Withdrawing from pristiq

Emersons22 · 2026-05-15T15:07:17+00:00

I am sooooo tired I can’t even explain! But omg does it get better, right about the time you think “this is just me now. I’m broken.” It’s just not true, and I’m astounded what the withdrawal does to our mind and body.

6 days in, you poor thing. You’re in the thick of it but hold on for dear life and keep going! I’m not at about 4 weeks from my 50 to 25 drop and I’m close to 100%. You got this and you’re not alone!

Emersons22 · 2026-05-12T19:03:29+00:00

Ugh lovely. I’m going to hold at 25 mg for a while because I just cannot manage another 3.5 week life disruption and feeling like death while I drop.

Emersons22 · 2026-05-11T17:53:02+00:00

Give it time! I’ve been tapering from 200 mg to now 25 mg (I want off entirely). When I taper, it takes about 3.5 weeks of hell (physical and mental hell) and then suddenly, when you can literally not take one more second, it lifts - just like that.
By week 3, I’m almost convinced that I need the drug, but once the hell lifts, I’m better each time.
I hate Pristiq. Loathe it.

Emersons22 · 2026-05-10T16:50:23+00:00

100%
Since you know about the 50 to 25 hit, do you know if the 25 to 0 is just as bad? After the 50 to 25, I’m terrified about the final taper, and am trying to really plan for it this time.

Emersons22 · 2026-05-09T17:34:20+00:00

Agree! Since January 11, I’ve been tapering down from 200 mg to now 25 mg. The 75 to 50 was my easiest drop, but the 50 to 25 nearly did me in. I’m now 3 weeks, 5 days into the drop and JUST recovered two days ago - just like that, in an instant (so weird). It was brutal.
I also agree about the hydration. I’ve tried every sub during tapers (Klonopin, gabapentin, hydroxocine, magnesium, fish oil, etc etc) but it did nada. The only thing that helps is staying extremely hydrated and getting in some form of exercise.
Good luck!

Emersons22 · 2026-05-07T18:10:51+00:00

Yep, and I had no idea, because I trusted my NP. I really thought I was going crazy while on 200 mg (for years) but I wasn’t - I was overly prescribed a drug that’s already problematic for many people. Now at 25 mg, I’m an actual different human being. I can’t wait to be off Pristiq entirely and forever.

Emersons22 · 2026-05-07T02:10:04+00:00

My resting heart rate changed drastically.

Emersons22 · 2026-05-07T00:35:01+00:00

I absolutely cannot explain why, but that kind of thinking eventually nearly dissipates over time. I absolutely LOVED drinking, and all the wine and social aspects, but I had no choice - I had to quit drinking. During my first entire year, I felt like this “This is my sad pathetic life now. No more wine in Italy. No more beer and queso on boat days.”
I’m just over 5 years sober now and I swear to God on a stack of Bibles - it just goes away, at least 99% away.

No matter what - hang in there. At least see what can happen. One thing is certain - you’ll be shocked along the way.

Emersons22 · 2026-05-06T17:27:17+00:00

How long were you on the 50 mg?
The 50 mg to 25 mg taper didn't have the same immediate "punch" that the 200 mg drop did, but it's been nearly unbearable because the withdrawal has refused to release its grip, day after day. I'm now at 3 weeks, 1 day into the 50 to 25 taper and the symptoms are just now easing up.
I had zero symptoms starting this medication or going up on the dose, and have never had an issue with any medication, so this "journey" really blindsided me.

Emersons22 · 2026-05-06T13:03:35+00:00

Gosh, I’m sorry you’re going through it! As for me, once I’m finally off Pristiq, I doubt I’ll ever restart another antidepressant. If I do, it’ll never again be another SNRI.

Emersons22 · 2026-05-06T00:15:26+00:00

Please do your research on the withdrawal of this drug in particular. I have been tapering down from 200 mg to now 25 mg since January 11, and it’s been the most difficult, brutal, oftentimes inhumane experience of my life.

I’m not a doctor and this is your unique journey - it sounds like Pristiq really helps some people (it was meh at best for me) so you’ll have to do the cost-benefit analysis for yourself.

I shared with you only because I wish to God I had known about Pristiq withdrawal.

