My Dr. gradually tapered my dose, but the side effects are horrible. I am having dizziness, mind zaps, chills, emotional craziness & just real tired of feeling like this. I took my last dose 5 days ago. How much longer will this last?
How long do withdrawals from Prestiq last?
Question posted by angbob on 15 Jan 2012
Last updated on 22 February 2021
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
42 Answers Page 2
Inactive
1 Dec 2016
I am a couple of days into discontinuation of Pristiq. I have been on a number of antidepressants continually for about 15 years.
In regard to splitting pills & tapering, I highly recommend it (with my GP's supervision).
It does specify that antidepressants should not be cut or split. However, modification of my antidepressant dose was the most sensible, & workable option for me.
I used a set of digital scales accurate to 1mg ($30 AU). I split, weighed, & filed down the 50mg pills with a nail file, stepping down 10℅ each week (or so). I discontinued at 10mg. The pill fragment being so small that it couldn't be reduced anymore (& the dose hardly lasting 24hours).
I always use a weekly pill divider, arranging my meds at the start of each week. I don't want to be modifying a dose every day.
>I am feeling uncomfortable, a bit dizzy, & tired today. However, I have not encountered anything like some of the withdrawal symptoms described in this forum thread.
The idea of stepping off 50mg or 25mg is absolutely insane in my opinion.
I encourage anyone wanting to discontinue any antidepressant to at least discuss this option with their health care professional. I have a great GP, one with an open mind.
At the end of the day, anyone with any decent experience with antidepressants, in my opinion, knows how these drugs interact with their body far better than a doctor does.
Also, good diet, magnesium, & regular exercise also play a positive part in this process. I also take 2mg of valium morning, & night to ease the discomfort.
Good luck ...
mirjg
21 Nov 2016
I am on day 3 of no pristiq and holy @#%$ !!!
The first 48 hours were the worst for me so far, I was so dizzy and nauseous, i was vomiting and couldn't eat. was horrible.
I have also started hearing noises in my head like ch-ch sounds and extreme tiredness.
I am still working and trying very hard to not let this affect my life and work but it is becoming extremely hard!
I today have taken "travacalm" which is basically just ginger and chewing gum... this has helped me a bit with the nausea.
I would like to know from all the previous comments how long symptoms actually lasted and when there might be a bit of relief.
So sick of the dizziness...
Meegsie
23 Nov 2016
I'm on day 4 of no pristq in my system and so far I'm going much better this time trying to come off, I thinking getting it compounded in 5mg dose and slowly reducing has made it so much easier.
I went down from 50mg to 35mg (7x5mg compounded tablets, it is much cheaper to get the tablets compound in one strength and just take as many as you need to reduce slowly).
I have still felt a little bit of nausea and light sensitivity but I can still function like a human being.
Fingers crossed it continues, I'll keep you updated.
mirjg
23 Nov 2016
I'm day 5 now (last tablet was Friday morning just gone) and feeling so much better today.
I'm not as dizzy and barely any nausea now. Apart from being extremely tired and crashing out before 7pm everything is finally looking up :)
I saw your post above and wanted to know how you were doing coming off them. Definitely keep me posted on how you are going.
I didn't think to get the tablets compounded.. such a great idea to taper down off them!
I was on 50mg for a year then upped to 100mg for about 6 months after that and started tapering down by cutting the tablets in quarters so 25mg was the last dosage I had and have stopped taking them now.
(I have not told my doc of this either haha, decided that I didn't need them anymore and im in a better place than I was, these forums have helped me get the info I needed to come off them)
Glad you figured out a better way to come off them.. Wish i had thought of it.. much better!
I have seen some people say take it every 2nd and then third and so forth but I was too scared as I thought it would be taking a step backwards.
A positive mindset to kick the drugs is helping as well i think.
Meegsie
6 Nov 2016
I have been on Pristq for about 8 months and at my highest dose I was taking 100mg.
After chatting to my doctor we felt that I was in a good place and could try and come off, over two weeks I dropped to 50mg and then two weeks later I stopped.
The first two days I was not too bad but on the third day everything started to fall apart, nausea, light sensitivity, brain zapps.
The side effects were so bad I decided to take a 50mg tablet, after my Mother driving me to the doctor because I was so sick we decided to give compounding Pristq into 5mg tablets so I decrease really slowly.
So far I am down to taking 25mg and the side effects aren't too bad, I'm a bit tired and grumpy but that's about it.
Fingers crossed I can get off it this time!
Prestiq stinks
24 Sep 2016
We'll apparently there is no answer to how long the side effects are for Pristiq.
