Jump to content
SurvivingAntidepressants.org is temporarily closed to new registrations until 1 April ×

Kevman2112: Cross taper Pristiq to Viibryd. Here for some help


Kevman2112

Recommended Posts

I have the Pristiq compounded to 200mg per 200ml for a roughly one month supply.  The pharmacist takes my 25 mg Pristiq and crushes them and puts them into a solution.  I had this done after going below 12.5mg, for which I split a 25mg, because it was difficult to measure.

 

I take 2mg at 730am, 2mg at 230pm and 2mg at 930pm.  
 

I have had a myriad of symptoms during the taper with the most pronounced being restlessness to the point that all I can do is pace (can’t work, can’t read etc.), intrusive thoughts, depression (fairly new), and nausea and headache (also fairly new).  
 

I am completely open to trying Effexor if there’s potential it would be better than compounded Pristiq.

 

Thank you for the reply!

Multiple drugs for my teen years.  ~10 years on Pristiq 100mg.  
January 2021: 50mg Pristiq to 43.75. Stopped Viibryd at 10mg

March 2021: holding at 37.5mg.
April 2021: 25mg.  May 2021: 18.75 to 12.5.  
June 2021: 12.5 to (accidentally) 4.29mg.  Updose to 6mg using compounded Pristiq

August 2020: Crashed at day 35 of 5mg. Updose to 6mg

September 2020: 5.5mg from 6 after 38 days

10/2021: 5mg, 11/2021: 4.5mg, 12/21:4mg, 3/22:3.75mg, Propranolol 10mg prn

Link to comment
  • 3 weeks later...

I think I am at a point where I can say that I stabilized on 6mg, 25 days after crashing/big wave/destabilization and 20 days since I updosed to 6mg from 5mg.

 

It was very scary and the longest and worst I have felt during my taper.  I experienced far more physical symptoms than ever before including nausea, headache and a general feeling of being sick.  These symptoms somewhat kept me grounded knowing that this was withdrawal which I naturally questioned after this all happening 35 days into taking 5mg down from 6mg.  
 

I am planning on staying at 6mg for a total of 6 weeks before dropping to 5.5 in mid September.  My taper schedule now has me well into 2022 but is better than what I just went through.

 

Multiple drugs for my teen years.  ~10 years on Pristiq 100mg.  
January 2021: 50mg Pristiq to 43.75. Stopped Viibryd at 10mg

March 2021: holding at 37.5mg.
April 2021: 25mg.  May 2021: 18.75 to 12.5.  
June 2021: 12.5 to (accidentally) 4.29mg.  Updose to 6mg using compounded Pristiq

August 2020: Crashed at day 35 of 5mg. Updose to 6mg

September 2020: 5.5mg from 6 after 38 days

10/2021: 5mg, 11/2021: 4.5mg, 12/21:4mg, 3/22:3.75mg, Propranolol 10mg prn

Link to comment
  • 3 weeks later...

Hello all, hoping to get some advice on my next drop.  I have been at 6mg for 38 days, was previously at 5 mg for 35 days and prior to that was at 6mg for 25 days.  Basically, I have been between 5mg and 6mg since June 13th, 2021.  I have experienced good periods and bad periods since upping to 6mg but generally much better.

I am struggling as to whether or not to drop to 5.5mg today as planned.  I am still have symptoms of head pressure, restlessness, confusion and occasional brain zaps but nonetheless things have stabilized significantly.  
 

Are these symptoms indicating I should wait longer at 6mg or having generally stabilized is it ok to drop?

Multiple drugs for my teen years.  ~10 years on Pristiq 100mg.  
January 2021: 50mg Pristiq to 43.75. Stopped Viibryd at 10mg

March 2021: holding at 37.5mg.
April 2021: 25mg.  May 2021: 18.75 to 12.5.  
June 2021: 12.5 to (accidentally) 4.29mg.  Updose to 6mg using compounded Pristiq

August 2020: Crashed at day 35 of 5mg. Updose to 6mg

September 2020: 5.5mg from 6 after 38 days

10/2021: 5mg, 11/2021: 4.5mg, 12/21:4mg, 3/22:3.75mg, Propranolol 10mg prn

Link to comment
  • 2 months later...

