Can I live my life without Prozac?

Question

Hi. I guess this is something only a doctor can tell me. I've been on Prozac for years and years. About a week and a half ago I stopped. I'm still very uncertain whether I can live without it. I do feel less tired but notice my "obsessive thinking" is coming back slightly.

Can I live my life without Prozac?
How long do you think I need to give the non-medicated life a try before deciding?

I am not coming off prozac "suddenly" :)

I am/was not taking prozac for depression

Answer 1

you should give it at least 6-8 weeks for it to be totally out of your system. If you are feeling bad about things then speak with your pdoc.

Answer 2

Hi There,

a) I would never suggest stopping any form of anti depressant "cold turkey"
b) I believe it is possible to live without it, providing you have something in place to actually do what the pills do for the first while and then go off.

I would suggest :
Get something like St Johns Wort or samE ad start alternating taking the prozac and natural anti depressant. Like one day St Johns the next day Prozac. Slowly ween yourself off the chemicals. Not doing so could cause a serious serotonin drop in the brain chemical production - remember the chemicals used to help with the production of these important hormones and now you just quit them all together. - not recommended.

You have to basically teach your body to produce its own serotonin from scratch - being on the pills for so long -

Replace the drugs slowly - you may find that you can eventually cope with only half a chemical drug per day and then in about a months time you can be completely cope on only the St Johns' Wort or samE (the samE is made by Solgar i think, just ask your local health store)

Answer 3

If you can manage your life with symptoms of OCD then you can live without Prozac, however i'd guess that life would be much simpler being medicated. I've tried to come off the things a few times & it has been 3 months at least before i realise how much my life has deteriorated. See how you go & give it a try. Best of luck & good on you!

Answer 4

Ask your doc to change your medication to something like Paxil CR. It might be that you won't be able to live your life without an antidepressant, but SO WHAT?? Some people can't live without insulin. It's the same thing. Instead of looking at this as a problem, look at it as a solution and one that you would not have had 75 years ago. Be grateful for your life and managing your depression and thinking processes instead of looking for a "way out". Godloveya.

Answer 5

Coming off Prozac or other SSRI's suddenly without ramping off them is very dangerous. It can lead to psychosis within a few days, especially if you've been on it for a long time. I urge you to do this only as medically directed and ramp off gradually. You'll need to be monitored by a doctor who specializes in your type or disorder to determine if you should stop meds entirely, switch meds, or stay on them. Don't forget that if your mood or mind become disordered, it will be difficult for you to accurately judge how badly you're behaving on your own.

Answer 6

hi.. please consult your doctor immediately or get a second opinion if you not happy with your doctor's answer.Please also inform someone close that you have stop your medication.

how we live life is a choice. you can learn how to control your mind from obsessive thinking.It will take time. Before you stop the medication get help on changing the way you think.
Do not rush n make changes... everything need time n situation will change to better in time...
please do lot of reading on your condition.....only you can help yourself!!!
we can learn to control our mind.I always feel mind is like computer.Its only use is to store information.we do not listen to it. we give the command.we are souls in the body.
we are created to be positive, happy n fill our life with lots of love n love ones.
I wish you with your doctor's help will stop the medication n overcome your obsessive thinking n become more strong n confident person.

Answer 7

If he won't be able to even stay his life, per chance the drugs are somewhat solid. With a perfect dosage, the consequences could in simple terms be an underlying element you study the thanks to stay with. It also relies upon on how lengthy he's been on the drugs. He could fairly search for suggestion from from his wellbeing care professional about adjusting it to larger wholesome his needs. many human beings do not realize melancholy and imagine that's something you could conquer without help. it isn't. chemical substances on your mind are thrown off and also you sense bodily and mentally ill. If he would not get the right treatment, worse issues could ensue. tell him to be sure a wellbeing care professional and do not hearken to those varieties of folk declaring for him to easily end the drugs!

Answer 8

you need to ween yourself off them slowly, as coming off them too quickly can leave you with some bad side effects. on the other hand, take as much time as you need for you to truley see how you cope without Prozac. you never know your own strength until you have tested the waters :) don't be afraid and give it a go. if you cant cope you can always go back on them

Answer 9

I would contact your doctor first. On the flip side, if your looking to calm your senses down, then I would highly suggest you take Kava; its an all natural herbal supplement.

Answer 10

Get back on it today, and make an appointment to see your doctor. Ask to try a milder dose. (The lowest, I think, is 10 mg).