I have been off this drug for 30 days. Mostly tired at night... After 4 pm I get a few brain zaps but they are mild. The hot flashes are better. And I have slept thru the night 2 X!
I don't know what idiot physician would not suggest diet and walk every day minimum 20 minutes while getting off this med.
YES I cut this stupid pill.
I tried doing the every other day business but could not stand the brain shake/zap problem. I cut it to quarters then I also had to cut it down to 1/8 . Finally after 3 weeks of that I stopped. I did find out you can have any medicine made to a liquid... Could have used that info sooner! So as for me I will keep being patient. I will never take a drug like this again.
Good luck and God Bless
argelac
1 Sep 2016
My experience: after being on Pristiq for about a year and a half and disliking the side effects I decided to taper off. I was only on 50mg, so I got a prescription for 25mg and took 37.5mg for a week. Then I went down to 25mg and stayed there for a month or so (at that point I wasn't in a hurry to keep tapering). When I went down to 25mg I felt crappy for about 3 days - headache, dizzy, etc. - but still functional. Then eventually I went down to 18.75mg for about a week, then 12.5mg for a couple of weeks, and then 6.25mg for a day. Then I stopped. It's been 4 days since I took any and I'm about 80-90% as dizzy as the first day off. I have slight headache and achiness but that's about it. I think my symptoms are relatively mild due to my tapering. The last couple of days though it hasn't felt like I've made any progress. I'm hoping I'll be better in a week or two...
LouLou2016
17 Sep 2016
My daughter is coming of Pristiq. She was on it from April 2016-now. Before that she was on Effexor from Dec 2015 until April 2016. She was on Prozac from July 2014 until Dec 2015. She is 14 years old and was originally put on antidepressants for anxiety and depression... we then found out one year later that she has Reactive Hypoglycemia, Pyroluria and the MTFHR gene mutation (heterozygous).. I understand now why doctors were afraid to take her off the medication. She has the worst 2.5 months of her life coming off this medication. She has been tapering... but has suffered severe palpitations, worsened anxiety, tiredness, headaches, night mares, OCD, paranoia, wants to be dead... and has been unable to go to school or do much at all. She is now down to 3mg... I dropped her 3 days ago after 2 weeks on 5mg... again every time I drop the dose no matter how much I drop it she reacts more. After reading your comment I think I will just stop the dose tomorrow...
The tapering is meant to be the best way, but it just seems to be prolonging the withdrawals. She is seeing a naturopath to help with the transition to natural remedies, and will move onto Trytophan and Gamma. I've just realised your post os from 2012... I hope you are doing well now.
The main issue with tapering is once you get the 50mg tablet compounded you remove the slow release casing and then although the dose is reduced the body gets the chemical in one hit... Pfizer have a lot to answer for, they should be making smaller doses with the coating to assist people wanting to get drug free, rather than making it hard for people to get off the drug and they pocket 2 billion per annum (or some incredible figure - from Pristiq!).
Pelagicide
30 June 2016
I don't know, but I am going to find out soon. After suffering depression on and off from 1991, I tried every antidepressant out there - the most effective has been Pristiq, but it comes with it's own bag of problems - weight gain, and for me, insomnia. My Dr is going to taper me off and I am going to try TMS - magnetic energy directed at the part of the brain that causes depression. From all I've read, it's much more effective than drugs, with very few side effects, the most serious seems to be irritation of the skin where they apply it. But my doc is the head of the psych dept. at one of the best hospitals in D.C., and says it's a miracle treatment, I asked what percentage of people got relief, he laughed and said 200% . I am NOT looking forward to the Pristiq withdrawal. I took the precursor of this drug, Venlafaxine, and it had wicked withdrawals, anxiety, insomnia, irritability, etc.
Wondering whether or not the "purified" version of it (Pristiq) is going to be worse. I take Clonazepam for anxiety already, hopefully it will help with getting off Pristiq.
chrislipari
1 Sep 2016
I was on Pristiq at 100mg for almost 6 years. Working with a new pysch. over the past year, my diagnosis was changed from depression to Cyclothamia - the lowest level of bi-polar disorder (there are 4 levels and I recommend doing some research if you are unsure about your diagnosis and/or treatment).
My current psych. put me on Lamictal which I have found to be much subtler and so far, no side effects. Once I titrated up on Lamicatal to 150mg, I started to titrate down on Pristiq, switching to Effexor (basically the same thing as Pristiq) because it comes in 37.5mg caps and Pristiq doesn't. I started by dropping down 37.5mg every two weeks (started at 200mg) and yesterday was my first full day without it. It took 10 weeks to go through this process.
