I want to get off Zoloft. My doctor wants to switch me to Pristiq...HELP

I may give some background information at some point but posting like this is new to me so for tonight I'm looking for information (and a little comfort).  I've been on varying doses (100 - 150 mg) of Zoloft for almost a year.  Before that it was Paxil and now my doctor wants me to taper off Zoloft and start taking Pristiq.  I went to her office to have a grown-up conversation about my nasty symptoms (a middle of the night ER visit and subsequent 24 hour Holter heart monitor - Yikes) and some online research I'd done before the appointment.  Instead I wound up sobbing into my hands begging her to take me off this crazy drug.  I think I must have alarmed her a little because she wrote a tapering down schedule on a post-it and filled my arms with sample boxes of Pristiq, gave me a quick hug and sent me on my way.  Of course the first thing I did when I got home and dried my tears was to research Pristiq.  It sounds a little better - but not much. 

Has anyone out there switched from Zoloft to Pristiq?  How did it go?  My goal is to wean myself off AD meds altogether but the withdrawl is so awful and I live a fairly high pressure life (business owner).  I'll take any and all information, words of wisdom, comfort, solace....you get the drift.    I had a good cry on my husband's shoulder so I'm feeling some relief - for however long it lasts.

Hi Waitingforthelight,

I went from effexor to pristiq and it went very bwell. I really like it. ;I take 100mg a day. I think that is the max dose. I take a mood stabilizer with it too. And it works great. It is called abilify. You may want to talk to the doc about it if the pristiq doesn't help you. Remember it takes six to eight weeks for it to reach it's full potential. So be patient. When I added the abilify, I found it made the pristiq work even better. So that might be something to think about in the future. But I think you are going to like it. It is one of the newer drugs.

Best wishes for a lovely day. Any more questions, jsut post.

Hugs, Karen

See my signature -- I recently endured the paxil poop out while in the midst of my second ever life bipolar II "episode" since Paxil was not working, psychiatrist started taper dosing and at the same time put me on Cymbalta, I had w/d for 3 weeks and then the Cymbalta was taking over. Added Depakote as mood stabilizer and am feeling some relief.

Remember that any withdrawal effects from these lovely meds are not you, they are a reaction caused by the drug leaving your body, and although they may not be fun they will stop. Maybe you can call your doc and talk to the nurse letting them know things are NOT going well and what do they suggest you do until you can get in to see them?? That would be for starters -- and I agree a good long cry on hubbys shoulder always gives me a little bit of relief in the moment :)

Prayers to you during this difficult time and may God Bless!! Stephanie

Good Morning,

I think you need to consider chatting with  your physician or P-doc  about a slow withdrawl.  JMHO. It is much safer to be under the supervision of your physician. 

I wish you luck,

Kitt

Hey there!

Let me just say I am not a doctor, and I weaned myself off Zoloft without my doctor's permission...with success.

Here's my little "journal" I've been posting to on this forum: https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=2436060. I made it specifically, because I wanted to show people you can wean off of Zoloft and not have insane withdrawal (although I was on a very low dose, 50 mg 1x day). I've been off Zoloft for 1 month this coming weekend, and it's like my life is making sense again. Plus, I have less anxiety, and I find it so much easier for me to NOT take a xanax when upset and use something herbal instead--or just relax.

I felt how you felt. I felt like I had a physical and "inner knowing" that it was doing more harm than good for me.

Maybe, just maybe...and these are just my little thoughts...what you could do is wean yourself off the Zoloft, per your doctor. Then maybe wait a month after you are totally off Zoloft, and then if you really do feel like you need that extra help (and there's nothing shameful in that), THEN take the Pristique.

In the mean time, a little quirky remedy to help you with any Zoloft withdrawal symptoms is taking a dose of Benedryl. So weird, I know, but it's recommended by many who wean off SSRIs, and it was incredibly helpful to me (and I never became dependent on them).

Hope this helps...let us know what decisions you make!