[Zedsdead]

I have been on 50mg of pristiq for 2 years, i have some bad side effects and it is SO costly. The doctor wants to switch me to Zoloft. I asked about how to make the switch, and she said she didn't think it would be an issue to do a direct switch.
I have read in the past that it would cause the withdrawal symptoms... I'm so nervous!! I missed one day of pristiq last week and the withdrawals hit me so hard, brain zaps, dizziness etc.

Anybody else made this type of switch? It's worrying that I can't taper the pristiq as it says not to cut the pill.. any help would be amazing.

[Paracelsus]

you could go about this a couple of ways. follow his/her guidelines or reschedule and/or make a request or 'path to switching from snri to ssri'

possible scenarios may include one, some or all of these: add PRN to ease withdraw symptoms when they are at their worst during the transition; slow down the rate at which to climb down on the snri dose; determine the amount of half lives you want to wait between stopping SNRI and starting SSRI (the more half lives that pass the less likely your going to have rare but possible complications ie SS). keep in mind patients with anxiety often mis identify relatively harmless side effects as being serious ones; don't use or greatly reduce the use of nicotine, alcohol, caffeine during transition

consider the cost/benefit ratio. zoloft is a pretty cheap drug even without insurance. it's under 10 usd with goodrx. are you currently in a stable economic position in your life? can you afford to reduce hours or miss work/school etc. try to find best time to do switch if you want to switch. personally i would switch if it were me. i have had better successes with ssri than snri

[still_crazy]

why not effexor?

[Zedsdead]

Ok, so I started the Zoloft yesterday. Haven't taken pristiq since Friday morning and I feel better than expected. I'm not getting my hopes up.. but I feel better than I have in a long time on the pristiq!
My doctor has requested that I stop the pristiq and take 25mg Zoloft daily for a week. Then 50mg for 3 weeks and see how that feels.

My insurance covered Zoloft completely!!! My financial situation is tight right now.. single mother of 3 kids and left an abusive relationship.. which has left me in piles of debt. The less I pay the better..
My doc said she wanted to try an SSRI as I have tried pristiq, effexor and cymbalta. Pristiq was the best, but have extreme bladder issues on it the other 2 gave me debilitating anxiety that I couldn't stand longer than 3 months.

I'm really happy I feel good. I didn't think id make it to day 3 with no side effects. I Will see how I feel after 7 days. Lol

[Zedsdead]

Just an update, im on day 5 of no pristiq. Yesterday I felt really out of it. Was fine in the house and driving, but went grocery shopping and I felt off balance and 'not real'.
I will say I feel like I'm coming out of a coma.. it's a strange but amazing feeling. I teared up watching a movie last night... which hasn't happened in so long!!
It feels good