Quick & Handy Home Remedies: Find practical, affordable ways to deal with some of life's most common ailments, proving that getting back to the basics has its reward. Only $16.95 +s/h
Was this information helpful? Average rating: 5/5 (21 votes)
What do you think? Click the stars to vote!
If you have more to say, post a comment below!
Q. I have been taking the antidepressant Pristiq and wanted to get off it. But stopping really was uncomfortable, with shivers, high blood pressure, rapid heart rate and dizziness.
My doctor said I needed to go back on it because of my low serotonin levels. I am taking it again now and wondering how I can ever get off of this drug. Is there a natural supplement to support my serotonin levels?
A. Getting off antidepressants like Paxil (paroxetine), Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) or Zoloft (sertraline) may require patience and persistence. The withdrawal side effects you experienced are not uncommon and sometimes last for weeks. Other symptoms that have been reported after stopping such drugs include nausea, sweating, headache, dizziness and "brain zaps."
If your doctor is willing, you might switch to a longer-acting antidepressant and taper off it gradually, as this reader did: "By switching to Prozac for about two months I was able to reverse the 'brain zaps' I had when stopping Effexor XR, and then I came off the Prozac slowly with no withdrawal symptoms."
Several non-drug approaches to depression may be effective. We discuss them in our Guide to Dealing with Depression, which we are sending you. It also describes strategies for getting off antidepressants.
Was this information helpful? Average rating: 5/5 (21 votes)
What do you think? Click the stars to vote!
If you have more to say, post a comment below!
I've known several people who have had trouble stopping antidepressants, especially Paxil.
I have been on Prozac/Fluoxetine (generic) for about 15 years. It has done so much for me. I have tried several times to get off of it just for the sake of getting off a drug, and my depression symptoms just return eventually. So I'm fine with staying on it. If someone needs that serotonin boost, why not use an antidepressant, especially if it works and side effects are tolerable? There is a stigma attached to being on these drugs that prevents many who could benefit by them from even trying them. That's a shame.
Can you list some strategies to use to try to taper off taking 2 Segerid 40mg capsules each day? The doctor simply said to try not taking but one a day. It seems to me some more gradual way might be more productive / lasting. ( ????? )
What are "brain zaps"? I've had whole body contractions 9 years that feel like electricity is building in the base of my head and then discharging through my body. I've taken prozac, zoloft and lexapro on and off for 20 years. Any chance my reaction came from going off zoloft all those years ago?
My doctor tried me on many different antidepressants including effexor (effexor curved my appetite but made me twitch and jerk), paxil (when I first tried paxil I couldn't tell any difference) prozac (prozac made me more aggressive and assertive) and Zoloft which I stayed on for several years.
The main reason I went on any antidepressant was that I cried a lot, not all of the time. I could be angry one minute, sad the next and happy the next. My emotions were in a whirlwind. But the worse was that I cried a lot. I cried over really sensitive things like my children growing up and missing my little ones. I cried when I spoke of Jesus Christ to someone or read a poem about Him, or tried to tell someone that I cared about them, or give advise that might keep them from hurt or harm.
My tears flowed freely when I prayed, this I didn't mind, it made me feel relieved that I had poured my heart out as Christ did in the Garden. But the crying gave me headache and my nasal passage was always blocked and my eyes always felt washed out. So I took the Zoloft and it kept me from crying. I seldom cried. But I felt like a zombie. I asked my doctor to try me on paxil. I went right from zoloft to paxil and after about 2 weeks I was planning my own suicide. It scared me. I had thought of taking my own life before, but I wasn't that serious. This time I had it planned down to the last sleeping pill and plastic bag.
Thank God I overcame this plan and went back on zoloft. The thought of this suicide abated. I finally did go off all antidepressants. I try to take every thought captive so it won't seep in and cause me anger, or sorrow. If it does, I say to myself, it will pass and I will feel differently tomorrow, and get my mind onto something interesting, occupy the mind and it will not cause so much pain. If I had to go to work I couldn't though, without the zoloft. I would need it for control of my emotions.
Please anyone trying to get off any SSRI please lookup the site www.paxilprogress.org
Pokie