![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 24 of 24. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Buckeye Fan on February 2, 2010, at 15:55:15
Hi guys,
I am almost a month into my tapering of Pristiq.
I was switched from 7 years of Zoloft, because of a job last last August that sent me into severe depression, to Pristiq.
After gaining 35 pounds...High Blood pressure..being unemployed and it being the dead of Winter here;;;..I have tapered down to once-every-3-days of 50 mg's of pristiq ( smallest dose available).
Things were going pretty well, but for the last few days the depression has returned along with other symptoms.Itching, fatique, aches and pains, trouble sleeping, anxiety and a "restless" feeling I have never experienced before.
I cannot really explain this new symptom with words.
It is a feeling of...emptiness..or embarrasment..I dont feel like being around anyone...YET the isolation and loneliness is equally agonizing.
Its like an inner nervousness,,,,uncomfortable feeling....like something is just not quite right.
Any ideas? I know I am not being very descriptive
but I am really puzzeled by this emotion,..or feeling...or symptom, or what ever it is!Any help would be appreciated
BF
Posted by Phillipa on February 2, 2010, at 19:05:53
In reply to Symptom of Medication?, posted by Buckeye Fan on February 2, 2010, at 15:55:15
BF maybe for now you need to increase the dose of pristiq to what was working for you? Phillipa
Posted by inanimate peanut on February 2, 2010, at 21:16:21
In reply to Re: Symptom of Medication? » Buckeye Fan, posted by Phillipa on February 2, 2010, at 19:05:53
I think may know what symptom you're talking about-- it's like restless leg syndrome but for your whole brain and body. It's like you have to move or do something or scream or something but nothing helps. It's a horrible inner agitation that almost has an outer manifestation. I call them anxiety attacks but I don't really think that's the right term. I may be totally off here and experiencing something totally different, but what you were saying sounded like what I had when I quit Pristiq. It was actually when I was on washout from all my anti-depressants, so I can't connect it directly with Pristiq and it may just be a part of my depression. If you can get ahold of some PRN anxiety medication, that helped me. I was using ativan 4mg when I had those spells come on and that would help. Good luck with the Pristiq withdrawal-- it can be tough.
Posted by Phillipa on February 2, 2010, at 21:52:45
In reply to Re: Symptom of Medication?, posted by inanimate peanut on February 2, 2010, at 21:16:21
Akathesia Phillipa
Posted by Buckeye Fan on February 3, 2010, at 7:51:56
In reply to Re: Symptom of Medication? » inanimate peanut, posted by Phillipa on February 2, 2010, at 21:52:45
Yes !
Thank you Phillipa
BF
Posted by Buckeye Fan on February 3, 2010, at 7:55:57
In reply to Re: Symptom of Medication?, posted by inanimate peanut on February 2, 2010, at 21:16:21
Hi peanut,
You are accurately describing the symptom.
I will keep posting as to my progress, and hopefully this will pass.
I have noticed something else too....
I felt WORSE yesterday after taking the pristiq...than I did in between doses.I am wondering if after a month of taperering...maybe I dont need to keep going this slow. I think I feel better during the 2 days I DONT take pristiq.
Does this sound logical or not ?
BF
Posted by Lou Pilder on February 3, 2010, at 8:34:14
In reply to Symptom of Medication?, posted by Buckeye Fan on February 2, 2010, at 15:55:15
> Hi guys,
>
> I am almost a month into my tapering of Pristiq.
>
> I was switched from 7 years of Zoloft, because of a job last last August that sent me into severe depression, to Pristiq.
>
> After gaining 35 pounds...High Blood pressure..being unemployed and it being the dead of Winter here;;;..I have tapered down to once-every-3-days of 50 mg's of pristiq ( smallest dose available).
> Things were going pretty well, but for the last few days the depression has returned along with other symptoms.
>
> Itching, fatique, aches and pains, trouble sleeping, anxiety and a "restless" feeling I have never experienced before.
>
> I cannot really explain this new symptom with words.
>
> It is a feeling of...emptiness..or embarrasment..I dont feel like being around anyone...YET the isolation and loneliness is equally agonizing.
>
> Its like an inner nervousness,,,,uncomfortable feeling....like something is just not quite right.
>
> Any ideas? I know I am not being very descriptive
> but I am really puzzeled by this emotion,..or feeling...or symptom, or what ever it is!
>
> Any help would be appreciated
>
> BF
>
BF,
You wrote,[...any ideas?..Any help will be...]
