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.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

@barnhart

I have been forced to stop my Prestiq since my doctor does not give refills untill appointment every 3 months and I run out 1 week prior to being seen. This time she was out of town and I was going out of town. I quit cold turkey. I am (4 days later) still dizzy. DIZZY! I can not move my head side to side or I loose my balance ( not to mention my lunch). My ears are ringing so loud I was sure others could hear it. I refuse to start taking it again. I had the same problem with Cymbalta. I started these medications 6 years ago with the loss of job, mother in law, both parents and empty nest. I think I am better now. I just hope these symptoms end. Any suggestions?

Jump to this post

Does it sound like banging from a distance when trying to go to sleep?<br />
<br />

REPLY
@barnhart

I have been forced to stop my Prestiq since my doctor does not give refills untill appointment every 3 months and I run out 1 week prior to being seen. This time she was out of town and I was going out of town. I quit cold turkey. I am (4 days later) still dizzy. DIZZY! I can not move my head side to side or I loose my balance ( not to mention my lunch). My ears are ringing so loud I was sure others could hear it. I refuse to start taking it again. I had the same problem with Cymbalta. I started these medications 6 years ago with the loss of job, mother in law, both parents and empty nest. I think I am better now. I just hope these symptoms end. Any suggestions?

Jump to this post

<br />
<br />
A friend recommended Vitamin C to eliminate the dizziness and pounding I had been experiencing on and off for weeks. It worked beautifully!!! In less than 1 week, all of that disappeared. Best wishes to you!!! <br />
<br />
>

REPLY

I've been taking this demon of a drug for three years and recently had a melt down, I couldn't see that it was me having the melt down but my loved ones could, after having an accident that has landed me to be off my feet for 4 months and having to give up my buisness which was only ten weeks old and was my life dream, I was at wits end and wanted to get off this drug as I wasn't seeing life clearly, my relationship started to break down so I've come to stay with my mum and get off pristiq for ever!!
I have spoken to my girlfriend who is a community nurse about kicking this drug for good, she explained to me that as I am going through menopause and have thyroid disease that my body is not completely absorbing all the drug so there for I'm not benefiting from it at all, she suggested to cut back by taking pristiq one day and then Effexor the next then to taper by each second day and so on,

As I am at my mums I've decided to just begin the journey and taper from 100 to 50 to 25 mg and now nothing and it's been three weeks since I begun,
My feelings and side effects are horrifying, headaches, dizziness, out of body feeling, aching legs ( bad concidering I'm also in plaster for 12 wks) very sick stomach, aching neck and shoulders and the list goes on, the dreams are bad and I find myself scared to go to sleep because of the severity of them, today is day two of being off the pill altogether and the side effects are worsening....

Does it depend on how long an individual has been on the medication as to how long it takes to be free of the side effects?
Or is it the amount of med that each of us have been on??

Is there an answer as to how long it takes to feel normal? I have not been sad or crying until today and I'm a mess....I just want tit to stop...
Thanks jen

REPLY
@jen0553

I've been taking this demon of a drug for three years and recently had a melt down, I couldn't see that it was me having the melt down but my loved ones could, after having an accident that has landed me to be off my feet for 4 months and having to give up my buisness which was only ten weeks old and was my life dream, I was at wits end and wanted to get off this drug as I wasn't seeing life clearly, my relationship started to break down so I've come to stay with my mum and get off pristiq for ever!!
I have spoken to my girlfriend who is a community nurse about kicking this drug for good, she explained to me that as I am going through menopause and have thyroid disease that my body is not completely absorbing all the drug so there for I'm not benefiting from it at all, she suggested to cut back by taking pristiq one day and then Effexor the next then to taper by each second day and so on,

As I am at my mums I've decided to just begin the journey and taper from 100 to 50 to 25 mg and now nothing and it's been three weeks since I begun,
My feelings and side effects are horrifying, headaches, dizziness, out of body feeling, aching legs ( bad concidering I'm also in plaster for 12 wks) very sick stomach, aching neck and shoulders and the list goes on, the dreams are bad and I find myself scared to go to sleep because of the severity of them, today is day two of being off the pill altogether and the side effects are worsening....

Does it depend on how long an individual has been on the medication as to how long it takes to be free of the side effects?
Or is it the amount of med that each of us have been on??