While I was titrating down, I would get severe headaches and night sweats. They gradually subsided but would sometimes come back. I thought I was clear of it until today when I started to get the brain zaps people describe - if I move quickly it feels like my brain is left behind. I was just on my way to the gym and thought better of it. I am hoping that all side effects are gone in short order.
Did Pristiq help me? I believe so but when I started working with a new pysch. who showed a lot more interest in my situation, I felt it wasn't the right medication. My new psych. also said that he doesn't like to prescribe Pristiq for all the reasons mentioned in this thread.
I am going to send an email to my original psych. to let him know my experience - not because I feel he isn't good - but that he should know the long term effects. I will also let him know that the psych. he referred me to in his office who took my insurance, since he no longer did, was completely disinterested in me or my well-being and merely wrote refill scrips after I spent about 10 minutes with him.
My best advice - work with a specialist who you trust and feel totally comfortable with. Research your doctors and do not be afraid to "fire" them - remember - they work for you - not the other way around. Lastly, I firmly believe that no psychotropic or mood-altering meds should be given by anyone other than a specialist - meaning don't ask your GP or Internist to prescribe them (they shouldn't anyway but some do). You need to be monitored!
Good luck everyone... it will get better!! C.
mina arlington
14 Oct 2016
I live in VA . Would you please tell me who is your physician
thank you so much!
mina arlington
14 Oct 2016
hello i live in Virginia. Do you mind sharing your physician 's name?
Thank you so much !
Bippy01
11 June 2016
I was on Pristiq for a year after I experienced severe post partum depression. I've never had to be on any anti-anxiety or depression medicine before my post partum. Now that it is been just a little over a year I knew I wanted to get off the stuff. I used to run constantly and being on these meds makes me not want to do anything. I want my drive and my body back. So after researching and then tapering to the best of my ability for nearly two months, I finally went off of it the beginning of June. I have been off the pill now for 10 days. The first two were OK but the third day hit me like the worst flu I have ever experienced. I threw up for days, hot flashes where I would be drenched in sweat, then cold (freezing buried under blankets in 91 degree Temps outside). No energy, brain zaps, anxiety so badly I thought my brain and body would explode. In short I was a complete wreck. Finally after the 7th day my symptoms appear to be subsiding.
I am starting to feel better and have more energy as I finally mustered up the strength to clean my house and do laundry on the 10th day off these meds. The only thing that gave me hope in all of this and the strength to push through is that I knew this was NOT me! This was and still is the drug working it's way out of my system and my body readjusting to normal. I feel like I am finally getting through the worst of it and am grateful for my fiance and other loving family members who have been here to help me through this. To those getting off of this drug don't lose hope, you can do this!!
NDeborah
3 Aug 2016
That gives me hope. I am on day 5 and feel like hell
Geminisara22
12 Feb 2016
I was on Pristiq for about 3 months and it made me want to do nothing but sleep most days I wasn't working and made me very crabby and uninterested in doing anything. I started weaning myself off of it about 12 days ago and still feel like crap! I was experiencing the terrible brain zaps, but they are nearly gone. I do have issues with my cognitive functions still and I have flu-like symptoms. The only thing that helps me feel "normal" is alprazolam. It's a life saver!! I was taking Pristiq for anxiety. I am much more sociable now that I am off that crap!!! I am also much more engaged in life and have the desire to do things again. Good luck to all of you contemplating taking this med or those of you considering going off of it!!
mmcctt
29 Dec 2015
Not knowing how slow your taper was, nor where you started from, it is hard to say. What I CAN say is that, if it is five days since your last dose, don't give in now. You are nearly there.
I engineered a veeeeery sloooow taper, but even then had to finally bite the bullet and go through some days of what you describe.
Inggy
29 Dec 2015
Angbob it's been two and a half years since you posted the question. How long did it take? Or did you give up and went back to it?
ditzle
8 Sep 2015
I have taken a 50 mg dose of Pristiq daily for approximately 5 years. I decided, 15 days ago, to discontinue using this drug because of medication fatigue ( my personal opinion ), I no longer work and am able to live a fuller and more healthy lifestyle and I am required to take other drugs for two other physical, medical conditions.I am a 68 year old male of decent health and pretty physically active and fit. The first 8 days I took Pristiq every other day thinking that a more gradual cessation would increase my chances of being successful, although I've read contradictory articles about this method. I understand that the Pristiq takes quite a while to work its way out of one's system. The last 7 days, I have taken no Pristiq.
