Pristiq is an antidepressant, generally prescribed as a treatment for major depressive disorder and non-hormonal treatment for menopause. However, the misuse of Pristiq can lead to a physical dependence on the drug, and in worse cases, addiction.
In this article, you will be able to learn what Pristiq is, what happens during a Pristiq withdrawal, the possible side effects, and how you can manage the withdrawal process.
What Is Pristiq and How Does It Work?
Pristiq is a brand name for the drug desvenlafaxine. It is considered as a part of a new generation of antidepressant medications. It is usually prescribed for fibromyalgia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Desvenlafaxine is an oral medication for depression that helps people by improving their mood, energy levels, and feelings of well-being. It works by improving how the brain absorbs serotonin and norepinephrine, which results in decreasing the potential for anxiety and depression.
In classification, Pristiq is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), which means it works to restore the balance of chemicals in the brain.
What Are the Side Effects of Taking Pristiq?
Pristiq can be considered as a powerful drug and there are worrying side effects that come with taking this type of medicine. Some of the common effects are:
- Agitation
- Blurred vision
- Constipation
- Decreased sex drive
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Excess sweating
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Hyperhidrosis
- Insomnia
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Weight loss
On very rare occasions or allergic reactions, there is also the possibility to feel these effects:
- Anxiety
- Asthenia or physical weakness
- Blurriness of eyesight
- Higher cholesterol
- Hot flashes
- Mydriasis or dilating pupils
- Proteinuria or a high amount of proteins in urine
- Rashes
- Sexual dysfunction
- Urinary hesitancy
- Vertigo
What Happens During Pristiq Abuse or Addiction?
If you misuse antidepressants like Pristiq, the chances are you’ll experience worse psychological symptoms. Patients who misuse this drug may develop a physical dependence on it, potentially leading to addiction that will be very difficult to reverse.
When the body develops an addiction to Pristiq, receptors in the brain get burnt up when the substance is administered too quickly. When this happens, it is usually impossible to get them back, which means that the brain will have to require doses just to experience a semblance of relief.
When you suddenly stop taking Pristiq, the brain will no longer be able to know when to start or when to stop the rhythm of the neurotransmitters before the medication is administered. The brain will stop working because of too much activity and will be physically dependent on the drug just to get back to normal.
What Are the Side Effects of Pristiq Abuse?
If one gets addicted to Pristiq and abuses the drug, there’s a strong possibility of suffering from these effects:
- Abnormal bleeding
- Angioedema or hives in the skin
- Eosinophilic pneumonia
- Extrapyramidal side effects or drug-induced movement disorders
- Hallucinations
- Hypertension
- Hyponatremia or low blood sodium
- Interstitial lung disease or scarring in the lungs
- Mania
- Narrow-angle glaucoma
- Photosensitivity reaction
- Seizures
- Serotonin syndrome
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- Suicidal behavior & thoughts
What Happens during Pristiq Withdrawal?
There’s a good chance that a person can become physically dependent on Pristiq, similar to other antidepressant medications. Whether a person is consuming regular doses or abusing the drug, suddenly removing it from a person’s treatment plan can lead to very uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.
To avoid experiencing adverse side effects due to Pristiq, it is recommended that a patient must not stop taking it all at once. Even if they feel like they would no longer need the drug, it’s better to consult with a physician and gradually bring down the dosage until it is safe to stop taking it entirely.
What Are the Withdrawal Symptoms from Pristiq?
Once a person is suddenly cleansed of desvenlafaxine, there is a chance of experiencing one or more of the following symptoms:
- Deepening depression
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Electric shock sensations
- Headaches
- Irritability
- Nausea
- Speech changes
- Vivid dreams
What Are the Factors That Influence the Intensity of Pristiq Withdrawal?
In drugs, there is a term called the half-life. Half-life pertains to how long a certain medication will be able to stay in the body. For Pristiq, the half-life is 11 hours, which is fairly short compared to the average two to three days for other drugs. Because of the shorter half-life for Pristiq, it will take the body a shorter time to adjust to life without it. It can be very dangerous just to stop taking Pristiq in one go.
Aside from knowing the withdrawal timeline, it is also important to familiarize yourself with how long and hard the symptoms could be. Various factors can influence this, and here are some of them.
- Duration of Taking
The first thing that can affect the intensity of withdrawal is how long the patient has been taking Pristiq. Prolonged use of any drug can be a cause for developing tolerance to it. And when the person is drug-tolerant, it means that the body has gotten used to having it in the system for it to function normally.
Generally, the longer you have been taking Pristiq, the higher the chances are for more withdrawal symptoms to show up.
- Dosage
When a patient is prescribed Pristiq, there’s always a chance that they’ll be given a specific dose, depending on their psychological and physical state. However, it is crucial to keep in mind that the higher your dosage, the more severe the withdrawal symptoms will be.
If you have any plan that involves stopping your Pristiq treatment, make sure that you’ll work with your doctor on how to draw this out. There will likely be a dosage reduction schedule until the lingering presence of Pristiq in your system can be removed entirely.
- Tapering Off
Patients mustn’t stop taking Pristiq all at once when they decide to quit this treatment. With this, the symptoms will be difficult to manage and may lead to more physical symptoms.
Aside from lowering the dosage over time, you may also encounter a doctor prescribing a different drug, one that has a similar composition but won’t come with harsh side effects. Don’t attempt just to cut the pills in half, as it will mess up the medicine’s time-release abilities.
- Individual Characteristics
Another factor that can influence the withdrawal symptoms is the body of the patient. Every body has its own individual response in terms of cleansing the body of certain substances. These things can depend on the patient’s exercise routine, diet, sleep, and other medications that the patient may be taking alongside Pristiq.
How Can You Manage the Withdrawal Symptoms of Pristiq?
Successfully getting through withdrawal from Pristiq is not an impossible thing, especially if you have a medical professional working with you. It can be as simple as following an adjustment schedule with your doctor, including changing the dosage or even the type of medication entirely.
The Bottom Line
Pristiq is a potent medication, so taking it out of your treatment plan can be overwhelming and damaging to your body if you are not careful. Working with a doctor can ease the process for you as you take steps forward in your treatment. For the best results, make sure you work with a healthcare professional who has prior experience helping patients who were taking Pristiq.