Is there an answer as to how long it takes to feel normal? I have not been sad or crying until today and I'm a mess....I just want tit to stop...
Thanks jen

Jump to this post

Jen,<br />
Coming off pristiq was the worst experience of my life! It took several weeks for the side effects to start lessening. But it was sooooo worth it! Stick it out! You will be so glad you did! This drug should not be on the market! Praying for you! <br />
<br />

REPLY
@jen0553

I've been taking this demon of a drug for three years and recently had a melt down, I couldn't see that it was me having the melt down but my loved ones could, after having an accident that has landed me to be off my feet for 4 months and having to give up my buisness which was only ten weeks old and was my life dream, I was at wits end and wanted to get off this drug as I wasn't seeing life clearly, my relationship started to break down so I've come to stay with my mum and get off pristiq for ever!!
I have spoken to my girlfriend who is a community nurse about kicking this drug for good, she explained to me that as I am going through menopause and have thyroid disease that my body is not completely absorbing all the drug so there for I'm not benefiting from it at all, she suggested to cut back by taking pristiq one day and then Effexor the next then to taper by each second day and so on,

As I am at my mums I've decided to just begin the journey and taper from 100 to 50 to 25 mg and now nothing and it's been three weeks since I begun,
My feelings and side effects are horrifying, headaches, dizziness, out of body feeling, aching legs ( bad concidering I'm also in plaster for 12 wks) very sick stomach, aching neck and shoulders and the list goes on, the dreams are bad and I find myself scared to go to sleep because of the severity of them, today is day two of being off the pill altogether and the side effects are worsening....

Does it depend on how long an individual has been on the medication as to how long it takes to be free of the side effects?
Or is it the amount of med that each of us have been on??

Is there an answer as to how long it takes to feel normal? I have not been sad or crying until today and I'm a mess....I just want tit to stop...
Thanks jen

Jump to this post

  I am taking these medication.. therefore I can not comment ...I wish you the best in getting better..please talk with your doctor about getting off the meds.......and try and focus on a lot of good thing that have happen in your life and avoid the negative stuff as best you can......somehow your chemistry will fall back inline and you will feel good again,,excerise and eat healthy<br />
<br />
Bill / STL

REPLY
@jen0553

I've been taking this demon of a drug for three years and recently had a melt down, I couldn't see that it was me having the melt down but my loved ones could, after having an accident that has landed me to be off my feet for 4 months and having to give up my buisness which was only ten weeks old and was my life dream, I was at wits end and wanted to get off this drug as I wasn't seeing life clearly, my relationship started to break down so I've come to stay with my mum and get off pristiq for ever!!
I have spoken to my girlfriend who is a community nurse about kicking this drug for good, she explained to me that as I am going through menopause and have thyroid disease that my body is not completely absorbing all the drug so there for I'm not benefiting from it at all, she suggested to cut back by taking pristiq one day and then Effexor the next then to taper by each second day and so on,

As I am at my mums I've decided to just begin the journey and taper from 100 to 50 to 25 mg and now nothing and it's been three weeks since I begun,
My feelings and side effects are horrifying, headaches, dizziness, out of body feeling, aching legs ( bad concidering I'm also in plaster for 12 wks) very sick stomach, aching neck and shoulders and the list goes on, the dreams are bad and I find myself scared to go to sleep because of the severity of them, today is day two of being off the pill altogether and the side effects are worsening....

Does it depend on how long an individual has been on the medication as to how long it takes to be free of the side effects?
Or is it the amount of med that each of us have been on??

Is there an answer as to how long it takes to feel normal? I have not been sad or crying until today and I'm a mess....I just want tit to stop...
Thanks jen

Jump to this post

Hi Jen. I'm so sorry to hear what you are going through! Here is some information about Pristiq that you might find helpful: http://mayocl.in/1DD7iLn. It describes some of the precautions and side effects. I did want to note that is says not to take any medicine that contains venlafaxine (Effexor) while you are using Pristiq. If you'd like to talk to one of our doctors about the best way to safely get off the drug, please call one of our appointment offices (Arizona: 480-301-8484 Florida: 904-953-0853 Minnesota: 507-538-3270). I hope you start to feel better soon!

REPLY

I was on Zoloft 50 mg, and went off of it because of weight gain. My doctor said to try Pristiq because it had very little side effects. Even the literature from the pharmacy stated that. I was only on this medication for 8 day 50 mg. I was so jumpy and dizzy. I called my doctor and told her of my symptoms and she said to stop taking it. Well I never thought that only after taking this horrible medication for 8 days that I would experience this kind of withdrawal. I was dizzy, my head felt so funny,so hard to put into words what it felt like. The littlest thing would make me cry. I had to hold onto something as I walked around. Well today is day 4 off this awful medicine. I hope I can feel like myself again. I must mention that I am very sensitive to medication. I just wish that my doctor or the information from the pharmacy would have explained what the side effects are when coming off this medicine. I never would have tried it!!! Hope this helps!!!

