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Side effects of Pristiq

Posted by Native Floridian @nativefloridian, Jan 7, 2012

Has anyone successfully tapered off Pristiq? If so, what was your plan? I am considering going off this medicine. I take 50 mg per day and have done so for about 2 years. I understand there are very significant withdrawal symptoms and I would like to stop taking Pristiq because it causes my heart to race when the time release happens. I am afraid this medicine may not be good for the heart because the clinical trials state that anyone with a heart condition was not allowed to take it.

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david707 | @david707 | 2 days ago
In reply to @mare58 "@kmunroe Hi! I was on 50mg for 5 months then in the hospital the Dr upped..." + (show)
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@kmunroe
Hi! I was on 50mg for 5 months then in the hospital the Dr upped it to 100mg. So I took 2 50mg a day for 3 months till my 50’s ran out. I was unable to get a refill for 2 weeks! My PCP was never informed of this. . So I cold turkey and it was HELL!! I got a new prescription for 100mg and went back on 3 days ago OMG! The paramedics just left my house. It’s Sunday so can’t get a hold of anyone. My vitals were fine even though I haven’t slept a wink in 3 days…sweats, chills, heart pounding out of my chest, dizzy and can’t put the lights on! My vitals were fine so I didn’t go to the hospital. I really don’t want to be on this anymore! I found a 50mg under my bed and think I’ll take that tonight instead of 100. I hope that doesn’t screw me up but I need to taper down. I just found out on here that you can’t split in half. Don’t mess with this medication.

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@mare58 So sorry for you. Please get a new doctor or psychiatrist to help you wean off this med. I know nothing about this med but I do know a lot about antidepressants as a lay person because I have taken so many the last 35 years. I am presently weaning off Effexor, replacing with Mirtazapine, because it has no sexual side effects as so many others do. I am doing well as I am retired and have little real stress. Just sharing this as one of many options. Also I have found CBD to be a good natural anti-anxiety remedy. I used it to help with side effects of coming off meds. Take care.

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mare58 | @mare58 | 2 days ago
In reply to @david707 "@mare58 So sorry for you. Please get a new doctor or psychiatrist to help you wean..." + (show)
Profile picture for david707 @david707

@mare58 So sorry for you. Please get a new doctor or psychiatrist to help you wean off this med. I know nothing about this med but I do know a lot about antidepressants as a lay person because I have taken so many the last 35 years. I am presently weaning off Effexor, replacing with Mirtazapine, because it has no sexual side effects as so many others do. I am doing well as I am retired and have little real stress. Just sharing this as one of many options. Also I have found CBD to be a good natural anti-anxiety remedy. I used it to help with side effects of coming off meds. Take care.

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@david707
Thank you David for the advise. I’ve been on many antidepressants over the past 30 years and I’d like to see how I’d be not taking anything. My life has become very blah and I’m not interested in doing anything that gave me pleasure in the past. I’m going back to work a new job tomorrow full time at age 67! That should keep me busy!

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