med changes

[lillizzie24]

has anyone had withdrawl from med changes? I have been taking 50g of pristiq for 6 years but wasn't working. I finally made the step to see behavioral health and have them do my medications instead of my Dr. they made a few changes including a med to help ptsd nightmares but are slowly weening me off of my pristiq starting with 25 mg. since the change I am withdrawing from them eventhough i'm not completely off of them. thankfully no brain zaps as I call them yet but i'm dizzy tired sick to my stomache and have an awful headache. if anyone has gone through this is there anything I can do to help this?  I'm terrified of what it will be once I'm totally off it

[RoseyLittle]

*little wave hi* I want to be very careful and preemptively say I am not a medical professional and this is out of my licences wheelhouse as a therapist. 🤣 But speaking just from the place of supporting others as their doctors make changes to medications or wean them off, I will agree completely with what you wrote. It can be common coming off an SNRI to experience the symptoms you named. Sometimes talked about as FINISH (flu-like symptoms, insomnia, nausea, imbalance, sensory disturbances, hyper arousal). You are already doing the best thing possible which is having the doc lead the weaning process and going slowly. Im glad you’re not having to deal with the brain zappys but I’m sorry it feels so yucky otherwise. You can use off prescription short term aids to help manage symptoms from the withdrawal but I would check anything with your health team. Otherwise just knowing you’re in a withdrawal window that does eventually end and just being really gentle with ourselves. Extra rest, extra self-care. I hope it slowly starts getting easier for you little bit by little bit. Sending virtual hugs. 

[Lil_K47]

hey sweetie! So sorry you're having a rough go of it coming off the prestige! A couple months back i stopped my Wellbutrin without talking to my Dr but I didn't have any problems with that one.

I can tell you a few years ago I was on Ultram (prescription Pain Medicine ) I was having lower back issues, and I was on it for I think about five months before I had my back surgery. And I had the absolute worst withdrawal coming off of that! I was sick as a dog! Like I couldn't even sit up and the world would start spinning on me!! 

You might be able to reach out to your provider and ask if they could give you something for the nausea. Or you could ask if it's OK to take something over-the-counter. Sometimes the medicines that you take for motion sickness can help. Like the two over-the-counter ones that I've used are just Dramamine and meclizine. But I definitely wouldn't try those unless you've talked to your doctor to make sure they're not gonna interact with your other meds.

Otherwise just taking it easy, eating frequent small snacks and meals kind of helped me. Definitely make sure you stay plenty hydrated! like one of those drinks with electrolytes like Pedialyte or even Gatorade. (I think the Pedialyte even comes in like a freeze pop)

And I found laying down with a cool compress on my forehead or the back of my neck really helped! 

Hope this helps a little bit . sending you some big hugs as well!