<sarcasm>
Well of course it's not withdrawal. Duh, psych meds do psych things, ergo they only have psych discontinuation syndromes. And we all know that physiology has nothing to do with psychology, right?
</sarcasm>

Dude needs a taste of his own medicine. I wanna know what he thinks after experiencing brain shivers for himself. (I'm assuming brain shivers are a withdrawal symptom of Pristiq since it's a cousin of Effexor... am I wrong?)

SAY WHAT?
Pristiq?
Is it new in order to make money when Effexor go off patent?
I had to endure all of that 19 months withdrawal hell and go back to Effexor because of horrid withdrawal lasting symptoms and now other people will take this Pristiq without being ill?
That's enough!
Stan is trying hard to unite and raise US voice.
i believe you should do something!
Jesus! What else does it take?
Why can't you make an agenda of 3 items that are common sense and start speaking out?
WHY?

I am watching the horrible side effects Pristiq is doing to my husband!Why don't yall take that shit. Before you giving it to someone that used to trust there doctors and you assholes!

So, the brain zaps, shakes, hand tremors, vomiting, and severe abdominal pain which had me curled up in a ball coming off of 40mg of Prozac and Zyprexa and Seroquel were just a 'syndrome' but when I had the same coming off of Xanax it was justifiable agony. Nice job doctor!

There are indeed marked differences between SSRI withdrawal and alcohol and benzodiazapine withdrawal.

An alcoholic who abrutly stops consuming alcohol can descend into delerium tremens within 6 to 48 hours. The DTs include hallucinations and grand mal convulsions. Untreated, the DTs have a 30-35% mortality rate. Treated, the mortality rate is somewhere between 5 and 15%.

Benzodiazapine withdrawal is similar to alcohol withdrawal, and can also lead to the DTs and death. Both alcohol and benzodiazapine withdrawal (oh, and barbiturate withdrawal, too) are far more dangerous than heroin withdrawal.

SSRI withdrawal is vastly unpleasant (I've done it) and can indeed lead to fatalities through suicide (and possibly homicide), but it is not at all the same thing as alcohol/benzodiazapine/barbiturate withdrawal.

This horrrid piece of sh-- Pristiq lives up to ALL OF IT'S LISTED SIDE EFFECT.I READ IT HAD A,1%
urinary retention or hesitenty issue.Well,I sem to have fallen into that group.Redo your trials
What arethe odds I would get that effect? I had dizzyness,tremoes and when I misses 1 (ONE) dose I got brain ZAPs bad and the Dctor told ma I was experiencing "withdrawal".Bad Drug. AAlso,no one seems to know how to get off this crap even the poison control center has nothing on that issue.E-mail meif you need more info.

Pristiq sucks just as bad as effexor! I have been on it for about 2 weeks, quit cold turkey, immediately took a 20mg prozac and feel absolutely HORRIBLE from "discontinuation syndrome" Freakin Withdrawal after 2 weeks! I feel so dizzy, sick, chest discomfort, anxious, oh did i mention ZAPS down my arms etc. I quit pristiq b/c i felt like a freakin retarded zombie that couldnt pay 3 ounces of attention at my new job!!! Thanks Wyeth! Great job. God, i pray this goes away SOON

I spent a month taking 50mg of Pristiq daily, along with 300 mg Wellbutrin. I felt horrible. I became hostile and easily agitated. Of course, I had to do my own research on the side effects...dr. told me nothing. Now I see that it interferes with my other meds...

I have never felt so horrible in my life. My doctor could not give me any information going on -- or off of pristiq. Instead of tapering me, he took me off completely. Needless to say, he is fired. And the brain shivers are unbearable. At least make good information readily available on this damned drug.

Does anyone know how long the withdrawl from pristiq will last? My insides ache and I just want to know when this will end?

Hey to all going through Pristiq or Effexor withdrawals. I'm sitting here at 4am sobbing (so, what's new?!) having finally stopped the Pristiq about 2.5 weeks ago after a weaning off period. Can't say how long this is going to last but for me it's even harder than the Effexor withdrawal was. What am I supposed to do about the out of control anger bullshit? I was never like that before the damned drug? Does anyone have some encouraging news because I'm afraid to even be around people anymore. I'm either sobbing over nothing or so pissed off I could hurt someone. This is a fucked up mess!!! And all because the doctor thought I could use the effexor (then pristiq)to relieve some stress I was dealing with over a loss. What a crock of shit. I'm so mad right now I'd like to make that idiot take Pristiq for a few months and then let him tell me how good the drug is while he's trying to withdraw. Have a little dizziness and brain zaps while you're at work doc?! Yelling at your nurses for no particularly good reason? No problem doc. Get over it. It's not so bad! Aaargh. As far as I'm concerned, these physicians who use us as guinea pigs and/or profit from the drug reps pushing their products ought to held criminally negligent. They don't read these sites. I begged my doc to read some of the withdrawal feedback and he basically told me to stop whining. The only individuals who have any encouragement or support for what I'm going through are you all on these sites. The medical professionals just don't give a damn. I want my life back! and Wyeth Labs and incompetent physicians have taken it away from me.

I would like to add, I was on Cymbalta for a few months and then changed to Pristiq. I was only on it for 2 days when I told my doctor I wanted to get off it. She said I should wean myself like this - start first by skipping every other day, then every other 2 days, then 3, then quit. I have had all the obnoxious symptoms (brain zaps) that you guys are referring to for the last 2 WEEKS and I am getting quite fed up. I don't think I will ever again trust doctors with regard to anti depressants. They are working for the Pharmeceutical companies, not for us.

I try not to engage in flaming rhetoric but any doctor Nancy who gives that type of withdrawal advice should be shot at sunrise. That is malpractice big time as that will put you in withdrawal immediately with a drug like Pristiq that has a short half live. This isn't even good to do on drugs that have longer half lives

What she/he should have done was to advice you to find a compound pharmacist since this drug can't be cut as far as I know. If it can, then my apologies. Anyway, a compound pharmacist can make the unusual doses that you can't find at your local drug store.

Unfortunately, not all insurance companies accept drugs filled at one and thus, it can be expensive. But that fact that psychiatrists have no idea this can be done is a screaming disgrace.

I am so sorry you are suffering and it makes me angry that these doctors are so ignorant about withdrawal.

