☼ Fuzzylogic checking in tapering pristiq

[Fuzzylogic]

Thanks for all your support Mogfish and oldgator.

 

The most annoying part about all of this is that my taper has been going well. I have a plan but need a script to continue down that path. I have had a long talk to my husband, who is generally supportive, but I think he is as frustrated as I am as he does not know how to help me. He has offered to put something together and come back to the doctor with me to persuade her to give me another script. After the way the doctor spoke to me I will not be going back there, so that is not going to work. He told me that he could see the dr getting more and more frustrated with me and he thought that she thought I was being a difficult patient. I have told him his silence would have made her think that he probably thought so too, so it did not help my cause. I have to admit that this has set me back both emotionally and physically , but I will fight on.

 

Dr also sitting with the complete report after my biopsy and although I know I am in the clear I would have liked more information, never even got around to that conversation. I just wanted to get out.

 

The new script is for Zoloft. I didn't have to do any reading up to know I'm not going. For me it's like telling the alcoholic drink beer instead of vodka!!! Even if I decided to switch I have no idea if I will still suffer w/d from pristiq whilst getting used to Zoloft. And then I'm back to square one trying to get off the next drug......

 

I won't give up, I come too far.

[oldgator]

Fuzzy,

Glad to hear you aren't giving up   I see in your signature you say you have gone back to 75%. How do you do this? Do you split it up over the course of the day? I don't blame you for not using the zoloft. I am just wanting to get off pristiq and let my body even out for a bit to see where I am at. You mentioned you won't go back to your dr because of how she talked to you. Does that mean you are going to try and find a new one to get another prescription for pristiq? It wouldn't hurt to try another dr would it? I admire your dedication to the process of tapering and hope you can get enough medication to do the taper that is right for you.

[Fuzzylogic]

Hi Oldgator

 

In typed a reply to you in your topic and it's gone into cyberspace, so replying here as no energy to type again. Glad you doing well without your evening dose.

 

I am cutting and weighing. I take and third of that dose in the evening and two thirds in the morning. It is a bit of a hot and miss affair but working for me. I have recently dropped my dose, cut the evening one for a few days then the morning. Somewhere along the line I messed up and am now on 1/2 a 50 mg tab. My brain does not function at its best and even though I have it written down I still tend to get in a muddle.

 

Simplified, On my scale tablet weighs .0120 oz. so take .0060 40 in am and 20 in pm. Put these in a capsule. That's where I got confused I think as I added the wrong weight.

 

Still working up the 'courage' to find another's dr. Have a couple of weeks so taking my time.

[seb]

Hi Fuzzylogic I just read your post and felt so mad.  Life really sucks sometimes.  I hope you can find a mind set that helps you cope with this set back and keep moving forward.   Cheers SEB

[Fuzzylogic]

Hi Seb

 

Thanks for your encouragement. I've not had the (mental) energy to look for another dr. I still have one more script to fill, so a bit of time.

Fuzzy

[Pdg610]

Fuzzylogic - I am so sorry about your dr.  I have always assumed doctors knew more than me but this process has definitely changed my mind set.   I was actually on Zoloft before Pristiq.  I had insomnia and anxiety a few months after stopping Zoloft.  I went to the dr and was told the chemical imbalance story and after trying 3 or 4 other meds, started Pristiq.  Those drs are really good at convincing us of what we need!  I see that you are in Australia...it seems like the drs in the states give out these prescriptions like candy...my dr wrote a years worth for me.  Maybe if you told the dr you decided to stay on the medicine (wink, wink), he/she would write another prescription. 

[oldgator]

So you are cutting up the Pristiq and then putting it in a capsule? My memory isn't so great right now and I'm hoping it's just a side effect from the drug and it will go back to normal after the drug is out of my system. I hope the medication taper is still going fairly well. 

[Fuzzylogic]

Not been visiting this site for a while. Taper has been going along nicely until about a week ago when my whole routine went out the window and I was forgetting to take my dose and taking at the wrong times - I know that is not recommended and it certainly wasn't intended. Saw another Dr who at least agreed that the brain zaps are real and related to withdrawal and told me that they could last for months. He also I thinks I should be coming off them quicker. I wish I had thought to ask him if the symptoms last so long why not taper for longer to ease the w/d. I hadn't gone to him about Pristiq so wasn't prepared. Just thought whilst I was there I would ask his opinion.