Been a while since I checked in.  I am down to 4.5mg of Pristiq about to drop to 4mg after a month at the current dose.  I am in the midst of a big wave but it was preceded by a big window, the best I have felt for the most time since I started tapering.  It really did give me a window into what the future likely holds.  
 

The wave has been tough.  It’s included new symptoms of muscle cramps, muscle weakness and some burning sensations in the legs.  I get very much caught up in those symptoms and fear the worst, only for them to subside after a few days.  It’s very much like Altostrata says, the wave feels as worse as ever.  
 

I am gonna keep trucking along and at the current rate, I’ll be done in July 2022.  

Multiple drugs for my teen years.  ~10 years on Pristiq 100mg.  
January 2021: 50mg Pristiq to 43.75. Stopped Viibryd at 10mg

March 2021: holding at 37.5mg.
April 2021: 25mg.  May 2021: 18.75 to 12.5.  
June 2021: 12.5 to (accidentally) 4.29mg.  Updose to 6mg using compounded Pristiq

August 2020: Crashed at day 35 of 5mg. Updose to 6mg

September 2020: 5.5mg from 6 after 38 days

10/2021: 5mg, 11/2021: 4.5mg, 12/21:4mg, 3/22:3.75mg, Propranolol 10mg prn

Link to comment
  • 1 month later...

Thought I would check in and document an update, though not looking for any specific advice.

On Saturday, I dropped to 3.5 mg from 4mg.  The drop was slightly higher than the 10% but easier to manage with my current liquid formulation.  My plan was to drop .5mg until I hit 3mg at which point I would get an updated prescription to start .25mg drops.  Maybe not the smartest idea to exceed 10% with the issues I’ve had but I figured I would extend the time from 4 weeks to 6 weeks to compensate.

 

Well, 3 days post drop I had one of my worst days ever.  I had severe depression and crying spells along with debilitating anxiety.  Seems unlikely that it would be due to the drop that quickly and after having been well stabilized on 4mg but here we are.  
 

I went back up to 4mg and plan to get that new prescription and start the .25mg drops which will be less than 10% per drop.  It’s crazy how symptoms can hit you so suddenly like a ton of bricks. 

Multiple drugs for my teen years.  ~10 years on Pristiq 100mg.  
January 2021: 50mg Pristiq to 43.75. Stopped Viibryd at 10mg

March 2021: holding at 37.5mg.
April 2021: 25mg.  May 2021: 18.75 to 12.5.  
June 2021: 12.5 to (accidentally) 4.29mg.  Updose to 6mg using compounded Pristiq

August 2020: Crashed at day 35 of 5mg. Updose to 6mg

September 2020: 5.5mg from 6 after 38 days

10/2021: 5mg, 11/2021: 4.5mg, 12/21:4mg, 3/22:3.75mg, Propranolol 10mg prn

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
5 hours ago, Kevman2112 said:

Well, 3 days post drop I had one of my worst days ever.  I had severe depression and crying spells along with debilitating anxiety.  Seems unlikely that it would be due to the drop that quickly and after having been well stabilized on 4mg but here we are.  

 

I disagree, I think it is highly likely to have been caused by the reduction.  The timing fits perfectly.  It takes about 4 days for a dose change to get to full level in the blood and a bit longer for it to register in the brain.

 

And we have SA members who find that the lower their dose gets the slower they need to go, reducing less and/or holding longer.

 

See:

 

Why taper paper: dose-occupancy curves

 

And of course it is important not to taper again until you are stable.

 

Stability

 

WDnormal

 

And Brassmonkey talks more about it here:

 

tao-of-the-brassmonkey

* 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

Thanks for the reply.  It was unusual for me to have those symptoms that quickly after a drop.  I kept meticulous notes/tracking on daily symptoms.  I typically see a decrease in symptoms around 3-5 days after a drop and then they start to increase.

However, based on the depression symptoms, I’m clearly in a new stage of withdrawal so it could very well be the drop.

I had a new prescription called in to a compounding pharmacist that will halve the concentration of the Pristiq and allow me to easily drop by smaller increments. I had been at 4mg for a month and dropped to 3.5mg for only 2 days before going back up to 4.  I plan on sticking with 4mg for 2 more weeks before dropping to 3.75mg to make sure things are stabilized.