AA

This is what I was going to send to the class action lawsuit but got an invalid email so:

Oh my gosh! I can't believe this it is like reading a text book on my symptoms. I am losing my life over this. I started taking Effexor 150 MG in 2001, the Dr. put me on it when my husband was in Egypt with the military to help me cope. Now here it is 7 years later and I can't get off, and I want off!! I am now down to 37.5 MG after weaning myself down. I tried to go off of it approx 2 months ago because I was in between having medical insurance, and as you know this prescription is expensive... and I couldn't afford to buy it so I went 5 days and by the 5th day I was in excruciating pain with the electrical shocks. I have never before been dependent on anything in my life. And I can't even be an hour late taking this medication or I start the Brain Fuzz etc.....
Now I have developed a new symptom which I don't know is related but it is similar to when you have high blood pressure where you can hear the blood running in your head and you can hear it and you can feel the pressure. But I have had my pressure checked over and over and it is fine. Another thing I haven't had checked by the Dr. is my liver, but I am going to go have it checked now. I had a gentleman here in OR do something on me called biofeedback and my liver came back in the red. But I didn't follow up with a regular Dr.
I left my job in September not being able to cope with stress, my digestion is terrible, I am tired all the time, I can only do a little bit of house work and I have to rest and then I do a little more, and my weight is at an all time high. This is not me I am totally a type A personality. I was a go getter, a delegator, an organizer, loved to go to work. Now it is totally the opposite, I stay in my house all the time and want to go no where. And as far as work goes I am to tired and I hurt all over.
Another thing I am coping with right now and don't know if it is connected, I am having splinter hemorrhages in my fingernails which the Dr. says is usually a symptom connected to something wrong with my heart, which I have been having chest pains. So I am really glad I found your post and am very interested in becoming involved I especially think the drug co. should be responsible for paying for us to go into a treatment center where we are monitored and under a physicians care, to help us get off of this drug.
So here is my info: Please I hope we can get some help through this, I want my family back my children have suffered so from not having a healthy mom........ And my husband is very patient but I don't know how much more he can take...
I need my life back and one that is void of Effexor....

well...where do i begin. i was on Effexor XR several years ago (prescribed to me by a primary care doc) because i was experiencing anxiety. honestly, i was a competitive gymnast my whole life, graduated college, and suddenly i had anxiety. it was probably the lack of high-level exercise!!! i do not think i had GAD like i was diagnosed with. what the dr. SHOULD have done is send me to a specialist. but that's a whole other topic.
moving on. he put me on 150 mgs. i was tapered up over the course of 2 wks starting at the lowest dose. i was on that drug for 2 years. i don't think i remember those 2 years. i look back at my life during that time, and i was a walking zombie.

then i noticed i starting to show symtoms of depression and ADHD (according to a psychiatrist i finally went to go see). he put me on ADHD med (Concerta), added Klonopin for panic disorder, and decided to take me off Effexor and put me on Zoloft.

Ok this was 5 years ago. i'm still stuck on Klonopin. i went from taking .5 mgs a day to now 2mg BID. if i even TRY to go off that i literally can't breathe and feel like i'm going to die.

moving on...the Effexor was HELL ON EARTH. it took me 2 years to get off of it. he had to take me off the XR (since it was the capsule) and put me on the "regular" Effexor so i could break that into pieces. i couldn't work, i had all the symtoms everyone else explained here...the ZAPS and body aches and flu-like symtoms being the two worst...

i'm a strong-willed person and i simply couldn't function as an normal human trying to go off Effexor. the Zoloft wasn't helping any either.

so by then i was taking 5 medications (the last was birth control) at age 23. really?? i'm now 31. i wonder how much longer my liver can take it.

ON TO PRISTIQ!

so i finally got myself off the Effexor, and stayed on Zoloft. the Zoloft ended up making me more depressed and lethargic as well. i ended up close to suicical about 2 yrs into taking Zoloft. so my new dr. (i got rid of the last one) decides he wants to put me back on effexor xr. why did i listen to him? because he told me (when i tried to explain the withdrawal i didn't want to go through again)...to "shut up...and who is the dr. in the room? me or you? either you listen to me or go to another dr."

well at that point Pristiq had not come out yet. so without many options, living alone and away from family in another state i chose to just "suck it up" and go back on Effexor. a year later i told him it wasn't working anymore. i was staying home, not wanting to be around friends, socialize or work. NOT ME AT ALL. so, what does he do? says to me "i have the wonder-drug of all drugs. it's new". "it's Pristiq, and to save money i will supply you with a months worth of samples". i knew right away when i saw the DES in front of the drug name "venlafaxine" i knew it was stupid Wyeth's way of pushing a new "improved" replica of it's patent-expired Effexor. by then i was already walking out of the office. the transition from Effexor to Pristiq was no problem. i wonder WHY?!?!?! because they are the exact same drug. i will admit he had me up to 150 mgs of Pristiq and i did notice a difference after the first 2 wks. then i was back to where i was before...worse than ever. laid in bed all day. didn't go out. couldn't stop crying and feeling depressed. LUCKILY i only had myself to take care of.

so now i'm in the process of going off Pristiq. my insurance doesn't want to pay for it, and honestly after all these years i think it's best.

so to ANYONE who is trying to go off either one of these meds i suggest this: hot showers and soak in the bath (like you would nurture a flu)...drink tons of water...and i read something recently that said Omega 3 supplements help. i've been taking them and i will admit i notice a big difference from my experiences in the past. i am only on my 2nd day off of Pristiq...i've had the head zaps almost immediately since i went off. today they are worse and more frequent. but at least i don't have the achy feeling, i already have more energy and i know with some will-power i will get off this medicine and tell everyone i know never to take those medicines. if anything Effexor and Pristiq are the WORST of the SSRIs. i've been on zoloft and cymbalta's new version (i forget the name right now) as well. neither one of those were as bad. the only other medicine i can say has worked for depression is Wellbutrin. and now it's generic. that is probably because it's considered an SNRI and not a SSRI. who knows, but the withdrawal and side effects are NOTHING compared to Wyeth's junk!!!

i hope this helps anyone going through this...and take the Omega 3's. good luck.

on to day 3 off of Pristiq. symptoms aren't getting better, but manageable. nightmares all night and woke up in cold sweats. the chills are here and there. the zaps in my brain are worse and down through my arms at times.

on a positive note...they're getting worse, so i know (from past experience) they can only get better. i'm bed-ridden.

so this further confirms what a joke Pristiq is and how much it's like Effexor.

last but not least, i wanted to say i made an error in the last post. i was on Lexapro (not Cymbalta...i was confusing that with Celexa).

Lindsay,

Although I never took Pristiq, I did have horrible withdrawals from Effexor. The brain zaps did eventually stop, but it was hell while I was going through it. I did end up on iv fluids due to severe dehydration from vomiting/diarrhea, so please be careful. I also sank into the deepest, darkest depression I have ever experienced as I was going through withdrawals. Effexor is one nasty drug, and it sounds like Pristiq is just as bad. I'm sorry you are dealing with this.

Hang in there, lindsay. Just want to encourage you. Lots of people here and on other blogs have travelled this path you're on.
Best wishes,
Sherry

I was on a daily dosage of 50 mg Pristiq. I tried to taper and experienced severe agression issues and horrible mood swings. Am now on 25 mg Effexor and planning to taper down from that in a few weeks. I can totally relate to the physical and emotional suffering that everyone has and is experiencing. I never realized to the extent that drug companies use patients as test subjects. Talk about punishing the victim!

