[Wander]

Yesterday I stopped taking my Pristiq after weaning down from 100mg. Since then I have been incredibly tired, had brain zaps and suddenly have begun to feel deep emotions both positive and negative. I have been crying over beautiful music, scenery and love for my family and friends. Occasionally I have been upset about my health and financial issues but mostly I have cried and felt deeply about positive things.

Has anyone else experienced this when coming off anti-depressants. I am worried I am heading into depression as I feel so deeply. Maybe I need the numbing but I cannot take AD's as they trigger mania. This happened to me last time I went off my AD's and I fell into a major depressive episode rapidly. What can I do to stop that happening again. I am being discharged from hospital tomorrow and have already had my last meeting with my pdoc who I won't now see for another week. I guess if it all falls apart I can wait at least a week. I want to feel deeply but not so deeply that it drowns me.

I've had that experience coming off meds too. It takes weeks for your brain chemistry to sort itself out. It is not fun at all. You cant know for sure which way you are going to go for a few weeks and until then it is all up and down.

If they've upped the lithium and lamictal it might keep the depression at bay.

Have you tried SSRI's? I didnt have nearly as bad side effects coming off them as I did coming off SNRIs. And they have never sent me as manic as SNRIs did.

Why did you choose to leave now and not stay for a while longer? I know the feeling of wanting to be out of there though.

[Velouria]

Oh god, I forgot to order my Pristiq a couple times, and it sucked. Yes, very emotional, more crying (it's hard for me to cry in general), more mood fluctuations, and those awful brain zaps. Just terrible. It's called antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.

This happens especially with SNRIs like Pristiq, from what I've read. Xanax helps these symptoms of discontinuation syndrome.

[Wander]

Thanks for the replies guys.
Supanova, I decided to be discharged due to the boredom and the fact that I felt I was able to cope without self-medicating on my own. I have detoxed of the alcohol and weed and almost off the Pristiq. It is beautiful summer weather and I dont want to miss it.

Velouria, I have tried SSRI's too and the same happens. Hopefully the extra Lamogtrogine will help with the depression

[electricbipolargirl]

Originally Posted by Wander

Yesterday I stopped taking my Pristiq after weaning down from 100mg. Since then I have been incredibly tired, had brain zaps and suddenly have begun to feel deep emotions both positive and negative. I have been crying over beautiful music, scenery and love for my family and friends. Occasionally I have been upset about my health and financial issues but mostly I have cried and felt deeply about positive things.

Has anyone else experienced this when coming off anti-depressants. I am worried I am heading into depression as I feel so deeply. Maybe I need the numbing but I cannot take AD's as they trigger mania. This happened to me last time I went off my AD's and I fell into a major depressive episode rapidly. What can I do to stop that happening again. I am being discharged from hospital tomorrow and have already had my last meeting with my pdoc who I won't now see for another week. I guess if it all falls apart I can wait at least a week. I want to feel deeply but not so deeply that it drowns me.

I'm on Pristiq 50 mgs and my pdoc says that if we ever decide that it's time to stop taking it, I will need to take a Prozac pill every day for 5 days. He says this should really help with the withdrawal symptoms.

My emotions have gone haywire when getting off meds. I hope things even out for you soon and you are able to feel deeply, without it consuming you.

Unfortunately, I always feel deeply (except on lithium which made me a hollow shell of a person) so I know what you mean about "feeling so deeply it drowns you". I often feel the same, even on my meds. IF this is new for you, it's understandable to believe it might be a side effect of coming off a med. best of luck in feeling better soon. Those brain zaps are no fun at all.

[Wander]

Thanks everyone. The last time I took my 50mg Pristiq was on Wed morning (Sat arvo now)and it is really hitting me now. I cry over everything. happy cries, sad cries...I have no idea cries. The brain zaps are constant. I wish my pdoc had of weaned me off cause this is freaking me out. I am scared the depression is returning although the only other symptoms I have are extreme tiredness and foggy head. I am already an emotional person so this is getting ridiculous. Maybe I discharged from hospital too early? I kind of rushed out cause I was bored but now I am worried I may get seriously depressed soon. Last time I went off AD's I went hypomanic (which I already am) and then came the crying and not long after the suicidal thoughts. Hopefully the Lamogtrigine increase will hit me asap. I was on 100mg and now I am on 200mg. How long does that take to kick in? On the plus side I am experiencing life to the full as I feel so deeply and a lot of it is positive. I just wept over the beauty of a song and the wonders of swimming in the ocean.