When I read your post above, I see the classic symptoms that manifest themselves in the innitial period of the withdrawal from benzodiazepines, so that could be your situation.
This could be a very difficult time until the "trouble sleeping" and "inner nervousness" part of the withdrawal, if that is what it is, stops. This is a time when those experiancing BZD withdrawal think about suicide because they think that that is the state that they will be in forever, which may not be the case.
If you are interested in that what you are experiancing now could be classic BZD withdrawal, you could bring up lectures about such on youtube by keying in Dr. Heather Ashton and then on the side of her videos are other people, particularly Gwenn, an ex pharm salseperson, telling about their withdrawal from BZDs.
Lou
Posted by conundrum on February 3, 2010, at 10:43:26
In reply to Re: Symptom of Medication?, posted by Buckeye Fan on February 3, 2010, at 7:55:57
If you can go two days without taking it you might consider stopping all together. Most of the drug should have left your system by that point anyway.
Posted by bleauberry on February 3, 2010, at 17:12:17
In reply to Symptom of Medication?, posted by Buckeye Fan on February 2, 2010, at 15:55:15
What you describe is common with antidepressant withdrawals, but especially with effexor, pristiq. For me it was especially bad post-zoloft.
Lots of adaptations take place in the brain on these meds. Take away the meds, and things friek out. The entire serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine circuits are totally frieking out. As it takes weeks and months for adaptations to occur while getting on meds, it takes at least as long and sometimes longer getting off them. We already know our brains are screwed up in the adaptation department to begin with anyway, because if they weren't we never would have had any reason to try a medication. Medications can just aggravate the whole thing and make it worse.
The good news is that eventually things will settle down to a baseline. For me, that was about 6 months after zyprexa; about 4 weeks after zoloft; and similar with other meds.
In the meantime you really should try some things to help the symptoms. Over the years one of the more helpful aids for effexor withdrawal is Benadryl.
I tried a bunch of supplements and herbs to treat those aweful symptoms you described. Most of them helped quite a bit. I didn't use them continuously, but for sporadic relief when I really needed it the most. They included Passionflower, Lemon Balm, magnesium, GABA, glycine. And yeah, Benadryl. Pharmaceutical aids would probably include Xanax, Klonopin, Lorazepam...but then you're looking at withdrawing from those eventurally. Zyprexa can be a good help, taken as needed instead of everyday. Seroquel also, though I never recommend this med for any other reason.
That creepy whole body anxiety thing you are feeling, most of the above will help with that a lot. As for the emptiness and loneliness, that's a different story. That is probably a combination of withdrawal depression mixed in with some of the original depression pre-meds.
Pristiq has some unknown interplay with the opioid system, is structurally similar to tramadol, and some have hypothesized that is why its withdrawals are so scary.
Four ways out:
1. Cold turkey, get it over with, and use natural or pharmaceutical help to weather the storm until things smooth out. Then see where you are and decide what to do from there.
2. Wean very slowly in tiny steps over a couple months. 50mg is not the smallest size. You can take 48mg, 47mg, whatever size you want. There is a whole art in making custom doses at home...cutting pills, slicing pills, crushing pills to powder, emptying capsules and reloading desired amounts into gel caps, mixing in juice and drinking measured amounts, etc.
3. Switch straight across to something else.
4. Take a single dose of prozac about once every 4 days to a week. Its long halflife will help fill in the gaps.
Posted by Buckeye Fan on February 4, 2010, at 9:02:17
In reply to Lou's response-clacikcayz » Buckeye Fan, posted by Lou Pilder on February 3, 2010, at 8:34:14
> BF,
> You wrote,[...any ideas?..Any help will be...]
> When I read your post above, I see the classic symptoms that manifest themselves in the innitial period of the withdrawal from benzodiazepines, so that could be your situation.
> This could be a very difficult time until the "trouble sleeping" and "inner nervousness" part of the withdrawal, if that is what it is, stops. This is a time when those experiancing BZD withdrawal think about suicide because they think that that is the state that they will be in forever, which may not be the case.
> If you are interested in that what you are experiancing now could be classic BZD withdrawal, you could bring up lectures about such on youtube by keying in Dr. Heather Ashton and then on the side of her videos are other people, particularly Gwenn, an ex pharm salseperson, telling about their withdrawal from BZDs.