I'm so sorry you all are having such a hard time. It all makes sense to me now. I've been on Pristiq since October, my doc put me on it cuz I couldn't sleep.When I went on it I slept real good. I've started weening myself off it 3 weeks ago,becuz of what I was reading, and its now been 4 days since I've completly stopped this drug. I've not had the withdrawals like most of you here. I have had symtoms of small brain zaps which seems to be the worst but are getting better. No depression, still sleeping ok..but I have had some real crazy dreams. Good luck to you all.

I've been on Effexor XR since 2001. Last week, since I don't have insurance, my doc said we'd try the generic regular effexor. I lasted 10 hours.
10 hours and I was in hell. I am not sure what a "brain zap" is, but I know that I couldn't see things--like it took a moment for my mind to catch up.
I headed back to my doc, and he had samples of Pristiq. He said, "let's try this, it's the cousin to Effexor."
Before I go further, let me tell you I have a Masters Degree, am a professor and a teacher, and I also volutneer at the Adult Mental Health Daycare site here in town. I am a single mom and I am content.
However, I lasted 4 days on the Pristiq and was thinking about killing myself. Darrrrk places. My daughter was in daycare (thank God) when it all came crashing down. I had no balance, my pulse was hard and I couldn't sleep on my side because I could hear it pounding, and see it pounding in my fingers. When I finally did sleep, I had the most vivid dreams--and I never rested. Also, my tounge started involuntarily moving and feeling like it was getting shocked--just like it did after my head trauma. And I itched--oh God, I itched all over, especially in the places where joints connect. Needless to say, we went back on the Effexor XR.
All of this happened in a week's time. I was reduced to a shell of myself. I slept. I was powerless. All I knew to do was to keep calling my doctor, my mom and my friends so they weren't worried, and sleep.
BOTH DRUGS ARE HORRIBLE. God help anyone who is on them get off.

I have been on effexor for over 5 years and finally got off in oct. 08 the second time. I have gambling problems, don't care about life, shakes inside and out of my body,can't sleep legs hurt and the list goes on.I'm taking wilburgin150. It seems to help. now, I have been looking back over the years and can't believe what has happen to me. That is when I started reseaching the net on side effects. I could'nt believe what has happen. It's effextor!!!!!!!! I don't know what to do? Get Attorney are just let it go.I'm one not to let things go. I have tried to see if a class action suit is in force, but I can't find out? Help Denise

I have been on effexor for over 5 years and finally got off in oct. 08 the second time. I have gambling problems, don't care about life, shakes inside and out of my body,can't sleep legs hurt and the list goes on.I'm taking wilburgin150. It seems to help. now, I have been looking back over the years and can't believe what has happen to me. That is when I started reseaching the net on side effects. I could'nt believe what has happen. It's effextor!!!!!!!! I don't know what to do? Get Attorney are just let it go.I'm one not to let things go. I have tried to see if a class action suit is in force, but I can't find out? Help Denise

Has anybody had a problem digesting Pristiq? I have been, so I tried an experiment dissolving a tablet in a glass of water. I also dissolved two other tablets (one coated and one not). The non-Pristiq tablets dissolved in a couple of minutes. Not Pristiq. 36 hours later it is still sitting in the glass ... the outside dissolved but the inside -- which is a tough, gummy substance -- is still sitting there. I tried mashing it up with a knife and then my fingers and was amazed at how tough it is. I am otherwise very happy with this medication. It's doing the job and no uncomfortable side effects. I am going to talk to my doc about this issue, but I wanted to see if there are others who have challenges digesting the tablet.

Sad, I had a terrible pdoc "try out" pristiq on me.. even though they'd never prescribed it to any other patients. i quit taking it last week, im suffering horrendous waves of suicidal thoughts, crying spells, tremors/seizures in my sleep and aggression. I'm starting to get my affairs in order, because this just isnt worth it. this is the 3rd med i've been on, and it just makes things worse. the only positive thing i can say about stopping this poison is that i can finally bust a nut again. while on pristiq, my genitals were completely numb all the time. scary, no?

I agree with the people who have posted about Pristiq.

Has any one been put on this medicine for Fibromyalgia ? or chornic figute That is what My DR. THE JACK ASS Put me on it for.
50 mg pristiq , 150 MG wellbutrin & 150 MG of the effextor . Do we think that was a bit much. I was told ween ok effextor every other day that was bad but, the other too were in my system then went off the wellbutrin (she said there was no weening to be done.) and every onther day or as needed w/ pristiq. it has been the worst thing. I Could not get to a day and half
I am having brain shivers ,can not concentrate, fevers , crashed with blood sugar speach & thought are inpared. My arm are numb. ringing and thumping in my head and very tired and servere agression total mood swing crying and thirst.
I am looking for an Attorney Also !! MY DR. IS A JACK ASS !!

I too am having a horrible time with Pristiq, and my drug-whore, tool of a psychiatrist. I only started taking this medication 4 days ago (didnt take today though) and I am a wreck. Sick to my stomach, bloating, dizziness, vertigo, impaired thinking(not the fun kind), blurred vision and discordination. This medication is hell and the drug companies must be giving psychs really good incentives because my doc told me to keep taking it and "Don't worry..it will get better" ...

No way!! I feel like death and I am never touching Pristiq again!

YES...to the person who had digestion problems. I did ok on Pristiq all except for the very sharp pains in my abdomen. It kept getting worse until I had severe pain which everyone said it sounded like problems with my gallbladder. Very sharp pains coming and going on upper right side. By this time I was sure I was going to have to have my gallbladder removed soon. Then I quit taking my Pristig...and guess what...ALL that pain went away like a miracle. So afraid to start it again because so convinced it was like poison for my system. Now, I don't know what to take because I too just want to stay home and so depressed and can't progress in life. I would love to be normal and have accomplishment and purpose. WIthout medication and with medication...just always a mess.

Response to jean having trouble digesting pristiq. I have just started and have the same problem. The whole tablet is sitting in toilet bowl. Pamphlet does say you will notice the outer coating of tablet coming through sometimes, but not sure if it is ok to see whole tablet. Rang my doc and he said no I will need to change to something else (cymalta ?) but I am going to persist for 1 more week and if I dont start having any withdrawal effects or start feeling sad and depressed I will know they must be working. Really want them to work as I like the idea that they dont metabolize in the liver and more of the drug gets to the brain.We will see !!!

This is my second time getting off of Pristiq. First go-around I became so dizzy and agitated..I mean break things and want to fight people agitated that I decided to take my meds again. This seemed to relieve the dizziness, lightheadedness and bumping into things (brain zaps???). Now, day 5 of getting off the Pristiq AGAIN I feel the same...horrible. Also the dreams are very vivid and I have been told that I mumble in my sleep now...something I have never done before. I actually wake myself up mumbling at times. I am going to see my doctor this week. I never post anything but because Prestiq is still so new and there is NO withdrawl information available I felt complelled to complain to someone other than a doctor. Single, 25, good job and I still hate my life and everyone in it. Thanks Prestiq!

