switching from pristiq to paxil

[kacy61]

I am a  51 year old female and need to stop pristiq and go back on paxil .My question is can I do this ,I have anyurisms and I have MS
Paxil I used to take were 20 mg 2x a day
STOPPED PAXIL AND WENT ON PRISTIQ 11 MONTHS AGO  now I CANNOT AFFORD THEM so i need to go back on paxil any suggestions on if I can quit the pristiq cold turkey and go back on paxil without hurting my anyurisms
oh forgot to mention I had 1 anyurism repaired in 2009 and have 3 more

[nursegirl6572]

Sweetie, I wouild get a second opinion.  What kind of doctor is prescribing the Pristiq?  A psychiatrist?  Do you have a neurologist?  If not, I would advise asking for a referral to one, to get clarification on what to do to manage the aneurysms and what kind of med you would "need" to be on.

Let us know!

[kacy61]

thanks but my dr says i have no choice but to stay on  pristiq due to the side effects ,because of the  anyurisms ,1 of the side effects are head aches which could cause the anyurisms to burst .As far as i am concerned i sshould have been told of this before i started the drug

[nursegirl6572]

Yes, definitely discuss this issue with your doc, as remar stated, and  explain the situation.  There are options for people who cannot afford their meds.  Pristiq is fairly new on the market, so it's probably one of the more costly meds out there.  I may be wrong, but I don't believe a generic version of Pristiq has been released to the market.

Whatever you do, don't try to make changes yourself.  Let your doctor help you to make a decision, and then transition you from one med to another.

Good luck!

[remar]

I think it would be a good idea to talk to your Dr about this. You may or may not need to taper off the Pristiq. I know this is your question but I'm really not sure. Both of these meds are antidepressants but in different categories. Sometimes the drug companies will help with your meds. You would have to fill out paper work and they would go by your income. You might be able to get a very reduced rate or even possibly get it for free. Check out the manufacturer of Pristiq's web sire.