psychfree88: Tapering off pristiq

[psychfree88]

All

This is krish

I started taking pristiq 6 months back

Looking for advice to taper

 

Thanks

[Jemima]

There is a helpful topic on tapering off Pristiq under 'Tapering' on this forum:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/876-tips-for-tapering-off-pristiq-desvenlafaxine/

 

I was on Pristiq for four months before switching to Lexapro. I don't recommend either. Both are really destructive drugs. I've been off of Lexapro for a bit over four months and am still experiencing some withdrawal symptoms. Things have gotten better, though. The bad days aren't nearly as bad as they were back in February, and the good days are almost normal. Please don't give up hope.

 

Welcome to the forum, psychfree88. You'll find lots of helpful information and gentle, friendly support here.

[alexjuice]

Hi psychfree,

 

Welcome to the forum. Does your 6 months on pristiq represent your entire psych med history?

 

As Jemima said, there is a lot of info in the Tapering Forum. Feel free to ask any questions or respond to open threads.

 

Most members here (honestly everyone here) supports conservative tapering techniques, especially as you begin to come off. Your own body tends to tell you a lot about how much it can handle -- it takes time for the brain to adjust to changes like this.

 

Some people can decrease their medication more rapidly and with less withdrawal symptoms than others. But since we don't in advance who can survive a fast reduction, it's always best to gently taper to reduce risk of protracted withdrawal complications.

 

Unlike say, nicotine addiction, cold turkey with antidepressants increases the risk of a long ordeal. Many of us have thought of psychiatric meds like caffeine or cigarettes and thought it'd be best to go fast, tough it out and just get it over with. But, like I say, this is risky. It's what I did, more or less and now I regret it. Thus we recommend being careful.

 

Nice to meet you,

Alex

[psychfree88]

Friends,

 

Firstly thanks for your support.

 

Aalexjice---->Yes,Pristiq is the only med i have taken in the long term.

 

Jemima---->Get well soon,did you taper under supervision of your psychiatrist?

 

I was on klonopin for 3 weeks and was then given Pristiq after klonopin failed to resolve my anxiety/depression symptoms.

 

I was dealing with severe depression,dream world state and it helped me stabilize.

 

The reason i want to taper is due to 50 lb weight gain and i am losing my sharp engineering mind.

 

The main issues that got me to that point are now resolved.

 

Thank you all.

[psychfree88]

Hello experienced folks,

 

To be honest i am the anxious guy who is negative minded and freaks out under stress.

I had few life events which caused me to panic and as a result i had to go on meds to deal with severe depression.

 

I lived 24 yrs of my life without any medication and i was pretty happy for 90 % of the time.

I held a stressful job...and pretty much had a normal life without any failures...

 

I have been on pristiq for 6 months,this has been the only med in my history.

 

I am a very reasonable person and i made 6 visits to my doctor asking for help to either switch meds or taper off from pristiq.

Reason is 53 lb weight gain and slow thinking.

I am also doing psychotherapy since 2 months....but didnt feel any benefit until now.

 

Mentally i have recovered from depression.Still have mild anxiety.

But i have made this decision to get rid off meds to see where i stand.

 

Below is the schedule i am going to follow:

 

week 1:50 mg,25mg,50mg,25mg,50mg,25mg,50mg

week 2:same as week1

week 3:25 mg,25mg,25mg,25mg,25mg,25mg,25 mg

Week 4:same as week3

week 5:25mg,12.5,25mg,12.5,25mg,12.5,25mg,12.5

week 6:same as week 5

week 7:12.5mg,0,12.5mg,0,12.5mg,0,12.5mg,0,12.5mg

week 8:Same as week 7

 

week9:If all goes well,going to hawaii...

[Altostrata]

Hi, krish. Thanks for joining us.

 

Please look at the link Jemima posted. That will give you ideas about how to taper Pristiq.

 

We most emphatically do NOT recommend alternating dosages, as in your plan. This causes the amount of drug in your brain to go up and down and is a great way to trigger withdrawal symptoms. Don't do this!!!!

 

Here is a little-known fact about Pristiq: You can cut up Pristiq tablets to taper.

 

Start with a very tiny reduction -- we recommend 10% -- and see how you tolerate it for a month.