I was on Prisiq for 5 months and stopped taking it 7 days ago. I am feeling constant "brain zaps", anxiety,and aggresive behavior. So far the worst symptom has been the lucid dreaming. In my dream, I become so disturbed that I try splashing water on my face and screaming "Help Me" over and over trying to get myself to wake up. I finally woke myself up yelling "Help Me" outloud. I was so freaked out that I got my 7 year old daughter up out of her bed at 1:30am and told her to come sleep with me and made her promise to wake me up if I was having a nightmare. The withdrawl from this drug is the worst thing I have ever experienced. Does anyone know how long it will last? I don't know how much longer I can go on like this.

Diane, is there a physician you could see who could see who could help you taper a little more slowly? I stopped taking a fairly high dose of Effexor without tapering, and it was pure hell. I had to go back on it and then taper down. If Pristiq is anything like its cousin Effexor, then please be careful. Abrupt withdrawals can be dangerous.

They need to take Prestiq off the market before people get killed, if they haven't already! I took it for about three months (my doctor had samples of it) and I come so close to killing myself and my kids so many times and was too blitzed to realize it at first. I lost my job because of this medication. I swiped the side of an 18 wheeler dozing off, busted two tires another time because I was so dizzy and wasn't myself at work and got fired. So many times I came close to rear ending people in front of me. Thank God I got off it before I had to go through the horrible side effects everyone is talking about. And especially before I killed someone, most importantly my kids. We need a class action lawsuit! I am furious with the makers of this medication and my doctor for prescribing it to me!!!

I ran out of this medication last week, can't afford the $138 a month. This RUINED my relationship with my bf, who is the sweetest man, but even he couldn't take what I was going through and I didn't even realize it was coming off the Pristiq. This weekend I was a complete witch with he and the kids and couldn't figure it out. I had things coming out of my brain and mouth no one should hear. I had anxiety that was extremely troubling, dreams that scared me when awake, crying at the drop of a hat, crazy insecurities, suicidal....and so on. I thought it was helping me, but to go off if this is the hell I would rather be depressed.

I took Pristiq for 8 days and while I started to feel better from my minor depression, my blood pressure went through the roof so I had to stop taking it. I am on day 3 off of it and I can barely function and that's after taking it only for 8 days. I was told I didn't have to taper off because I was only taking 50 mg and for such a short amount of time. I am dizzy, nauseous, can't stop crying, having suicidal thoughts and basically uncontrollable emotionally. I never imagined I would suffer so much coming off of it after only taking it for 8 days. This medicine should not be sold. It hurts more than it helps. I pray this goes away soon before I lose everything that matters to me.

I have read this whole thread and see so many people having withdrawals sxs from Pristiq. Some of you have said that you went off due to finances. But they rest of you - why did you go off? Was the Pristiq working for your depression? If they gave Pristiq away for free, would those of you who went off because you couldn't afford it have stayed on it?

I am wondering this because Pristiq seemed to work for my depression but I went off of it (and went through the horrible w/d sxs!) because I am trying to 'de-chemical' my life. I went through neurofeedback and thought I could go off of Pristiq safely. Wrong.

So now I am thinking of going back on it. The body aches, depression and lack of motivation for ANY activity may be worse than the thought of being on a chemical.

But then again, I hate that we don't know what these chemicals actually do to our brains!!

I am between a rock and a hard, hard place.

SSRI withdrawal seems to last for ever. I've never been off one long enough for the wd to stop. Right now I'm on depakote, propranolol, clonazepam, alprazolam, gabapentin, phenergan for sleep, and wellbutrin. I refuse to take neuroleptics due to side effects. Right now this works, but I am a bit of an extreme case with PTSD, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and intermittent rage disorder.
I know that's alotta benzos but my doc(and everyone before him) seem to want to push them on me, as long as I use em responsibly.

I'm going through the withdrawal from Pristiq now. I've had severe depression all of my adult life and was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia several years ago. I've been on almost every anti-depressant on the market, and I can definitely understand everyone who is going through the withdrawal. The nausea, headaches, lack of energy, digestive issues, total lethargy---are almost too much to bear. I feel like we're all victims of the pharmaceutical industry. Sometimes I don't think anybody knows how to treat us. I've been to doctor after doctor over the years and have noticed a definite pattern---all they want to do is slap you on a pill and forget about you--move you quickly out of the office so they can see the next patient and prescribe another pill. None of my doctors ever checked to see if there were interactions with other medicines nor did they care about the side effects these medicines cause in the long run. I'm now 40 pounds overweight thanks to medications, too. If anyone is thinking about taking Zoloft, Effexor, or Pristiq---think long and hard about it. Once you go there, it's hard to get off it. Good luck to all of you.

Oh---and I went off the Pristiq because one of my doctors thinks that Savella (a new medication recently approved for fibromyalgia) will be better for me. When I asked how it would mix with the Pristiq, that is when the doctor said I couldn't take both and would have to wean off the Pristiq. His idea of weaning off was to quit taking it abruptly 5 days into taking the Savella. Well, needless to say, I went into withdrawal (vomiting, headaches, lethargy, nightmares). The reason I've had to quit the medications in the past was because of starting a new one or side effects became too great to handle.

I am curious as to what type of Dr. you all are getting this drug from? Is it just an M.D., or s it a psychiatrist, who should know more than an M.D. I see a psychiatrist and we worked together to find the right combination of drugs to keep me "normal".

Prestiq is a cousin to Effexor and SUCKS as bad as Effexor with withdrawal. I am now taking tryptophan and SAM-e for depression. ALL ANTIDEPRESSANTS SHOULD BE FLUSHED DOWN THE TOILET!!!

I took Pristiq for 7 months.....never felt better. It was a great drug for me, and definitely helped me through a tough time.

I've had some withdrawal symptoms, but they are seemingly subsiding.....spacy....low-grade headache...stuff like that.....but it is all getting better.

Good luck.

GH wrote: "I took Pristiq for 7 months.....never felt better"

Have you thought about becoming a spokesperson or drug rep? I mean with such a compelling story and testimonial why now?

Yet, as a counter balance and reality check; why don't you go read how your magic pill helps so many.

http://www.ssristories.com/

Or is it just all about you and promoting a drug?

I Took Pristiq 50 mg daily for 3 months, it did not help my depression, in fact it made it worse and caused weight gain ang body aches. I weaned myself off by taking it everyother day x 1 week then every 3rd day x 1 week then every 4th day then stopped, because it is a ..time release it cannot be broken in half and 50 mg is the smallest dose. My life has been aliving hell the brain zaps ,dizziness, diarrhea, mood swing, and suicidal thoughts are ruining my life. I am married to the worlds kindest and most patient man on the planet, and even he is losing patience with me, please some one tell me how long this going to last . The makers of this drug should all rot in hell.