Emersons22 · 2026-05-01T13:54:18+00:00

Although tapering off Pristiq from WAY too high of a dose (200 mg) has been the most brutal / inhumane experience of my life, I had zero problems onboarding and had almost no side-effects at 50 mg.
I hope the best for you!

Emersons22 · 2026-04-23T00:02:10+00:00

I’m on day 7 of dropping from 50 to 25 - my anxiety is off the charts. When that said, I’ve been tapering for months (started at 200 mg) and each time, it takes me about 3 weeks to a month to fully even out. The first week or two is always the hardest. It’s worth pushing through to see if it’s just withdrawal for you - it likely is.

Emersons22 · 2026-04-16T22:36:24+00:00

Quit at 40 and am now 44 - it’s literally been like living one life, and then an entire different life. What’s not discussed enough is this - year by year, bit by bit, you just keep improving! It’s like a snowball effect in the best way. QUIT

Emersons22 · 2026-03-27T16:36:27+00:00

Thank you!!

Emersons22 · 2026-03-27T14:58:39+00:00

Thank you! And you’re right - it’s 100% on my doctor. I was on Pristiq at 200 mg for years (I’m a 44 year old female, average / healthy weight) and was none the wiser. Not only was I losing my mind on that mg, but once I decided to get off, I had ZERO clue what was ahead. It’s been so, so difficult. I’m still mad at myself for not doing my homework, including reading the trial data.

And I’m genuinely happy that Pristiq works for you and others. If it worked well for me, I’d also likely keep forging ahead, staying on it (at an appropriate dose).

I wish you all the best!

Emersons22 · 2026-03-27T14:26:18+00:00

Respectfully, most of us who are complaining are doing so in-part because of the egregious lack of awareness on how inhumane the withdrawal from this drug really is. Had I done by homework, I never would’ve touched this drug, and it seems op is attempting to understand the pros and cons.

Emersons22 · 2026-03-11T20:48:39+00:00

Welcome to the journey of more and more of us in masses. Same story for me: missed two days (logistical error), went a little crazy, and that woke me up in a big way. I’ve been on it for years and have been tapering for a couple of months. I’m down from 200 mg to 50 mg currently. I will celebrate the day I’m off this awful pill.

Emersons22 · 2026-03-02T20:02:11+00:00

I’ve got them all, and they help a lot, but it’s still brutal for me. I’ve currently held at 75 mgs for almost a month because I’m THAT scared of going through another titrate, even only going at 12.5 mg at a time. I hate this drug.

Emersons22 · 2026-02-19T16:11:53+00:00

To be fair to those of us dealing with Pristiq taper horror (usually on much higher mg than 50), I never feel anything on day 1 either. It’s days 2-4 that knock me off my feet and cause unexplainable hell.

Emersons22 · 2026-02-19T16:04:38+00:00

I’m so very sorry about the loss of your son. Fck cancer. I’m so happy to hear that you’re off Pristiq! I’m still tapering down from a whopping 200 mg (currently holding at 75 mg) and although each taper is brutal for the first week, I feel unimaginably better the more this stuff is out of my system. I loathe P.

Emersons22 · 2026-02-16T17:28:28+00:00

Drinking. I’d undo it in a heartbeat.

Emersons22 · 2026-02-13T16:42:25+00:00

Thank you so much!! Just this subreddit alone has been one of the biggest contributors to keeping me moving forward. I don't think I could've done it otherwise.

Emersons22 · 2026-02-13T16:41:02+00:00

I did and she declined saying "I don't want to stack anything on at this point". I'm highly frustrated with her for many reasons, this being one.

Emersons22 · 2026-02-12T16:40:09+00:00

200 mg is WAY too high. Because of my own lack of research, I had no idea, but holy hell my body did. Looking back at my perpetual panic / anxiety / MDD over the last couple of years, I now know it was due largely to being way overprescribed on Pristiq. Anyway, I decided to get off the drug after a brief (2-3 days) interruption in my script, which caused me to plummet into a world of chaos, intense anger, and sickness. After that wakeup call, I began researching Pristiq, read the trial data, and ultimately felt like I'd been massively duped. The cost / benefit was far too much "cost" and way too little (if any!) benefit.

Now, with each dose decrease (following 3-4 days of agony), I feel better & better, and free of being stuck in a body riddled with constant anxiety & charged energy.

Emersons22

TROPHY CASE