Dato Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 Hey I don't have any major issues, just have a mind that never stops thinking and problems sleeping. I'm thinking about only taking Prestiq on Friday and Saturday nights, I know it's an everyday medication but all the info I have read points to this not really being tried before but nothing says it's not worth trying. Apart from the general the medication isn't ment to be taken like that what other thoughts do you have? Thanks Dato Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus mammaP Posted August 16, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 16, 2014 Hi Dato, I moved your post to introductions because more people will see it here and chime in with their thoughts. I would run as far and as fast as you can from that notion! For a start it is several weeks before any changes take place (according to doctors). However there are many devastating side effects that can be severely debilitating and happen as soon as you take the first one. I would not recommend taking this or any other psychiatric drug for any reason, and I doubt very much that you would find anyone who would! This forum is tapering to get away from these drugs. Every single one of us here have started psychiatric drugs for various reasons and have suffered terribly as a result. Thinking it wont hurt taking just 2 a week for recreational purposes is very dangerous in my opinion. Many of us have had our lives severely affected by them and it has taken many years to be free of them. Some are severely disabled by just a few days of taking them, do you really want to take that risk? Have you taken any psych meds in the past, or taking any others now? I'm just wondering if your symptoms may be from a past drug (withdrawal) or side effects of something you are taking now. We have some great topics on self help without drugs if you would like to browse the site. Here are some to get you started. Included here are threads on various sleep problems. Mostly related to withdrawal but can be applied to anyone. http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/604-important-topics-about-symptoms-including-sleep-problems/ Non drug ways of coping with emotional symptoms. http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1112-non-drug-techniques-to-cope-with-emotional-symptoms/ I am sure many more will chime in with suggestions for you. I'm glad you came here before trying pristiq, it is a particularly nasty drug to get off once you get on it! **I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge. Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem) 1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat 2002 effexor. Tapered March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads. Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013 Restarted taper Nov 2013 OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015 Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014 Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg July 2017 30mg. May 15 2018 25mg Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33 Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus dalsaan Posted August 16, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 16, 2014 Nup bad idea, you will basically destabilise your withdrawal symptoms with very little prospect of that delivering a good outcome. Learn mindfulness to quieten your mind and try magnesium and fish oil. I also use sleep hypnosis and focus on relaxing rather than trying to sleep Dalsaan Please note - I am not a medical practitioner and I do not give medical advice. I offer an opinion based on my own experiences, reading and discussion with others.On Effexor for 2 months at the start of 2005. Had extreme insomnia as an adverse reaction. Changed to mirtazapine. Have been trying to get off since mid 2008 with numerous failures including CTs and slow (but not slow enough tapers)Have slow tapered at 10 per cent or less for years. I have liquid mirtazapine made at a compounding chemist. Was on 1.6 ml as at 19 March 2014. Dropped to 1.5 ml 7 June 2014. Dropped to 1.4 in about September. Dropped to 1.3 on 20 December 2014. Dropped to 1.2 in mid Jan 2015. Dropped to 1 ml in late Feb 2015. I think my old medication had run out of puff so I tried 1ml when I got the new stuff and it seems to be going ok. Sleep has been good over the last week (as of 13/3/15). Dropped to 1/2 ml 14/11/15 Fatigue still there as are memory and cognition problems. Sleep is patchy but liveable compared to what it has been in the past. DRUG FREE - as at 1st May 2017 >My intro post is here - http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/2250-dalsaan Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus mammaP Posted August 16, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 16, 2014 Oops, my granny brain, I thought you were not on pristiq already and wanting to start taking it 2 days a week! Think I need to go have a nap **I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge. Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem) 1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat 2002 effexor. Tapered March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads. Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013 Restarted taper Nov 2013 OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015 Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014 Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg July 2017 30mg. May 15 2018 25mg Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33 Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Petunia Posted August 17, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 17, 2014 Hi Dato, From reading your first post, I also thought you hadn't started taking it yet. Regardless of whether you are already taking it or not, its not a good idea to take it as you suggest as the others have mentioned, it will destabilize your nervous system. These types of drugs 'work' over time by causing changes in the brain and the way it works. If you want help coming off medication safely, we can offer support with that. Petu. I'm not a doctor. My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one. My Introduction Thread Full Drug and Withdrawal History Brief Summary Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects 2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010 Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal) May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins. Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens. Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days. April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close. VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from? VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made? VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes? VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects? VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes Link to comment
Dato Posted August 21, 2014 Author Share Posted August 21, 2014 Hello Yes I was prescribed it but stopped after my second tablet, Due to a few major reasons - a - The info I found here on how it effects people and the want to get off the medications b - I didn't feel my symptoms were bad enough to take meds every day when i can go weeks without having issues as long as im tired and I have fallen into a loophole that i cant get any free support until i wait 3 more months so I need to find my own ways of dealing without taking the pills if possible lastly - I have gone through significant life change recently and cant afford to not have a clear head, I'm in IT and changing jobs so i cant afford not to be at my best. Any futher thoughts? Also dalsaanIf you have some links I could so some more reading on the techniques you use. Thanks Dato Any futher thoughts Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted August 21, 2014 Administrator Share Posted August 21, 2014 Welcome, Dato. Many people do better with fish oil and magnesium supplements, see http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/ http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1300-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/ The B vitamins found in fresh leafy green vegetables are also very good for brain health. Please consider non-drug means to manage your symptoms before jumping into years of drugs that may be difficult to quit. 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
Fuzzylogic Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Hi Dato I don't know what you decided but I am currently tapering off Pristiq and having started off by skipping a day I can tell you that it messed with my body. In my humble opinion taking on weekends would do more harm than good and you could potentially be in a constant state of withdrawal. Hope you have found a way to solve your sleep problems without this drug. Nov 2012 started on pristiq 50 mg Late Aug 2014 started taper (skipping every 2nd day) Early Sep 2014 went back to daily dose but 75% (later realised closer to 60%) 13 Oct 14 1/2 of 50mg tablet split 2/3 in morning 1/3 in evening 14 Nov 1/4 50mg once a day 15 Dec 1/8 daily 26 Dec quit Link to comment
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