u/Expensive-Wolf-4160

Hello, after 5 years of being on it, I lowered my Pristiq dosage from 50mg to 25mg on Tuesday. So it’s been 2 and a half-ish days since and I have had no withdrawal symptoms. I’ve read horror stories from everyone who’s lowered their Pristiq and so I was expecting to feel something but so far, nothing. I’m honestly concerned about it. Is this normal? I feel the same way I felt before I lowered my dose, symptom-wise. I’m still fatigued, extremely emotionally numb, depressed, suicidal, all that stuff. It’s like I didn’t even lower my dose. I don’t know what’s going on but I’m worried that something isn’t right here.

I’ve been on Pristiq for over 5 years. I’m currently on 50mg, and have been for a majority of those 5 years. However, last year I noticed myself getting worse mentally. My dissociation was worse, my emotional state was worse, I just didn’t feel right. Fast toward to today and I’m just completely numbed. I don’t know what to do. I don’t care about anything. I don’t care about anyone. Nothing interests me. Nothing matters to me. I’m dissociated at all times of the day. I’ve never felt like this before and I’m so scared. Apparently emotional blunting is a common side effect of Pristiq, which I just found out recently. I want to get off of this medication but I’m terrified of the medication withdrawals that are so common with Pristiq. Last year, I tried going from 50mg to 25mg and I just remember it doing such horrible things to me that I had to call my psychiatrist and tell him that I couldn’t do it anymore. I just want my life back. Therapy doesn’t even help me anymore because I can’t feel anything, my personal experiences don’t feel real to me anymore. Everything just feels fake. I feel like I have to pretend that I’m a human being.

If anyone has any similar experiences or advice, please let me know. Thank you.