I suspect each person will react differently, but here is a list of my withdrawal symptoms thus far : Fatigue, happy and laugh more, cry easily for not always an apparent reason, I'm more talkative…..my wife likes this, moments of confusion or forgetfulness, increased appetite, much less intense and able to relax more but having insomnia. My mind races sometimes
when I'm trying to sleep. I have no idea how long this process will last……but I'm determined to see it through. If anything of material value occurs or changes, I'll offer a followup. Best of Luck…..
CherylLaC
4 Dec 2016
God, help me! have been on Pristiq, 50mg and then up ton 100mg. I want off this terrible drug. Been taking 6 years. Because Pfizer DID NOT send my script In time. three days without. Losing my mind. HEAVY nausea. Wishing I could die.
Brain zaps, adgitated, tremors etc...
jesslee23
11 Aug 2015
Seriously these withdrawals are the worst! I've been on pristiq for over a year and it really has been the best in helping me overcome depression. I'm on 100mg and slowly weaning. And it sucks. Mind zaps (if you don't know what the means... you will know exactly what it is when it happens), nausea, fatigue, freezing then burning up, anxiety, dizzy spells, and stomach issues. I'm thankful that this drug worked so well... but man I can't wait for it to be out of my system! Any detox tips or anything to speed that process up... if that's even possible?!
lizzardlik
11 Aug 2015
Dramamine helped a little. Day 5 was the worst. Got better after that! Hang in there!
Deb W
16 Aug 2015
I just got to 5 days and 4 hours without and had to take a tablet because the symptoms of withdrawal were getting worse, not better. I also started to have palpitations but that came on after I took a tablet, not before. This drug is very scary. I gave it up once before by tapering off with none of these symptoms. But then my life went pear shaped and the depression returned with a vengeance. Tapering has not worked for me this time. It has now been 3 hours since I took a tablet and I still feel dizzy, I still have a huge grandfather of a headache, I'm still ravenously hungry (even though I've eaten plenty) and I'm still feeling like I'm not capable of even the most basic of tasks. This truly sucks!
Any ideas, anyone?
jesslee23
20 Aug 2015
Ok so it's been 8 days now and I'm finally feeling semi decent!!
I was soooo hungry too! But only for certain foods. Everyone kept asking if I was pregnant because of my cravings and nausea. Stick to it is all I can say and plan on not doing anything at all for a week. It honestly feels like the having a terrible flu. My poor husband had to drive me everywhere and get me everything. I could barely stand. And the brains zaps were insane!! When people ask what they are, I'm like, oh you'll know them if you have them.
I'm still having just a few symptoms (tiredness, cravings, and a tiny bit of nausea, and my hands and face tingles at times). All I can say is just push through if you know it's what you want to do!
NDeborah
3 Aug 2016
I'm on day 5 withdrawal and feel worse today than yesterday . As at least I was getting brain zaps at the end of the day and not the begginning like today . But it gives me hope reading the posts. So day 5 . Major brain zaps , crying and angry .
Lethargic, head pain. Flu like symptoms .
Confusion, doped-out, no will to do much. Abdominal pain, puffy face . I am taking amino acids and magnesium as have been told it helps instruct the brain on how to rebuild.
Will keep u posted
gdouglasadams
11 Aug 2015
I have been on Pristiq for 1 month after coming off Effexor. I was prescribed 100mg Pristiq and 300mg Wellbutrin. I have been on lexapro, effexor, and Pristiq and none of them work for me the way they should. My doctor told me to begin splitting the pill into 1/4 sizes. I am now taking a 1/4 every other day (if I can make it that long). The withdrawal from Pristiq is like nothing I have ever experienced in my entire life. Dizziness, brain zaps, hand swelling and ringing ears. I can deal with everything except for the dizziness. Now I am on 20mg Adderal in the a.m. and 10mg Adderal in the p.m. and still on the 300mg Wellbutrin and I feel really good. I will NEVER take Pristiq or Effexor again and I will never recommend anyone else try either of them. Pristiq is the most horrific drug that I know of with withdrawal side effects.
Now on the 1/4 every other day I would just love to know how much longer I need to do this and how much longer the brain zaps, ringing ears, and dizziness will last.
urmum
10 Oct 2015
Oh my goodness I was actually on effexor for a short while but was fainting on it! And side effects are usually very similar to withdrawal effects so that terrible. They then put me on pristiq because they are literally identical chemical structures except pristiq has a shorter carbon chain which was specifically designed to minimise the horrible effects of effexor! I'm coming off pristiq now and I can tell you it's the same horrible stuff just slightly less intense! I'm 6 days into withdrawal and still getting tummy pains, diarrhoea, dizziness, poor blood circulation etc. Up side is my appetite and sex drive are back to normal but I'm essentially bed ridden!
