Hi @Martin Rose, welcome!
Most prescribers give this sort of tapering advice unfortunately. It's up to you as to what you want to do. You have the option of reinstating a small amount of the drug so you can stabilize and then taper more slowly. Skipping days is never recommended as a way to taper off these drugs. Consistency is very important.
On the other hand, if your symptoms are bearable you can just keep going until things stabilize. You might have windows of feeling good followed by waves of symptoms. Healing is never linear.
As far as a timeline of symptom resolution, it's very hard to say exactly. Everyone is so different in how their body reacts to withdrawal. When the windows start to get bigger and the waves smaller, then you'll know that things are headed in the right direction.
If you go to the Symptoms & Self-Care section, you can use the search bar at the top to search for any symptoms. We have lots of helpful information.
Here are the other members who are tapering Pristiq if you want to connect with them:
https://taper.community/forums/pristiq
https://taper.community/resources/blog/windows-and-waves-withdrawal-pattern
https://taper.community/thread/26b781b7-f7f2-480c-8bc7-b893e9b6f802
https://taper.community/thread/affd8e83-2361-4973-8f07-76d16744448a
https://taper.community/resources/blog/reinstating-after-failed-cold-turkey
https://taper.community/thread/ff7ce496-025a-4391-95b4-cdd0063f092b
Catina ❤️
Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 16.64 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Synthroid - 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.