Anyway was doing 'ok' when messing with the dose last week so thought why not drop the evening dose.

The problem is that I ended up dropping the morning equivalent, and was taking the smaller (evening) dose at lunch time for 3 days BIG mistake. The past few days I have had buzzing ears and head. Today I am as ratty as they come. I had thought about just quitting but only lasted 10mins past the 24 hr mark. Felt like I was letting myself down by succumbing to yet again swallowing this stupid stupid drug. But as my niece says onwards and upwards

Do I up my dose again 2/3 of half 50mg or stick to 1/3 and see how it goes for the next month? My other fear is that I am going to run out of tablets before my taper is finished so part of me wants off and the other wants me to go slow. If I can work up the energy I will calculate how I can successfully and with the least amount of W/D symptoms taper with what I have left. Maybe, just maybe it's doable.

 

Sorry I have rambled on a bit, just needed get it off my chest.

[Rhiannon]

I won't try to advise you about dosing because I don't exactly understand what you're doing. I did just want to jump in with some thoughts about "doctor management." There are a few tricks that I've found that sometimes help when dealing with them. 

 

One is, instead of saying "I want off my meds" say "I want to see how I do at a lower dose." Because all doctors know that the lowest effective dose is what you want to shoot for. So "let's find out my lowest effective dose" doesn't set off their alarms as much as "I want to stop taking the drug."

 

Also, they believe these drugs actually are beneficial, and you can use that. Maybe your doc will continue to give you prescriptions and not rush you so much if you say, hm, I want to see how I do staying on this dose for a while. I sure don't want that doggone depression to come back, so I want to just hold here for a while and make sure it doesn't come back because golly gee willikers, maybe this drug is good for me. (at the lowest possible effective dose.)

 

You know, basically, just kind of speak their language so you can get them to give you what you need to do the taper at a speed that works for you.

 

Having that pressure of "I have to get off before I run out" usually leads to trouble, and/or disaster, for people. Much better to have the freedom to taper at the pace your body is telling you is right for you.

[Fuzzylogic]

Thanks for your advise Rhi, my biggest problem is that I am on the lowest dose that the tablet comes in.

 

I went to see dr today. Husband had been back to lay the groundwork as I was not keen to return (more than making up for his previous silence). To cut a long story short I can get another script if I need it, but have also been referred to a psychiatrist who I believe has experience with coming off anti depressants. Will keep you updated.

[Altostrata]

Please do, FL!

 

I won't try to advise you about dosing because I don't exactly understand what you're doing. I did just want to jump in with some thoughts about "doctor management." There are a few tricks that I've found that sometimes help when dealing with them. 

 

One is, instead of saying "I want off my meds" say "I want to see how I do at a lower dose." Because all doctors know that the lowest effective dose is what you want to shoot for. So "let's find out my lowest effective dose" doesn't set off their alarms as much as "I want to stop taking the drug."

 

Also, they believe these drugs actually are beneficial, and you can use that. Maybe your doc will continue to give you prescriptions and not rush you so much if you say, hm, I want to see how I do staying on this dose for a while. I sure don't want that doggone depression to come back, so I want to just hold here for a while and make sure it doesn't come back because golly gee willikers, maybe this drug is good for me. (at the lowest possible effective dose.)

 

You know, basically, just kind of speak their language so you can get them to give you what you need to do the taper at a speed that works for you.

 

Having that pressure of "I have to get off before I run out" usually leads to trouble, and/or disaster, for people. Much better to have the freedom to taper at the pace your body is telling you is right for you.

 

Rhi, this is great. How about starting a topic in Tapering called "How to talk to your doctor about tapering"?

[Fuzzylogic]

Still holding at 1/4. Have struggled with the drop, but persevering.

 

Waiting for psychiatrist to call.

[Altostrata]

Any updates, FL?

