Jojog Posted November 29, 2015 Share Posted November 29, 2015 Coming off of pristiq. Currently muscles keep randomly twitching in various random spots (lots in legs but some elsewhere too). Is this a withdrawal symptom? Kinda scares me Started antidepressants 1990 for anxiety only.Paxil, cymbalta, Celexa. Can't remember start and stop dates. Currently withdrawing from pristiq which I've been on several years. Went from 50 to 100mgs. And started with muscle tremors and weakness. Went back down to 50mg. But 4mos later still have same symptoms. Psych doc says I need to come off pristiq to rule out med causing it (he doesn't think it's the pristiq). He wants me to see neurologist once off to see what's going on with me. I have health anxiety and have all but convinced mysel I have ALS, Parkinson's. Etc. taper schedule is not as slow as usual; one week at 50/25 mg every other day, then 25 each day for one week (that's where u am now), then 25 one day and zero next day for one week. Then off. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted November 30, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted November 30, 2015 Hi Jojog, Welcome to SA. You've found a really great, supportive site here which can assist you with suggestions of how to taper your medication. Use this Intro topic to ask questions and post your progress (as a type of journal). To assist staff and members would you please put your withdrawal history in your signature block How to Put your Withdrawal History in Signature or Complete your Signature from Phone or Tablet Someone with more knowledge should be along soon. Whilst you are waiting you might like to check out these helpful links. They will help you to understand what and why people make the suggestions they do. Please wait for suggestions before changing your dose. Video: Healing from Antidepressants: Patterns of Recovery Brain Remodelling About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms Why taper by 10% of my dosage? Why taper? Tips for Tapering off Pristiq Wishing you all the best. CC * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
Jojog Posted November 30, 2015 Author Share Posted November 30, 2015 I don't see any arrow next to my name. Perhaps because I am on my phone? Don't have much patience with myself right now, sorry Started antidepressants 1990 for anxiety only.Paxil, cymbalta, Celexa. Can't remember start and stop dates. Currently withdrawing from pristiq which I've been on several years. Went from 50 to 100mgs. And started with muscle tremors and weakness. Went back down to 50mg. But 4mos later still have same symptoms. Psych doc says I need to come off pristiq to rule out med causing it (he doesn't think it's the pristiq). He wants me to see neurologist once off to see what's going on with me. I have health anxiety and have all but convinced mysel I have ALS, Parkinson's. Etc. taper schedule is not as slow as usual; one week at 50/25 mg every other day, then 25 each day for one week (that's where u am now), then 25 one day and zero next day for one week. Then off. Link to comment
Jojog Posted November 30, 2015 Author Share Posted November 30, 2015 Fixed it,,,, others are getting responses but not me. Can I repost maybe? Started antidepressants 1990 for anxiety only.Paxil, cymbalta, Celexa. Can't remember start and stop dates. Currently withdrawing from pristiq which I've been on several years. Went from 50 to 100mgs. And started with muscle tremors and weakness. Went back down to 50mg. But 4mos later still have same symptoms. Psych doc says I need to come off pristiq to rule out med causing it (he doesn't think it's the pristiq). He wants me to see neurologist once off to see what's going on with me. I have health anxiety and have all but convinced mysel I have ALS, Parkinson's. Etc. taper schedule is not as slow as usual; one week at 50/25 mg every other day, then 25 each day for one week (that's where u am now), then 25 one day and zero next day for one week. Then off. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted November 30, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted November 30, 2015 That's good. Your signature is showing up. Are you able to include some dates for the tapering? Especially when did you stop completely? The clearer your history it will make it easier for staff to make suggestions. And patience. I know it can be hard when you want answers but someone will respond soon. Staff are all volunteers and do a great job. CC * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
Jojog Posted November 30, 2015 Author Share Posted November 30, 2015 So I started the tapering on nov. 19 going from 50mg to 50/25 every other day, not much affect. Nov. 25 went to 25mg every day that's where I am now until December 3 when I'll go to 25/0 every other day then Dec. 10 I'm off. I know this is quicker than you all recommend, but I'm doing what the psych dr wants and doing the best I can. Just wondering if the muscle twitches are familiar? Started antidepressants 1990 for anxiety only.Paxil, cymbalta, Celexa. Can't remember start and stop dates. Currently withdrawing from pristiq which I've been on several years. Went from 50 to 100mgs. And started with muscle tremors and weakness. Went back down to 50mg. But 4mos later still have same symptoms. Psych doc says I need to come off pristiq to rule out med causing it (he doesn't think it's the pristiq). He wants me to see neurologist once off to see what's going on with me. I have health anxiety and have all but convinced mysel I have ALS, Parkinson's. Etc. taper schedule is not as slow as usual; one week at 50/25 mg every other day, then 25 each day for one week (that's where u am now), then 25 one day and zero next day for one week. Then off. Link to comment
