Answers (3)
robo16 Jun 2009
You should never stop taking Pristiq abruptly. If you need to stop taking Pristiq, you should do so under the supervision of your doctor and the dose should be reduced gradually (or by taking less frequently if the dose is one pill a day) to minimize withdrawal symptoms.
The withdrawal symptoms of Pristiq include dizziness, nausea, headache, irritability, insomnia, diarrhea, anxiety, fatigue, abnormal dreams, and sweating. The longer you have been taking Pristiq, the more likely you will be to have any of these symptoms. If any of these symptoms occur and are unbearable, your doctor will increase the dose of Pristiq, then gradually start reducing again. Good luck.
sholloway314 Jan 2012
I quit pristiq over about a month to six weeks, after taking it for 3 months. I cut tablets in half, then quarters, taking half for a month, then quarter for two weeks, then quarter every second day for another two weeks. Was fine this way.
After 10 months, I am now looking at beginning pristiq again.
Naz52
19 days ago
I currently take 100mg pristiq and have been for almost 3 years now, I want to stop taking pristiq, My doctor proscribed it for anxiety, Going to the Dr. office is expensive. I went one day with out the pill and I was ok, that was yesterday, today I've had the with drawls and i just took a pill. I will try cutting the pill also, I use to have a 50mg pill in the beginning maybe i should start with cutting in half and so on. Still researching.
babyr042314 Jan 2012
I agree strongly with robo. Never just stop taking Pristiq, or you will have horrible withdrawls from it. You have to taper down from it, like shalloway3 was saying. I did that once, and it was no walk in the park. I ended up missing it and getting back on Pristiq. I'm still taking it. Good luck to you, and take care. Ruth
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Since I am on the lowest dose of 50mg od how do I take less frequently?
I've wondered it myself. I'm also on the lowest dose. I figure I'll have to space out the pills? I have a meeting with my doctor this week to discuss weaning me off the meds.
Hi, I have been taking pristiq for almost a year now and I tried to come off my dose (the smallest possible - 50 mg once a day) and had really bad bouts of anxiety, crying, apathy. THe method I used was to stop taking third pill in each 3 day period. So, Monday - take it, Tuesday - take it, Wednesday - skip it. This didn't work. The doctor told me to cut the tablet - which the leaflet says not to do.
I'd love some advice. Thanks :)
My doctor just told me to do the same thing today. Cut it in half. While it is supposed to be an extended release pill, it seems to work for his patients.
My doc prescribed Prohexal to be taken while withdrawing from Cymbalta which is in the same class as Pristiq. It was a tapering procedure over a few weeks and I still had some dizziness but it really helped. I tried cold turkey previously and it was quite awful. Ask your doc about this method. All the best.