Multiple drugs for my teen years.  ~10 years on Pristiq 100mg.  
January 2021: 50mg Pristiq to 43.75. Stopped Viibryd at 10mg

March 2021: holding at 37.5mg.
April 2021: 25mg.  May 2021: 18.75 to 12.5.  
June 2021: 12.5 to (accidentally) 4.29mg.  Updose to 6mg using compounded Pristiq

August 2020: Crashed at day 35 of 5mg. Updose to 6mg

September 2020: 5.5mg from 6 after 38 days

10/2021: 5mg, 11/2021: 4.5mg, 12/21:4mg, 3/22:3.75mg, Propranolol 10mg prn

Link to comment
  • 3 weeks later...

Looking for some advice this time around.  I have held at 4mg for about 2 months now minus the 3 days I was at 3.5mg.  I am having good days and bad days but what is fairly consistent is withdrawal symptoms in the early to mid morning.  I currently take 2mg at 1030 at night and 2mg at 930 am.  I feel better around 11 am to 12pm and then start to get symptoms around 430 pm before they subside around 7pm.  
 

I am wondering if it makes sense to switch to 3x per day to keep the levels more consistent.  Perhaps 730am, 330pm and 1030pm.

Multiple drugs for my teen years.  ~10 years on Pristiq 100mg.  
January 2021: 50mg Pristiq to 43.75. Stopped Viibryd at 10mg

March 2021: holding at 37.5mg.
April 2021: 25mg.  May 2021: 18.75 to 12.5.  
June 2021: 12.5 to (accidentally) 4.29mg.  Updose to 6mg using compounded Pristiq

August 2020: Crashed at day 35 of 5mg. Updose to 6mg

September 2020: 5.5mg from 6 after 38 days

10/2021: 5mg, 11/2021: 4.5mg, 12/21:4mg, 3/22:3.75mg, Propranolol 10mg prn

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

3 days I was at 3.5mg

 

Please add the dates and dose for this in your drug signature.  This will allow us to clearly see things at a glance and not have to read back through your posts to try and find the information.  Thanks.

* 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
  • Moderator Emeritus
8 hours ago, Kevman2112 said:

I am wondering if it makes sense to switch to 3x per day to keep the levels more consistent.  Perhaps 730am, 330pm and 1030pm.

 

If the "3 days I was at 3.5mg" was during the last 28 days you might find that holding a bit longer might help.

 

If it was earlier in the 2 month period, then if you think that there is nothing else at play, then you could try taking 3 doses instead of 2.  If you are a fast metaboliser then the 2 doses might not be covering you as well as 3 doses might.

 

It might be worth trying.  I don't think it is likely to cause any issues going to 3x day dosing.  If you do it and you don't think it made any difference and it is more convenient to dose 2x day you could change back.  Obviously this would mean that it would be a longer time before you could make another reduction (see below).

 

HOWEVER it is recommended not to make any other changes at the same time as splitting your dose and it would probably be a good idea, once the split has been done, to wait a while before making a reduction.

* 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

Thanks Chessie, the 3.5mg was 21 days ago so I think I’ll give the 2x a day another week before switching to 3x a day if I don’t see any improvement.  I’m hopeful that the 3x a day will help as it’s been a pretty consistent pattern.  I begin to get symptoms around 9 am, take my dose at 930 am and the symptoms subside by 11am.  The symptoms during this time are distinct withdrawal symptoms including confusion, brain fog and brain zaps.  
 

I will also update my signature with dates.  Thanks again for your reply, I appreciate your input.

Multiple drugs for my teen years.  ~10 years on Pristiq 100mg.  
January 2021: 50mg Pristiq to 43.75. Stopped Viibryd at 10mg

March 2021: holding at 37.5mg.
April 2021: 25mg.  May 2021: 18.75 to 12.5.  
June 2021: 12.5 to (accidentally) 4.29mg.  Updose to 6mg using compounded Pristiq

August 2020: Crashed at day 35 of 5mg. Updose to 6mg

September 2020: 5.5mg from 6 after 38 days

10/2021: 5mg, 11/2021: 4.5mg, 12/21:4mg, 3/22:3.75mg, Propranolol 10mg prn

Link to comment
  • 1 month later...