Kim,

I am so sorry for what you are going through. I just glanced at the label and it made me so angry. All they have to do is acknowledge it, no remedy (other than keep taking our drug).

In general (with most medications) skipping every other day, then every 3 days etc. makes things worse. It creates a roller coaster effect in your brain.

You might want to look into a Compounding pharmacy. I don't know much about them but the few websites I looked at said "almost any drug can be compounded (created at special doses). If you are able to get special doses made, I would recommend going back to 50 or 40mg and decreasing by 10% or so, every few weeks (once any withdrawal symptoms subside at the next lowered dose).

You might also try The Road Back program; http://www.theroadback.org/fasthandle.htm
It’s a little complicated and a little expensive.

I used some of their products and they helped tremendously. The “withdrawal packages” they have now would have been too expensive for me. If money is an issue for you too, you could maybe try one or two things, depending on your symptoms. (I don’t work for them; I just remember how horrible withdrawal was).

Best of Luck.

SSRI withdrawal is vastly unpleasant (I've done it) and can indeed lead to fatalities through suicide (and possibly homicide), but it is not at all the same thing as alcohol/benzodiazapine/barbiturate withdrawal.

Posted by: MacLeod

NO Its worse-!!-

-I came off 130 mgs of methadone-I did it over a year-Hard -Dear God Yes-but WAY worse was having2come off Effexor fast-I ended up in hos with a pluse of 140-Iam normally around 65-70- brain zaps-terrilbe head crap happening-was like I had a head full of wasps I was trying2out-(

Benzos--Another peace of cake compaired2Trying2come off an SSRI-well for me-

Iam from the first wave-

prozac was happy in my pocket4many years-

Ya know after 20 years Plus on a SSRI-I cant see myself ever off them-Psychiatrists I know are calling it what it is now-

Withdraws -

suicidal thoughts -thats so NOT me-but coming off SSRI brought those thoughts in2my beautiful head-diarrhea-hell yeah-also stomach cramps-pain-dizziness-not sure what my B.P. was but it slide down my boots-throwing up till I needed a drip-I was so very very ill-another time i cut my SSRI down but again the withdraws pulled me back in2 the SSRI drug just like an addict-

ALL I want these days is 2 be informed-at least that way I get a choice-!!

I began taking Pristiq 50mg 1 year ago today. I have been having "discontinuation syndrome" for almost 2 weeks. Yes, I have body aches, sweating, a sore throat, minor crying episodes followed by tremendous anger. The drug took me from depressed to Italy with a man I hardly knew (yes, it was fun) but come now leaving my high paying job for a month in Italy is hardly having my brain on straight. I then hooked up with this therapist who in the past had been " a therapist" I became involved in all types of spiritual worship and $4000 poorer maybe slightly hallucinating from all of that so called"Love"! In May I decided I had to get my life back. I began chopping the 50mg dose in 1/2 for 1.5 months then 1/4 till 3 days ago-none. My tongue is so swollen I can hardly swallow, I have brain shivers so bad I cannot see straight or look anyone in the eye. I am hoping that the 4th day is my Saving day...I am
struggling cold turkey. Another side effect of this drug is that my right eye has twitched uncontrollably for 1 year. I am quite sure that I am "detoxing" and my Psychiatrist has been too busy to return my calls the last 3 weeks. No more testing drugs for me-Clean and Steady and keep the MD's away from my brain!

I took Pristiq for 3 months and it has been the worst 3 months of my life! Side effects started during 3rd week and included severe nausea, dizziness, fatigue, headaches, night sweating, irritability, weight gain (+15 pounds), vivid dreams, head noises (ch ch sound), and confusion/concentration issues. Have intermittent episodes of these symptoms and have missed lots of work. Withdrawal is even worse (on day 4) and completely bed-ridden. If anybody else is experiencing this, please fill out MedWatch form to complain to FDA at https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/medwatch-online.htm This drug should never have been approved!

I was on Pristiq for almost 3 months and never felt so horrible. I had never in my life had any thoughts of hurting myself until I started taking this drug. About 2 weeks ago, I actually cut myself and that was the last straw for me. I told my idiot doctor that I wasn't putting myself through this anymore. I gradually went off the med and now Im on day 7 of being off the drug. I have been through hell trying to deal with the withdrawal symptoms. My whole body hurts, I have horrible shooting pains that go through my body, nausea, and yesterday part of my face went numb for about an hour. I can not believe this drug was ever approved by the FDA. Does anyone know how long this withdrawal period lasts? I dont know if I can handle much more. My doctor never told me any of this was a possibility. I trusted him and feel so betrayed.

I only took Pristiq-50mg, for a week. I am also on Paxil-30mg.The Pristiq did make me less depressed, but on the 6th day I had crazy heart palpitations, and my doc told me to quit. This is my seventh day off of it, and I still feel like I am losing my mind most of the time. I feel weak, achy, and out of it. A lot of dizziness, too. I pray to God that I snap out of this soon. Any words of encouragement are much needed.
Holli

I'm sitting here at 4 A.M. off of Prestiq for about 2 days, and I feel like hell. I just went in to talk to a PROFESSIONAL on social anxiety. I found out I was severely depressed as per the "Doctor." I never felt severly depressed, stressed out maybe, agitated but not at home suicidal kind of depressed. He now has me on Prestiq, Lamotrigine and trazodone, everyday I think what the hell are these drugs doing to my body. Part of my right arm has no feeling, numb. My lower abdomen aches. I have a lot of swelling and very vivid dreams. I know for a fact I am worse off now because now I know for sure I am depressed. The fucking medication made me depressed. The doctor contributed to my depression. I drove myself to the hospital the other day thinking I was having a heart attack, I came out ok. I blame all of this on the MEDICATIONS I am on. What are they doing to my insides? What are they damaging? Life really sucks for me now!

I have been on Prestiq for 8 months for severe depression. I had ran the gamit of anti-depressants and nothing seemed to help, I was a human guinea pig. At first the Prestiq seemed to help then one day I noticed I became very angry at my husband for no apparent reason. I did not want to leave the house and lost interest in everything I use to love to do. I started to get sharp pains in the right side of my stomach, nausea and horrible episodes of sweating, I thought I was standing in a shower. I decided to come off this stuff and decreasing the dose is next to impossible. So I am doing 1 every other day for a week, then every 2 days and then every 3 days, does anyone have any other suggestions how to get off this stuff? I read everything posted and it does not seem like it is going to be an easy task.

I want to go off Pristiq because all I want to do is sleep. I have headaches and can feel my heart pounding in my ears.

I don't mind being on meds for depression but Pristiq actually makes me feel worse. I've been on various antidepressants (most recently Prozac and Cymbalta) for about 25 years.

I've given this one 2 months and have to say that it's the first med that doesn't agree with me. I'd actually rather feel hopeless and annoyed than the way I feel on Pristiq.

