... noticed a steady "decline" in my overall health - not to mention a 30lb. weight gain. Have been actively trying to get healthy - and know that it is time for me to come off of this what I believe to be - toxic drug. Please let me know if anyone has had success with this - the discontinuation symptoms (after just missing one dose - or trying to go from 100-50mg) are just about intolerable. I am single mom with three boys - currently unemployed as I resigned from my last job (or 4 years) with CIGNA. Had reached a point in my health where I could no longer "keep up" with my job responsibilities and decided to take the time to take care of my health. any advice, suggestions or support you can offer would be much appreciated. Thank you!
Need help with getting off Pristiq 100mg! Have been on pristiq for close to 2 years and have?
Question posted by kdecker003 on 5 Feb 2013
Last updated on 22 January 2019
6 Answers
Tburris
4 Sep 2016
I have been on Preston for 6 years now I was put on it after my mom died because I could not stop crying everyday . I am going to try to get off of it now 50 mg daily is what I take. I have noticed a lot of weight gain, hot flashes, but my worst one is dry eyes I have trouble crying now I am on meds for severe dry eyes I am getting off of Pristiq bc I think this has caused my eyes to worsen dr's have not told me this its my feeling and because of this I have severe pain in my eyes and I'm considering eye plugs if getting off this drug doesn't help me. My health is worse bc of my weight gain also. I pray that I can endure the side effects bc I really want to get off of this. Has anyone else had problems with dry eyes on this drug or sharp eye pain in the corner of your eyes?
Tburris
4 Sep 2016
Prestiq I hate auto correct!
beauj
12 Oct 2014
I'm in the same boat mate. Been on 100 mg for three yrs, doc put it up to 150 mg , after three weeks started getting really bad shacking and twitching, so u stopped the added 50 mg, still shacky, doc recons its not the Pristiq, but it has to be. I told him I want to get off them
4rosie
26 May 2013
can not believe what i just read, so close to home. i was on Pristiq for
almost 3 yrs. developed tardive diskinesia from this wonderful medicine
it was horrific. normally td is not a side effect of antidepressants, but never say never. had to come off 50 mg. don't give up hope, i did it. i listened to
my dr. and very slowly came off it all together. i feel i was a lot more fortunate than others with this med, but others that i have had to come off of
were nightmares.. waiting to have psch testing soon i hope to finally determine what is wrong with me. luckily the td
has slipped away although it's side effects of involuntary mouth movements
do come back i have heard that some people aren't as fortunate and it never
goes away. after half my life on countless meds, i now feel that the testing
may give me an answer as to what to treat. depression, anxiety, attention
defecit disorder, memory loss, which i have suffered most of my life. i like to think i am a young 64 year old and hope its not too late to feel that i have
been defeated. i have a lot of faith and hope. i sincerely hope that things will
work out for you. don't ever stop BELIEVING. best wishes.
notdepressed
25 May 2013
i've been on 300mg daily of pristiq for over 5 years because i was diagnosed mdd. went to another dr. who actually LISTENED to me for a change instead of just throwing pills at me! she ran a bunch of tests mri's & blood & more... come to find out i'm not depressed(duh) but narcoleptic! the whole depressed diagnosis was based on the fact that i was sleeping over 18 hours a day... nothing more. i was also diagnosed bi-polar because i'm "manic"... single mother of 3 daughters... i was busy! anyway, since being on pristiq i've gained 150#, can't remember 1/2 of anything, no interest in the opposite sex (or any sex for that matter), eyesight is shot, well, to put it short, my life was worse off because of it. I've tried for over a year to get off the stuff but just couldn't stand the withdrawals so went back to it. not this time! i started (with my docs.
instruction & supervision of course) to get off of pristiq once & for all. it's not easy, as a matter of fact it's horrid, but today is the first day without it & i've had a horrible time today, last night, & probably tonight & tomorrow as well... but i refuse to take a drug that causes me this kind of grief & one that i shouldn't be on in the first place! make sure you've the right diagnosis in the first place... it's too easy for some doctors to just lump you in with the crowd based on just one thing. find a doctor who'll LISTEN to you & ASK you specific questions... then you must answer then honestly... completely to your knowledge. if you've always been busy & enjoy being active... then that's your "normal" not what they refer to as "manic"... understand? the key words here are "YOUR NORMAL" not everybody else's. don't just jump off any medication without your doctor's help or approval... that's not safe or smart.