Thought I’d check in since it’s been a while. The bad news is I’ve hit a wave that, similar to how Alto has described, feels as bad as ever but a little different.  The good news is this wave comes after the longest and best window I’ve had during my taper, a full 24 days.  My previous windows were more in the 10-14 day range.  I actually went out to dinner with my wife during the window and felt like I did years ago, it was amazing.  
It’s funny, during a window half of me is thinking, I’ve turned a corner I’m on the other side of withdrawal.  The other, pragmatic, side of me is thinking a wave is likely just around the corner so be prepared and don’t get discouraged when it happens.  
 

I’ve significantly slowed my taper down to .25mg per month drop which is in the 7-9% range and hoping this continues to elongate the windows and shorten the waves.  
 

All the best,

Kevman

Multiple drugs for my teen years.  ~10 years on Pristiq 100mg.  
January 2021: 50mg Pristiq to 43.75. Stopped Viibryd at 10mg

March 2021: holding at 37.5mg.
April 2021: 25mg.  May 2021: 18.75 to 12.5.  
June 2021: 12.5 to (accidentally) 4.29mg.  Updose to 6mg using compounded Pristiq

August 2020: Crashed at day 35 of 5mg. Updose to 6mg

September 2020: 5.5mg from 6 after 38 days

10/2021: 5mg, 11/2021: 4.5mg, 12/21:4mg, 3/22:3.75mg, Propranolol 10mg prn

Link to comment
  • 2 weeks later...

When will I learn not to add anything, no matter how seemingly insignificant it may be.  Well I came to a discovery today after looking back at my tracking of symptoms.  
 

in October 2021, I took pantoprazole for 2 weeks for an ulcer.  The following 3 weeks led to one of the longest windows and lowest symptoms I have had.  After stopping the pantoprazole, I had the longest wave, although not the deepest, I have ever had.  About 4-6 weeks ago I started taking pantoprazole again for similar symptoms but decided to take it a bit longer.  Similarly, it was followed by the longest and most significant window I have had.  
 

In doing some research, proton pump inhibitors can raise the serum levels of SSRIs and presumably SNRIs.  Although it was not a robust study and I believe the only one of its kind, it found pantoprazole increased serum levels of SSRIs by 21%.  So essentially, when taking the pantoprazole, I raised my dose from 3.5mg to 4.2.  When I stopped, I lowered the dose essentially by 21%.  
 

For now, I am going to try and ride out this deep and what could end up being a long wave.  I’m currently on track to be done my taper by the end of 2022, so this post should also serve as a reminder to myself not to touch anything else during the taper.

Multiple drugs for my teen years.  ~10 years on Pristiq 100mg.  
January 2021: 50mg Pristiq to 43.75. Stopped Viibryd at 10mg

March 2021: holding at 37.5mg.
April 2021: 25mg.  May 2021: 18.75 to 12.5.  
June 2021: 12.5 to (accidentally) 4.29mg.  Updose to 6mg using compounded Pristiq

August 2020: Crashed at day 35 of 5mg. Updose to 6mg

September 2020: 5.5mg from 6 after 38 days

10/2021: 5mg, 11/2021: 4.5mg, 12/21:4mg, 3/22:3.75mg, Propranolol 10mg prn

Link to comment

I tested positive for Covid on 4/2/22.  I was having severe brain zaps that were nearly constant that immediately reminded me of how I felt the day after my first Covid vaccine.  I am having somewhat mild symptoms but seems to have pushed withdrawal into overdrive.  I am having sort of like panic attacks where I feel really anxious and confused to a great degree - I don’t think I could do basic arithmetic during these periods.  Hoping this passes soon.

Multiple drugs for my teen years.  ~10 years on Pristiq 100mg.  
January 2021: 50mg Pristiq to 43.75. Stopped Viibryd at 10mg

March 2021: holding at 37.5mg.
April 2021: 25mg.  May 2021: 18.75 to 12.5.  
June 2021: 12.5 to (accidentally) 4.29mg.  Updose to 6mg using compounded Pristiq

August 2020: Crashed at day 35 of 5mg. Updose to 6mg

September 2020: 5.5mg from 6 after 38 days

10/2021: 5mg, 11/2021: 4.5mg, 12/21:4mg, 3/22:3.75mg, Propranolol 10mg prn

Link to comment

Looking for some help I suppose.  I have been in the biggest and deepest wave of my taper for 32 days now.  It is definitely related to the pantoprazole.  I started taking it on February 9th and stopped 3 weeks ago.  Before I stopped taking it I was getting dizziness/vertigo at certain times during the day.  Once I stopped, I the symptoms continued.  This happened before when I took pantoprazole where I felt better for a few weeks, stopped the pantoprazole and felt pretty bad for about a month.  I took it for longer this time and the intensity of this wave and it’s length are much worse. I am having very low mood, agitation/restlessness, dizziness/vertigo, confusion among others.  
 

