortunately). In my opinion, it's to be avoided at all costs, if possible. Just take care of yourself - you are not replaceable!❤

 

Pam

[ShiningLight]

Chessie,

 

I am excited (and comforted by proxy!) to hear about the return of your imagination. What a fantastic thing! I can't wait to get mine back some day.

 

I also want to comiserate about the morning dread issue. I went through a bout of that recently and it is miserable. 😭

 

I think your strategy for dealing with this uptick sounds like a good plan. Hang in there, you are turning the corner into the final lap!

 

 

[ChessieCat]

Thanks Dejavu and ShiningLight.

 

UPDATE:

 

Yesterday I noticed that I was a bit irritable.

 

This morning I noticed that the morning dread wasn't as bad.

 

I am sleeping okay with no painkillers.

 

Back issue:

 

I have a reminder set so I remember to get up and move about.

 

Flare up hasn't completely settled yet.  Sometimes I have lots of discomfort and some pain but thankfully there are times when things feel almost normal.  I think this might be a good sign.  I'm having to be very careful that I don't bump into things and jar my back.  Also need to only take tiny steps to the left.  Even though I am not seeing physio in a consult, he is there when I go to hydro and he asks me how I am.  Once things are okay the physio will start me on some gym exercises.

 

Walking on treadmill for 10 minutes at a time during the day.

 

Physio exercises daily and/or hydro.

 

Not taking any painkillers other than occasionally paracetamol if I have a headache or my body is a bit achy.

 

 

[ChessieCat]

Well that 3 week extra hold went very quickly.  Last day tomorrow.  But I have decided that I am going to hold for another 2 weeks.  I've started noticing improvement this week.  I'm not feeling irritable like I was and I'm just generally feeling a lot more settled in myself.  It's a good feeling to be getting back to my normal.

 

Back issue:

 

10 weeks since I originally hurt my back

8 weeks since cortisone injection

4 weeks since flare up

 

Yes, I'm fed up and frustrated with it.  But at least I'm not in pain.

 

Still not better.  I've been getting numbness in my left leg and a little bit in my right leg.  Possibly might be that the bulging disc is settling so different areas are being affected.  I've got an appointment with the physio next week to get a deep water exercise plan.  I'm going to ask him if what is happening is a normal part of the recovery.

[Erell]

So glad to read that you're feeling better and more like 'yourself' 🤗

I can only agree with your plan to hold a bit longer : enjoy those quiet times and let them nourish your mind.

 

Take care ☀️

[ChessieCat]

Thanks Erell.

 

UPDATE:  My withdrawal symptoms are definitely abating.  I've got another week before I make a reduction.

 

Back issue:

 

I've been to hydro 6 days in a row and it is really making a big difference.  The change to deep water was a bit exhausting and I overdid a couple of the exercises on the first 2 days (Wednesday and Thursday).  On Friday and Saturday I only did cycling legs and sitting leg lifts in the deep water and went back to doing other exercises on the platform and my back has settled down again.

 

Tooth issue:

 

I've still got tooth fragments surfacing from the extraction I had at the end of June.  So I've had a sore gum, sometimes very sore, at various times.  A small sharp piece came out the other day and the inflammation subsided very quickly, but I can feel that there are still a couple more pieces which need to come out.  I have an appointment on 23rd September so if they aren't out by then they will probably arrange for me to have them surgically removed.

[ChessieCat]

TAPER UPDATE:

 

Reduced to 0.625mg today a 16.6667% decrease.

 

Edited:  0.75mg to 0.625mg is a 10% reduction.

 

My 0.75mg hold was for 6 weeks but ended up being 11 weeks.

 

My 0.625mg planned hold was 7 weeks but I'm hoping to only hold for 6 weeks.

 

Back issue:

 

Improving slowly.

 

Doing hydrotherapy everyday except Sunday (been 1.5 weeks - physical tiredness starting to ease now).  Planning on getting on the treadmill for short stints during this Sunday.  Can now get joggers on so my knees hopefully won't get as sore.  I was wearing different shoes but they didn't have as thick a sole and my knees were starting to hurt a bit.

 

Tooth issue:

 

Small piece of tooth bone came out.  Still more there but not as sore as it was.

 

 

Edited September 26, 2020 by ChessieCat
corrected reduction percentage

[bubbles]

Do you think that's the last bit of bone? Will you need the surgical extraction?

