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Side effects of Pristiq
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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Hey @taperchase - thanks for the quick response! Let us know if/how the psilocybin works for your problems.
Despite lack of official diagnosis* to the contrary - I can't claim to be neurotypical, so I guess my experience may not be something easy to generalize.
On the flip side, most of these SSRIs and SNRIs are actually not that well understood from a human biochemistry perspective. Calling something an "antidepressant" is usually (IMO) not accurate. These drugs definitely affect biochemistry/mood/depression/anxiety - but from what I've read, it's not a simple, universal effect.
I'm coming at this from the perspective of someone trained and employed as a scientist for a long time - but not in medicine. I can read the studies and probably get a good idea of the results, but without the broader medical education, my understanding of the implications is going to be quite limited.
Back to your point of of "an antidepressant that has depressive side effects" - I wasn't initially being treated for depression - I had severe anxiety (Acute symptom was chest pains which turned out to be a panic attack sent me to the ER one night). For me, the SSRIs and SNRIs I have tried have generally had a mild positive effect on the anxiety, but an increased dose throws me toward depression. At this point I can pretty readily tell the difference between "I'm so anxious I am tied up in knots and can't do much of anything" and the lethargic inability to do things that I associate with depression.
*In the 1970s when I was a kid, if you could manage to cope reasonably well - you didn't get a diagnosis. There's still a significant resistance to diagnosing adults with various forms of non-neurotypical status (ADHD, Autism Spectrum, etc.)
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3 ReactionsNewbie posting here - i used this thread and read the comments EXTENSIVELY before weaning off my desvenlafaxine. Background - i've been on the lowest dose 25mg pill for about 2 years. I followed the regimen of every other day for 2 weeks. During this time, I had little to no side effects. Then I did 2 weeks of every third day. Towards the end of the second day and during the third I'd start getting vertigo which was my main complaint but nothing unmanagable. As I went through the two full weeks every 3rd day, this decreased each round. By the time I took my last dose, the vertigo came as expected but only lasted a day or two. I was definitely more anxious and depressed for several days afterwards but my god, this was nothing compared to the things i've read on here. I wanted to comment some HOPE that it IS POSSIBLE to wean fairly easily. I'm now 10 days since my last dose and feel like myself again! My drive to do and plan things is back again! I'm in the creative field and havent done any creating for fun in a few years and that's also came back since getting off these meds. I have the energy and desire to make plans with friends, plan trips, not feel overwhelmed by everything anymore - it's been great! My libido also came back and honestly, I didnt realize how NUMB I had become on things until I was finally able to cry again and process things I've needed to process. Best choice I ever made. Just wanted to say YOU CAN DO IT!
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4 ReactionsI realize maybe I should've mentioned some vitamins and supplements I was taking at the same time that worked for ME (but everyone is different). I started taking fish oil (omega3) 2x's a day at 500mg a few months before I started this wean and have remained doing so, I already take ashwagandha (an adaptogen) and magnesium glycinate at night for sleep and the calming effect so I added taking ashwagandha in the morning to take the edge of the anxiety while I transitioned, I used dramamine for the bad vertigo days, and I eat a healthy diet with alot of protein. All of these things I've read about in books on mood disorders and the like. The other big thing that I started maybe 5 days after my last dose is a LOWWWW level amount of L-tyrosine and 5htp. Both of these have been studied for their effects on depression and anxiety as they are the amino acid precursors that help make epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine as well as serotonin. Do your own reading on this, it's jusst what worked for me. As we speak, I'm reading the Mood Cure by Julia Ross and it actually has suggested protocols for a few of the things I listed above. I hope some of these things might be tools in your toolbox while weaning.
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3 Reactionsi mentioned in another thread i was on Pristiq for 3 weeks and started itching bad... they said to stop taking it as i was allergic to it.
3 days later and my itching is going away and now withdrawals are kicking in bad..
My ears are popping and having dizzy spells and and brain Zaps.
That is from only 3 weeks of 50 mg a day.
Pristiq is no joke when stopping it.
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2 ReactionsHope u get this message since u posted 2012. But your symptons are how i feel. Absolutely awlful. Even tappering with 12.5 is not any easier. How long before you felt normal?
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2 ReactionsHello @kmunroe,
It would be interesting to read a follow up report of your experience, as well as others similar with some timelines. I am in a very similar situation, titrating towards end stages of quitting with determination. It's much more difficult than I anticipated. I've been on it for 12 years; life-family situations have changed where I am ready to undertake this. I am wondering about longer term withdrawal experiences from anyone! How long does complete withdrawal take?
Thanks
When I increased from 50 to 75mgs I got a really bad case of hives which stopped when I went back to 50. Now I seem to get them detoxing/withdrawing from 50.
Thank you very much for posting exact protocol you followed!!! Working on the 12.5 every other day but that has been very problematic. Maybe I've been trying to do it too fast. Will try re-structuring this.
Cheers
It's now been 2.5 months and I'm still doing great! My hormonal mood swings at certain times of my cycle have came back, but those for ME are shortlived and worth it for all the other positives I mentioned above. ALSO MY NIGHT SWEATS - ya'll, I had them SO BAD for the 2 years I was on the med, tried everything to help it as I wasn't sure it was directly related to the desvenlafaxine but guess what, NO NIGHT SWEATS ever since.
After trying numerous antidepressants which did quell overwhelming anxiety and depression but also made me too numb (just sat in front of TV with food) I went to 50mg of Pristiq with Xanax back up. That has worked better than anything. After 12 years and many life/family changes I am determined to be drug free again, for reasons outlined elsewhere. These posts have been very helpful and I am working diligently and slowly towards psilocybin therapy as well with experienced professional. Need to have Pristiq out of system for psilocybin to work as intended.