Pristiq withdrawal and switch to Celexa

Earlier dropped from 100mg to 50mg no problem, felt better!

Now to miss 50mg, next day take 50mg, miss day, take last 50mg- start with 10mg celexa and increase every 3-7 days, until at 40mg.

Yesterday I felt fine without first 50mg. This morning was the first morning after missing yesterdays 50mg, and I have eye movement , head position vertigo. Even reading is putting me off.
I took today's dose, but should I expect to be house bound all week? I will call pdoc on Monday, but any one else have the same problem?

My ususal mindfulness practice is bird watching- not going to happen.

I could not drive a friend to emergency this morning and keep her company (waits can be as long as 8 hours to be seen), as would not be safe on the road, so feeling bad double.

My instructions were to call pdoc with any problems, but I the optimist, did not expect any and should have gone for groceries yesterday.
Hopefully todays Pristiq, will allow me to function later today.
Thanks in advance for any ideas and for listening to my complaints.

Gently1

My Pdoc called back and said Pristiq (effexor) and Paxil, are 'known' to be hard to discontinue, and with my reaction I can expect rough ride.

She came up with a plan and I will start when I feel my schedule can handle being extremly flexible.

Happy Meds all!
G1

ICK! glad you got it worked out! I hate that coming off one med then building up another med process... Between my anxiety about being off meds and my anxiety about new meds I end up being a wreck!
I am glad you will be able to wait until the timing is better!

Omers,
Yes, I am also waiting to get into therapy for CSA, and my anxiety is increased.
From what I have read I have a very kind and caring Pdoc, with lot's of knowledge with anxiety.

RE the PM: I have a friend active in AS, and she sent me this as I sent her your links.
There is even a book called "All Cats have Asperger Syndrome." It was written to explain AS to children. Here is the link: http://specialchildren.about.com/od/...catshaveAS.htm

I LOVE that book! I have ummm... 4 copies that I loan out to people (OK 3 copies that I loan and my own much loved, verry tattered copy). For most of my talks or trainings on autism I start off by reading that book to the group. I use it mostly with adults and it is great. So many adults say the want to understand AS but if you tell them to read Temple Grandons biography or any of Tony Attwoods books then never follow through because they are so long and require effort.
I have an awesome Pdoc and it makes such a big difference. Mine (I've only been working with her about 6 months) is really stepping it up for me right now. Meds, for me, are such a scary thing. It is nice to work with someone who gets that, builds a trusting relationship with you and gets to know you.
I tried three other Pdocs before this one and something felt off... So I started asking around to others that used one in particular... come to find out she uses the same mix of meds for every client she sees no matter what they come in for!!!!!! So... I am glad you have found a good one.
Starting therapy may also change what you need for meds so be sure to keep communication open with your Pdoc.
I am a little slow on picking up on all the abreviations round here... CSA? I hope (for your sake) that it doesn't stands for what I think it does. But if it does... been there too so would be happy to offer any support I can. At this point in my work I don't trigger so you can, if you need/want, talk as freely as you want with me.
Aaak... lost track of time! oops! gotta run!!!!!

Update: my pharmacist had the best idea yet and it seems to be working.
She split the Pristiq 50mg into 1/4's. For 2 days I took 3 ( one every 6 hours) plus the 'new' Celexa 10mg.
Today and for a few days I will take 1/4 at AM and 1/4 pm then Celexa is to increase to 20mg. Then I will reduce to 1/4 in the evening.

The pills do not split nice and neat, but so far close counts.

Omers: CSA stands for what you know it means, I am not open to writing yet until I get into therapy specific for my past.
Thanks for the heads up on meds as it seems I have a tendancy to push myself to breaking point- over and over again, this time I was lucky in Group therapy (GT) as I had a breakthrough but very close to breakdown, as Assertiveness was triggering flashbacks.
I was going to be persistant and go to level 2, but with direct hints from the team-( day program- hospital) I decided 'there is enough time and space for everything I need to do'.
I was in limbo for a week but then the Team, came through for me and is keeping me on with individual therapy until I can get into the better fitting organization. A few months wait at the earliest.
Big sigh! the team is creating in me the trust that now when I ask for help I will have received it, unlike the past experience. This is healing to the child image of myself in a way I did not expect.

My pdoc says you can't split pristiq as it deactivates it. You might double check on that.

Hi farmergirl,

That is interesting, but from what I felt from missing a day as directed, compared to taking 1/4's is not leaving me in withdrawal pain. If it was completely deactivated I would have been in hospital by now as I could barely get out of bed last Sunday.

I am guessing it deactivates the way it is supposed to be time released, and what makes it past the stomach is enough keep my levels steady so I can get out of bed. Also waiting to increase celexa according to plan and the 10mg may be helping where it did not last week.

thanks
g1

I have not been on Pristiq but had a terrible experience with withdrawing from Effexor (similar medication), so I can empathize with the miserable symptoms! Unfortunately, for me, the dizziness, visual issues, and nausea/vomiting lasted several months. I hope it is much faster for you! One thing that may help is that you are starting a different antidepressant - for me, I was going off the Effexor completely and not starting a new medication.
If you have any nausea, I found that ginger tea was very helpful.
Good luck, hope you feel better very soon.

((noname1000))
Yes it is a wild ride without the carnival.
I am sorry that your withdrawal side effects were so long lasting.

So far so good and maybe it is the 10mg of Celexa this week. Tomorrow I start 20mg Celexa and will still take 1/4 Pristiq at 8:00 am and 1/4 at 8:00, and if that goes well I will go by my intuition and go to the 1/4 every 24 hrs.

I have had a few weeks break from T, and am starting again tomorrow. need to have my head on straight to get to the appointment

I have ginger tea and use a drop of peppermint essential oil on my temples and a drop that I rub my palms together and inhale deeply. This help with the nausea as well.