Ive been on Prozac now for about 6 months, it was prescribed for extreme anxiety. I want to come off it now, mainly because im scared of the long term effects and its also effecting my sex drive.
Last week I tried to wean myself off, im usually on 40mg, so I tried 40mg and 20mg alternately for a week, at the end of the week I felt awful, I felt nauseous, tired, moody, slightly depressed and really anxious.
Will there always be side effects when coming off of Prozac or is it just a sign that im not ready to yet
Any info would be really helpful.......thanks :o)
2007-03-20 21:57:06 · 9 answers · asked by Nathan 2 in Health ➔ Mental Health
Most patients, particularly those on 40mgs, which is a highish dose will experience withdrawal symptoms. Puting the dose up and down is often recommended, 20/40 alternate days, but it is not logical because of the half life of the drug, and does not work because of this.
My practise is to use 20mgs capsule/ day + liquid. This is 20mgs/5mls. I reduce the liquid by 1ml every 3-4 weeks, depending on patient response, until the patient is only on the capsule, then replace this with liquid and continue to reduce to zero. This takes a long time,as much as 9 months, but it is usually problem free. It is important for a doctor,or a nurse, to see the patient and discuss how they are feeling, before each reduction.
2007-03-20 22:44:28 · answer #1 · answered by Dr Frank 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
You are not coming off of it slowly enough. Even though you have only been on it for 6 months every SSRI drug take quite a long time to work out of your system. I tried doing what you just did and got extremely sick myself. You need to set up a program with a doctor as to how to get off the drug, and to decide if you really should be getting off the drug. You never ever just drop one of these on your own. Ok, it's effecting your sex drive, but is it helping other parts of your life. You can get past the sex problems with viagra, but you probably went on prozac for other reasons. Talk to the doctor before changing any medicine like this, you can do major damage to your head/psyche if you aren't careful.
2007-03-20 22:15:51 · answer #2 · answered by lochmessy 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I've been on Prozac for 11 years and everytime I cut down I get the same symptoms. You might try taking it every couple of days as I do now. I've been on 20 mg since I first started taking it. I think it's a wonderful drug but can cause a few side effects that do go away with time.
2007-03-21 01:52:15 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
i dont remember having any bad withdrawals at all and was on 75mg. speak with your doc tho - everyone is different. It is all to do with the drugs half life - the amount of time it takes for the drug to get out of your system - im sure if you looked online about prozac withdrawal, there would be plenty of info.
And are you def ready to come off the drugs? sometimes you think you feel fine and are ready, but then when you stop them, the depression/anxiety is still there. good luck.
2007-03-20 22:03:04 · answer #4 · answered by ejb199 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Six months may not have been long enough for you. I suffered from depression and took prozac for about 18 months. Thrre were no long term side effects. I think you need to see your doctor and explain the concerns you have, ie you are worried about taking ti long term and also mention about your sex drive. I don't think you should be self-medicating and altering your doses.
I know that I came off it very slowly, and it didn't cause me any ill effects. Please see your doctor and get his/her help.
2007-03-20 22:04:04 · answer #5 · answered by louloubelle 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The following instructions were giving by my doctor about how prepare your body to get off a drug. I was taken Prozac for six months too, than I started to have panic attacks. My doctor told me it was a side effect from Prozac and I should stop taken it. He told me to during one week take everyday half of the original dose, on the second week, he told me to take a dose every other day, on the 3rd week he told me to take a quater of the original medication, on the 4th week, he told me to take a quarter every other day, on the 5th week stop taken the medication because the process of taking the medication out of my body was completed.
PS: It is normal to feel nauseas, depressed, tired, moody or anxious, but if you feel it is something hard to control, you should slow the process of takeing the drug out of your system, even more the way I described above. For example: If on the first week, you feel extreme sick, take the original dose of the drug on the next day, and go back to the half of the dose on the following day. If it happens on the second week, the same should be done. Take the drug on the day you should not take it and and continue with the instructions of the 2nd week. If your sickness become extreme on the 3rd week, take a half of the dose on the next day after you feel sick and get back to the quarter dose on the next day. If it happens on the 4th week, take the quarter dose on the day after you have gotten sick than stick back to the 4th's week instructions.
All the drugs should be taken on the same time.
I hope my answer can help you.
2007-03-20 22:22:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Before trying to wean yourself off Prozac,
please go to your doctor as they can help you come off the Prozac.
You can find it very hard to do it by yourself, and the doctor can give you the best advice and keep a eye on you while you are doing this.
2007-03-20 22:08:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
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2017-03-01 00:04:06 · answer #8 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your doctor should decide this.but i do know you have to wean off then gradually.you must not stop them all together.
2007-03-20 22:20:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