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benihanna: Please help with switch to Prozac after Pristiq


benihanna

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Hello Im 2 weeks off of Pristiq. My idiot NP decided to switch me from 50 of pristiq to 20 of prozac.  Now getting off prozac. Symptoms started about 4 or 5 days in. Intolerable restlessness, irritability, hopelessness, and tremors in face, hands, arms, neck, trunk. Big problem is they r still getting worse at this point. When I was on the 50 I felt at least ok, but I wanted to get off because I thought it was causing the tremors, which have now gotten much worse in withdrawl. Effexor use and withdrawl also cause tremors. Should I get back on the pristiq and let myself stablize hoping the tremors and depressive symptoms go away, and then work down slow? 

1999-2020 Just about every ssri and snri 

2020 Jan-March 225 effexor down to 150, Dec down to 75 

March 2021 back up to 225 went psychotic, May Psych ward rapid taper to 0, freaked out and told them reinstate and quickly up to 225 symptoms worsened 

May pysch ward rapid cross taper zoloft up to 200 quickly 2 weeks seroquel 200, june pysch ward quick taper to 100 then left on mirtazipine 15,then back 150

July pysch ward quick taper to pristiq 50, Depakote 750, lithium 1350.  

 aug-sept residential facility tapered depakote because of liver, tapered pristiq by bridging prozac 50-20 after 2 weeks symp got bad so

mid sept reinstate pristiq 25

wanted off of pristiq cause of tremors but they got worse in withdrawl along with everything else hence the reinstatement. Has not worked, made worse

currently suicidal, dr/dp, dizzy, panicky, slowed cognition, tremor, etc

Titrated Lamictal up to 100, propanalol 10x3, Levothyroxine 25. gaba prn

current: Lamictal up to 100, propanalol 10x3, Levothyroxine 25. gaba prn, pristiq 25, lithium 1350.

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  • ChessieCat changed the title to benihanna: Please help
  • Moderator

Hi Benihanna,

 

Welcome to this support site. Before we can answer your questions, please give us more information first. Good that you came to this website. There is a lot of knowledge to be found and shared here. Also the members can support each other here.

 

Can you please give us specific information about your drug history for all drugs you are on and have been on, especially for the past 18-24 months?  It would be especially helpful to have the details of your drugs in a concise list (no symptoms), only drug names, specific dates (as best you can say for example early March if you don't recall the day) and dosages of each medication decrease or increase.  Please read the link below for instructions.  This will allow us to give you the best guidance.  

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/18343-please-summarize-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature/

 

Do I understand right that you just switched in 1 time from Pristiq to Prozac?

 

Switching to another drug does not mean one will not experience withdrawal symptoms from the first drug. Very often this happens...

 

The symptoms you describe are common withdrawal symptoms.

 

You write also about Effexor. Have you been using that also?

 

We cannot give you detailed advice until we have you complete drug history. But with the information you provided until now, I guess going back to Pristiq will probably be the best route to go.

 

You are away for Pristiq only 2 weeks and on Prozac also only 2 weeks (am I right, or did you make a cross over?). When this is so, going back to Pristiq would be the best way. Then stabilize because of the changes. And then taper of slowly.

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/6632-the-rule-of-3kis-keep-it-simple-keep-it-slow-keep-it-stable/?tab=comments#comment-525233

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/19373-the-prozac-switch-or-bridging-with-fluoxetine/

 

1993    Anafranil (Clomipramine) for a few months. Later in 1993 Paxil for a few months 1993- 2006      No medication

2006   Effexor, Cymbalta, some Benzo’s. All for short periods. Later in 2006 Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg and shortly after Wellbutrin XR 150mg, against side effects Lexapro 

Since 2006 until end of 2015: Several times on and off Lexapro and Wellbutrin and several slight dosage changes. Mostly taken dosages: 5mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin

2016  Dosage change Lexapro from 5mg to 2,5 mg. Wellbutrin stayed om 150mg

November 2016 – April 2017 Down from 2,5mg to 0,6mg Lexapro (in steps) without much problems. Wellbutrin down from 150mg to 66mg. Also without much problems.

April 2017 – March 2019       Lexapro 0,6 mg        April 2017 - August 2018       Wellbutrin in small steps down from 66mg in to 37,5 mg . Quite heavy WD after each step.

March 2019 – May 2019 Lexapro down from 0,6 to 0,3mg then Prozac to 0,6 mg switch because severe discontinuation effects (may also have been from Wellbutrin..)    

