Now down to 4 days off, 1 day on. Symptoms are diarrhoea and constipation. Also a bit of weird feeling, light confusion at certain moments throughout the day, but no more brain zaps. Thankfully sleep is good in all of this.

Down to every fifth day. On this last drop I'm seeing some more fatigue and over the weekend some real 'confusion' out of it sensation. But it cleared up after a few hours.

I understand tapering, but I feel so bad for you because you are dragging these horrible symptoms out. I hope you start feeling normal soon.

There is a light. I think these symptoms over the past 3 months are manageable enough that the next step will be to stop completely. No more adjustments. I'll see the family doctor in a week and see if he confirms.

Update: 24 days wthout Pristiq. I made a half-life schedule showing he 11 hour half-life incremental drop of this drug in my system, and diarized my mood, symptoms next to it. Energy returned. I'm doing projects and getting things done at a great pace, but trying to go steady so that I dont overdo it.

Brain fog and slight social anxiety. But life is SO much better. I'm not tired and sleepy all the time. I'm no longer a walking zombie (except for brain fog periods, which are mostly end of day mid-evening). Hang in there everyone, we're all going to make it.

Another quick update. Symptoms are less frequent physical fatigue - maybe feeling a lack of energy once or twice in a 2 week period. The brain zaps and grogginess/brain fog happen at the end of a rough week over the weekend or appear during the middle of a cognitively demanding day (multi-tasking and operating across various levels of thinking. It usually clears with a 10 minute nap or overnight. The brain tingles are intermittent but ill take these over the zombie state I was in for 8 months.

My gym routine has been interrupted for a few weeks and so I don't know how I am doing here.

When I hit these symptoms I need to remind myself to back off, dial down the intensity and let myself rest. It's just withdrawal and it will go away.

Another update. Last week I was beginning to experience anxiety, and then those signs of insomnia picked up. Waking up every 2-3 hours, or not feeling as though I had a good nights rest. Waking up with anxiety, carrying it throughout the day. As the week went on I was having less anxiety in the morning, but it migrated to a feeling of doom, and then wonderful feelings of well-being in the evening. These new feelings of well-being are new, and something I havent felt in several years. The sensation started in my gut, a warm tingly wonderful feeling. I assume serotonin receptors rebuilding there. The general anxiety and doom have left, for now, but today with the intense heat I noticed some fatigue setting in. Have adjusted my workout routine away from heavy lifting to walking only for now. What a ride. The brain zaps and fog have left, and they never seem to occur at the same time as anxiety and doom are present, and so I hope this means I'm just working my way through the various stages of withdrawal.

Since my last update have been sleeping well. Only emotional flatlines remain. Last evening a moment of panic symptoms beginning with a sensation of clogged sinuses. Today feeling like my stomach is bloated and in my chest, feeling slight wooshing sensations but my mood is flat. Still waiting for those emotional good feelings.

I am so relieved to read your post. My daughter has had a horrific journey weaning off Pristiq, and just as her moods seem to stabilize another symptom begins. She has been off Pristiq for 4 weeks now, and the last few days have included insomnia and social anxiety. For those of you tapering off, the first week drug-free was HELL, but then each week has gotten better. She has four or five good days, and then two or three not-so-great-but-better-than-it-was-on-Pristiq days. We keep a journal to remind us of the good things.