Hi All, I have posted on a couple other sites as well but I have to say this drug is a demon drug. I have literally lost my husband in a period of a little over a month. He went cold turkey off of Pristiq on Thur it is now monday nite at 11:15 he had significant withdrawal symptoms all weekend and I cared for him, it was rough as since this really got into his system he has found a new bunch of friends, including a new woman he only looks at me with hatred although yesterday he woke missing me and needing me so of course I believed him because I thought maybe hes getting the drug out of him, well noooo he is angry with me tonite and still is wanting a divorce. We have been married 18 years and he wants nothing to do with me- he detaches himself from my feelings makes me to be the terrible one and wants out (this usually happens in the late evening when hes been home) and then in the morning he is apologetic and remorseful all to start the cycle all over again. I am trying so hard but it was so difficult tonite to deal with I got angry at him and I shouldn't have. I keep wanting to believe that this drug is causing him to be such a nasty person, and that he just needs it out of his system Which by the way how long does it take hes been on it for almost 5 months.
I wouldn't wish this drug on my worst enemy.

***PLEASE HELP**
My girlfriend is having the exact same symptoms as everybody else on here. She was on 50 mg of pristiq for about a month and has been off it completely for about 2 weeks (doc had her taper off it for a few weeks) but still has all of these unbearable withdrawal symptoms. People keep asking on here but nobody seems to answer the question of:

"HOW LONG DO THESE WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS LAST???"

I hope there are at least "some" people out there who have successfully managed to get off pristiq (without moving on to some other meds)who are no longer getting these horrible brain zaps, severe depression, fits of rage, suicidal thought,etc.

Please share your stories with us as to HOW LONG until they all went away and you were feeling normal again, or at least back to the way you did before ever taking the med. Thanks & good luck to you all

Cold turkeying Pristiq or taking it every other day is a recipe for disaster big time as that puts your body in withdrawal.


Most antidepressants should be tapered at 10% of current dose every 3 to 6 weeks. Pristiq might have to be tapered more slowly due to its short half life.


Unfortunately, since this lowest dose that Pritiq comes in is 50mg, this is not going to be easy. My first choice would be to use a compound pharmacy as they will make the doses that you can't obtain at your local CVS pharmacy. Your doctor would have to cooperate and write the necessary doses.


To find a local compound pharmacy, go to


http://www.iacprx.org/site/PageServer?pagename=lookup_survey


The disadvantage is that not all insurance plans accept drugs from compound pharmacies and even if they do, you might have to pay up front and get reimbursed later.


You could also try transitioning to Prozac and taper off of that drug. It might easier due to having a longer half life.


Also, Prozac comes in the liquid form which makes it easy to measure the cuts. If you're not good with measuring liquid, you can be buy digital measuring scale on ebay (.001g) and measure out your doses.


The disadvantage is that switching to Prozac can have startup effects and the drug will not agree with everyone.


Another option is to switch to Effexor since the chemical makeup is nearly the same. You would then have to slowly reduce by counting out pellets. I am not very familiar with this method so please research it further by going to a board like Effexor activist. Also, the Paxil Progress Boards have people who have been on effexor.


By the way, I am not a medical professional so please consider that as you read this advice.


Good luck

Hi,

I wrote in before and I was on Prestiq for 8 months and had to get off of it due to the side effects everyone else has experienced. I have been weaning off of it for 2 weeks now, one pill every other day, not a good way to go. The other option given to me by my doctor was Effexor 37.5mg tab for 7 days then 1/2 tab for 7 days, same side effects. I went back to the first of the two evils of Prestiq one tab every other day, which has caused horrible headaches, dizzieness, nausea and dreams that make you wake up screaming, that is if you can wake up. You feel like your awake but trapped in the dream and the only way out is if your able to scream. The worst part has been the dizzy spells where your brain in bouncing around in your skull when you walk. The crying spells are devestating it is like you lost a loved one and you cannot stop. The worst part is the people who you trully love are the ones you hurt the worst. Your feelings are numb, not being able to stop the pain in your head and the depression has reared its ugly head again, all I want is my life back to where I can function. I called my doctor today and told her about the dizzy spells,she told me to go back to the Effexor 37.5mg tabs and take two tabs daily since it was easier to wean a person off of that drug than the Prestiq. I thought I have gone through hell for two weeks and now you want me to start all over again, because it is easier to get me off the Effexor than the Prestiq. I asked about the withdrawal symtoms and they are just as bad, so that tells me these doctors who prescibe these meds do not consider that a person will ever get off of them. The durg companies must love them and I realize there is a need for drugs to treat depression but there is something really wrong when the patient cannot get off of them without going throuh hell. If anyone has made it past 2 weeks please let me know if it gets any better. I just need to know there is hope of getting back to some type of a normal, what ever that is, life.

hey my girlfriend made it! it has now been about 3 weeks off the pristiq and the withdrawal symptom are pretty much gone and she is feeling pretty great now. So yes they do end! hang in there everybody. Just get through the withdrawals and you'll feel much better off. There is a light at the end of the tunnel!! :)

I am glad that you made it and there is hope at the end of this dark tunnel...I would like to make a suggestion which has helped, talk to your Pharmacist which I did. I asked him about being put on Effexor to get off of Prestiq, he told me that is done since the tablet form of Effexor can be cut and the dosage can be decreased over a longer period of time with less side effects. Well it is working for the most part, headaches are gone, can walk without feeling like my brain is going to come out of my skull although I am still having the crying spells. He made a suggestion for decreasing the dosage which I ran by my doctor which she agreed to let me try. Here it is Effexor 37.5mg for 1 week, then 3/4 of a tab for one week, 1/2 tab for 1 week and then 1/4 tab for a week and stop. I am down to the 1/2 tab at this time and things are looking up, so for me this seems to be the best way to decrease the withdrawal sysmtoms of Prestiq. I know the cost of Prestiq is very expensive, I was glad to find out that Effexor in the tablet form is reasonable compared to the cost of Prestiq.

Wow, am I glad I found this site! I have been on 50mg of Prestiq for 2 months. I got free samples from my Psychiatrist. I was not advised of possible withdrawal effects, although I did read the patient info. I decided to quit taking it because of pounding heart beats and increased blood pressure - I am taking BP meds also. I tapered off for a week starting on 9/12 - 1 dose every other day, and immediately felt like crap. Lightheaded, pins and needles in lips and arms (hyperventilating), sweating & hot flushing, nightmares. My last dose was on 9/19. I do not intend to "taper off" with more drugs. I'm just going to tough it out - although Prestiq did help with my depression, if I wanted to be a drug addict it certainly wouldn't be this drug!! I decided after reading all your input to call my Dr. to let him know.

