I have tried numerous anxiety medications over the years with little success. I did the best on Lexapro but when I tried to restart it I had horrible flushing in my head. I have myofascial pain disorder which basically means I have bad muscles in my face, head, neck, shoulders. The tight muscles in my face are causing TMJ and ETD. I need to be able to relax!
My doctor gave me Pristiq 50 mg to try. Today was my 13th dose. I've had some left sided twitching prior to the Pristiq and last week I started to feel like my body was vibrating. Yesterday my teeth even feel like they are vibrating! I don't know why I didn't connect it to the Pristiq but I'm sure it's the cause.
I want to stop taking it so I called my doctor to ask if I should stop cold turkey since it's only been 13 days or cut the 50 in half for a few days. Unfortunately he's out of town until next wed. I called the pharmacy and was told stopping cold turkey might be ok and to call my doctor.
Any advice on stopping the Pristiq?
I do have a full bottle of Klonopin I can use. I rarely take it. Btw I am also on Wellbutrin XL 300.
Hi, Ann, haven't been on same meds as you but did stop cold turkey once without asking doc, unfortunately it was hell. I had been on longer than you but not a massive dose. Wouldn't advise it, though some people do cope , suppose it depends on the med and the person. Can you ask another doctors advice tillbyours get back. May advise to cut dose down slightly each day and taper as you haven't been on long, but your doc may want to work out a plan with you, it's always such a worry with meds when you can't ask docs advice straight away. Hope another doctor in practice can advise you , thecsymptoms are horrid, you poor thing, I understand that feeling of not knowing what to do and just wanting tremor type shaking to go, it's so distressing. Hope you get help with this and get better soon, wish I could be more help❤️
I talked to a friend that is a pharmacist. She said she thinks I should be OK just stopping it since it's only been a few days but taking 1/2 for a couple of days might be better. Unfortunately, my Pristiq is the extended release so it can't be split. So I either have to quit cold turkey or wait until my doctor comes back next week to have him call in a script for the 25 mg. I don't want to take it longer making it harder to come off and I don't want to vibrate anymore!
My plan for now is to not take the Pristiq in the morning and to take a Klonopin in it's place and then another Klonopin in the afternoon. Same thing on Saturday but skip the afternoon dose. Sunday take 1/2 Klonopin in the morning.
Hope this works for you, some people do ok, you haven't been taking for long, glad you asked chemist and asked advice here, shows you've got your head screwed on and want to do what's best. Glad you didn't just stop, causing more anxiety, you may feel a little anxious when you stop, but should pass, good luck, speak to doc as soon as you can though❤️