AliG Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 Hi Jojog, Alternating doses is not recommended, as it destabilizes your C.N.S. The 10% taper method recommends a 10 % dosage reduction every 3 - 4 weeks. 10 % calculated on your last dosage. Here is the link : http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1024-why-taper-by-10-of-my-dosage/ Maybe you could persuade your psych dr to follow this approach. Here is a link that could help deal with that issue. http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4463-how-do-you-talk-to-a-doctor-about-tapering-and-withdrawal/?hl=firm#entry54767 Try not to get anxious. Your symptoms are most likely from withdrawal . Ali Many SSRI's and SSNRI's over 20 years. Zoloft for 7 years followed by Effexor, Lexapro, Prozac, Cymbalta, Celexa, Pristiq, Valdoxan, Mianserin and more - on and off. No tapering. Cold turkey off Valdoxan - end of May 2014 Psych Drug - free since May 2014 . Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus KarenB Posted November 30, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted November 30, 2015 Hello Jojog, Twitching is definately one of the many possible w/d symptoms. I had my twitching in my eye, which was more annoying than anything else. It should calm down if you can give your brain and central-nervous-system a chance to rest and stabilise. Continuing to taper too fast could mean worsening of symptoms. Lots of us here have had doctors or psychiatrists who have not understood the best way to taper. It's important to remember that you have the ultimate say about you. If you can't get your psych dr to listen to you, then perhaps finding a new doctor would be better. Wishing you well, KarenB 2010 Fluoxetine 20mg. 2011 Escitalopram 20mg. 2013 Tapered badly and destabilised CNS. Effexor 150mg. 2015 Begin using info at SurvivingAntidepressants. Cut 10% - bad w/d 2 months, held 1 month. Micro-tapering: four weekly 0.4% cuts, hold 4 weeks (struggling with symptoms). 8 month hold. 2017 Micro-tapering: four weekly 1% cuts, hold 4 weeks (symptoms almost non-existent). 2020 Still micro-tapering. Just over 2/3 of the way off effexor. Minimal symptoms, - and sleeping well. Supplements: Fish oil, vitamin C, iron, oat-straw tea, nettle tea. 2023 December - Now on 5 micro-beads Effexor. Minimal symptoms but much more time needed between drops. Symptoms begin to increase. 2024 April - Updosed to 6 microbeads - immediate increase in symptoms for 4 days. Decreased to 5 microbeads. 'The possibility of renewal exists so long as life exists.' Dr Gabor Mate. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted November 30, 2015 Administrator Share Posted November 30, 2015 Welcome, Jojog. Please do NOT skip doses to taper, that is a high-risk way to go off drugs, even though many doctors recommend it. (They lack the imagination to figure out how to titrate more gradually.) If I were you, I'd stay at 25mg every day until you can figure out what you want to do. Pristiq is a bear to taper. Please read Tips for tapering off Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) (Thank you, Chessie.) This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
Jojog Posted December 1, 2015 Author Share Posted December 1, 2015 I need to go at a faster pace as I am having muscle weakness and trembling that we need to determine is med related or something even more serious. I am anxious, terrified etc. I have health anxiety so everything is magnified. Perhaps this isn't the forum for me. I just want someone to tell me everything is going to be ok. Started antidepressants 1990 for anxiety only.Paxil, cymbalta, Celexa. Can't remember start and stop dates. Currently withdrawing from pristiq which I've been on several years. Went from 50 to 100mgs. And started with muscle tremors and weakness. Went back down to 50mg. But 4mos later still have same symptoms. Psych doc says I need to come off pristiq to rule out med causing it (he doesn't think it's the pristiq). He wants me to see neurologist once off to see what's going on with me. I have health anxiety and have all but convinced mysel I have ALS, Parkinson's. Etc. taper schedule is not as slow as usual; one week at 50/25 mg every other day, then 25 each day for one week (that's where u am now), then 25 one day and zero next day for one week. Then off. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted December 1, 2015 Administrator Share Posted December 1, 2015 Whatever you do, do NOT skip doses. Please read the links we gave you. This gives you control over your taper. You will need to do this, it's unlikely you'll find a doctor to tell you what to do. It's more likely you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms than something else. When did the twitching and muscle weakness start? This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
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