I was happy to see I only have to endure this hopefully for 3 weeks. I have been on Pristiq for 2 years now, went from 50mg to 100mg. 1 year on each. I was put on it for hot flashes, due to early stages of menopause at 38 yrs old. It helped, but I'm in between insurance companies. I can't afford it, wyeth did fill for 3 months for free with dr's authorization. But only to find out my dr of 9 yrs won't renew unless I come in which is over $100 just to fill out a form? I don't think so. So cold turkey I'm going, this is day 2. They really hyped this drug up, but it's not easy coming off. I had no side effects on it, but coming off is scary. Especially trying to take care of an active 2 yr old, a rebellious 17 year old, and 15 yr old to boot. God help me, if I would of been informed of this possiblity I would of passed on even starting. Withdraw symptoms i'm having is blurred vision, major brain zaps, electric shock sensations, fatigue, headaches, nausea and the list goes on. Pounding down the water, and staying far away from caffeine, I don't need anymore help making these symptoms worse. Good Luck to all who have to do it, it's not fun. But, it's mind over matter to me. Too many lives are depending on me.

Can u take Zoloft a day after stopping pristiq? Or should you wein off for a week or so.

Wow! I'm more distraught than ever but very thankful I found this site. I have been on Pristiq for about a year after taking Welbutrin for 8 years. At first I felt great on Pristiq - more balanced than I had ever felt... Not so much anymore; all I want to do is sleep; crying spells again & weigh 30 pounds more in 8 months (I had never gained weight before). I tried to go off of it 3 months ago and taper back onto welbutrin, but the withdrawal symptoms were a NIGHTMARE! I was so angry, sweating, migraines, crying, severe panic attacks - you name it, I had it & oh yes, my brain zaps became more intense like they were in the beginning (which I had no idea what was going on when those started)... I think my doctor had good intentions but it has been the worst decision ever; I am very FEARFUL of going off of pristiq. I don't know what to do... I just don't. I want to go off but know it may hurt my business since it is very difficult to function when you have a migraine or are acting like an insane person.... I've thought about taking my 50 mg for 3 days, then taking 1/2 of one one day then 50 mg for 3 days & take a method of doing this over 6-8 months... any ideas?

I have abeen on prestiq for5 months. I felt great at first. Then the nausea, not wanting to eat and then eating like there was no tomorrow. The headaches, blurred vision. I put up with it, I felt better, I did sleep too much. No energy. Had to have a cup of coffee to get going. Now I am on withdrawl. Hell in a hand basket. I don't know what you all mean by brain zaps. I have burning and tingling in my hands, the vivid dreams which continue when I am AWAKE. Now that is weird. When I went off Ativan cold turkey it took 7 weeks of absolute hell. Then I found out the drugs leave your body in 72hrs. The withdrawl is the bodys' reaction to no more meds. Might as well take cocaine-same withdrawls. He told me I should have tapered off but I just wanted off. I have been off the Prestiq for 1 week. My head feels like it weighs 50 lbs. I just sleep all day but I walk the floors all night.I have two little dogs, who, unlike people don't undestand and yet they sit with me and sleep all day with me and never leave my side. They are a comfort and the petting and talking to them has helped.A person would never do this for us.I also hug my large teddy bear alot. I know I sound nuts but I do not want to hurt the ones I love and this way I avoid doing that. I also wonder how long it will last......

hi all, first of all i would like to say that this site has been very informative, and thanks to all.. i am male 30 yrs old and went to my Dr for anxiety reasons; he put me on xanax for the first 2 months and put me on pristiq 50 mg qd .. i have been on pristiq for 2 months now, the first 2 weeks was "hell"; i had diarrhea, nausea, and dizzyness but after 2 weeks these symptoms subsided. over all i felt ok with pristiq but three days ago, i ran out of Rx and couldn't get a refill till today. the first two days were ok, but the third day, i felt extreme dizzness, groggyness, and felt very anxious that i had to leave class early .. i made sure i got a refill today for those reasons, i just couldn't stand the dizzyness and groggyness, not to mention i have been napping all day as well; as for the flu like symptoms that people are mentioning in here, i do agree, i do feel very weak and tired .. i can't stand this feeling anymore, i took pristiq about an hr ago and i'm hoping that these "witdrawal symptoms" would go away .. i'm really concerned about this drug, since it's new formulation of ssri, we really don't know what to expect.. should i tell my dr to just wean me off of it ? thanks all

I had to come off pristiq because of insomnia. I only took the meds for 2 weeks then cut to every second day for 2 weeks. Now I have been off for 3 days - this is my 4th. First 2 were not good but manageable. Yestday I felt very dizzy, nauseaus, tired and pretty depressed. I had to call my daughter over because I was in the middle of cooking and felt I could not finish. I have been getting some relief from the symptoms with lomitol (drug for tummy bugs, Diarrhoea) I am also drinking peppermint tea and taking a magnesium complex pill (from Golden Glow vits) at night. I feel pretty awful but do seem to get some relief from taking these things. I find that I cannot rush around but I am coping with work.
I would also love to know how long it will take for me to have the drug out of my system?

My word:
I thought I was the only one experiencing these symptoms. Will this ever end? I was on 50 mgs. for 1 month. I was on 100mgs for 3 weeks. Started having anger issues, depression worsened, anxiey, which I've never had, and the list goes on. I started titrating down to 50 mgs. for 5 days. My shrink told me to stop cold after 5 days. I can't believe it. I even resorted to cutting the pill into 1/4. I am having brain zaps, twitches, pain, lethargy, difficulty concentrating,flu-like symptoms. Does this ever end?

My son took Cymbalta for about 4 months. It did not work causing terrible bouts with nausea, diarrhea, lethargy, mood swings, difficulty concentrating, flu-like symptoms and anxiousness. He was prescribed Pristiq on March 16th, 2009. On March 28th, 2009 he committed suicide. I called Wyeth and they were to let me know of any one else that had done this and to this day I have not heard from them. My other son also tried and they got very nasty with him. I have definitely considered a lawsuit (not that will bring my son back) but it may stop another person from doing what my son did. Yes, it says it may cause these thoughts but that doesn't help me thinking this drug caused him to do this horrible thing. Does anyone else know of a person committing siuicide while taking Proistiq? If so please let me know. aasbill1@scv.rr.com

this DRUG PRISTIQ is bs, a new way for the pharmeceutical companies to make more money. it gave me extreme blurred vision, extreme sleepiness ans nausea, yawning and laying down frequently, not being able to think or be myself, lost my cute charm, big sense of humor and energy that would make evryone laugh and be happy around me, lost any drive i might have had, and the feeling of being frustrated but not having the energy to do anything about it. also very importantly, i got this weird feelings of being disconnected from my body and everything to where u feel like everything and anyone whos talking to you is a picture and you dont care about anything because your disconnected and foggy. i almost felt like i might have been invisible i felt so disconnected from the world. then i would look in the mirror and see this pale face which i couldnt recognize and it scared me to feel like i was not looking at myself, i didnt know who was in the mirror but looked like someone drained of life. i felt so bad for myself that i was desperate enough to resort to this poison even after all the warnings. its too strong of a medication and i feel it most definately harms u insted of helps. how can something like this help when it makes you not wanna be involved in life cuz you dont see anything as important or real. its dangerous i felt like if the house started burning down id think i was dreaming. this makes me so mad cuz people who want help want to be able to function in their life and improve their personalities not eliminate and cover their personalities and become a dull pale corpse- looking person who just sits there feeling blurry and foggy headed with no intrest in anything,, to me, might as well be dead. IF ANYONE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THEIR ANTIDEPRSSANT EXPERIENCES PLEASE CONTACT ME IM A GOOD LISTENER AND WE CAN EXCHANGE FEEDBACK MAYBE HELP EACHOTHER THANKS