It has been extremely challenging and has yet to let up.  On top of that I had Covid starting on 4/2.  Not sure what to do at this point.  Any advice welcome.  

Multiple drugs for my teen years.  ~10 years on Pristiq 100mg.  
January 2021: 50mg Pristiq to 43.75. Stopped Viibryd at 10mg

March 2021: holding at 37.5mg.
April 2021: 25mg.  May 2021: 18.75 to 12.5.  
June 2021: 12.5 to (accidentally) 4.29mg.  Updose to 6mg using compounded Pristiq

August 2020: Crashed at day 35 of 5mg. Updose to 6mg

September 2020: 5.5mg from 6 after 38 days

10/2021: 5mg, 11/2021: 4.5mg, 12/21:4mg, 3/22:3.75mg, Propranolol 10mg prn

Link to comment

@Kevman2112.  Hey Kevman.  I’m not mod and I’m not speaking for them, but if you tag someone by putting an @ before their user name you will probably have a better chance getting replies.  I just read through your entire intro thread and feel your pain.  
 

i started ssri’s at about 17 and now I’m 42. It’s been a long ride for me.  What started out as a god send has spiraled slowly but surely into the opposite.  Im curious, what age did you start and how long have you been on meds for total?

 

Regarding your questions on how to proceed, I think the answer you will invariably get here is to hold, hold, and hold some more until you level out.  Then after holding, slow the f down :) also, maybe find An alternative to the pantoprqzile  you’re taking as it seems to hurt more than it helps.   
 

I’ve been holding for four+ months from a 17% drop and I still feel like dog **** on many a day.  Clinical feeling depression, fatigue, very low motivation, some anxiety and intrusive thoughts, etc.  i felt pretty good yesterday, pushed too hard with a very strong yoga workout followed by some pranayama breathing, then felt very irritable at night for a little while, slept like 3 hours, today I’m deeply depressed.  I know better but I can’t help myself but to push it when I’m in a window.  My windows never last long though, a few days seems to be my max allotment.
 

Anyway, good luck and id love to see your spreadsheet, I was a data analyst for several years.  
 

best,

 

M

1997-2006 - Prozac 20mg

2006-2015 - Lexapro 15mg, Klonopin .5mg PRN

2015 - Paxil | 2016 - Remeron 30mg | Mar 2017 - Lexapro 7.5mg, Kpin .5mg |July 2017 - Pristiq 50mg, Kpin 1mg

Oct 2017 - Celexa 20mg, Kpin .5mg | Feb 2018 - celexa 20mg, Kpin to Valium 7.5mg 

April 2018 - rapid taper of Celexa and Valium leading to crash

May 2018 -  Aug  2019 - Fluoxetine 15 mg, Valium 3.5mg

Aug 2019 -April 2020 - Micro liquid taper off 3.5mg valium end April 6 2020. Liquid Fluoxetine 12mg per day

May 2020 - Nov 2021 -   liquid fluoxetine 12mg per day.

Dec 2021 Direct switch from 12mg generic liquid fluoxetine to 10mg Prozac Capsule | May 24 2022 - 9.5mg | July 1 9.2mg | Aug 14 9.0mg | Aug 30 8.9mg | Dec 1 8.8mg

*Zero alcohol since July 2020.  Supplement include 3000 mg Fish oil, 1000mg Vit C.  100mcg B12

Link to comment

Thanks for your reply Methuselah and for reading through my thread.  That meant a lot to me. 
 

I too started on the antidepressant path at a young age, around 15-16 for panic attacks in really specific situations and haven’t been off since (34 now).  I had a few bouts with benzodiazepines mixed in there as well.  I knew about antidepressant withdrawal before I stopped but at the same time I had no idea.  I think the Pristiq pooped out starting in 2018 but took me until December 2020 to find a doctor that recommend I get off and taper. 
 

