Switch from Effexor to Pristiq

Yesterday, I switched from Effexor XR 150mg to Pristiq.  Today, I'm so down, I scare myself, and wasn't much better yesterday.  Has anyone else had this experience?    I've been on Pristiq in the past, with good results, but stopped it d/t sweats.  This time, I'm not even having the sweating!  Maybe I'm just not giving it enough time to kick in?  I know Effexor has a very short half life, but Pristiq is supposed to be a "second generation Effexor" or sorts, so I would expect the transition to be more seamless.  Any thoughts?

Since the pristique is related to the effexor, the transition shouldn't be too hard, but make sure you let your doctor know if you have any problems. I hope that the new medication works well for you.

Hugs, Karen

hi, I am day 13 from effexor 300mg (4 years and 225 for 2 on top of that). I am happy to say the worst is over. My experience was awful yet bearable with the help of my boyfriend and loved ones. I had read a lot of the blogs prior to this and was needless to say, very apprehensive about it.
Day one, I was okay and thought, "wow, i am stonger than most".
Day 2 I felt dizzy, nauseous, and a bit distracted.
Day 3-7 I did not leave the house, couldn't focus enough to think straight or drive for that matter. I was vomitting and had terrible sweats.
I was sad and angry with very little patience. Once I let my mood escalate I had a hard time calming back down. I worried that Iwas not going to be able to get through the withdrawl.
Then came day 8 and things were a bit better, day 9 even more so. I still feel much less patient with things but I am talking myself through that.

I am currently taking pristiq 50mg. but I will discontinue that over my next vacation. I never could have worked or cared for anyone but myself through this process. I know that many people don't have that luxury.

Keep focused and know that your body is getting a chemical out of your system and you will feel it. Let your body do its job and try to remind your head that you are going through a process that will end. That is what helped me. good luck!!!!!

have a good day. jamie

good luck with the transition ben. i hope you find an alternative to abilify soon. will be asking my doc to reinstate it, hopefully i get the nod second time round. jamie.

dx, mdd, severe borderline personality disorder

Hey All,

I am not good at changing meds and I started Wellbutrin 2 weeks ago at 150mg XL.  On Day 7 I was upped to 300mg XL and I was a mess.  Walking into doors, feeling like I was on an elevator going up and down, had trouble focusing and muscle aches.  So after 4 days of this I am in the process of getting down to the original 150 mg which I had seemed to tolerate.

Wellbutrin takes 5-7 days to clear your system.  So I am really bouncing around a lot. I really hate the foggy feeling.

DreamspinnerCheryl, I hope you are feeling better and please know we care about you.

I wish you peace,

Kitt

Wellbutrin did weird things to me-including such colorful dreams, I felt I'd spent the night watching movies, not sleeping. Hope it works for you.

The Pristiq does seem to help my energy level, but I'm having to watch the push-crash CFS thingie. I did tooooo much yesterday (including having about a gallon of blood drawn for a hundred or so labs), and am in a full-fledged crash today. I need to call and change my counseling session from today to tomorrow, if possible.

Now-back to bed. After I make that call......

Happy to report I'm feeling much better-more energy, but still have to carefully watch the push/crash cycle. My mood is stabilizing some, but still having occasional pity-parties. I suspect those have more to do with learning to accept the depth of my depression problem, and the CFS/Fibro, than the effectiveness of any one ATDP. With the major life and personal changes I've been through in the last couple of months, I'd be suspicious if I DIDN'T get down now and then.

I may already have posted (memory is the pits...), but my ARNP wants to switch me to Savella, depending on the labs I just had drawn, and whether I get an "official" Fibro diagnosis. I'm concerned that it will be the only serotonin agent I can take, and it isn't intended to treat depression. But, then, if Savella could help the constant aches and fatigue, I wouldn't be so danged depressed!

I hate the thougth of just having adjusted to a new med, only to start over again. Why can't things just be simple??

I switched from prozac to pristiq about 3 weeks ago, and the past four days have been murder. I've been cranky, irritable, moody, manic...and some how with all of this fire, still lethargic and sad...***? my mood has been veering to different poles in a matter of minutes, i feel really out of control- like all i want is to throw my body out of a speeding car...i've been so angry, but it's not anger directed towards others, its like violence to myself, really....when i started the medicine, i had a three day headache that went away, so is it still early enough that this might fade?

Women must stand up to big pharma’s bullying them to over-medicate with antidepressants washing out their emotions & personalities and interfering being mothers, sisters, brothers, daughters, partners and lovers.. Women are targeted for antidepressants by big Pharma in the same way that tobacco companies targeted us 70 years ago. Drug companies are so effective at selling unhappiness to women that women take more than twice as many antidepressants as men. http://sadnessaddiction.blogspot.com/

I went from 375mg of Effexor to 100 mg of pristiq. I thought that the smallest of pristiq was 50. Though this could be something new as it went generic.

I take 150 mg of pristiq now.

I gradually switched, actually taking the two drugs at the same time. It worked for me.

I hope you have a smooth transition.

Hugs, Karen...

Is the pristiq square or round? Pristiq recently went generic. I have had the square ones, which is like name brand. Greenstone manufacturer. The round ones don't work for me. Just a heads up...

Trish, welcome to the forum. Have a nice day...

Let me know about the prisitq.

Hugs, Karen....