Weaning Pristiq

Hi,
I am a female 44 years old, started taking pristiq about 4 1/2 years ago, decided to wean off at the beginning of December 2015, way... Too many side effects and body pains and weight gain.
It's not easy but it's doable , I am on week 3 of 0 pristiq and my brain zaps and ringing in my ears have come to an end Thank God. Now I am dealing with the sadness and the irritability part which have been there all along but are more frequent now, I can't tell you when it's going to be manageable but I can tell you that it will get better because I believe it is! I have suicidal thoughts even when I was taking pristiq but I have to say they have gotten a bit better, the sadness is what overwhelms me sometimes. I will keep you posted about the weight loss which is a huge concern to me but feeling all of the side effects from stopping the meds has become a lot more important to me right now than concentrating on my weight, 1 step and 1 hour at the time. This is all I can tell you for now, it gets better day by day but it certainly takes time and patients because is rough to withdraw from it.

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Hello, Adriana! How are you doing, now? Have things improved, yet?

The FDA lists other possible withdrawal effects as including nausea, diarrhea, rebound aches/pain and rebound depression.

Has anyone else tapered off of this medication who could share their experiences?

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It's definitely taking a toll on my body, my body aches and sadness are my #1 complaint this week, the brain zaps are very few at this moment, I want to feel better and I know in my heart I will, but I also have to be realistic and take under consideration that I took this medicine for a long time, but I definitely see some improvements in other areas, I am not working out right now because I am exhausted but I am definitely eating healthy and although I get hungry more than usual some days for the most part my appetite has decreased, my alcohol consumption on weekends is not helpful and most likely I will stop all of it starting this weekend because I just want to see the light at the beginning or the end of the tunnel , I will settle for any light at this point but for all of you who are in the process of weaning off I must tell you, I believe is worth it and I am staying positive.

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Hi Adriana, just checking to see how you are doing. I hope you are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Take care of yourself in this very real struggle. You will make it, I hear an optimistic young lady in your words

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Hi!
It's been a rocky road but I am done with all the brain zaps and physical withdraw symptoms, now I am dealing with my mild depression and anxiety and decided as of 2/6/16 to start on St. John's wort and let's see how that goes, as far as the way lost goes well.... Unless I curve my appetite and start portion control, it's the only way I see this extra 20 lbs coming off, not sure if the meds messed up my metabolism but I have to try hard and will post in 1 month to give you updates on that, as I said before... This has been a rough road but I feel more clear now and no more suicidal thoughts and aches and pains

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My girlfriend teaches yoga and highly recommends music for healing. My daughter has benefited from yoga for her anxiety and depression. She hasn't tried the music yet.
It's called wholetones. Check it out

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Adriana, I was wondering how you're doing?

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