My current taper plan has me holding until July and my total program has me off in mid-2023.  I hope it doesn’t take that long but who knows, it might take longer.  Some days or periods make me think I can’t handle how bad it is and will go back up on the Pristiq which would only lead to more issues later.  It’s comforting to think I have an escape hatch even though it really isn’t one.

 

Wishing you the best in your taper and many better days ahead for us both.  Thanks again 

Multiple drugs for my teen years.  ~10 years on Pristiq 100mg.  
January 2021: 50mg Pristiq to 43.75. Stopped Viibryd at 10mg

March 2021: holding at 37.5mg.
April 2021: 25mg.  May 2021: 18.75 to 12.5.  
June 2021: 12.5 to (accidentally) 4.29mg.  Updose to 6mg using compounded Pristiq

August 2020: Crashed at day 35 of 5mg. Updose to 6mg

September 2020: 5.5mg from 6 after 38 days

10/2021: 5mg, 11/2021: 4.5mg, 12/21:4mg, 3/22:3.75mg, Propranolol 10mg prn

Link to comment

When you say it pooped out, what does that mean to you?  Does that mean a return of baseline symptoms for which you were originally prescribed, or something else?

1997-2006 - Prozac 20mg

2006-2015 - Lexapro 15mg, Klonopin .5mg PRN

2015 - Paxil | 2016 - Remeron 30mg | Mar 2017 - Lexapro 7.5mg, Kpin .5mg |July 2017 - Pristiq 50mg, Kpin 1mg

Oct 2017 - Celexa 20mg, Kpin .5mg | Feb 2018 - celexa 20mg, Kpin to Valium 7.5mg 

April 2018 - rapid taper of Celexa and Valium leading to crash

May 2018 -  Aug  2019 - Fluoxetine 15 mg, Valium 3.5mg

Aug 2019 -April 2020 - Micro liquid taper off 3.5mg valium end April 6 2020. Liquid Fluoxetine 12mg per day

May 2020 - Nov 2021 -   liquid fluoxetine 12mg per day.

Dec 2021 Direct switch from 12mg generic liquid fluoxetine to 10mg Prozac Capsule | May 24 2022 - 9.5mg | July 1 9.2mg | Aug 14 9.0mg | Aug 30 8.9mg | Dec 1 8.8mg

*Zero alcohol since July 2020.  Supplement include 3000 mg Fish oil, 1000mg Vit C.  100mcg B12

Link to comment

It was extremely interesting, and I’ve used this phrase quite a bit during this whole thing, if it wasn’t happening to me I’d find it very interesting.

I was originally prescribed Pristiq for more social anxiety that would occasionally lead to panic attacks, again, all in social situations.  I was in CBT for years and on the medication and things were easy to manage.  In 2018, I started getting panic attacks randomly, not in social situations.  Within that year I started having panic attacks daily and getting health anxiety thinking I was having a heart attack.  What was odd was it would start about 2 hours after waking up (about 2 hours after my Pristiq dose) and lasted till about 2pm.  These were also intense bouts of panic, all I could do was lay down and try and breathe.  
 

Poop out, sensitized to the medication, metabolism changes, any thing could be possible but after a while I became certain the medication was the cause of the issues.  This made it difficult because I wanted to get off as quickly as possible but with withdrawal, one obviously can’t.  
 

In between those episodes starting and finally tapering off, I had some “brilliant” doctors up my dose of Pristiq to an ungodly 125mg, prescribe copious amounts of Klonopin among other anti anxiety medications, typical throwing things against a wall and seeing what sticks.  

Multiple drugs for my teen years.  ~10 years on Pristiq 100mg.  
January 2021: 50mg Pristiq to 43.75. Stopped Viibryd at 10mg

March 2021: holding at 37.5mg.
April 2021: 25mg.  May 2021: 18.75 to 12.5.  
June 2021: 12.5 to (accidentally) 4.29mg.  Updose to 6mg using compounded Pristiq

August 2020: Crashed at day 35 of 5mg. Updose to 6mg

September 2020: 5.5mg from 6 after 38 days

10/2021: 5mg, 11/2021: 4.5mg, 12/21:4mg, 3/22:3.75mg, Propranolol 10mg prn

Link to comment

So I’ve figured something out, or partially figured something out, that has been plaguing me since 2018.  I believe the Pristiq started to cause Akathisia and that has been what I’ve been experiencing of late.  All the symptoms fit.  I experienced the worst of it this past week and it finally clicked.

