Tapering methods for Desvenlafaxine

[AyahuascaSeeker13]

Hi guys, LOOONG time reader, first time member. Hopefully I can be of some use to these forums.

I am currently on 50mg Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) a day for moderate/severe depression I was suffering a while back. I am wanting to get off this medication as I am planning on a trip to Peru early next year, and don't want any SNRI's in my system whatsoever, as this can mess with the Ayahuasca effect and could become quite dangerous for me (hence the user name)...

Firstly, does anyone have experience with this drug, if you do, how did you get off it without it making you feel like your gonna spew with every step you take...

If anyone can be of assistance, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[belarki]

Hi AyahuascaSeeker, welcome to bluelight

I can't give advice specific to Desvenlafaxine but have been on and off a high dose of Venlafaxine (efexor) before and the "discontinuation syndrome" or withdrawals were a nightmare. It's probably something best discused with your Dr though I probably wouldn't mention the DMT

Tapering off Efexor involved, well as you'd guess, a gradual reduction in dose over a month or so along with taking Sertraline (Zoloft). Once off Efexor I then tapered off Zoloft. Your Dr may have better advice though?

 

[psytaco]

Yeah don't think about stopping or tapering until you have consulted your doctor. I just looked this drug up, and it is very similiar to effexor which has horrible withdrawal symptoms - mainly because of the short half life (leaving the body very quickly).

I believe a good doctor will gradually reduce your dose of the SNRI, and put you another SSRI like prozac which has a much longer half life, so therefore doesn't leave your body as quickly giving you intense withdrawals.

As an added note, I wouldn't try and get off your antidepressants until you are sure that you are better from suffering depression. I know they are a pain in the arse, but if they are keeping you level it would be worth staying on them until you are sure you are better.

Its kind of ironic, I am wanting to come of zoloft for my trip to central and south america mid way through the year too. Though I want to do it just be done with antidepressants, to stop feeling so fucking numb, and to get my sex drive back (haha you were right belarki!).

 

[MrIbis]

^Yeah man, fuckn SSRIs killed my sex drive way back when, probably why my relationship went south because i just had no interest whatsoever in getting laid.

 

[AyahuascaSeeker13]

Thanks for the info guys! Much appreciated.

I'm just over taking so many pills every morning! Rosuvastatin, Perindopril, Omeprazole, and now this nasty Desvenlafaxine shit. To be honest, I don't think I even need the Rosuvastatin, my cholesterol is only 3.6... I think my doctor is a bit of a dick head TBH!

Also, I was wondering why my sex drive has dissipated to nothing! My Mrs. thinks it's her, but I say it's not, I just can't be bothered to do it! Why!?!? What a fucked up drug! What would be an alternative to Desvenlafaxine? Like psytaco said, perhaps Prozac (after all it didn't fuck with Tony Sopranos sex drive LOL)...

Thanks again!

 

[psytaco]

Thanks for the info guys! Much appreciated.

I'm just over taking so many pills every morning! Rosuvastatin, Perindopril, Omeprazole, and now this nasty Desvenlafaxine shit. To be honest, I don't think I even need the Rosuvastatin, my cholesterol is only 3.6... I think my doctor is a bit of a dick head TBH!

Also, I was wondering why my sex drive has dissipated to nothing! My Mrs. thinks it's her, but I say it's not, I just can't be bothered to do it! Why!?!? What a fucked up drug! What would be an alternative to Desvenlafaxine? Like psytaco said, perhaps Prozac (after all it didn't fuck with Tony Sopranos sex drive LOL)...

Thanks again!

hey mate.

In terms of the sexual side effects I think pretty much every SSRI causes these. Its one of the most highly reported and hated side effects of SSRIs. I know your pain, my girlfriend has a pretty high sex drive, and I really just don't feel like having sex most of the time. I'll start but just be going through the motions for her benefit. Kind of a buzzkill for a man who is 25 and in a newish relationship with a hot girl.

When I first stating taking SSRIs my sex drive was really high. It has only been the last few weeks that I have have started losing interest in sex.

I was originally put on Effexor (very similiar to what you take - an SNRI) because it is supposed to cause less sexual side effects than most SSRIs. However, I had to stop taking it after 4 days because the side effects were shocking. I think drugs like zoloft, and particularly prozac (from what I have read) are worse for causing sexual side effects than alot of SSRIs. prozac can also lead to weight gain.