[ChessieCat]

45 minutes ago, bubbles said:

Do you think that's the last bit of bone? Will you need the surgical extraction?

 

I think it's all been tooth.  I've just edited my last post.  The large piece was definitely tooth because it was shiny white enamel!.  The current piece is quite long and most of it is now exposed but I can't quite get my finger nail under it so it might take a couple more days.  I do suspect that there might be another small piece starting to surface but it's in a spot where it should be easy to get to.  I have an appointment next Wednesday (1 week) so if the currently exposed piece isn't out I will ask them to numb it and try to get it out for me.  I'm well and truly over it.  I'd rather get it out myself and not have to go back to the dentist.  My only concern is that this might be the jaw bone damaged, but I don't think it is.  I've been using a lot of salty water over the last couple of months.

 

[bubbles]

I will cross my fingers for you.

[ChessieCat]

Thanks bubbles.

 

On 9/12/2020 at 8:14 AM, ChessieCat said:

 

Reduced to 0.625mg today a 16.6667% decrease.

 

 

Well I think I am feeling the decrease.  I do still have my back and tooth issues which aren't helping, but over the last 2 days I'm noticing that I am not as tolerant as I had been.  Yesterday afternoon I nearly had a melt down at the self service checkout, which I don't like at the best of times.  I managed to get out without losing it and calmed myself down but this morning even thinking about it brings tears to my eyes, literally.  And I'm having moments where I feel like I want to scream and jump out of my skin.  Not bad, but definitely there.

 

Looks like I might be needing this option sooner rather than later.  I ordered a graduated cylinder this morning but it could take 2 months before it arrives.

 

On 9/16/2020 at 9:21 PM, ChessieCat said:

 

I tried something this afternoon after a member posted about whether they would be able to add the contents of their compounded sertraline capsule to water.

 

My compounded Pristiq capsules have slow release formula added and I'm assuming that they might also have filler added.

 

I added the contents of a capsule to water.  Because I was only testing to see what happened I used a mini whisk and a plastic chopstick to mix it all up.  It went frothy like beaten egg whites.  But after that I left it to stand for several hours and everything dissolved.

 

Obviously this is not the best option but it's good to know that it is possible to do this.  However my biggest concern would be interdose withdrawal.

 

I will have to ask the compounding pharmacist about the liquid preparation he said he could make and whether that would be better than just using water.

 

 

 

Edited September 17, 2020 by ChessieCat

[bubbles]

Hope you feel better soon.

[ChessieCat]

Thanks bubbles.  I've been 1 week on the new dose so it took a little while to kick in.  At least I'm aware of it and know what is probably causing it and that it might ease in the next week.

 

The timing of the discussion on dissolving capsules contents was amazing.

[getofflex]

23 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

Thanks bubbles.

 

 

Well I think I am feeling the decrease.  I do still have my back and tooth issues which aren't helping, but over the last 2 days I'm noticing that I am not as tolerant as I had been.  Yesterday afternoon I nearly had a melt down at the self service checkout, which I don't like at the best of times.  I managed to get out without losing it and calmed myself down but this morning even thinking about it brings tears to my eyes, literally.  And I'm having moments where I feel like I want to scream and jump out of my skin.  Not bad, but definitely there.

 

Looks like I might be needing this option sooner rather than later.  I ordered a graduated cylinder this morning but it could take 2 months before it arrives.

 

 

 

It's amazing what we go through to get off these poisons.  I went from 0.17 mg to 0.16 mg liquid lexapro 3.5 weeks ago, and I'm still in a 3 week wave from that.  However, I've been dealing with many stress factors as well.  And I don't deal well with stress when I'm in WD.  I feel inspired by you.  I was feeling chagrined about it taking me over 3 years to get off my Lexapro, but I see you've been taking 5 years to get off yours.  I just need to keep learning more and more patience.  Part of my fear is that my doctor won't understand.  He said something a year ago about it taking so long.  So I printed some information to take to him next time.  Jennifer  

[bubbles]

17 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

The timing of the discussion on dissolving capsules contents was amazing.

 

Serendipity! Amazing how these things come up. I'm also wondering if it might end up being a much more sensible way to go forward - the suspension liquid being rather expensive.

