[kirby777]

Hi-

I stopped taking Pristiq, 50 mg without medical supervision. I had a dental appointment & the dentist stated it was causing drymouth, making me more prone to caries/cavities. I also was experiencing DRY EYE...which I never really connected this....I would wake up and feel as if my eyes were open the entire night. SO I started reading on how to stop it...and since it is coated...there is really no "way".

For a few days I cut the tablet in half~ making it basically (from what I read) Effexor. After 3-4 days of this, I just stopped. I KNOW this was unwise on my part.

My withdrawal symptoms included: increaded thirst, night sweats, some acting out ( although I was behaving similar while on it), a few crying spells,a few headaches...It was been a week since I started this.

Now I am questioning this and wonderdering whether I should go back onto SOMETHING. I have some weeks worth of Cymbalta and zoloft. I know I am still depressed. I have a call in to my pdoc.

Any thoughts??

Maybe Wellbutrin??

[Altered Moment]

Pristiq is the active metabolite of Effexor. I am not sure if they make a lower dose or an uncoated pill. Tapering off the Pristiq would be the best course. If you do better with the SSNRI's then Cymbalta and Fetzima are options. Wellbutrin too. Although Pristiq is the active metabolite Effexor they both produce a set of active metabolites somewhat different. Some people actually do better on one compared to the other. So effexor could be an option.

[kirby777]

Thanks Zinco-

The coating on the Pristiq tablet, from what I read, makes it able to pass through the stomach w/o breaking down & going into the blood stream there. There are NO directions by the manufacturer on how to taper off their lowest dose, 50 mg. Fetzima caused some noticable mania in me , and the pdoc wanted me off of this immediately.

The only reason I ended up on Pristiq was I have no insurance and Cymbalta came off patent, so my clinic was not receiving samples. The "at cost" price from a pharmacist who was willing to sell it to me, was ~ $170 per month..I could not afford it.

I am tired of spinning the "wheel" for an effective AD.

Is it OK if I PM you?

[Altered Moment]

Yes absolutely. That's crazy Cymbalta would be so much generic. Generics have been going up it seems, something fishy going on.

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[kirby777]

Update-

I have spoken to pdoc on the phone & she was shocked I just "stopped", I as am a nurse, so I DO know better...also I am aware I need some type of med on board. She was very nice and we decided wellbutrin 100mg SR once a day for a few days then move up to twice a day. I see her in two weeks, so maybe we will try Eli Lilly RX assistance for the Cymbalta...I do better w/ 30-60 mg...so maybe I will have her request 30 mg pills vs the 60s.....

I am unfortunate enough to be in one of the 3 states who did not go w/ the ACA with their medicaid system....

Thanks for listening!