Inactive
1 Dec 2016
LOL! ... Your username would have been my second choice!
Love it ...
Chickadee60
17 Jan 2017
I had been on 75 mg of Pristiq for a couple of years and wanted to stop taking it. My doctor told me to take 50 mg for a week then 25 mg for a week then stop. Today is day 7 after taking my last pill. The withdrawal symptoms have been horrible this past week. Chills, sweats, nausea, loss of appetite, nothing tastes good, tinnitus, sleepiness, brain fog, fatigue, overall feeling of weirdness..I wish I had known how bad this would be before I ever started taking the drug. Getting out and exercise helps a lot. I drink lots of fluids, water, and Pedialite seems to help. The symptoms are not as bad as they were and seem to be getting better. Thank goodness! I am hoping that after another week I will begin to feel more back to normal.
Inactive
4 Aug 2015
So guys, to answer this question about splitting pills once and for all... YES you can and should split the pills in order to wean off the medication. My doctor told me in order to do it successfully though, I needed to take a LONG time doing the taper. I was on the 50mg pill daily and she told me to step down to 3/4 (THREE QUARTERS) of that 50mg pill and take that dosage for A MONTH. Then step down to 1/2 (ONE HALF) of a pill and take that dosage for a month. Then step down to 1/4 (ONE QUARTER) of a pill and take that for a month... That's 3 months so far... At that point she said it is important to keep dividing as small as you can. Take that quarter of a pill and split that in half, and take that portion for a month. Take that little portion and divide it in half and take that for a month and so on... She told me that when you get down to these minuscule amounts that I could just bite off a tiny piece.
When I started getting to the smallest sizes... Meaning all the sizes below a quarter of the pill, I would take that dosage for two weeks instead of a month. I just made that call and it worked out for me to do shorter periods of time when I was at that stage. She said that the most important thing is to take a long time and go gradually so your body doesn't notice the decrease as much.
I took this route and I can report that I had no trouble getting off the medication. My only problem is now that I am completely off I am experiencing some anxiety, malaise, a little depression and some other bad things that go along with those symptoms. These are things that I understand will take some time to get over... And that time is different for everyone from what I've heard. Aside from those things I have had none of the other symptoms such as brain zaps, dizziness, etc. that some people are reporting. All I can attribute this to is the very gradual taper that my doc prescribed.
I hope this helps and good luck.
Back to Me
12 Jan 2016
Thanks so much for your comment! I've taken Pristique 50mg for two years and it was instrumental in getting me out of the "dark road to the end." I will always be thankful for that! But the side effects of leg cramps, dizziness, dullness, etc., has become too much.
I was instructed to take it every other day, but I couldn't do it and waited 30 hours between doses and I'm really feeling the withdrawals!! I'm quite fearful that to go every other day will completely undo me.
I was told repeatedly by my GP and the pharmacist, that I can't cut the pill, because it's time released. Of course, they have to go by the guidelines that are recommended by the manufacturer. But the medication is mixed in a base formula that breaks down in the intestines (not the stomach), so I'll try cutting it down to 3/4th and hope it doesn't make matters worse...
To be clear, I really have no training in this area and don't know what I'm talking about, but I'm so desperate to avoid or minimize the withdrawals, that I'm willing to try cutting the pill.
Will update in a few days.
Geminisara22
12 Feb 2016
Ask your doctor if he/she will put you on Xanax (Alprazolam) while you are going through the withdrawals. It won't help the brain zaps but it will help many of the other horrible symptoms! Best of luck to you!!
DaveyV
14 Nov 2017
I started trying to wean of this awful drug 2 weeks ago by taking 50mg every other day with all the associated side effects. I'm so glad that I've come across your post as the theory totally makes sense. I plan to start it tomorrow... Thank you
stalin1
26 June 2018
I was on 2000mg three weeks ago and have cut down to 100mg today. Felt ok early but feel sick and shaky now
Stalin
Sleeplessrach
8 Oct 2019
If your med is extended release you should never cut in half. Ask your dr or pharmacist first.
kataleya
12 July 2015
This a related question: I have none of the side effects listed anywhere for Pristiq and it is a miracle drug for my hard-to-treat-lifelong depression. However, recently I have been getting brain zaps even though I take the medication regularly. I just took a second one to ward off mild zaps ( I already had one this morning) and I have a very faint feeling of little zaps still. Am I developing some kind of immunity to this drug? Please, anyone with knowledge of this or with this experience please share. I hate the idea of taking an extra pill just to get rid of zaps.
Related topics
pristiq, withdrawal, side effect
Further information
- Pristiq uses and safety info
- Pristiq prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Pristiq (detailed)
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