Sandra: Withdrawal from Pristiq

[Sandra2531]

I have been taking Pristiq (50mg once a day) for approximately 5 years.  It manages my depression fairly well, but I have had side effects of extreme sweating and muscle spasms, and maybe weight gain.  I don't know if I would have gained the weight anyway but have gained a lot of weight in that time.  I want to stop taking it and was advised by my physician to start tapering off by taking it every other day for 3-4 weeks and then start taking Welbutrin on the off days.  I was miserable the whole time - brain zaps, severe headaches, extreme irritability.  I tried taking the Welbutrin only one day and was very dizzy and nauseated so did not take it again.  My dr recommended I take the Pristiq every 3rd day after 3 weeks but after 5 days I was near a breakdown, physical and emotional.  He recommended I go back to my daily 50 mg for now until we figure out what else to do,   

 

I am happy to hear there is a 25mg dose because we did not know about that.  What is the best way for me to start tapering from the 50 mg tablets from everyone's experience on this site? 

[KarenB]

Hello Sandra - welcome to SA,

 

You have just joined the club of people who's doctors do not understand withdrawal.  Hopefully the information we have here will enable you to feel you can make a plan to get stabilised again. 

 

Alternating doses is actually a very harsh way to reduce your amount.  They say it's like playing ping-pong with your brain!  Your Central Nervous System can get really destabilised.  We recommend a gentle taper, reducing by no more than 10% of your current dose each month.  This allows your brain time to adjust as you go, and lessens any withdrawal.  

 

For how long have you been back on the 50mg?  And how are you feeling since then?  Please put your withdrawal history in your signature – all drugs/dates/dosages etc. so we can see your situation easily whenever you post, and help you more accurately.  Thanks.

The first step is to wait until you are stabilised on that 50mg (which will probably be at least a month or two).  The better you feel before beginning to taper again, the better you will do.  While you are waiting you can set things up to ease the upcoming taper.  This includes things like cleaning up your diet, starting Fish oil and Magnesium, and bringing into your life some self-care techniques.

 

You will also want to read Tips for Tapering Pristiq and decide which method you want to use for getting the smaller amounts of pristiq needed. 

 

The second step is to try a 10% reduction. 

 

The troublesome thing with SSRIs is that you can't just flush their effects out of your system.  They change the way your brain works, and that takes much longer to heal.  Suddenly stopping the drug puts your brain and Central Nervous System into shock.  It's like yanking a trellis out of a garden instead of gently untangling the plants and slowly removing the wood – it’s too much trauma for the plants/your brain.  (For the source of that simile, plus further discussion, see http://survivinganti...el-your-brain/)

 

Have a read of those and then you can come back to this thread to discuss things further.  This can be your journal to record your tapering and healing progress, and to ask questions.  With time and good care, you will be able to one day be off this drug. 

 

Welcome to SA,

Karen

 

Edited June 12, 2017 by KarenB
added white space cause it keeps disappearing!

[nz11]

Sandra any update?