Wellbutrin down from 37,5mg to 35,3mg 

October 2019        Seroquel 12,5 mg for 4 weeks because of extreme sleeping problems, then weaning off in 2 weeks       Prozac up dosage to 1,2 mg

March 2020     Wellbutrin in 2 steps down from 35,3mg to 33,3mg   Extreme withdrawal effects during 8 months. Stopped tapering Wellbutrin  until total off Prozac. 

February 2020 – November 2020   Prozac down in steps from 1,2mg to 0,57mg. 

Jan 2021  Prozac down to:  0,55> 0,53>0,51mg,   Feb 0,47mg ,  Mar 0,42mg,   Apr 0,37, longer hold because of WD symptoms July 0,36 and hold again, Sept 19 0,35, Sept 26 0,34mg, Oct 3 0,33mg  Long hold of 172 days until March 2022

January 20, 2022:  Wellbutrin from 33,3 to 32,3mg

March 22, 2022 Prozac down from 0,33mg to: 0,30mg, Apr 0,29, May 0,28, 0,27, June 0,26, 0,25, July 0,24, 0,23, 0,22, 0,21, Aug 0,20, 0,19 Sep 0,18, Oct 0,17. 0,16, 0,15, Nov 0,14  Jan 2023 0,13, 0,12, 0,11  Feb 0,10, 0,09 Mar 0,08 ,  June 0,07 , July 0,06,  0,05, Aug 0,04, 0,03, Sept 0,026, 0,024 Nov 0,022, 0,019, 0,016, 0,013 Dec 0,012, 0,011, 0,010, 0,009   Jan 2024 0,008, 0,007,  0,006,  0,005, 0,004, 0,003, 0,002, 0,001, Feb  0,0007.  0,0005,   0,0003, 0,0001,  

Feb 23, 2024:  0,00000

  

Supplements: Fish Oil (3000mg), Magnesium 100 mg, 2 drops of Lavender Oil, only when feeling extreme anxiety. 50mg of L-Theanine only when severe discontinuation effects caused by Wellbutrin

 

Please note this is NOT a medical advice. Discuss all your medical issues with a doctor who understands psychical drugs and really knows how to withdraw from them. I wish that you will find one.

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  • Go2zero changed the title to benihanna: Please help with switch to Prozac after Pristiq
  • 1 month later...

Thanks gotozero I ended up reinstating and swung and missed. Have been back on for about a month and everything worse, tremors, dp/dr, suicidality. I probably messed up cause reinstated at 25 as I was in a residential facility and thats the lowest dose they could get. Now worried about kindling. 3 days after I started again couldnt sleep or sit still, paced, couldnt eat, auditory halucinations, was directed to push through. Not quite as psychotic but things keep getting worse it seems when it comes to dp, rumunation, tremors, suicidality. Not sure if my life situation and anxiety about it is sending me further down this spiral, or if the pristiq has become the driver of it. I have 2.5mg capsules now finally and know I want to get off, but also not sure if I should try it yet because Im still so unstable. But, then again if its making me unstable in the first place.....idk. 

1999-2020 Just about every ssri and snri 

2020 Jan-March 225 effexor down to 150, Dec down to 75 

March 2021 back up to 225 went psychotic, May Psych ward rapid taper to 0, freaked out and told them reinstate and quickly up to 225 symptoms worsened 

May pysch ward rapid cross taper zoloft up to 200 quickly 2 weeks seroquel 200, june pysch ward quick taper to 100 then left on mirtazipine 15,then back 150

July pysch ward quick taper to pristiq 50, Depakote 750, lithium 1350.  

 aug-sept residential facility tapered depakote because of liver, tapered pristiq by bridging prozac 50-20 after 2 weeks symp got bad so

mid sept reinstate pristiq 25

wanted off of pristiq cause of tremors but they got worse in withdrawl along with everything else hence the reinstatement. Has not worked, made worse

currently suicidal, dr/dp, dizzy, panicky, slowed cognition, tremor, etc

Titrated Lamictal up to 100, propanalol 10x3, Levothyroxine 25. gaba prn

current: Lamictal up to 100, propanalol 10x3, Levothyroxine 25. gaba prn, pristiq 25, lithium 1350.

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  • Administrator

Hello, @benihanna

 

Please update your signature with your initiation of 25mg Pristiq.

 

How long have you been taking 25mg Pristiq this last time around? How has your symptom pattern changed since you started it? In what ways are you currently unstable?