> Lou
Thanks Lou...I have visited Dr Ashton's site before..but never thought to WATCH her lectures on Youtube..what a great ideathanks again
BF
Posted by Buckeye Fan on February 4, 2010, at 9:10:29
In reply to Re: Symptom of Medication? » Buckeye Fan, posted by conundrum on February 3, 2010, at 10:43:26
> If you can go two days without taking it you might consider stopping all together. Most of the drug should have left your system by that point anyway.
Hi conundrum, it's funny...I have been thinking the same thing.
I guess I am hesitant because most every source advising on getting off an AD is adament about doing a slow taper.
This is understandable as opposed to the cold-turkey approach, since sudden, total withdrawl of a drug one has been taking for months is bound to throw the nervous system into unrest and instability.On the other hand,,,,in my paticuliar case, I almost feel like every third day I am "re-introducing" pristiq into my system, and I actually feel WORSE on the days I take it.
I just dont know how I would react to total elimination of the pristiq
I supose one way to safely find out is to go every 4 days between doses.I will give that some thought...thanks for your comments
BF
Posted by Buckeye Fan on February 4, 2010, at 9:23:46
In reply to Re: Symptom of Medication?, posted by bleauberry on February 3, 2010, at 17:12:17
> What you describe is common with antidepressant withdrawals, but especially with effexor, pristiq. For me it was especially bad post-zoloft.
>
> Lots of adaptations take place in the brain on these meds. Take away the meds, and things friek out. The entire serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine circuits are totally frieking out. As it takes weeks and months for adaptations to occur while getting on meds, it takes at least as long and sometimes longer getting off them. We already know our brains are screwed up in the adaptation department to begin with anyway, because if they weren't we never would have had any reason to try a medication. Medications can just aggravate the whole thing and make it worse.
>
> The good news is that eventually things will settle down to a baseline. For me, that was about 6 months after zyprexa; about 4 weeks after zoloft; and similar with other meds.
>
> In the meantime you really should try some things to help the symptoms. Over the years one of the more helpful aids for effexor withdrawal is Benadryl.
>
> I tried a bunch of supplements and herbs to treat those aweful symptoms you described. Most of them helped quite a bit. I didn't use them continuously, but for sporadic relief when I really needed it the most. They included Passionflower, Lemon Balm, magnesium, GABA, glycine. And yeah, Benadryl. Pharmaceutical aids would probably include Xanax, Klonopin, Lorazepam...but then you're looking at withdrawing from those eventurally. Zyprexa can be a good help, taken as needed instead of everyday. Seroquel also, though I never recommend this med for any other reason.
>
> That creepy whole body anxiety thing you are feeling, most of the above will help with that a lot. As for the emptiness and loneliness, that's a different story. That is probably a combination of withdrawal depression mixed in with some of the original depression pre-meds.
>
> Pristiq has some unknown interplay with the opioid system, is structurally similar to tramadol, and some have hypothesized that is why its withdrawals are so scary.
>
> Four ways out:
> 1. Cold turkey, get it over with, and use natural or pharmaceutical help to weather the storm until things smooth out. Then see where you are and decide what to do from there.
> 2. Wean very slowly in tiny steps over a couple months. 50mg is not the smallest size. You can take 48mg, 47mg, whatever size you want. There is a whole art in making custom doses at home...cutting pills, slicing pills, crushing pills to powder, emptying capsules and reloading desired amounts into gel caps, mixing in juice and drinking measured amounts, etc.
> 3. Switch straight across to something else.
> 4. Take a single dose of prozac about once every 4 days to a week. Its long halflife will help fill in the gaps.
Lots of great information bleauberry, I appreciate it.I am especially interested in, as you put it, my personal pre-Med Baseline state.
I have, as I have posted before...not been unmedicated for years.
I also realize that time has passed...and we all change ( meds or no meds) over the years.
If you see my reply to conundrum...you will read I am thinking about taking the next step of 4 days between doses...or discontinuing pristiq altogether.I will keep you posted
BF
Posted by conundrum on February 4, 2010, at 10:12:54
In reply to Re: Symptom of Medication?, posted by Buckeye Fan on February 4, 2010, at 9:10:29
Yes many people need very slow tapers. I've seen that some people on paxil take months to get off the drug and have trouble getting of the tiniest of doses, and they need some every day.
The fact that you can take it for a couple days and not feel bad means you probably don't need to keep taking it. If you feel fine after 3 days I think you are probably through the clear.
