Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 10/16/2011

Question
I recently started cutting my Pristiq in half because the co payment went up significantly. I felt no untoward effects until the last few days. I have felt as if I were coming down the with the flu, body aches, joint pain, extreme fatigue, and now today my emotions were out of control, and I became weepy. I had been on Pristiq 100 mg for 19 months, and along with psychotherapy had made some improvements. To your knowledge, do my symptoms sound typical of withdrawing from Pristiq (or any other SSNRI)? Even though I have been on half-doses for a week now, I'm thinking that is what is happening. I cannot continue feeling this way physically, and will do anything to feel better. Thankfully, I have an appt with my MD in a few days. In the meantime any help would be appreciated. I am so achy I can barely function.

Answer
Hi Tricia . . .

The flu-like syndrome you describe is the classic withdrawal symptom experienced by people who have reduced their dose of a SSRI or SNRI too rapidly. When one of my patients complains of such as syndrome I remind them that the syndrome will rapidly disappear if tyhey raise their dose of the SSRI oe SNRI to the original dose. I then help them discontinue the medication by giving them a schedule for a much slower discontinuation of the medication.

Best regards . . .

Ivan
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