Pristiq is NOT for me

Let me start off by saying that I am a complex case with multiple diagnosis and cooccurring conditions. This has always made it difficult for me to find a good fit of medication regimen and provider.

I have been on Pristiq for the last 3-4 months. Started off with 50mg then went up to 100mg. I have been experiencing EXTREME drowsiness, to the point that it feels like medically induced narcolepsy. I keep dozing off while driving in both my morning/evening commute (which is incredibly dangerous and scary) and at work. I will be actively doing an activity and start falling asleep. This has never been something that occurred to me until taking this medication. I also have had worsening insomnia and mania, as well as night sweats.

I have seen other posts in the forum stating what a life changer the medication is for their depression if you keep pushing through— I have had improved depression symptoms with the medication, but it doesn’t and can’t outweigh the side effects.

I now am working on tapering off, but the side effects have been worsening. I wish so desperately I could go cold turkey but I learned when taking Cymbalta (another medication in the same class as Pristiq) that with the medications in this “class/group” the withdrawals begin immediately once the half life ends. Pristiq happens to have the longest half life within this “class/group”.

I had been debating creating a post about my experience but after continuously struggling so much with the side effects and withdrawals… I needed to share my story/thoughts so others could be informed.