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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Buckeye Fan on August 23, 2009, at 7:37:17
I am 5 days into a switch from 100mgs of Zolot to 50 mgs of Pristiq.
Anyone out there well-versed on the two meds to answer this question:
Since I quit Zoloft "cold Turkey" ...could I be suffering the effects of Zoloft withdrawl AND Pristiq side-effects??
As I posted on the Medications Forum...I know I have put my body in distress by switching...reinstating...and switching again.
The PDoc told me I would have no problem, that the Pristiq would be a "substitute" for the Zoloft...but I have a feeling the two Meds are chemically different...so I think it would be natural for some type of reaction to the ABSENCE of Zoloft...AND the addittion pf Pristiq.
I am hyper...restless...cant sleep...my mood flucuates from manic to near suicidal....besides some dizziness, sinus problems...dry painful eyes
etc...What do you think? Withdrawl? Adjustment to the new Med? or Both?
BF
Posted by 49er on August 29, 2009, at 5:45:45
In reply to Zoloft, posted by Buckeye Fan on August 23, 2009, at 7:37:17
Hi BF,
<< The PDoc told me I would have no problem, that the Pristiq would be a "substitute" for the Zoloft...but I have a feeling the two Meds are chemically different...so I think it would be natural for some type of reaction to the ABSENCE of Zoloft...AND the addittion pf Pristiq.
>
> I am hyper...restless...cant sleep...my mood flucuates from manic to near suicidal....besides some dizziness, sinus problems...dry painful eyes
> etc...
>
> What do you think? Withdrawl? Adjustment to the new Med? or Both?>>
>With all due respect, your pdoc is misnformed as alot of them are with withdrawal. Actually, I would like to say alot worse but don't want to get banned from this board.
Here are the problems with your situation. You cold turkeyed a med at a high dose which you should never do and no, going on to another drug doesn't substitute for a very slow, careful taper.
The 2nd problem if I remember correctly about Pristiq is the smallest dose is 50mg. As a result, you can't slowly ease into the drug. That is why you are sadly having all those problems which I am so sorry that you're experiencing.
Why did you switch meds?
Personally, if I were going to switch meds, I would pick something that has dosing flexibility and wouldn't be tortorous to get off of. If god forbid, you have to get off of Pristiq, it has a short half life like Effexor which will have a good chance of making withdrawal very tough. Plus there is no dosing flexibility.
Since you are only 5 days out, personally, I would go back to the last dose of Zoloft that you felt stable at. I will wait to read your response before I say anything else.
By the way, I am not a medical professional just so you know. But having tapered down from 4 meds to 1, I learned how to safely taper them and live a somewhat decent life.
Good luck
49er
Posted by SLS on August 29, 2009, at 13:27:10
In reply to Zoloft, posted by Buckeye Fan on August 23, 2009, at 7:37:17
It takes 5 days to reach equilibrium with Pristiq. What that means is that you were not really making an instantaneous substitution. There is bound to be a lag between discontinuing the Zoloft and the establishment of a sufficient level of Pristiq in the body so as to prevent withdrawal effects for having stopped the Zoloft abruptly.
Hopefully, your doctor has made this switch successfully with his other patients so as to draw upon real clinical experience to support his treatment decision.
I hope you feel better within the next day or two.
Please continue posting. Reporting your experiences will be very helpful to others.
- Scott
Posted by ross2009 on October 2, 2009, at 11:06:10
In reply to Re: Zoloft » Buckeye Fan, posted by SLS on August 29, 2009, at 13:27:10
i agree to the above post. goodluck man!
Posted by ross2009 on October 18, 2009, at 20:38:30
In reply to Re: Zoloft, posted by ross2009 on October 2, 2009, at 11:06:10
hey man, how's it going?
Posted by Buckeye Fan on October 30, 2009, at 11:27:46
In reply to Re: Zoloft, posted by ross2009 on October 18, 2009, at 20:38:30
Much better....more stablized.
I am back to feeling the way I did when the Zoloft was working...it seems pristiq is OK so far.
It was as bit of a rough transition though, as I look back on my previous posting.Thanks for the interset and follow up.
BF
This is the end of the thread.
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