Weaning off of Pristiq

Felt like an electric shock to my brain for lack of a better description.

There was a typo in my original post or auto spell 🙂 LOL!
I was typing from my cell phone and it was supposed to read: "brain zap type experience"

So I've been taking the reduced dose of 75mg out of 100mg of Pristiq for 8 days now. Within the first 24 hours I had a 'brain zap'. Now have a mixture of feeling really tired, not getting enough sleep while feeling agitated. My mind is constantly looking for something to do yet I don't have any energy. What is considered an acceptable window of time for these withdrawal effects?

Hi, @geez -- so sorry you have having brain zaps and are feeling really tired, yet not getting enough sleep while feeling agitated as you've reduced your dosage to 75 mg of desvenlafaxine (Pristiq). Sounds frustrating.

I believe you are asking what is a commonly expected time period to be experiencing these symptoms?

You may wish to check with your doctor on that question, as they may have some data for you and may also want to be putting in your records what you are experiencing. Is that a possibility to call or message your doctor on a secure patient portal about this?

I have been on pristiq for 3 years now and want to come off. Do you have any other tips for coming off? It sounds like you had a pretty easy transition, though that doesn’t always sound like the case! I sure could use some advice and encouragement!

So I was on amitriptyline 50 mg for 14 years for pain. I tried to get off but couldn't hack it. I was taking care of my new granddaughter and it was too much. So my doc switched me to Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) 25 mg for one month than 50mg for one month, so I have been off the amitriptyline for 2 months now. Doc claims I am over withdrawal from that drug. But I felt worse than ever, severe headache, on the pristiq etc. (horrible drug) so after 2 months I'm trying to clear the pristiq and rid my body of antidepressants. Have gone down to 25mg now for one week. Not feeling great, but better than on the 50. Wondering what your take is on getting off this drug. No brain zaps yet.

Hi, I'm posting as I read this thread a week ago and I wanted to offer some advice. I have been on Prestiq for nearly 10 years, alternating between 100mg and 50mg. Life's been going well for me the past 6 years and I decided that it was time to get off the drug. Doctor advised to skip every second day to ween off it but we all know how that goes. I bought a pill cutter and I've been gradually reducing the size of my pills for approx 8 months. I first started cutting the 50mg in half and then did that for a few months then went to 1/4 for a couple months and then I broke the quarters down with my fingers to try make it 1/2 a quarter. No exact science to it and it worked well. It's now been 1 week since I haven't taken a pill at all. The brain zaps were strong the first 5 or so days but now on day 7 it's a lot better. I'm still feeling them here and there but it's reduced a lot. I know the coating is supposed to be a slow release and all but this was the only way I could do it without being bed ridden for 2 weeks. I just wanted to offer my experience to anyone reading this as I would have loved the same advice myself. Good luck and take your time getting off Prestiq! Slow and steady and you'll get there.

I did a similiar taper. I have been off it completly for about 4-5 weeks. I find that i am easily irritable. Is it me or still coming off the pristiq?

I have found that first alternating 50mg one day and then time-released 25mg the next produced minimal withdrawals. Now I am switching to 25mg/day and am noticing more. Looking forward to being off altogether and appreciate reading this forum.

Hi. I am on week 525 mg of Pristiq and feeling absolutely awful. I spoke to my psychiatrist this morning and she said I can stop taking it. She said I can either take 25 mg every other day for a week or if I feel OK just stop it completely. Has anybody had success coming off with minimal side effects?