Posted by Phillipa on February 4, 2010, at 19:34:46
In reply to Re: Symptom of Medication? » Buckeye Fan, posted by conundrum on February 4, 2010, at 10:12:54
I have to agree as the only ad could tolerate for two years was the l0mg of paxil and bit off pieces for two weeks and then off. And that eliminated the brain zaps my only sign of withdrawal more annoying than anything else. Phillipa
Posted by 49er on February 5, 2010, at 12:55:51
In reply to Symptom of Medication?, posted by Buckeye Fan on February 2, 2010, at 15:55:15
Buckeye Fan,
You're having problems because you're not taking a consistent dose every day and as a result, you are putting your body into withdrawal.
If you stop the med, that will be a cold turkey withdrawal. You may be fine for a few months but the chances of having problems are big time.
It isn't case of simply lowering the drug level like with an aspirin. These drugs have made long time neurochemical changes throughout your body and it needs to be given time to adapt to a lower dose.
I previously wrote you suggestions on how to taper Pristiq slowly. If you can't find the post, let me know and I will do a search.
49er
> Hi guys,
>
> I am almost a month into my tapering of Pristiq.
>
> I was switched from 7 years of Zoloft, because of a job last last August that sent me into severe depression, to Pristiq.
>
> After gaining 35 pounds...High Blood pressure..being unemployed and it being the dead of Winter here;;;..I have tapered down to once-every-3-days of 50 mg's of pristiq ( smallest dose available).
> Things were going pretty well, but for the last few days the depression has returned along with other symptoms.
>
> Itching, fatique, aches and pains, trouble sleeping, anxiety and a "restless" feeling I have never experienced before.
>
> I cannot really explain this new symptom with words.
>
> It is a feeling of...emptiness..or embarrasment..I dont feel like being around anyone...YET the isolation and loneliness is equally agonizing.
>
> Its like an inner nervousness,,,,uncomfortable feeling....like something is just not quite right.
>
> Any ideas? I know I am not being very descriptive
> but I am really puzzeled by this emotion,..or feeling...or symptom, or what ever it is!
>
> Any help would be appreciated
>
> BF
>
Posted by 49er on February 5, 2010, at 13:04:20
In reply to Re: Symptom of Medication? » Buckeye Fan, posted by conundrum on February 4, 2010, at 10:12:54
> Yes many people need very slow tapers. I've seen that some people on paxil take months to get off the drug and have trouble getting of the tiniest of doses, and they need some every day.
>
> The fact that you can take it for a couple days and not feel bad means you probably don't need to keep taking it. If you feel fine after 3 days I think you are probably through the clear.That is absolutely incorrect.
BF may feel fine for even a few months but as is the experience with many people who cold turkey a drug, the symptoms come back to bite them big time.
People who cold turkey a med end up taking longer to recover than folks who tapered a med slowly. Of course, there is no hard fast rule to this and perhaps BF might be one of the lucky ones. The problem is he/she won't know until it is too late. Why take that risk?
By the way, tapering slowly does not mean you won't have problems. But I had tapered too fast, there is no doubt in my mind I wouldn't be able to hold a full time job like I have been able to currently do.
49er
Posted by Lou Pilder on February 5, 2010, at 13:32:12
In reply to Re: Symptom of Medication? » conundrum, posted by 49er on February 5, 2010, at 13:04:20
> > Yes many people need very slow tapers. I've seen that some people on paxil take months to get off the drug and have trouble getting of the tiniest of doses, and they need some every day.
> >
> > The fact that you can take it for a couple days and not feel bad means you probably don't need to keep taking it. If you feel fine after 3 days I think you are probably through the clear.
>
> That is absolutely incorrect.
>
> BF may feel fine for even a few months but as is the experience with many people who cold turkey a drug, the symptoms come back to bite them big time.
>
> People who cold turkey a med end up taking longer to recover than folks who tapered a med slowly. Of course, there is no hard fast rule to this and perhaps BF might be one of the lucky ones. The problem is he/she won't know until it is too late. Why take that risk?
>
> By the way, tapering slowly does not mean you won't have problems. But I had tapered too fast, there is no doubt in my mind I wouldn't be able to hold a full time job like I have been able to currently do.
>
> 49er49er,
You wrote,[...this is xxxxxxx yyyyyyy...experiance with many people..the symptoms come back to..big time...people who cold turkey..end up taking longer to recover...won't know until...too late].
I am in need of more infomation to respond here, and if you could post answers to the following, then I could have the opportunity to respond accordingly.