 

It will probably take you longer than 8 weeks to taper off. You may have to take some Pristiq with you on your vacation.

[psychfree88]

This is simply a great forum for support.

 

I will keep you guys updated with my progress.

 

Based on the research,i have decided to add the following:

 

i)Magnesium

ii)Fish oil

 

Altostrata-->hmmm ok i will keep some pristiq with me as a backup...

[psychfree88]

Survivors,

 

How can i reduce by 10%,i can probably cut to 25% of the 50mg square pill.

 

I can create dosages in multiples of 12.5 i.e

 

12.5

25

37.5

50

 

So the drop will always be more than 10%..

 

Any advice?

 

I read on the forum that some people can handle faster taper...and their brain can handle etc.

 

How can i know that i am that taperman who doesnt need 10% drop?

 

If i do the 10% drop per week it will take like 4-5 months...is it all worth it?

 

What to do with this 53lb weight gain ,i am carrying around?

[Altostrata]

See http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/876-tips-for-tapering-off-pristiq-desvenlafaxine/ for information about how to make small doses of Pristiq.

 

It's a lot easier to taper slowly than to put your nervous system back together again after it's injured.

 

If you get no withdrawal symptoms from a 10% decrease, you may wish to make 10% cuts more often than every 4 weeks.

 

Read Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

It will take some time for you to lose that extra weight.

[psychfree88]

Alto thanks for the info

I will read it

I have read abt 5htp on topix

Does that help on off days or the days i reduce dose if i only take on those days

[Altostrata]

See 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan)

 

I wouldn't take it if I were you.

[Jemima]

Jemima---->Get well soon,did you taper under supervision of your psychiatrist?

 

I was hospitalized for a depressive crash two Septembers ago, which I believe was due to having Lipitor take my cholesterol down way too low. The psychiatrist who "treated" me there did not have a private practice and so, after discharge, I chose to see a psychologist instead of finding another shrink and have my GP handle the medication. The latter did, in fact, supervise my withdrawal, but as you will find out from other people's stories, most doctors - especially psychiatrists - don't know squat about antidepressant withdrawal. The symptoms are usually mistaken for a relapse and treated with ever more drugs. (If you're feeling well enough to read, you might want to get a copy of Anatomy of an Epidemic by Robert Whitaker. The author's premise is that psychotropic drugs do more harm than good and frequently lead to long-term "mental illness" and disability. Do not read this at bedtime - it's dang scary.)

 

Tapering off of Pristiq is a very wise decision, IMO, but take it very slow and easy. I wish that I had known to do that.

[psychfree88]

Alto-->Thanks for the warning on 5-htp,i will forget about it.

I have understood the mixing of pristiq powder in water and then measurement by an oral syringe.

I will try to reduce by 10% only every week and see,how it goes.

 

50.00,45.00,40.50,36.45,32.81,29.52,26.57,23.91,21.52,19.37,17.43,15.69,14.12,12.71,11.44,10.29,9.27,8.34,7.50,6.75,6.08,5.47,4.92,4.43,3.99,3.59

3.23,2.91,2.62,2.36,2.12,1.91,1.72,1.55,1.39,1.25,1.13,1.01,0.91,0.82,0.74,0.67,0.60,0.54

 

Even if i go at this rate until 5mg,it will take approx 30 weeks.

cant i go faster than this rate?

like go to 37.5,25 mg but cutting halves in 4 weeks and then follow this 10% rule when i start seeing mild symptoms?

8 months of tapering...what a long process.

 

Jemima-->The problem is i am forced to take this decision,53lb weight gain and mind is no more sharp,

i am doing dumb things at job and its pretty scary.

 

I am only 24 and i cant continue this medication for my life.

[Jemima]

Even if i go at this rate until 5mg,it will take approx 30 weeks.

cant i go faster than this rate?

like go to 37.5,25 mg but cutting halves in 4 weeks and then follow this 10% rule when i start seeing mild symptoms?

8 months of tapering...what a long process.

 

I wish I had drawn it out that long. Withdrawal symptoms are hell, and withdrawing faster is taking a big chance on having very bad symptoms and not being able to work at all. I'm retired, thank God - I would never have been able to go into the office in the shape I was in. (I'm a CPA and worked as a government auditor up until this past September.)

