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Tapering: Pristiq

researching

1 posts

Texas

Hi, I'm Guinness_Harp

May 28, 2026··
I tried to get off of all SSRIs and tapered most. I became a mean maniac raging person which I have never been. I went back on Pristiq (which was the “supplemental” one I was prescribed when I thought I needed something additional. I have PSSD which makes it worse and I attribute it to Pristiq (since I didn’t have numbing before). I can’t be a screaming Mimi, either! What to do?

Pristiq — 2g — 10 years — researching taper

3 Replies

Based
BasedStaff3mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor
hey Guinness Harp, great name btw. Have you worked with a clinician, or are you self tapering? Sorry to hear about the PSSD, if you dont have any scarring visible on ultrasound its a good sign. I would try to look into this. Cant promise that working with someone who knows how to taper will reduce the screaming mimi, but it would be best to match the pace of cuts to your symptoms. Following a strict plan can be very difficult if your body needs to go slower. Let me know if you need a clinician, ill try to find someone for you

Creator of Taper Community, here to help you.

Catina
Catina3mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor
"I tried to get off of all SSRIs and tapered most. I became a mean maniac raging person which I have never been" — @Guinness_Harp
Hi @Guinness_Harp, and welcome to Taper Community! I'm really sorry you experienced such horrible withdrawal symptoms. That can happen, especially if we taper too fast. I hope you're doing better now.
"I went back on Pristiq (which was the “supplemental” one I was prescribed when I thought I needed something additional" — @Guinness_Harp
How long have you been back on Pristiq? And how are you feeling at the moment? Do you have any other symptoms other than the PSSD?
"I have PSSD which makes it worse and I attribute it to Pristiq (since I didn’t have numbing before)" — @Guinness_Harp
I'm sorry to hear you've been affected this way! It's much more common than people think.
"What to do?" — @Guinness_Harp
I know you probably want to taper off the Pristiq, but you need to make sure you're stabilized as much as possible. You don't want to taper from a place of instability. Everything depends on how you're doing at the moment. Please let us know how we can best help you! You're not alone.... Catina 🩷

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

Steve
SteveStaff3mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor · active
Hey Harp, i‘m an effexor taperer (venlafaxin). I want to make sure, do you take 2g of pristiq per day? Believe me i know of the agressiveness i had and have while tapering. I‘m sorry you endure that too. But Catina is right, tapering while instable can lead to crashes needing even longer to stabilize (even after reinstating). Do it slowly and find your pace and steps you can somehow agree with. Tell us more, what meds and dosages have you already tapered and when? Best wishes 💪👍

off Stimulants (2000-2013)
off Fluoxetine (2010-2013)
off Lamotrigine (2013-2016)
off Quetiapain (2016-2020)

currently Effexor — 33mg — 13 years (from 300mg) — actively tapering | with clinician

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