A. Could you post a link to an article that is an authority that supports that [...it is xxxxxx yyyyyyy...]?
B. Also for [...that the symptoms come back to..big time...]?
C. also for [...taking longer to recover...]?
D.also for [...too late...]?
Lou
Posted by Buckeye Fan on February 5, 2010, at 13:55:40
In reply to Re: Symptom of Medication? » Buckeye Fan, posted by 49er on February 5, 2010, at 12:55:51
> Buckeye Fan,
>
> You're having problems because you're not taking a consistent dose every day and as a result, you are putting your body into withdrawal.
>
> If you stop the med, that will be a cold turkey withdrawal. You may be fine for a few months but the chances of having problems are big time.
>
> It isn't case of simply lowering the drug level like with an aspirin. These drugs have made long time neurochemical changes throughout your body and it needs to be given time to adapt to a lower dose.
>
> I previously wrote you suggestions on how to taper Pristiq slowly. If you can't find the post, let me know and I will do a search.
>
> 49er
Holy cow !!!!
I am half way through day 3 without taking my dose of pristiq, and I feel like I am in full withdrawl! I thought I was doing so well too...49er, I didnt know you had posted..I was just coming on to post my upsurge in withdrawl symptoms after trying to go 3 days between dosing...but I am glad you did!
( By the way..how do I access my User controls so I can receive e-mail notifications when a reply is made to a topic I am interested in ?)Anyways....as you know,I have been doing an every other day taper, with what I thought was success.
Right now I feel like crap.
And I think it has been slowly building, even tho I thought the every-other-day taper was working.I am so sick of this, and dissappointed in myself for ever starting an anti-depressant.
All I had was Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia in the beginning...I should have just stayed on a Benzo until the situation changed that was causing the anxiety.
Now here I am 8 years later...strung out on an AD like a heroin addict.
Brain shivers...depression...cant sit still...cant concentrate...nerves are raw and edgy
So now I need to decide to throw up the white flag of surrender ( again) and return to the bondage of prescription drugs....or tough this out and hope it gets better.....while feeling like I am losing my mind.
Posted by Buckeye Fan on February 5, 2010, at 14:02:46
In reply to Re: Symptom of Medication? » conundrum, posted by 49er on February 5, 2010, at 13:04:20
> > Yes many people need very slow tapers. I've seen that some people on paxil take months to get off the drug and have trouble getting of the tiniest of doses, and they need some every day.
> >
> > The fact that you can take it for a couple days and not feel bad means you probably don't need to keep taking it. If you feel fine after 3 days I think you are probably through the clear.
>
> That is absolutely incorrect.
>
> BF may feel fine for even a few months but as is the experience with many people who cold turkey a drug, the symptoms come back to bite them big time.
>
> People who cold turkey a med end up taking longer to recover than folks who tapered a med slowly. Of course, there is no hard fast rule to this and perhaps BF might be one of the lucky ones. The problem is he/she won't know until it is too late. Why take that risk?
>
> By the way, tapering slowly does not mean you won't have problems. But I had tapered too fast, there is no doubt in my mind I wouldn't be able to hold a full time job like I have been able to currently do.
>
> 49er
You are right...I dont see any way out of this cycle.I cant find a job...even if I could I have trouble performing at previous levels in my past where I am used to excelling ( not bragging...just stating there has been a slow, definite decline in my ability to function )
Anyways...what did I expect?
I agreed to try this "pristiq" 6 months ago, knowing it was more powerful than the zoloft I had been on for years.
Knowing that it would artificially rev up my system with dopamine, seratonine and other "feel good" chemicals.....Did I not think there wouldnt come a time to pay the piper , so to speak???????????
Tell you what guys...I am really tired of this... and I have no idea what to do next
Posted by conundrum on February 5, 2010, at 15:19:14
In reply to Re: Symptom of Medication?, posted by Buckeye Fan on February 5, 2010, at 14:02:46
Can you find out if pritiq can be cut in half? You can use a razor blade to cut it into smaller peices. You can also shave off parts of the pill if needed.
Posted by Lou Pilder on February 5, 2010, at 17:50:42
In reply to Re: Symptom of Medication? » Buckeye Fan, posted by 49er on February 5, 2010, at 12:55:51
> Buckeye Fan,
>
> You're having problems because you're not taking a consistent dose every day and as a result, you are putting your body into withdrawal.
>
> If you stop the med, that will be a cold turkey withdrawal. You may be fine for a few months but the chances of having problems are big time.
