How should I stop taking prozac?

Question

I have been taking prozac on and off for about two years. Most recently I was on 40mg for a few months, then I went back to 20mg. I have been on 20 mg for about a month and a half.now and am going to get some 20mg scored pills in two days. If I cut these pills in half and take 10mg for 2 weeks and then take 10mg every other day for two more weeks, then quit, is that a good idea??

Answer 1

I'd agree, do it slowly under the care of a physician, but, strictly speaking for myself, I'd just get rid of the Prozac:

There is no cure for depression. Antidepressant medications are effective only for a few people at the margins. Same with photo therapy, exercise, mood stabilizers and so forth. These things only help a few people and then at the statistical margins, fact not fantasy. Read the studies and statistics. The only truly routinely effective chemical to help, other than short-term, mostly illegal stimulants, is gamma hydroxy butyrate. This substance however is unavailable in the United States and is a class one controlled substance, though it was, in the not too distant past freely available as a nutritional supplement on health food store shelves. I would recommend someone with the means and time take a trip to Germany or France perhaps to get a prescription. Prozac, and all SSRI's (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are just depression and mood numb-ers - that is, they numb one to feeling deeply. GHB will make you more depressed, in tune with how you really feel, but in a semi-euphoric mode in which one can deal with past hurt and loss more effectively. While the dose has to be watched carefully, I am convinced that it is the only drug which truly allows one to become non-depressed, while it may not technically be an anti-depressant itself. I hope all this is not too honest, but it's the truth for anyone desperate enough.

But the only available reliable relief from true depressive illness is, I'm afraid, to simply wait. In our evolutionary history, from eons ago, the first living things had chemical processes which were more efficient because they not only reacted to the availability of photons (daylight), they developed their own rhythms which anticipated the coming of light and dark (in advance, obviously, to be redundant). This resulted in circadian ("about a day") rhythms or cycles and seasonal cycles as well. As these processes became more complex in mammalian, primate, and hominoid species, some of these rhythms/cycles spilled over into the limbic system, either by selection or just by being genetic carry-alongs (that is they were close to other important genes and therefore, secondarily selected for). Therefore all homo sapiens have some degree of "cycling," which is more profound, evident, and easily triggered in gentlepersons with manic-depressive disorder, but still part of the same essential process. Because of this natural semi-daily and seasonal cycling which is almost certain to eventually occur, I prefer to treat depression (and mixed states, which are much worse) as I might the common cold. While there are potentially medical treatments for the common cold (rhinovirus I think), for practical purposes one must simply wait, let it run its course and have the knowledge that one will probably eventually get better. The same is precisely true of depression and is the only reliable, available, though generally temporary, "cure." That is, simply wait, and have confidence that its not going to last forever. I dare anyone to have more insight than this. :)

Answer 2

Are you sure that you can be happy without them? I quit taking mine almost all at once. I was a little flippy, but like I said, I did it all pretty much at once. And crud, I'm a little flippy around once a month anyway! haha
I still have them around and when I start feeling really bummed out for no reason for a few days then I will take one and maybe take one the next day. After that I just forget that I was ever feeling emotionally like crap. I'm not sure if they were really working or it was some subliminal thing. What ever it was when I took them.....I would genuinely feel better.
It's good that you feel like you don't need them anymore. I really think that at one time the docs were handing them out like Halloween candy in October.
Just remember that every now and then you are gonna feel like emotional SH&%. And that is ok ....but only for a day or two.
Good luck.

Answer 3

You should really ask your doctor but its strongly suggested you taper off them. I personally have been on many anti depressents, paxil zoloft and well butrin i can tell you if you suddenly stop taking them or suddenly start them you might have suicidal thoughts... I felt very confused and depressed when i started welbutrin it felt like i had "no way out" mind frame i was thinking about ending it all but i just kept trying to remind myself its not me thats thinking like this its a reaction from the meds. be careful with your meds talk with your doctor.

Answer 4

Not a good idea if you haven't talked to your doctor about it. There are very safe and easy ways to gradually go off of anti-depressants, but going off on your own is never a good idea.

Answer 5

I would strongly suggest you talk to your doctor or psychiatrist.
Your step down plan looks good, but a medical professional may prescribe some other medication to help limit symptoms of withdrawl.

Answer 6

Talk to your doctor on this issue...He will give u a gradual decrease and u will be fine.

Answer 7

When we are happy , Are we using anti-happiness drugs?
Please don't use any of them.
Every thing is normal for us like , happiness or being sad ....