 

The insomnia was horrible. I'm 66 and I was pulling all-nighters, unable to sleep until mid-afternoon of the next day. Light sensitivity, noise sensitivity, and extreme irritability were big problems. It was all I could do to go out and get groceries, and I usually did that in early evening because of the severe light sensitivity.

 

While it's possible that you may be one of the people who can go off the drug with no problems, it isn't worth taking the chance, IMO. If you think you're functioning poorly at work now, it would be far worse if you go into withdrawal. I know it's tough to have patience, but keep in mind that impatience is one of the side effects of this drug. I nearly became manic after six months on 10 mg. of Lexapro. (Please note that Lexapro is much stronger than Pristiq. I went from 50 mg. of Pristiq to 10 mg. of Lexapro and the only difference was that I felt slightly more relaxed.)

 

Jemima-->The problem is i am forced to take this decision,53lb weight gain and mind is no more sharp,

i am doing dumb things at job and its pretty scary.

 

I am only 24 and i cant continue this medication for my life.

 

No one on this forum would encourage you to stay on the drug. We're just saying that the risks involved in a fast taper are not worth it. You'll be far more likely to be able to take that vacation and enjoy it by reducing the drug veeerrry sloowwwly.

[psychfree88]

Jemima--->Based on my research pristiq/effexor/paxil have the worst withdrawal.

 

Infact i thought i would have been lucky if i had to taper lexapro.

 

Pristiqs lowest dose is 50mg and cant get it compounded or in liquid form.

 

Btw 10% drop is per week or two weeks?

[psychfree88]

Alto and Jemima...please review my new taper schedule.

 

I understand now that there are no shortcuts to taper the drug,but i took for 6 months and 10% rate will mean 8 months taper.

 

Is that the safest and shortest route?

[Altostrata]

Do not decrease every week.

 

Initially, make a 10% reduction and hold there for a MONTH. It can take several weeks for withdrawal symptoms to emerge. Do that again the second month.

 

If you have very minor or no symptoms from these 2 reductions, you can try reducing by 10% every 3 weeks. Do that twice. If no problems, reduce by 10% every 2 weeks. Do that twice.

 

If no problems after 4.5 months of very gradual reduction, you may be able to reduce by 10% every week.

 

If significant withdrawal symptoms appear, go slower. Listen to your body.

 

It's best to go slowly to find out how you tolerate a reduction. Once you damage your nervous system with withdrawal symptoms, it can take a very long time to feel good again.

[psychfree88]

Thanks again alto

 

This looks like a year of tapering

But i will follow you guys since you have already been there

But this also means anothe loss of year in my life and ill continue to act dumb on the job front

[psychfree88]

Alto ---i was unable to mix pristiq in water

The powder i made is floating on the top and is not dissolving at all

 

Jemima--how did you do it

[Skyler]

Do not decrease every week.

 

Initially, make a 10% reduction and hold there for a MONTH. It can take several weeks for withdrawal symptoms to emerge. Do that again the second month.

 

If you have very minor or no symptoms from these 2 reductions, you can try reducing by 10% every 3 weeks. Do that twice. If no problems, reduce by 10% every 2 weeks. Do that twice.

 

If no problems after 4.5 months of very gradual reduction, you may be able to reduce by 10% every week.

 

If significant withdrawal symptoms appear, go slower. Listen to your body.

 

It's best to go slowly to find out how you tolerate a reduction. Once you damage your nervous system with withdrawal symptoms, it can take a very long time to feel good again.

 

Muchas Gracias Alto.. I'm going to cut and paste this into my blog!

[Jemima]

Alto and Jemima...please review my new taper schedule.

 

I understand now that there are no shortcuts to taper the drug,but i took for 6 months and 10% rate will mean 8 months taper.

 

Is that the safest and shortest route?

 

Alto is our expert on tapering. All I know is that the slower the taper, the better. (If you want to know how to do it all wrong, I can address that. )

 

I doubt that tapering from Lexapro is very much different than tapering from other antidepressants. Lexapro is very, very strong compared to the same dosage in other antidepressants. 50 mg. of Pristiq made me hyper, but 50 mg. of Lexapro would probably kill someone my size or even someone a lot bigger. The standard dose of Lexapro is 10 mg., which is equivalent to 50 mg. of Pristiq.

