On Christmas eve I saw the pdoc and he switched me from Effexor XR 150 mg to Pristiq 50 mg. The first few days I felt ok, but on Saturday side effects started. Nausea, vomiting, brain shivers, etc.

I have been on and off meds for the past ten years. The last four years I have been on effexor almost constantly. I had one switch about a year and a half ago from effexor to lexapro but a new doc (the one i have seen since) switched back to the effexor after about six weeks.

I guess I thought that the tranistion from Effexor to Pristiq would be alot smoother. From previous experience, I believe that what I am feeling is actually a result of stopping the effexor and not the new med. The pdoc had me take 75mg of effexor for two days before quitting it completely.

Has anyone else switched from effexor to pristiq and had the same withdrawal effects?

I was recently switched from 150 Effexor XR to 50mg of Pristiq. After 4 days on the Pristiq, my life was flipped over, under, sideways, down. I ended up in the hospital twice due to the suicidal thoughts and my relationship with my boyfriend is still in serious jeopardy. Thanks to the switch. I have never felt so horrific in my entire life. I have experienced paranoia, extreme self deprecation, awful brain zaps. I couldn't stop crying and I didn't have much hope. I was switched back to the Effexor after the 1st visit to the ER. The plan was to start at 37.5 for 2 days, up to 75 for 2 days, 112.5 for 2 days then back to 150. I took 37.5 for 3 days and then decided that I can never take the chance of going through what I have gone through EVER AGAIN, so I stopped taking it altogether. It's been hell, and I realize I should have tapered down over a longer period of time. If a drug can mess with your brain chemistry to this extent, then I would rather deal with these awful side effects than be a slave to it. It scares the living hell out of me. Every day, every hour that passes, is one moment closer to being back to the strong, relatively stable person I normally am. I am still unsure why the NP decided to switch me, and why she thought it was a good idea to just jump from 1 to the other with no tapering. Clearly this was a really bad idea, and it is truly disappointing that the bad idea is at the expense of me and my life. I keep trying to find the silver lining to all of this, and I see glimpses occasionally, but my logic and cognition are still affected by this whole debacle. I seriously recommend anyone considering this switch to really think about it... it could (and probably will) really affect your life in terrible ways. Good luck....

ps: the reasons for the switch were the minimal sexual side effects that I said I weren't an issue - I can live with them, and of course, cost.

I am happy to report that I am feeling more stable after a really tumultuous 2 weeks. I now have more hope than despair.. and the brain zaps are at a minimum. No crying either. This totally sucked, and I will never be medicated again.

I hope to be there soon; well, not med free, but rid of the side effects.
i may need meds, i still cant wrap my head around that one