[ChessieCat]

Thanks getofflex.  Yes it is a tough road we are going through.  I was actually a bit surprised when I realised that my symptoms had ramped up.  I didn't think I would notice the 16% reduction (edited: reduction was only 10% - might have been the winds causing irritability), but I know enough from here that it is not unusual.  And I've been putting up with my back and tooth issues for long enough now to be able to tell the difference. 

 

I'm definitely going to have to rethink my next reduction amount.  I was supposed to be going from 0.625mg to 0.5mg which is a 20% reduction.  After what's happened this time I don't think that is a good idea.  The reduction after that would have been a 25% decrease.  And the one after 33%.  And then 50% (from 0.25mg to 0.125mg)

 

Wow, am I so very thankful that I've discovered I can dissolve my capsule contents AND that the increased withdrawal symptoms I'm currently getting are bearable.

 

Edited September 26, 2020 by ChessieCat
correction to percentage

[bubbles]

I'm with you on that one. Exhibit A: my taper with looooong holds, lol at myself. I'm holding now for non-tapering reasons because, well, I've worked too hard and too long for this taper to stuff it up now. You're further ahead than me, I think. I had a year to go before I decided to hold, so I've set myself "back" in that regard.

 

Glad you're finding the symptoms bearable.

[ChessieCat]

1 minute ago, bubbles said:

 

Serendipity! Amazing how these things come up. I'm also wondering if it might end up being a much more sensible way to go forward - the suspension liquid being rather expensive.

 

Yes, I know that the suspension liquid is dear.  My compounder told me that he would charge me $15 to make a up a batch for 1 month which isn't too bad.  But if I can make my own liquid from the capsules I've already got then it will work out cheaper.  Even if I have to get him to makes up 2mg capsules (batch of 100) if I run out the cost will be a lot cheaper.

[bubbles]

Yes, I'm thinking that as well. I'll try dissolving one of my capsules today in water and see what it looks like. And make that phone call to find out what dose I'm actually on. A bottle of 180 capsules (30 days in a month x the 6 month lifespan of the compounded meds, though I can probably push that out if I keep them in the fridge) might well be cheaper. Some experimenting ahead of me today!

[ChessieCat]

3 hours ago, bubbles said:

I'm with you on that one. Exhibit A: my taper with looooong holds, lol at myself. I'm holding now for non-tapering reasons because, well, I've worked too hard and too long for this taper to stuff it up now. You're further ahead than me, I think. I had a year to go before I decided to hold, so I've set myself "back" in that regard.

 

Glad you're finding the symptoms bearable.

 

Yes I'm glad that they are bearable.  My recent 5 extra week hold was also due to non-tapering reasons.  However I was feeling so rotten that I might not have noticed the withdrawal!

 

FUNNY STORY - after I had bought my graduated cylinder I decided to get some syringes too.  There was one seller selling 5 different sized ones.  It was an auction (ending in 6 hours) and it started at 0.01 cents (free postage) which I thought was a bit weird.  Anyway there were no bids, so I decided that I would put in a bid.  By the time I had clicked on the bid link there was a bid already there (and the time was either same or very close to when I had clicked) and I had to bid a minimum of 0.06 cents, so I did.  And then another bid popped up so I placed another bid and the same thing happened.  Anyway I then realised it was probably a scam so I reported them and it is being sent to be investigated.

 

Edited September 18, 2020 by ChessieCat

[bubbles]

Hmm, annoying. I don't like to buy with bids, I prefer to just make a purchase. I probably pay more in the long run...

[ChessieCat]

4 minutes ago, bubbles said:

 

I'll try dissolving one of my capsules today in water and see what it looks like.

 

 

My suggestion would be to just tip it into the water and let it sit without disturbing it.  I had to cut my capsule to open it but it all seemed to come out.  Mine contained a cellulose powder and the parts that didn't mix in when I whisked it did end up dissolving after I left it for several hours.  What I plan to do is to only stir it just before extracting a dose. 

[ChessieCat]

1 minute ago, bubbles said:

Hmm, annoying. I don't like to buy with bids, I prefer to just make a purchase. I probably pay more in the long run...

 

Yes I'm the same, but I was curious about whether I could get them cheap.  It's a shame that the host site doesn't make the seller provide them at the starting bid cost when they get caught.  I'm just pleased that the host site took me seriously when I reported it.