Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Withdrawal Symptoms Of Pristiq
Question: I am a 50 year old female who has struggled with depression/anxiety for 17 years. Effexor was the first drug that provided relief but after 7 years it stopped helping me. I weaned off VERY SLOWLY and started taking Cymbalta which did nothing for me. I was then switched to Pristiq which I have been on for about 2 1/2 years. I never have felt that it did much for me. My new doctor has switched me to Fetzima. I started with 20 mg for 2 days then 40 mg for the rest of the month. I was to take my Pristiq with it for the first 2 weeks then discontinue. When I stopped taking the Pristiq I started to feel what I took to be withdrawal symptoms - shaky, flu-like, headachy. I decided (with doctors ok) to take a half pill of my 100mg Pristiq with my Fetzima for a few more weeks. I have now been bumped up to 80 mg Fetzima so I thought it was safe to drop the Pristiq yesterday. I have felt terrible!! Very shaky, jittery, fluish. I took this to be withdrawal again so I took a quarter pill of Pristiq this morning. It has not helped at all - I continue to feel worse. Now I am wondering if I am just adjusting to Fetzima and need to tough it out for a few days or should I take another quarter Pristiq?
Brief Answer:
Withdrawl symptoms may be managed with gradual tapering of Pristiq
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
It is usual to have withdrawl symptoms while stopping Pristiq. Gradual tapering will be helpful. You should continue with 50 mg for few weeks then take half of this dose for few weeks. You can continue Fetzima at present.
Even Fetzima has palpitation and anxiety as side effects.
You can gradually taper and stop Pristiq before further increasing Fetzima.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Do get back with further queries.
Regards
Dr Neeraj Kumar
Neurologist
Withdrawl symptoms may be managed with gradual tapering of Pristiq
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
It is usual to have withdrawl symptoms while stopping Pristiq. Gradual tapering will be helpful. You should continue with 50 mg for few weeks then take half of this dose for few weeks. You can continue Fetzima at present.
Even Fetzima has palpitation and anxiety as side effects.
You can gradually taper and stop Pristiq before further increasing Fetzima.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Do get back with further queries.
Regards
Dr Neeraj Kumar
Neurologist
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