[Fuzzylogic]

Sorry no updates for a while. Life has been hectic.

 

I can only see the psychiatrist in Feb, so will keep going with my taper.

 

Last weekend I was on edge, snapped at everyone and the slightest thing frustrated me. My poor family. I've now gone down to an 1/8 and waiting for my system to adjust.

[Fuzzylogic]

On the 26th December I woke up and thought to myself I have had enough. I felt that on 1/8th of the tablet I was not getting a consistent dose and was playing Russian Roulette with my nervous system. Husband was on leave so we decided I would give it a go and stop taking. I know this goes against all the advise and I am hoping that I have done the right thing.

 

Observations so far:

Buzzing ears and fuzzy head, this comes and goes.

Brain zaps seem to start in the afternoon, manageable at the moment.

Very tired on day 2 and extremely ratty.

Insomnia on day 3 and a lot of pain (the only good thing I can say about this drug is that it numbed the physical pain)

Slight nausea and stomachs upset, but now back to normal

Through all of this except day 2 I have been active. The more I do the less symptoms I have. I find they are more prominent when I'm sitting still.

 

Today I would describe myself as a bit hyper, need to be busy all the time, even after a 500 swim (I've just started swimming again after an aborted attempt about Oct last year) and a 40+ c day.

I'm still a bit ratty, have a short fuse and tearful, but so far I'm coping.

I'll be seeing a psychiatrist on 3 Feb.

 

I will keep you posted on my progress. If I feel that I need to re-instate I will.

[Petunia]

On the 26th December I woke up and thought to myself I have had enough. I felt that on 1/8th of the tablet I was not getting a consistent dose and was playing Russian Roulette with my nervous system. Husband was on leave so we decided I would give it a go and stop taking. I know this goes against all the advise and I am hoping that I have done the right thing.

 

I hope this works out for you FL, do keep us updated and don't hesitate to reinstate if your symptoms get worse, protracted withdrawal can last for years, and you can get to a point where reinstatement no longer works, I know this from personal experience.

[Fuzzylogic]

Thanks Petu. I'm monitoring my symptons daily. Giving myself 4 weeks and if no significant improvement I'll re-instate. Don't want to leave it too late.

At the moment I'm pretty much the same.

[Fuzzylogic]

2 weeks drug free!!!!! Not all plain sailing but not unbearable either.

 

The worst part is my very short fuse. Concentration is no better than what it was on the drug, but hoping for an improvement.

 

I'm still exercising, my poor body has no idea what's hit it, long may it last

[oldgator]

Way to go FL on keeping active and exercising. It took a few weeks for my concentration to come back and it seems I have to "work" more at concentrating than I did before. I hope things continue to not get worse and in fact, get better.

[Fuzzylogic]

Thanks Oldgator I know what you mean by having to work at things!! Exercise happening but not enough, but a lot better than before.

 

Latest observations after a month off Pristiq

Brain zaps worse late afternoon and evening but not debilitating

Still have short fuse and cannot take repetitive noise like a bouncing ball, come to think about about it I've never liked that.. Worse when trying to concentrate on figures

Weight gain, not happy at all about this hoping short term

All in all it has been a lot better than I expected but worse than I had hoped if that makes any sense at all,

 

Will still see psychiatrist on 3rd. Very interested to see what she has to say.

[mogfish]

Hi Fuzzy,

 

Firstly I just wanted to say congratulations on getting this far coming off the pristiq. Good for you!

 

I too had the brain zaps the first time I jumped off pristiq and mine too were not particularly debilitating but the fact that they were there was concerning so as I result I reinstated a tiny nibble for another month or so then tried again and the second time around I had no brain zaps at all. I was pretty disheartened to have to reinstate but i am glad that I did as i knew that the brain zaps were my body telling me that it wasn't quite ready to come off the pristiq. The tiniest nibble although not an exact dose each day worked for me but everybody is different.

 

Wishing you all the best  

[Fuzzylogic]

Hi Mogfish

 

Thanks for the advise. When you say a nibble do you mean about a mg? How long did you stay on the nibble?

 

It's so hard to know what to do. I feel that I'm coping bit scared it will get worse......