My doctor prescribed propranolol 10mg which has helped a little with the physical aspects of Akathisia but not really the mental which I didn’t expect it to. I really couldn’t handle it so I needed something.  Meditation, chamomile tea, hot showers, they were no match for the symptoms. 
 

Things have improved in the past 2 days somewhat which I am incredibly grateful for.  From what I’ve read, I’ll need to be entirely off the Pristiq before the Akathisia goes away completely.  
 

 

Multiple drugs for my teen years.  ~10 years on Pristiq 100mg.  
January 2021: 50mg Pristiq to 43.75. Stopped Viibryd at 10mg

March 2021: holding at 37.5mg.
April 2021: 25mg.  May 2021: 18.75 to 12.5.  
June 2021: 12.5 to (accidentally) 4.29mg.  Updose to 6mg using compounded Pristiq

August 2020: Crashed at day 35 of 5mg. Updose to 6mg

September 2020: 5.5mg from 6 after 38 days

10/2021: 5mg, 11/2021: 4.5mg, 12/21:4mg, 3/22:3.75mg, Propranolol 10mg prn

Link to comment

Hey @Kevman2112.  Sorry to hear about the akathisia.  I think I’ve had it a few times, but in small doses thankfully.  Have you continued to taper or are you going to hold for a minute?

 

 

1997-2006 - Prozac 20mg

2006-2015 - Lexapro 15mg, Klonopin .5mg PRN

2015 - Paxil | 2016 - Remeron 30mg | Mar 2017 - Lexapro 7.5mg, Kpin .5mg |July 2017 - Pristiq 50mg, Kpin 1mg

Oct 2017 - Celexa 20mg, Kpin .5mg | Feb 2018 - celexa 20mg, Kpin to Valium 7.5mg 

April 2018 - rapid taper of Celexa and Valium leading to crash

May 2018 -  Aug  2019 - Fluoxetine 15 mg, Valium 3.5mg

Aug 2019 -April 2020 - Micro liquid taper off 3.5mg valium end April 6 2020. Liquid Fluoxetine 12mg per day

May 2020 - Nov 2021 -   liquid fluoxetine 12mg per day.

Dec 2021 Direct switch from 12mg generic liquid fluoxetine to 10mg Prozac Capsule | May 24 2022 - 9.5mg | July 1 9.2mg | Aug 14 9.0mg | Aug 30 8.9mg | Dec 1 8.8mg

*Zero alcohol since July 2020.  Supplement include 3000 mg Fish oil, 1000mg Vit C.  100mcg B12

Link to comment
On 4/13/2022 at 7:53 PM, Kevman2112 said:

Poop out, sensitized to the medication, metabolism changes, any thing could be possible but after a while I became certain the medication was the cause of the issues.  This made it difficult because I wanted to get off as quickly as possible but with withdrawal, one obviously can’t.  


I beieve ththis is exactly what happened, is happening with me . The 10mg Prozac I’m taking right now is doing absolutely nothing for me that I can tell, save keeping me out of acute withdrawal.  If I would have never taken any meds and just started on this medication  a month ago or two and felt like I feel now I’d stop immediately.  Virtually every day feels strange and off, it’s like there’s a veil in my vision making everything look fake.  Not to mention the other strange mental symptoms, bouts of depression amd anxiety, and decreased capacity for mental/physical strenuous output whether it be towards work or exercise or socializing. All this while trying to appear somewhat ok to my son, parents, friends, coworkers, etc.  


i guess I’ll continue to hold here for a bit longer but something has to give eventually.  It’s like, is 6 months of holding my wdnormal, maybe 8 months is, maybe I’m there now, maybe what I’m feeling isn’t withdrawing at all but rather the effect of the med on me at this point and dropping dose will actually make me feel better.  No one can say as there is no way to tell.  Very frustrating as the clock keeps ticking away and life keeps passing by.  

