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BionicChick Not trying to Taper off, Rx is not refilled


BionicChick

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I've been using pristiq since 2007(ish) and had been on Effexor prior to that for about 3 years.

 

I've got a new insurance company and since they are slowpokes getting my "authorization" complete. 

I've been without Pristiq since this past Sunday. Not too long, but I feel crazy.

 

I'm floating outside of my body, can't wake up and generally just want to be by myself in the bed all day. Impossible when I have to work. 

 

Does anyone have any suggestions for getting thru this?

There are no samples available at the Dr.

 

The Pharmacy wants to charge me $25 for 3 pills. My entire copay is $35 for 30. 

 

A friend has offered some Abilify for the interim. Does anyone know if that would help? Or would that just make it worse?

Last night, I had an additional 0.25 Xanax, but that just knocks me out. I'm still cranky and weird and have the craziest dreams.

 

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

Currently taking 100mg of Pristiq Daily, .25mg generic Xanax,  100mg fish oil, Multivitamin

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BionicChick,

 

A few thoughts...

 

1). do you have any Effexor left? The two are very similar and it might hold you over until you get Pristiq.

2) I realize that $25 for 3 pills is outrageous, but the longer you go without, the worse this can become. I'd hate to see you risk your job. It may be a situation to bite the bullet. The pharmacy *should* even out the payment once the balance is received.

3) Abilify is an entirely different class of drugs. This would only complicate matters.

3) Ask your doctor to contact the insurance company on your behalf.

 

Someone will probably have additional suggestions.

Pristiq tapered over 8 months ending Spring 2011 after 18 years of polydrugging that began w/Zoloft for fatigue/general malaise (not mood). CURRENT: 1mg Klonopin qhs (SSRI bruxism), 75mg trazodone qhs, various hormonesLitigation for 11 years for Work-related injury, settled 2004. Involuntary medical retirement in 2001 (age 39). 2012 - brain MRI showing diffuse, chronic cerebrovascular damage/demyelination possibly vasculitis/cerebritis. Dx w/autoimmune polyendocrine failure.<p>2013 - Dx w/CNS Sjogren's Lupus (FANA antibodies first appeared in 1997 but missed by doc).

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  • Administrator

Generic Effexor might cost only a few dollars, you can get it (with a prescription) at Walmart.

 

This is a site for going off psychiatric drugs, we can't advise people on what drugs to take long-term.

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

All postings © copyrighted.

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In the past I have seen people go to emergency to get the drug they need taking another drug in NOT helpful and taking a medication that was prescribed to another person is dangerous. It may react badly with the medication your already taking or simply react badly on you.  Please don't take another persons medication.  If this is not an emergency situation pay the 25 dollars and get you pills so you can go to work and more importantly so you can feel better. 

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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Thanks for all the replies. Yesterday, I went to the Pharmacy and ponied up the $25. I feel soooooo much better today. I hope the authorization comes thru soon. 

I love that this medicine helps me feel better, but at the same time I hate that I've become so dependent on it to function normally. Anyone else have the same thoughts?

Currently taking 100mg of Pristiq Daily, .25mg generic Xanax,  100mg fish oil, Multivitamin

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No I can't say I ever had any thoughts like that.  I thought the meds were keeping me sane and was quite happy to pay my money a small price for sanity was how I viewed it.  However antidepressants caused me trouble and I had to keep getting off of them.  You can see the whole story in my bio at the bottom of this page.  There is risk of side effects and a lot of people are not aware of what they are for me even serious side effects like a gastro bleed and a few others did not cause doctors to give me a heads up that maybe a drug was a problem for me.  We can't depend on doctors to know all the side effects of all the drugs in the world I would suggest for your own care that you look up all the drugs you intend to take or are taking and learn all you can about them so if a serious side effect should occur you have the information already. 

 

Some times these kind of drugs stop working and it is called a couple of things tolerance or pooped out on sites like this ...when that happens it can present the same as withdrawal symptoms.  Taking a higher dose may buy you some time if or when this happens if you can tolerate a higher dose.  Switching drugs would be the next step or adding another drug.  This is a complex issue and was drugged for a long time so lived through most circumstances that can occur with these meds.  They don't all happen to everyone I hope I was just unlucky.  Being aware of what could go wrong may have saved me years of suffering and there is no substitute for ab educated patient in mho.  I wish the information had been available to me when I needed it and it wasn't.  It is however available to you via sites like this or google I hope you make use of the access.  Peace to you.  

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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  • Administrator

Yes, it makes you feel better because it's a psychotropic.

 

Taking it again made you feel better because you were in withdrawal.

 

You are dependent on the drug. Please look into non-drug techniques to manage your situation, whatever it is.

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

All postings © copyrighted.

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thanks again for the advice, well wishes, and for taking the time to be here. 

 

Alto, I need to look into non-drug techniques. It just never has occurred to me. 

Currently taking 100mg of Pristiq Daily, .25mg generic Xanax,  100mg fish oil, Multivitamin

Link to comment
  • Administrator

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

All postings © copyrighted.

Link to comment

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