 

On 10/11/2021 at 3:59 PM, benihanna said:

I have 2.5mg capsules now finally

 

You have 2.5mg capsules of Pristiq?

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

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For about a month. How things have changed are Ive gone from complete depression to alot more anxiety, although still utterly depressed. More suicidal thoughts but my life situation calls for it at this point so idk if its the drugs or not. restlessness, decreased appetite, increased dp/dr. My Tremors have continued to get worse but theyve both gotten worse with getting off and getting on effexor and then pristiq. Not sure if the drug is causing or just the destabilization. I have 2.5mg capsules. Like I said I know I want to get off and scared ive kindled and and making things worse, but also scared if I taper Ill crash and burn because im so bad right now to begin with.

1999-2020 Just about every ssri and snri 

2020 Jan-March 225 effexor down to 150, Dec down to 75 

March 2021 back up to 225 went psychotic, May Psych ward rapid taper to 0, freaked out and told them reinstate and quickly up to 225 symptoms worsened 

May pysch ward rapid cross taper zoloft up to 200 quickly 2 weeks seroquel 200, june pysch ward quick taper to 100 then left on mirtazipine 15,then back 150

July pysch ward quick taper to pristiq 50, Depakote 750, lithium 1350.  

 aug-sept residential facility tapered depakote because of liver, tapered pristiq by bridging prozac 50-20 after 2 weeks symp got bad so

mid sept reinstate pristiq 25

wanted off of pristiq cause of tremors but they got worse in withdrawl along with everything else hence the reinstatement. Has not worked, made worse

currently suicidal, dr/dp, dizzy, panicky, slowed cognition, tremor, etc

Titrated Lamictal up to 100, propanalol 10x3, Levothyroxine 25. gaba prn

current: Lamictal up to 100, propanalol 10x3, Levothyroxine 25. gaba prn, pristiq 25, lithium 1350.

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Oh and forgot to add trouble with sleeping, and auditory hallucinations (I hear constant music in the back of my head). These started again for me about 3 days after reinstating the pristiq. I also had them with the back and forth with effexor prior.  Like I said, cant tell if theyre adverse effects or I just havent stabilized from all the ping pong yet.









 

1999-2020 Just about every ssri and snri 

2020 Jan-March 225 effexor down to 150, Dec down to 75 

March 2021 back up to 225 went psychotic, May Psych ward rapid taper to 0, freaked out and told them reinstate and quickly up to 225 symptoms worsened 

May pysch ward rapid cross taper zoloft up to 200 quickly 2 weeks seroquel 200, june pysch ward quick taper to 100 then left on mirtazipine 15,then back 150

July pysch ward quick taper to pristiq 50, Depakote 750, lithium 1350.  

 aug-sept residential facility tapered depakote because of liver, tapered pristiq by bridging prozac 50-20 after 2 weeks symp got bad so

mid sept reinstate pristiq 25

wanted off of pristiq cause of tremors but they got worse in withdrawl along with everything else hence the reinstatement. Has not worked, made worse

currently suicidal, dr/dp, dizzy, panicky, slowed cognition, tremor, etc

Titrated Lamictal up to 100, propanalol 10x3, Levothyroxine 25. gaba prn

current: Lamictal up to 100, propanalol 10x3, Levothyroxine 25. gaba prn, pristiq 25, lithium 1350.

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Anyone?

1999-2020 Just about every ssri and snri 

2020 Jan-March 225 effexor down to 150, Dec down to 75 

March 2021 back up to 225 went psychotic, May Psych ward rapid taper to 0, freaked out and told them reinstate and quickly up to 225 symptoms worsened 

May pysch ward rapid cross taper zoloft up to 200 quickly 2 weeks seroquel 200, june pysch ward quick taper to 100 then left on mirtazipine 15,then back 150

July pysch ward quick taper to pristiq 50, Depakote 750, lithium 1350.  

 aug-sept residential facility tapered depakote because of liver, tapered pristiq by bridging prozac 50-20 after 2 weeks symp got bad so

mid sept reinstate pristiq 25

wanted off of pristiq cause of tremors but they got worse in withdrawl along with everything else hence the reinstatement. Has not worked, made worse

currently suicidal, dr/dp, dizzy, panicky, slowed cognition, tremor, etc

Titrated Lamictal up to 100, propanalol 10x3, Levothyroxine 25. gaba prn

current: Lamictal up to 100, propanalol 10x3, Levothyroxine 25. gaba prn, pristiq 25, lithium 1350.

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