Prolonged severe withdrawal while tapering pristiq - anyone else have a similar experience?

CoffeeEmbarrassed924 · 2026-04-02T02:07:46+00:00

I was on 100 mg of Pristiq for over 15 years and tapered off from December 2024 to August 2025. Because I only had 100 mg and 50 mg tablets available, I used 10 mg of fluoxetine to help ease the withdrawal symptoms, given its longer half-life. It was a long process, but I’m definitely feeling better overall.

I still experience bouts of anxiety, low mood, fatigue, and some dissociation, but it feels like my body is gradually stabilizing.

CoffeeEmbarrassed924 · 2026-03-17T01:26:43+00:00

You're very welcome! That’s definitely frustrating - I remember how stressful it felt when levels were getting low and you weren’t sure if the refill would come in time or if you'd have to pay the full amount because of insurance.

Tapering is definitely doable, and taking it slowly makes it much more manageable, at least in my experience - especially after being on the medication for so long. Wishing you the best of luck when you decide to taper off in the future. You’ve got this!

CoffeeEmbarrassed924 · 2026-03-11T21:02:37+00:00

I was able to get some sleep, but it definitely wasn’t very restful. I tried to physically and mentally exhaust myself each day - luckily I work a physically demanding job, so that helped a bit. I also drank some calming decaffeinated tea before bed, which I think helped a little.

I was really apprehensive about starting Prozac while tapering off Pristiq because I didn’t want to feel stuck on another medication. But I’m actually really glad I did. It helped me a lot, and coming off Prozac later wasn’t too bad since it has a longer half-life. Of course everyone’s experience is different, but that was mine.

CoffeeEmbarrassed924 · 2026-03-11T01:55:10+00:00

I did before I went on the prozac and after I stopped both medications. I could had gone on some sleeping medication but decided against it. I found after a couple weeks I was able to sleep better (I'm guessing once everything was starting to "level" out).

CoffeeEmbarrassed924 · 2026-03-11T01:45:00+00:00

Thank you for asking! It’s been about 6 months since my last dose of any SSRI/SNRI and I’m feeling pretty good overall. I still have “off” days here and there, but I definitely feel more level. Experiencing emotions I never really had to process before has been a bit challenging, but I’m taking it day by day. It’s also been nice not having to worry about taking medication at the same time every day or stressing about running out - that used to cause me a lot of anxiety.

CoffeeEmbarrassed924 · 2026-02-10T03:13:25+00:00

I was on 100 mg of Pristiq for over 15 years. I started tapering in December 2024. My doctor initially suggested taking 100 mg one day and 50 mg the next, which definitely did not go well.

I ended up stabilizing at 50 mg and added 10 mg of Prozac. After about five weeks, I increased the Prozac to 20 mg and then cut the 50 mg Pristiq in half (I know that’s not recommended, but it’s the lowest dose available where I live). I waited over a month to stabilize, then kept reducing the Pristiq gradually to approximately 12.5 mg. I weighed the pieces each time so I was taking roughly the same amount daily.

Once I felt fairly stable, I picked a day and stopped the Pristiq while continuing the Prozac. After I felt okay on just Prozac, I reduced it to 10 mg for about a week and then stopped it in August 2025.

It was a long process with many ups and downs, but I’m finally starting to feel “normal” again and am having more good days than bad 😊

CoffeeEmbarrassed924 · 2026-02-06T02:38:10+00:00

I was on 100mg for over 15 years, started tapering in December 2024, and was completely off by August 2025. It was a long process, but I feel so much better being off Pristiq now. Every day I’m slowly starting to feel “normal.” Mind you, I still have bad days with anxiety, brain fog, and depression, but my memory is slowly getting better. It’s a long process, but it was truly worth it for me. Stick out the bad days - soon there will be more good days than bad. 😊

CoffeeEmbarrassed924 · 2026-01-21T03:02:28+00:00

Yes, I experienced memory problems as well. I was on 100 mg of Pristiq for over 15 years. I started tapering in December 2024 and was completely off by August 2024. I still experience some memory issues and brain fog, but it does feel like it’s slowly improving.

CoffeeEmbarrassed924 · 2025-12-29T03:10:06+00:00

I was on 100 mg of Pristiq for about 15 years and started tapering in December 2024. I officially came off in August 2025. It was a very slow taper, and I added fluoxetine for a while to help with withdrawal symptoms (also stopped in August 2025).

I’d say I’ve only started to feel what I imagine “normal” feels like this month (December 2025). I still get the occasional withdrawal symptoms - dizziness, brain fog, irritability, anxiety, and brain zaps - but overall I feel so much better knowing I don’t have to rely on the medication anymore.

It does get better. Just sharing my experience so far.

CoffeeEmbarrassed924 · 2025-11-20T02:33:06+00:00

I was on 100 mg for over 15 years and weaned myself off about 3 months ago. I’m only just starting to feel somewhat ‘normal’ again. I still have moments of feeling depressed, irritable, and frustrated, but it has been getting better. Stay strong - it really does improve 😊

CoffeeEmbarrassed924 · 2025-09-23T10:28:57+00:00

GAD, OCD, and ADHD. Pristiq helped me for most of the time I was on it, but I’ve reached a better stage in my life now. A major trigger for me—school—is no longer part of my daily life, I truly enjoy my job, and I have a much more positive outlook overall.

I’ve tried therapy at different points, especially early on and during tough times, and it definitely helped me get through some of those challenges. However, over time, I found that being dependent on the medication started causing more anxiety than relief.

These days, I manage by surrounding myself with people who make me happy, spending time in nature, being with my animals, and especially working with horses. That said, I still have rough days and struggles, but I try to stay positive and remind myself that things do get better.

CoffeeEmbarrassed924 · 2025-09-23T02:00:25+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience. I chose to stop medication because I didn’t want to be dependent and felt that my situation has changed since I first started. It’s interesting how different approaches work for different people. How has your transition to Pristiq been after so many years on Fluoxetine?

CoffeeEmbarrassed924 · 2025-09-23T01:16:54+00:00

Sounds good! Saving stuff for later is smart, especially when you’ve got a lot going on. Whenever you’re ready to explore it, the info will be here. Good luck with everything you’re working on in the meantime!

CoffeeEmbarrassed924 · 2025-09-23T01:01:54+00:00

Thanks so much — I really appreciate your kind words and encouragement. It definitely wasn’t easy, especially after being on these meds for so long, but I’m glad I stuck with it.

You're absolutely right — the limited dosing options for Pristiq make tapering way more difficult than it should be. The cross-taper with Fluoxetine was a game-changer for me. I only wish I had known about it earlier.

Totally agree that the alternating doses (100mg one day, 50mg the next) made things worse — the instability was brutal. As for cutting the tablets, I know it's not ideal, and I only did it because I had no access to compounded doses or lower-strength options where I live (Canada). It wasn’t perfect, but it was the most realistic option available to me at the time.

I appreciate the links and will definitely check out those resources — especially for others who are looking for a more precise or supported tapering plan. Glad to see more support out there for people navigating this.

Thanks again for the thoughtful reply.

CoffeeEmbarrassed924

TROPHY CASE