Vdoll: trying to withdraw from Pristiq

[vdoll]

Hello all. I need help and I am very scared. I have been on Pristiq 50mg for just about 5 years and I find it nearly impossible to get off of this medication. Several times I have tried to skip a dose of Pristiq but it makes me incredibly confused, empty, anxious, and irriatble. Mostly VERY confused. It is so hard to describe. I have been obsessively reading about what to do but I am so unsure. Some people are saying to take the Pristiq every other day to start the weaning process but I've tried that and cant seem to get through it. Some people are saying to cut the tablets up but I've also read that doing that can give you serotonin syndrome. I am a generally happy person and know that it is time to get off of this medication. But how? How does one go through this agonizing withdrawal and still maintain their life without completely losing it? I feel like I am going to be STUCK forever because being "happy" on the medication is so much easier then "dealing with the withdrawals." 

 

This is all so hard for me because I no longer have insurance ( I am on a plan to receive free Pristiq for a year [what happenes when the year is over?) and don't have the financial resources to see a psychiatrist. I am also a recovering addict with two years clean but still feel completely trapped by this chemical dependency I have to Pristiq. If anybody out there has advice for me I'd very much appreciate it. 

 

Thanks for reading.

 

A

[Petunia]

Hi Vdoll,

 

Welcome to the forum.  I moved your post here where it will get a better response.  You can use this thread as your own journal to keep us updated on how you are doing.

 

I'm sorry you are going through a difficult time, but now you have found this site, you will be able to taper from your medication safely and have some support.

 

Please don't skip doses, this will cause horrible symptoms, as you have found.  Here is our link for safely tapering off Pristiq:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/876-tips-for-tapering-off-pristiq-desvenlafaxine/

 

Other members will be along soon to offer more support.

 

When you are feeling up to it, it would be helpful if you put your medication and withdrawal history in your signature, instructions here:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/893-please-put-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature/

 

You will find a lot of good information and friendly support here, so have a look around.

 

Petu.

[Trfielder]

Hi,

I'm fairly new here as well...listen to the advice given on this site it is very helpful..the day I started here I figured was going to be my last day period...all from WD symptoms...so glad you found the site. Keep searching the forums you will find the answers here.

You can get off the meds with help from the people here... Keep us posted

[Jemima]

Welcome to the forum, Vdoll. Please do check out the links that Petu posted.  Pristiq is a horrible drug to quit in large part because it wasn't designed for tapering off. You'll find all the details in the "Tips for Tapering Pristiq" topic.  Whatever you do, don't try the every other day method. That's almost certain to cause severe withdrawal symptoms.

 

I'm glad that you found us before attempting a taper on your own.

[vdoll]

Great News! I AM FINALLY PRISTIQ FREE! 

 

Over a six week period I slowly weened myself off of this medication. Even though a lot of people said NOT to break up these pills I found that it was my only option. I used a pill cutter to cut off aproximatly 20% of the pill per week. The taper itself wasn't as terrible as I thought it would be. As the dose got lower I became increasingly nauseous and experienced brain zaps. What I really struggled with was being OFF PRISTIQ completely. For an entire week my nausea and brain zaps were terrible. On day 2 of NO PRISTIQ I also developed a fever and had bad body aches (if felt like I had the flu). This lasted for about a week. I also used dramamine and ibuprofen to help with my withdrawal symptoms. I knew that if I just waited it out that it would pass; and it did. By day 8 with NO PRISTIQ I was feeling a lot better. I was able to goto the gym and not fall over when I got out of work. I am only on day 10 but I feel so happy and relieved that I am free. I honestly thought that I would be on this medication for the rest of my life. I just want everyone out there to know that it is POSSIBLE and that you can do it. Throughout this process I have been jogging and doing yoga. It really helps. Now for the first time in over 5 years I can go on vacation or sleep over a friends house without having to take a pill. 

 

It is possible! 

[Altostrata]

That's excellent news, vdoll.

 

How long have you been off Pristiq?

[vdoll]

Wednesday will be 2 weeks! :-)

[Altostrata]

Please keep in touch and let us know how you're doing.

[Rhiannon]

Vdoll, congratulations!

 

It's not unusual after a fast taper for people to feel better for a while and then to have a "relapse" of symptoms at some point in the future, often around three to six months out. This may or may not happen to you--hopefully it won't. But if it does, you may be tempted to think your "disease" has returned. It hasn't; this is just delayed withdrawal, which is actually quite common.

 

If that happens, you can get support here for dealing with the symptoms (there's a lot of great information in the Symptoms and Self-Care section) and you can probably ride it out.

 

I'm not trying to make you worry--this may not happen to you at all. I just want you to know that if it does, you aren't suffering from a disease that has recurred, you're experiencing another aspect of AD withdrawal that is fairly typical, and you can get through it and stay off meds if you want.