I don't know when it stops but don't try and just go cold turkey. I used a pill cutter and cut them in half for a couple of weeks and then into quarters. Just missing the quarter at first made me terribly sick. I am off them completely now but still have the hot flashes, joint pain, nausea and pms type crying jags. I used to be a promoter of anti depressants; I struggle with it all the time, but after this - no more for me unless I get so bad I can't get out of bed. Hang on, it will get better.

yea I completely understand about the eyes it kind of feels like they are really dry but also they feel like very sensitive & a sort of pain when you open & close them.. I think it is much more Neuro related bc of the head & eye problems & it of course is SOO nerve racking lol.. I stated before I tried tapering off but I just wasnt able to bc I wasnt able to get out of bed nor take care of myself or my kids that need me so I completely went off.. It isnt something I suggest for you but I know in my case tapering meant suffering longer & weather the pain/feelings would reduce didnt matter to me I just wanted them gone ASAP & so the sooner I went off the sooner I got better.. Of course I did that with my Klonopin too & read that people can get seizures from suddenly discontinuing that but the long lasting suffering just isnt my thing.. I want it gone now so I am not tapering this time.. but however you decided to do it make sure you dont go through anything alone if you feel suicidal or like giving up than call your dr or go to the hospital or have someone you can trust help you through it bc I know it is by know means easy.. I am not suggesting you do what I say bc I am not a dr but the only way I found relief the 2nd time around (as stated above is when I felt most miserable & suicidal) I took showers/baths or listened to calming music (may or may not help at certain times).. I took theraflu on nights I was in agonizing pain or I felt very vulnerable or restless/anxious (my reasoning is bc I had flu like symptoms so I took something that would help) it may not have helped with every symptom but it had a calming/sedative effect I needed to fall asleep (it has a bit of alcohol in it).. like I said the first time when they "hydrated" my body with iv fluids it made me feel better all day so I definately believe that more fluids- water especially can help.. But the best thing to do is not to lose hope bc there is light at the end of the tunnel.. you will make it through just as I will.. just as I have before & just have others have & will.. While we may not know when exactly we will feel completely normal.. just remember that each day you make it through is a day that you will put behind you & perhaps when you wake up tomorrow you will feel better? if not than maybe the next day.. Even though its extremely hard to keep high spirits in our darkest hours it is when it is most important. I know I was thinking last time I w/d that I would rather be going through child birth again than to experience this agony bc it really does mess up my emotional & mental state as well as my physical.. Just to know that it WILL get better helps me cope. It sounds dumb but when I dealt with this last time I felt extremely proud of myself afterwards for sticking in there & knowing that not many people have the strength to stick it through (whether on their own or with help).. My younger sister has a history of illegal substance use & she has relapsed a few times & when you come off any drug the only way to STOP w/d is to take the drug again but then eventually you will have to stop & deal with it & theres no better time to deal with it than now.. & the biggest difference between other drugs & Pristiq is that we will never relapse on Pristiq not only will we stay as far as we can from the drug but we will remember how hard it was to come off of it & I have warned sooo many people about the w/d of Effexor I just wish I would have known that Pristiq has the same w/d effects. My prayers are with you... & ps. AGAIN it will get better 🙂

I feel the same way.. Just the w/d effects make you wanna steer clear of them all together.. In fact the only reason I am discontinuing Pristiq (even though I know I still suffer from manic depression) is bc I have been on antidepressants for 6 yrs now (since I was 19 when my son was born).. I dont know who I am any more & I want to give it a try without them & see how bad it really is without them - I used to be soo different I used to have so many friends & socialize & go out & have fun & for the past 3 yrs (since I have been on them nonstop bc I got preg w/ my daughter) I have become agoraphobic/ocd/& I can probably fit every mental health diagnoses except schizo when all it started out as was postpartum depression!.. If I feel depressed after stopping for awhile than I am going to try every natural way of dealing with things that I havent been able to try while on them.. I know meds can save peoples lives but they seemed to have messed mine up so I am very hopeful to find myself again.. 🙂

WOW! I thought I was the only one with the strange "wah wah" feeling in the head and ears and the snapping sensation! Uuggghhh! It's so awful I am on 50 mgs of this stuff and have been for two years. I have tried to taper off a couplde of times but cannot take the side effects. If I am even late taking one dose I feel terrible. I want so badly to get this out of my system and feel like a Pristiq prisoner! I am sorry to see so many peaole going through the same thing but at least now I know this is to be expecyed and I am not alone. I am going to consult with a pychiatrist (something I have avoided) and see what the best reccomendation is.

Unfortunately, from what I've been reading, the withdrawal symptoms can last up to several months. I was on Pristiq for only 3-4 weeks. I quit cold turkey (per my doctor) a week ago and the withdrawal symptoms are the worst I have ever experienced. I hate this drug! Try Dramamine to help with the dizziness and nausea - it seems to help everyone who has tried it.