Inactive
6 Feb 2013
I have a tough time coming off meds a whole dose at a time - I've had to break tablets into quarters, or take a couple little pellets out of capsules and drop a lot slower than my doctors prescribe. For me, I do what works - I decrease the dose as little as possible and decrease more when my body tells me it's ok. But you can't do this with Pristiq as it is is time-released. But you could ask your doctor to prescribe the regular Venlafaxine - this isn't time-released and I believe you can divide the dose. I've never met a doctor who advocated my methods - they always say to drop a whole dose. I've probably been on 50 medications in the past 29 years, and experience problems getting off of every one as rapid as doctors say to do. We must always keep in mind that these are very strong, mind-altering chemicals, and it takes time for our brains and bodies to adjust.
If you do have to drop the whole 50 mgs at a time, treat your body gently - give it time and help to restore it to balance again. Don't drop the next dose until your body tells you it's ok to do so. Hope this helps - ElizaJane
kdecker003
6 Feb 2013
Hi ElizaJane,
Yes - thank you so much for your reply. I am trying to find a local holistic MD who can support me in my efforts in coming off this medication. I have heard that it is possible to get the Pristiq reduced in 10 percent increments if done through a compound pharmacy. I am between jobs (and don't currently have insurance) - so I would need to pay "out of pocket" regardless.
My hope is that I can work to get my body "balanced" through proper nutrition, exercise and any needed supplements... and that I will be able to get off - and stay off any type of psychotropic drugs. I am hoping this is possible - and have will start keeping a daily journal to track my moods/energy/sleep and diet.
Have you been able to come off - and stay off? Just wondering why you have had to take so many medications - and if you were trying to come off - or just switch to something different?
Thanks again!!
Take care,
Karen
Inactive
6 Feb 2013
Hi Karen - I have a really complicated psych history! They thought I was several things for about 11 years before finding I had a severe form of PTSD. Plus antidepressants never worked for me, but you have to try a whole lot before you realize that. I've also had lots of medical issues the past 16 years. The PTSD is gone now, thanks to therapy and two depressions in recent years were gone due to TMS - Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. It's MRI technology - magnets and electricity aimed at the part of the brain that needs stimulation. Cool, but very expensive. You might contact a large hospital to see if you qualify for a clinical trial. I blame all the psych meds for all those years on a lot of my current problems. I am someone who is incredibly sensitive to chemicals - I wish I had gotten off all the meds a long time ago! I've learned to do changes very, very slowly - or I go in a tailspin! Best wishes to you - listen to your body. You can do this! EJ
Inactive
6 Feb 2013
Oh - I forgot: I get several medications compounded, and they make them without unnecessary fillers and dyes. You need a prescription, and be very insistent on them using clear gel caps (no dyes - you know what the med is, you don't need a multicolored capsule to recognize it!). Just because they compound it doesn't mean they make it as chemical-free as possible - you have to insist on it. Something's they can't leave out, but a lot they can. Take care! EJ
kaismama
5 Feb 2013
If you stop it, what is going to keep you from relapsing into depression? Your dr should get you off of it, then it would go easier. You need to taper off it slowly.
kdecker003
5 Feb 2013
the doctors "solution" was to change the RX (which I tried and experienced the same discontinuation effects ). I honestly feel that this medication has made the "depression" worse. Thankfully I am in a much stronger /better place in my life now (had started on lexapro back in 2005 after my divorce). I have learned the importance of a healthy diet - exercise and taking care of myself. Believe that getting off this medication is something I need to do... Unfortunately have lost faith in the way our current system is set up People are being put on medications as a first response and the side effects can sometimes make things worse. Hoping that someone who has been able to successfully get off of pristiq will have some advise. Thank you!
kdecker003
5 Feb 2013
I wanted to add that despite all of the healthy changes i have made (including counseling , life coach - and most importantly a strong faith) - physically I am feeling the worst that I ever have. I can see pretty clearly (looking back) that my health/ physical and mental - started to change shortly after I started on pristiq. While on the lexapro, I was able to live my life normally and manage my day to day work and life responsibilities. This has changed for me and now it feels sometimes hard to get through my day. Have had other tests done and nothing was really found (other than my cortisol being slightly low). Just wondering if anyone else has had any adverse reactions while being on pristiq ? I am sure my weight gain (and puffiness) has not helped ...
Stacy63
23 Jan 2019
Increased mine too 100 mg. felt ok for awhile but lately not so! I was told I’m just not myself cranky, tirered and if I miss a dose I’m really sick the next day. I’m on Thyroid meds so have to take it later sometimes forget. Think I need to get off of it!
Related topics
pristiq, weight loss (obesity/overweight), weight
Further information
- Pristiq uses and safety info
- Pristiq prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Pristiq (detailed)
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