1997-2006 - Prozac 20mg

2006-2015 - Lexapro 15mg, Klonopin .5mg PRN

2015 - Paxil | 2016 - Remeron 30mg | Mar 2017 - Lexapro 7.5mg, Kpin .5mg |July 2017 - Pristiq 50mg, Kpin 1mg

Oct 2017 - Celexa 20mg, Kpin .5mg | Feb 2018 - celexa 20mg, Kpin to Valium 7.5mg 

April 2018 - rapid taper of Celexa and Valium leading to crash

May 2018 -  Aug  2019 - Fluoxetine 15 mg, Valium 3.5mg

Aug 2019 -April 2020 - Micro liquid taper off 3.5mg valium end April 6 2020. Liquid Fluoxetine 12mg per day

May 2020 - Nov 2021 -   liquid fluoxetine 12mg per day.

Dec 2021 Direct switch from 12mg generic liquid fluoxetine to 10mg Prozac Capsule | May 24 2022 - 9.5mg | July 1 9.2mg | Aug 14 9.0mg | Aug 30 8.9mg | Dec 1 8.8mg

*Zero alcohol since July 2020.  Supplement include 3000 mg Fish oil, 1000mg Vit C.  100mcg B12

Link to comment
21 hours ago, methuselah said:


I beieve ththis is exactly what happened, is happening with me . The 10mg Prozac I’m taking right now is doing absolutely nothing for me that I can tell, save keeping me out of acute withdrawal.  If I would have never taken any meds and just started on this medication  a month ago or two and felt like I feel now I’d stop immediately.  Virtually every day feels strange and off, it’s like there’s a veil in my vision making everything look fake.  Not to mention the other strange mental symptoms, bouts of depression amd anxiety, and decreased capacity for mental/physical strenuous output whether it be towards work or exercise or socializing. All this while trying to appear somewhat ok to my son, parents, friends, coworkers, etc.  


i guess I’ll continue to hold here for a bit longer but something has to give eventually.  It’s like, is 6 months of holding my wdnormal, maybe 8 months is, maybe I’m there now, maybe what I’m feeling isn’t withdrawing at all but rather the effect of the med on me at this point and dropping dose will actually make me feel better.  No one can say as there is no way to tell.  Very frustrating as the clock keeps ticking away and life keeps passing by.  

I feel your pain entirely.  What I have found to be so challenging is that taper of medication, inclusive of the seemingly random variability in symptoms, is antithetical to how we have been conditioned to approach situations in life.  If youre unhappy with your job, your physical appearance, your significant other, really any aspect of your life, the prudent way to approach the issue is to problem solve, come up with a solution and implement that solution.  If it doesn’t work, try something different and evaluate the results. 
Unfortunately, with withdrawal, that isn’t always the best way to approach it.  I have tried many things during my taper; cutting out certain foods, exercise, meditation, updosing etc.  The only thing that has ever reliably worked is time.  The wave will end, the symptoms will diminish and we will feel better.  We just don’t know how much time it will take.  This is an extremely hard pill to swallow, pun intended, when things aren’t going well.  
 

Trying to seem ok in front of others has been my biggest challenge during my taper, and prior when I was having symptoms as well.  Post-Covid, my wife is eager to get back out and socialize.  Every social event is at best challenging or at worst excruciating for me.  
 

What perhaps has kept me going is having read a success story where the individual felt like their life was passing them by during the taper.  I think you and I can completely relate to that.  However, post taper and upon the easing of symptoms, they essentially grabbed life by the horns and made up for lost time.  That’s my hope as well.  When I feel better, I’ll make up for lost time. 

22 hours ago, methuselah said:

Hey @Kevman2112.  Sorry to hear about the akathisia.  I think I’ve had it a few times, but in small doses thankfully.  Have you continued to taper or are you going to hold for a minute?

 

 

I’m going to hold for at least 60 days and let my symptoms dictate whether I extend it or drop at day 60.

Multiple drugs for my teen years.  ~10 years on Pristiq 100mg.  
January 2021: 50mg Pristiq to 43.75. Stopped Viibryd at 10mg

March 2021: holding at 37.5mg.
April 2021: 25mg.  May 2021: 18.75 to 12.5.  
June 2021: 12.5 to (accidentally) 4.29mg.  Updose to 6mg using compounded Pristiq

August 2020: Crashed at day 35 of 5mg. Updose to 6mg

September 2020: 5.5mg from 6 after 38 days

10/2021: 5mg, 11/2021: 4.5mg, 12/21:4mg, 3/22:3.75mg, Propranolol 10mg prn

Link to comment

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use Privacy Policy