[Jemima]

Alto ---i was unable to mix pristiq in water

The powder i made is floating on the top and is not dissolving at all

 

Jemima--how did you do it

 

Badly. I suffered withdrawal symptoms, which are like having a very severe case of the flu with insomnia thrown in, for over four months and I'm not sure I'm out of the woods yet.

 

I was on Lexapro and it would have been easy to dissolve as it's an ordinary tablet similar to an uncoated aspirin and not time-released. Alto will be able to tell you what to do about Pristiq much better than I.

[psychfree88]

Alto-->Do you know how can i dissolve pristiq in juice or water.

 

I was able to crush the tablet to powder.

 

Btw,I called my psychiatrist and he is very experienced like 66 years old.

He told me to reduce the dosage to 25 mg and take it for 6 days every day and stop it?

 

I told him about the withdrawal and he said lets see what happens after 6 days.

[Rhiannon]

"It's a lot easier to taper slowly than to put your nervous system back together again after it's injured."

 

This is very true. Alto knows what she's talking about.

 

I always say, start out slow and conservative until you find out how your body/mind is going to react to the cuts and the holds. Once you have gone through the cut-and-hold cycle three or four times you'll have a sense of the rhythm of withdrawal and recovery for your own particular body, and then you can adjust faster or slower, bigger or smaller cuts, shorter or longer holds, in a way that works for you and will keep you from crashing into the Brick Wall of Withdrawal Fun.

 

For the very first cut, I'd wait a full month, because it can take a while for the full range of withdrawal to play out over time and you need that information, all of it.

 

You will probably find that the cognitive side effects of the drug lessen as you go down on your taper, if you're tapering in a way that keeps you from getting sick. It's been true for me, anyway. All the effects and side effects of the meds have reduced as I have tapered.

[Jemima]

Alto-->Do you know how can i dissolve pristiq in juice or water.

 

I was able to crush the tablet to powder.

 

Btw,I called my psychiatrist and he is very experienced like 66 years old.

He told me to reduce the dosage to 25 mg and take it for 6 days every day and stop it?

 

I told him about the withdrawal and he said lets see what happens after 6 days.

 

I wouldn't listen to that advice. Most doctors don't believe there *is* a withdrawal syndrome. This advice is similar to what I received from my doctor, and believe me, I suffered like I've never suffered before. For *four* months.

 

You may or may not go into withdrawal after following this doctor's advice, but if I were you I wouldn't take the chance. Following the slower tapering schedule posted on this forum is a much safer and easier way to get off the drug. A faster taper leaves you wide open to being non-functional for months, as I was, and that includes not being able to work.

 

Age and experience have nothing to do with wisdom, IMO. Zip. There are plenty of stupid, lazy old people around and some of them are doctors. Some older doctors who are nearing retirement don't keep up with the medical literature and tend not to buy the latest equipment. BEWARE.

[Rhiannon]

"It's a lot easier to taper slowly than to put your nervous system back together again after it's injured."

 

This is very true. Alto knows what she's talking about.

 

I always say, start out slow and conservative until you find out how your body/mind is going to react to the cuts and the holds. Once you have gone through the cut-and-hold cycle three or four times you'll have a sense of the rhythm of withdrawal and recovery for your own particular body, and then you can adjust faster or slower, bigger or smaller cuts, shorter or longer holds, in a way that works for you and will keep you from crashing into the Brick Wall of Withdrawal Fun.

 

For the very first cut, I'd wait a full month, because it can take a while for the full range of withdrawal to play out over time and you need that information, all of it.

 

You will probably find that the cognitive side effects of the drug lessen as you go down on your taper, if you're tapering in a way that keeps you from getting sick. It's been true for me, anyway. All the effects and side effects of the meds have reduced as I have tapered.

 

(yes, I'm quoting myself...)

 

I just read back over the thread. Since you were just on the pristiq for six months and you didn't CT and you have no prior history of psych meds you may find you can go a little faster. I'd still take the first cut or two a little slower to see how it goes, just until you know what to expect. Like, say, oh, 10% and wait at least two weeks, the first time, then adjust from there.

 

People in your situation can often come off a bit faster than those of us whose CNS's are already hypersensitized due to past history of multiple psych meds and CTs or fast tapers.

 

Just pay attention, and if symptoms ramp up, stop and hold till they settle down.