REPLY
@jen0553

I've been taking this demon of a drug for three years and recently had a melt down, I couldn't see that it was me having the melt down but my loved ones could, after having an accident that has landed me to be off my feet for 4 months and having to give up my buisness which was only ten weeks old and was my life dream, I was at wits end and wanted to get off this drug as I wasn't seeing life clearly, my relationship started to break down so I've come to stay with my mum and get off pristiq for ever!!
I have spoken to my girlfriend who is a community nurse about kicking this drug for good, she explained to me that as I am going through menopause and have thyroid disease that my body is not completely absorbing all the drug so there for I'm not benefiting from it at all, she suggested to cut back by taking pristiq one day and then Effexor the next then to taper by each second day and so on,

As I am at my mums I've decided to just begin the journey and taper from 100 to 50 to 25 mg and now nothing and it's been three weeks since I begun,
My feelings and side effects are horrifying, headaches, dizziness, out of body feeling, aching legs ( bad concidering I'm also in plaster for 12 wks) very sick stomach, aching neck and shoulders and the list goes on, the dreams are bad and I find myself scared to go to sleep because of the severity of them, today is day two of being off the pill altogether and the side effects are worsening....

Does it depend on how long an individual has been on the medication as to how long it takes to be free of the side effects?
Or is it the amount of med that each of us have been on??

Is there an answer as to how long it takes to feel normal? I have not been sad or crying until today and I'm a mess....I just want tit to stop...
Thanks jen

Jump to this post

Everyone.. watch this video who is on antidepressents.....You need to take control over your health.....There is a cure for cancer...There are cures for alot of things but, the drug companies are all about the profits!

REPLY
@jen0553

I've been taking this demon of a drug for three years and recently had a melt down, I couldn't see that it was me having the melt down but my loved ones could, after having an accident that has landed me to be off my feet for 4 months and having to give up my buisness which was only ten weeks old and was my life dream, I was at wits end and wanted to get off this drug as I wasn't seeing life clearly, my relationship started to break down so I've come to stay with my mum and get off pristiq for ever!!
I have spoken to my girlfriend who is a community nurse about kicking this drug for good, she explained to me that as I am going through menopause and have thyroid disease that my body is not completely absorbing all the drug so there for I'm not benefiting from it at all, she suggested to cut back by taking pristiq one day and then Effexor the next then to taper by each second day and so on,

As I am at my mums I've decided to just begin the journey and taper from 100 to 50 to 25 mg and now nothing and it's been three weeks since I begun,
My feelings and side effects are horrifying, headaches, dizziness, out of body feeling, aching legs ( bad concidering I'm also in plaster for 12 wks) very sick stomach, aching neck and shoulders and the list goes on, the dreams are bad and I find myself scared to go to sleep because of the severity of them, today is day two of being off the pill altogether and the side effects are worsening....

Does it depend on how long an individual has been on the medication as to how long it takes to be free of the side effects?
Or is it the amount of med that each of us have been on??

Is there an answer as to how long it takes to feel normal? I have not been sad or crying until today and I'm a mess....I just want tit to stop...
Thanks jen

Jump to this post

It is worth your time to watch believe me!

REPLY
@jen0553

I've been taking this demon of a drug for three years and recently had a melt down, I couldn't see that it was me having the melt down but my loved ones could, after having an accident that has landed me to be off my feet for 4 months and having to give up my buisness which was only ten weeks old and was my life dream, I was at wits end and wanted to get off this drug as I wasn't seeing life clearly, my relationship started to break down so I've come to stay with my mum and get off pristiq for ever!!
I have spoken to my girlfriend who is a community nurse about kicking this drug for good, she explained to me that as I am going through menopause and have thyroid disease that my body is not completely absorbing all the drug so there for I'm not benefiting from it at all, she suggested to cut back by taking pristiq one day and then Effexor the next then to taper by each second day and so on,

As I am at my mums I've decided to just begin the journey and taper from 100 to 50 to 25 mg and now nothing and it's been three weeks since I begun,
My feelings and side effects are horrifying, headaches, dizziness, out of body feeling, aching legs ( bad concidering I'm also in plaster for 12 wks) very sick stomach, aching neck and shoulders and the list goes on, the dreams are bad and I find myself scared to go to sleep because of the severity of them, today is day two of being off the pill altogether and the side effects are worsening....

Does it depend on how long an individual has been on the medication as to how long it takes to be free of the side effects?
Or is it the amount of med that each of us have been on??

Is there an answer as to how long it takes to feel normal? I have not been sad or crying until today and I'm a mess....I just want tit to stop...
Thanks jen

Jump to this post

I was on Effexor for 3-4 months, I was admitted to the hospital with shocks through my body and they thought I had a mini stroke my BP was over the roof....Test proved that everything ok besides my BP which I am on medicine for. Now, my recent visit to the Dr. revealed crystal in my urine, still elevated BP and liver issues. So...have to have US on abdomen..We will see how this goes. This drug company is looking for class action law suite!

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.