I have been on Pristiq for about two years, and I need to quit taking it. I used to take Effexor XR for my depression and anxiety but of course was put on Pristiq. Since being on this drug,I have gained forty pounds; I feel nauseated almost every morning; I feel angry most of the time; developed ADD; I experience memory loss; fertility; and insomnia. After about a year, I started taking Pristiq every another day, and my symptoms don't seem as bad but I really need to stop taking it all together because I would like be myself again. Another reason is because I don't have health insurance right now due to being unemployed, and my doctor can no longer give me free samples. I just don't know if I will be able to stand the withdrawal symptoms. I tried going off it for three days at most but it was unbearable and I have a six year old daughter to take care of!! I really hate Pristiq!!

Well, I have stopped taking Pristiq nine days ago, and I only had some withdrawal effects! For about five days I was really dizzy, cranky, and tired but after five days the symptoms started going away. After about nine days the withdrawal effects stopped all together, and I feel great. Maybe the reason that the withdrawal from Pristiq wasn't that bad is because I was taking it every another day for about a year and also I made sure to drink lots of water when I stopped taking it! I wouldn't recommend everyone who is taking Pristiq to stop cold turkey because everyone's body chemistry is different and might react worst to withdrawning from Pristiq.

I am trying to get off Pristiq as well. Per my dr. went to taking it every other day for 2 weeks now I am at every 3 days this week. Feel horrible, dizzy, crazy brain feelings and I'm sleepy all the time. Talked to a local compounding pharmacy today as a couple people have suggested here and they told they were unable to compound small doses of Pristiq for me because the powder form of Pristiq was not available. I guess Wyeth doesn't want us to get off this stuff. Anyway, the only other suggestions my dr. made were to drink lots of fluid including cranberry juice and that I may find an over the counter detox supplement will help with the symptoms. He did tell me it was not going to be a fun process getting off of this.

My heart is breaking and my anger is flaring as I read through these posts. I don't know who deserves to be sued more, Wyeth, the FDA, or your quack doctors.

What really galls me is so many of you were prescribed Pristiq etc for normal stress. These drugs are supposedly indicated for clinical depression but they are being handed out to anyone who lost their job, got divorced, or whatever might make a normal person upset.

I really wonder what these folks learned in med school.

Psych survivors need to unite, to protest, to march. It needs to be the next great social movement.

I've been on Pristiq for about 4 months and am very VERY happy with the results. Yes I had some side effects in the beginning(dry mouth) but am SO much better on pristiq than off.
My question / concern is that I am finding whole tablets floating in the bowl.What can I do about this? This pills are way too expensive to be flushing them down the toilet?

Such an interesting website. My doc prescribed pristiq in 1/4 pill daily doses. I think I was also the first she had written this for. I have been on it since about September.

I thought I'd consider stopping because I have not been able to think at work. Can't really write anymore which is a key part of my job. Now reading this site, it looks like I have gotten a "dose dump". So I felt very foggy and disconnected in the mornings and actually pretty good most evenings. Strange drug. Dispite the symptoms, I never even considered getting off until the last couple of weeks -- I think it has made me complacent. Very strange and not my personality.

I haven't had any doseage today -- feel pretty great actually. Curious how tomorrow will go. Here is to hoping that I am one of the few lucky ones that will make it out ok.

Wish I would have known it is this hard to get off of this drug when I started.

I thought that I was going crazy until I found this site and a few others that mention Pristiq withdrawal symptoms. I have been on 50mg daily for the past three months, but ran out about 3 days ago. Electric shocks, dizziness, crying spells, anxiety, anger bursts, aches, trembles, sweating, difficulty focusing, feeling in a fuzz, off-balance, sleep problems, nausea, massive depression. I feel like I can't function, I feel desperate, and now I am wondering what the heck this drug may have been doing to my body while I was on it. I felt so hopeless and insane and I just about bawled at my desk when I saw all these other people experiencing the same withdrawal syptoms. I am gonig to the dr tomorrow morning - 17 hrs seems like a long time to wait. I feel like crap - this is hell! I keep over-reacting, fighting with my girlfriend, yelling at my daughter, and just feeling like total crap. I kept trying to explain to my gf what I was going to, and when I found this site, I showed her and i think she finally believes me. As for taking the drug, I have been on many ad's and this one has helped the best. The worst part is that when I am on it, I still don't feel like I am where I want to be with my anger and depression, and it also causes low sex drive for me, which is hard to explain to my girlfriend. Experiencing the withdrawal makes me scared to go back on it, though. I can't help but wonder what else this drug might be doing to my body?

What your feeling is normal for these medications. What's important is that it's the one that's helped you the best. You just have to remember not to miss your doses. I had to find that out myself too.

Rachel,
You are experiencing withdrawal symptoms and as it seems to me you were prescribed for depression you it is a little more difficult to know what is caused by the antidepressant and the symptoms of your problems.
But you have listed the withdrawal symptoms and they are according to what is told by many who withdrew - I did it too during 19 months and after three months off Effexor I had to go back to the drug that was prescribed by mistake.
Some people cannot withdraw and David Healy has already said it at his protocol.
Hope you find a good doctor to help you.
Many people who are withdrawing don't find support from their physicians because they don't believe that withdrawal symptoms exist.
Officially antidepressants are not addictive! So they cannot claim that there are withdrawal problems.
Benzodiazepines were not addictive to physicians too and they waited for the official record.
Now they can say that there are withdrawal problems.
Dear Lord!
If this is scientific and a good way to treat patients I don't know what to think.
We are talking not only about mental problems.
5% of the SSRI/SNRIs remain at the brain and 95% is at the body.
Serotonin is responsible for many body functions.
This is criminal - I don't know how many times will I have to say "this is criminal." and I'm very sure about what I am saying.
This is criminal!

DO NOT TAKE PRISTIQ! IT IS A EVIL DRUG TO GET OFF OF.

Oh my goodness, after reading all those comments on withdrawal symtoms from Pristiq I am freaked out. Anyone, please tell me--- how long do they last. If I knew 2 weeks, 4 weeks, whatever i at least would have hope and a goal. Anyone how long did it take you to get past it. Especially these freaky brain zaps....hate them!