[psychfree88]

Rhi-->Thanks for the valuable information.

I will start with 10% taper and then increase it if my mind and body accept the decrease in dosage.

 

Do you know,how i can dissolve pristiq powder in water or juice..

 

Jemima-->I hope you get well completely soon.I strongly belive you will have very productive months in the future and the 4 months of lost productivity will be history.

I am going to follow the slow taper rule,since i know you are guiding me by your experience.

Its highly likely that the doctor is still practicing the old methods and hasnt updated himself.

Now i know why there are so many reports of withdrawal and suffering and they dont accept this syndrome.

 

Alto-->I am still waiting for your answer on dissolving pristiq to make a liquid solution.

[Jemima]

Rhi-->Thanks for the valuable information.

I will start with 10% taper and then increase it if my mind and body accept the decrease in dosage.

 

Do you know,how i can dissolve pristiq powder in water or juice..

 

Jemima-->I hope you get well completely soon.I strongly belive you will have very productive months in the future and the 4 months of lost productivity will be history.

I am going to follow the slow taper rule,since i know you are guiding me by your experience.

Its highly likely that the doctor is still practicing the old methods and hasnt updated himself.

Now i know why there are so many reports of withdrawal and suffering and they dont accept this syndrome.

 

Alto-->I am still waiting for your answer on dissolving pristiq to make a liquid solution.

 

I'm relieved to see that you're going to go slowly. Withdrawal could be seriously disruptive to your job (aside from feeling miserably sick), and I know you were concerned about that. I retired last September so at least I didn't have that worry, but I would like to get on with volunteer work and some writing.

 

And thank you for the kind words. I've had several good days in a row and I'm hoping this pattern will continue with only normal ups-and-downs.

 

The information about dissolving Pristiq is covered here in the middle to the end of the post, although I'd advise reading all of it, maybe several times:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/876-tips-for-tapering-off-pristiq-desvenlafaxine/

 

It may be helpful to talk to a pharmacist. I've found many of them to be more knowledgable and compassionate than doctors.

[Altostrata]

psychfree, the particles may not dissolve well. What I would do is put the powder into the container, slowly add a measured amount of water, then put a tight cap on the container and shake it.

 

The particles will float around in the liquid. This is called a suspension. Make sure the particles are evenly distributed and then withdraw your dosage from the middle of the liquid.

 

Don't use juice. Use water so you can see how well the particles are mixed in the water.

 

Another way to do this is to have a compounding pharmacy make up a liquid for you -- but they will need a prescription from your doctor.

 

(If you follow your doctor's instructions and then develop withdrawal symptoms, what is he going to do for you then? It's much better for your nervous system not to put it through withdrawal in the first place.)

[moses]

psychfree88, I use compounded Pristiq. It is so easy, the pharmacy makes up the dosages and you don't have to worry about anything. As Alto mentioned, you do need a prescription for it.

Rosie

[psychfree88]

Moses,

 

It is nice that you were able to get compounded pristiq.

 

May i know the name of pharmacy from where you got it.

 

I will ask the same to my doctor.

 

Btw i had started tapering,but have to stop it now.

 

May be pristiq didnt dissolve properly in the liquid,i am getting lot of finger twitching...

I reduced by 20% for the first week and not 10% thinking i was on it for short term and may be able to adjust.

 

finger twitching Doesnt help for my concentration at job....

[psychfree88]

Moses,i made an appointment with my dr,hope he gives me that prescription.

 

What was your taper schedule?

[psychfree88]

Alto,

 

What do you think about tapering pristiq using compound pharmacy vs switching to prozac and then going off prozac.

 

I have appointment with the dr and he pushes me out in 10 mins,so i hope i get the best out of it.

[Altostrata]

I would try compounded Pristiq first.

[moses]

Hi Psychfree88,

I got 10 mg and 5 mg compounded pristiq and started tapering from 100 mg in Feb. I am now on 20mg.

I try to reduce by 5mg every week. Sometimes I will stay at a dose a little longer until I feel strong enough

to go down again.

Best of luck!

Rosie

[psychfree88]

Moses,

 

Is it easy to get compounded pristiq prescription....or i need to complain abt symptoms.

I am ready to spend extra money.

 

I dont know why doctors dont taper this way,it can avoid so much suffering/.