Fuzzy

[mogfish]

Hi again Fuzzy,

 

I never weighed the pristiq tablets as some have done to get an exact dose,  I just cut the tablets up.

For me a nibble was literally just that. I would bite off a little bit of a smaller 1/8 tablet and would just look at the piece  to make sure it was roughly the same size each day. ( It was literally a crumb) I did this for about 6 weeks and when I stopped taking that little crumb I no longer had the brain zaps. I know it is so hard to know what to do, I felt the same way you are feeling now and really didn't want to reinstate that tiny nibble but I am glad that I did as it did work for me. Do you still have any tablets left just incase you decide to reinstate?

[Fuzzylogic]

Thanks for that info. Yes I have a few tablets left if I decide to reinstate and at a nibble they should last.

 

I have decided to wait until I have seen the psychiatrist before I do anything, having said that I'm still not sure I'm going to get any answers...... Hope the delay doesn't take me out of the reinstate window should I decide to go that route.

[Fuzzylogic]

Psych visit yesterday. Interesting.

 

In short this is what I leant or had confirmed:

 

Pristiq difficult to come off (I knew that but dr and pharmacist disagreed to point they didn't believe me)

Acknowledged brain zaps and lot of people struggle

Pristiq a strong AD for major depression not minor (and I was prescribed it for menopause) glad I refused to up the dose from 50mg - could be one of the reasons I felt so dead on it.

Cutting is ok, skipping a no no

I'm suffering from minor depression though but was given natural remedies and advised to go to a psychologist to talk things through and that at this stage not necessary to take an AD even though there are much milder ones. Even acknowledged that I'd had a bad experience so wouldn't be keen on AD's without any prompting from me

 

All in all a very positive visit.

[Fuzzylogic]

I haven't been online for ages. Thought I would pop in and give you an update.

 

3 months ago I took my last dose of Pristiq. Another milestone in my withdrawl journey.

The brain zaps have gone. Ears still buzz occasionally, but all in all physically I'm feeling a whole lot better. I'm even shedding the few kilos a put on when I stopped.

 

Anger has been my BIG problem. I have a short fuse at the moment but am seeing a lovely counsellor and I can already see a difference. We are working through things. I know that mentally I still have a way to go.

 

I'm still exercising, not as much as I had planned but I'm being kind to myself.

 

A couple of days ago I realised that for the past 2+ years I'd been slowly losing interest in so many things around me. I am starting to notice things around the house that have been neglected and doing something about it - not so sure my long suffering family are overly thrilled with that . It's good to feel alive and want to do things, even if it is sorting the grocery cupboard!

 

The best decision I made was to come off Pristiq.

Thank you to all those who have supported me in this journey I couldn't have done it without you

Fuzzy

[mogfish]

Good for you Fuzzy!!!! I am so happy to hear that you are doing well. Be patient and kind to yourself with regards to the anger. It was my biggest issue with stopping Pristiq. It does get better with time, and the counsellor is a great idea. I have found Mindfullness therapy to be helpful also some diet changes ( cutting out refined sugar) and naturopathy to be very beneficial.

[Altostrata]

Very happy to hear you're doing better. I added our cheerful "here comes the sun" symbol

 

☼

 

to the title of your Intro topic, to show you're recovering.

 

Please continue to let us know how you're doing. I hope you will add your story to our Recovery Success Stories eventually!

[Pugknows]

Thank you for this much needed nugget of inspiration. I had no knowledge of the horrors of withdrawal before it happened to me. Seeing how much better you're doing after 3 months is encouraging, even though I'm starting my sixth month and still getting the sh*t kicked out if me. I needed to hear a positive story, so I can keep pushing on. Maybe my recovery is right around the corner.

[Fuzzylogic]

It's been just over 10 months since my last dose of Pristiq. I wouldn't say that it has been easy, but have gradually felt better. I still have melt downs but they are getting further apart.

Today I participated in a Mini Triathlon, I stress mini, but am feeling accomplished. This time last year I was barely coping.

Thank you to everyone on this site who has supported me on my journey I'd still be on that stupid drug if it wasn't for all of you