>
> It isn't case of simply lowering the drug level like with an aspirin. These drugs have made long time neurochemical changes throughout your body and it needs to be given time to adapt to a lower dose.
>
> I previously wrote you suggestions on how to taper Pristiq slowly. If you can't find the post, let me know and I will do a search.
>
> 49er
>
> > Hi guys,
> >
> > I am almost a month into my tapering of Pristiq.
> >
> > I was switched from 7 years of Zoloft, because of a job last last August that sent me into severe depression, to Pristiq.
> >
> > After gaining 35 pounds...High Blood pressure..being unemployed and it being the dead of Winter here;;;..I have tapered down to once-every-3-days of 50 mg's of pristiq ( smallest dose available).
> > Things were going pretty well, but for the last few days the depression has returned along with other symptoms.
> >
> > Itching, fatique, aches and pains, trouble sleeping, anxiety and a "restless" feeling I have never experienced before.
> >
> > I cannot really explain this new symptom with words.
> >
> > It is a feeling of...emptiness..or embarrasment..I dont feel like being around anyone...YET the isolation and loneliness is equally agonizing.
> >
> > Its like an inner nervousness,,,,uncomfortable feeling....like something is just not quite right.
> >
> > Any ideas? I know I am not being very descriptive
> > but I am really puzzeled by this emotion,..or feeling...or symptom, or what ever it is!
> >
> > Any help would be appreciated
> >
> > BF
> >
> 49er,
You wrote,[...these drugs have made long time neurochemical changes throughout your body....].
There are many well-written articles describing what those changes are. The question here is how can those changes be reversed, if they can.
One reasoned way is that if you keep taking the drug in question at smaller and smaller amounts, the nervous system will adapt to those reductions and eventually you will get to zero. But even though that makes sense, could it be true?
Let us suppose that a person went into a hospital with 3erd degree sun burns. And then the doctor says to the person to go out in the sun each day a little less time than the previous day and your sunburn will go away.
Now would that make sense?
Then there is the aspect of just stopping the drug ,period. If that was done, what could heal the neurochemical changes? Would it happen by itself? Could not those changes be not reversible?
But if the changes could be reversed, what could be a mechanism to have the changes reversed?
One could think that there is something that the body itself could do, like white blood cells attacking bacteria. One could think that the changes could be reversed by taking another drug.
I have an entierly different perspective as to how the nervous system that was changed by chemicals could be restored.
You see, one could discontinue the chemicals in question on their own determination. That would be human achievment. But I say to you, could not one be heald by (redacted by respondent).
Lou>
Posted by Buckeye Fan on February 5, 2010, at 21:40:20
In reply to Re: Symptom of Medication? » Buckeye Fan, posted by conundrum on February 5, 2010, at 15:19:14
> Can you find out if pritiq can be cut in half? You can use a razor blade to cut it into smaller peices. You can also shave off parts of the pill if needed.
Cant do that with pristiq...it is extended release.
No way of accurately measuring out a consitant dose....other than doing the every-other-day taperthanks for the thought tho...
Posted by Buckeye Fan on February 5, 2010, at 21:40:42
In reply to Re: Symptom of Medication? » Buckeye Fan, posted by conundrum on February 5, 2010, at 15:19:14
> Can you find out if pritiq can be cut in half? You can use a razor blade to cut it into smaller peices. You can also shave off parts of the pill if needed.
Cant do that with pristiq...it is extended release.
No way of accurately measuring out a consistant dose....other than doing the every-other-day taperthanks for the thought tho...
Posted by floatingbridge on February 8, 2010, at 11:18:26
In reply to Re: Symptom of Medication?, posted by Buckeye Fan on February 5, 2010, at 21:40:42
BF,
I was able to cut 100 pristiq into rough equivalent 50 w/o any discernible effect.
Perhaps the coating is not part of the time release; maybe it's just to get it into the gi track. The sustained release may be in the formulation itself.
That you can go two days w/o pristiq is amazing to me. I feel ill w/in 6-10 he's of a missed/forgotten dose.
I'm hearing that you feel like you'll never get off--don't despair--you will. You'll find a way. Maybe 49er's way will work for you.
fb
> > Can you find out if pritiq can be cut in half? You can use a razor blade to cut it into smaller peices. You can also shave off parts of the pill if needed.
>
>
> Cant do that with pristiq...it is extended release.
> No way of accurately measuring out a consistant dose....other than doing the every-other-day taper
>
> thanks for the thought tho...
>
>
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.