jaiden77: Long-lasting effects after stopping Pristiq / desvenlafaxine

[jaiden77]

Hi all,

 

I am currently 4 months removed from any pharmaceuticals after a lengthy 6-7 month withdrawal from Pristiq, then a relatively quick taper of Buspar/Buspirone (1 month).  I spent half of my life (starting at age 22) on anti-depressants such as Lexapro, Zoloft, and most recently (the last 12 years) Pristiq.  I was on 100 mg of Pristiq for most of that stretch.  Around the end of 2020, my psychiatrist added Buspirone to help with anxiety...which did help.  I later discovered that an SNRI, according to my psychiatrist, can cause anxiety in some people.  If true, I was certainly one of those people.  During this entire 22 year ordeal, my depression and anxiety was fairly under control, but I was absolutely crippled with daily insomnia and unending sexual side-effects.  

 

Starting around February of 2021, I started taking a new approach to self-care, my health, and I finally enrolled in proper counseling first time in my life to address to root cause of my depression and anxiety.  In addition, the book Breaking the Patterns of Depress by Dr. Michael Yapko was a huge help.  I worked with both my psychiatrist and my primary care physician to slowly taper down Pristiq (which wasn't too bad until I hit the lowest possible dose of 25mg).  I started the the final taper of Pristiq in October 2021...and it was brutal. What actually carried me through, personally, was a temporary increase in Buspirone (recommended by my primary care doc), which seemed to ease my anxiety and help with some of the discontinuation symptoms of dizziness and brain-zaps.  

 

Finally, in November of 2021, I completed my taper of Buspirone.  Although I've had peaks and valley's during this recovery, I feel the best mentally...in the history of me!  I was never a heavy drinker, but I have completely stopped drinking alcohol to give myself the best chance at this recovery...and I also exercise daily for the first time in my life. Although the sexual side effects are around 50% better (praying this continues to improve) my insomnia continues to be absolutely debilitating.  

 

My main question:  Even though it's been 4 months since my last dose, could my brain/system still be recovering from the 2 decades of SNRI/SSRI use? I can't seem to find a consistent answer online, nor through my doctors.  Thank you!

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  Congratulations for getting off the Pristiq and Buspirone!  That is a major accomplishment.  

 

On 3/23/2022 at 2:29 PM, jaiden77 said:

Even though it's been 4 months since my last dose, could my brain/system still be recovering from the 2 decades of SNRI/SSRI use? I

Absolutely, yes.  What symptoms are you currently having?   I'll give you a lot of information about how these drugs work, and how our brains become dependent on them, and recover from them.  This will help you understand a lot more about it.  

 

Can you please give us specific information in your signature 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 vertical 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.  Use this format:

 

Drug name: date, dose, date, dose, date, dose…

Drug name: date, dose, date, dose, date, dose…

Etcetera

 

Please read the link below for instructions.  This will allow us to give you the best guidance.  

 

How to List Drug History in Signature

 

Here is some information about how these drugs actually work.   This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications, and why it's so important to taper slowly and carefully: 

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

 

This next link goes into all the variables that affect how long it takes our nervous systems to recover: 

 

How Long Will it Take for Our Nervous Systems to Recover

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

Please let us know how you are doing.  

[jaiden77]

Hi, thank you for the detailed response!

 

1 hour ago, getofflex said:

What symptoms are you currently having?

Thankfully, I am mostly symptom-free from depression and anxiety.  I credit counseling and a lot of self-help content between books, YouTube and Podcasts. 

 

As for lingering symptom's from my SNRI/SSRI use, I still have pretty terrible insomnia.  I often fall asleep rather quickly but wake up every hour or two, depending on the night.  I was an excellent "through-the-night" sleeper until I started these medications 22 years or so ago.  I don't recall the last time I slept through the night.  I've recently started taking 400 mg of Magnesium Glycinate nightly (starting 2 weeks ago) but that hasn't really helped.  My wife tells me I don't appear to have any sleep apnea and I rarely snore. 

 

I still have some lingering sexual side-effects.  I would say I'm 50% recovered on that front.

 

I will update my signature and read through the rest of the information/links you shared.  I appreciate the feedback!

[getofflex]

As for the sexual side effects, those should resolve in time.  Insomnia is a classic withdrawal symptom.  It has been my worst WD symptom.  Sleep will improve very gradually, and in fits and starts, probably.  Here is some info to help you with sleep:  

 

Withdrawal Insomnia

 

This is what I have done to help improve my sleep naturally: 

 

My Insomnia Tips

 

Insomnia has been the worst part of WD for me.  Here is what I do to help.  

 

1) don't get overly anxious about it.  Realize that eventually, your sleep will improve.  Insomnia won't kill you, although it can make you pretty dang miserable.  Anxiety about sleep just makes the problem worse.  I know, easier said than done. I don't always do this, but I try.  Practice acceptance.

 

2)listen to very soft relaxing music at a very low volume.  

 

3)don't worry about what time it is.  Don't look at the clock.  

 

4) I try to stay active during the first half of the day.  I take a walk (mine is one hour) after breakfast every day.  Then, as the day goes on, gradually slow down.  Several hours before bed, I only do very relaxing things, like read, or just sit and relax.  This helps to set our circadian rhythm.  Try to get outside and get some light exposure during the day, too. 

 

5) Avoid toxic, negative people.  Avoid stress when possible, although I know a lot of stressors are unavoidable.   For me, this can really help me to relax better.  

 

6) I stay away from MSG and aspartame.  These are exitotoxins which overstimulate the nervous system.  They are in a lot of our modern processed foods.  I try to eat more whole and natural, and not as many processed foods.  Also avoid processed meats with sodium nitrate, etc , such as hotdogs, ham, bacon, and sausage.  These can keep you up at night too.

 

7) avoid eating large amounts of sugar and processed carbohydrates.  This causes your blood glucose to spike up, which causes your pancreas to create insulin to control your blood sugar, which then causes your blood sugar to drop too low, and then your to create adrenaline to try to regulate your blood sugar.  Adrenaline keeps you awake because it is an activating hormone.

 

9) too much sodium (salt) can cause your blood pressure and heart rate to rise, and make it hard to sleep.

 

 

[jaiden77]

Thank you, I appreciate this information!