VanessaJane: long term diarrhea after Pristiq

[VanessaJane]

HELP ME PLEASE!! I am now 46.  I was on 100mg Pristiq for 4 years.  The tapering instructions I was given was reduce to 50mg for 2 weeks, then 50mg eod for 2 weeks then 50 every third day for 2 weeks.  When i finished the taper course I had awful withdrawal; diarrhea, sleep problems, restless leg & crawling skin at night, rage (probably mostly due to the issues keeping me from sleeping.)

 

I have been off Pristiq for 18 months now and one symptom has not gone away - diarrhea (daily).  No pain or cramps or urgency/racing to the bathroom, just diarrhea every time i do go.  I've read symptoms can sometimes last "longer than 18 months".  How much longer?

 

*** My question is ....  at this point do i keep waiting it out, or should i get back on pristiq 50mg and add in Effexor to taper down in a much slower and more tolerable way?***  Or at 18 months off, are there other ways to boost seratonin and/or dopamine, like supplements, food, etc?

 

I hate turning to the internet for medical advise- I know I'm not qualified to find my own cures but my doctor and now the GI I've been referred to have both dismissed (without 2 seconds of consideration)  the connection to Pristiq,  In fact the GI after the initial visit is all ready to call it IBS, meaning we don't know why you have diarrhea and we're not going to look any further into it - here's some Immodium you can take for the rest of your life.

 

I don't think either of the doctors are aware of discontinuation syndrome coming to light now and I  bet there will be class action suits down the line if there aren't already,  I'm scheduled for a colonoscopy next week.  I'm mortified that I have to do this, and that I have to waste money on this. Thoughts from any doctors, pharmacists or psychiatrists here?  Pleeeeeaaase, and thank you.

 

Vanessa

Edited April 15, 2017 by Petunia
added tags and description to title

[Petunia]

Welcome VenessaJane,

I'm sorry you didn't receive a response sooner.

 

Its good you're having this symptom checked out, to make sure its nothing more serious, but withdrawal syndrome and its many symptoms can often last a long time. Most doctors don't recognize withdrawal as lasting longer than a few weeks, that's if they know about it at all, so don't be surprised by the reaction you are getting.

 

At 18 months off, we wouldn't recommend reinstating, there's no guarantee it would work, and it could cause more symptoms.

 

Here is some information which may help, many of us have had similar symptoms, here is our discussion topic:

 

Digestive problems: Nausea, Diarrhea, Bloating, GERD - Symptoms ...

 

Are you taking any other medications? Or have you? It would be great if you would put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature. Doing this helps people understand your context, it appears below each of your posts. Here are instructions for how to do it:

 

Please put your withdrawal history in your signature

 

You can use this thread as your ongoing journal to track progress, write about symptoms, ask questions and communicate with the community, add to it whenever you want. Its a good idea to bookmark it or follow it, so its easy to find again.

 

Please stay in touch and let us know how you are doing.

 

Petunia.

[nz11]

Welcome Vanessa

I have had bad diarrhea since getting off and it went on for years.

The first two to three years it was a shocker with many public embarassments  on many occasions would go for long walks and would often return home ....having been unable to make it in time...i wont elaborate.

 

Dont despair. It has gotton better for me although at 7.5 yrs off my stools are always diarrhea-ish. I now cannot remember the last time an accident happened. But for two years i think i was giving my 2 yr old nephew a run for his money.

 

please do not reinstate for this. The cost of being diarrhea-less may be exponentially worse than diarrhea.

 

I wouldnt worry about turning to the internet for advice. This is the age of information and ignorance is a choice. Doctors should be deeply ashamed at their complete cluelessness and for people held up by society as academic giants they are a disgrace.

The internet is very powerful at getting the truth out...just ask Bill Crosby about that.

Im immensely grateful for the internet and people like Altostrata who were born for such a time as this.