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Coming off fluoxetine

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andrew34411
andrew34411

Hi, I've been on anti depressants for at least 10 years. I am unsure exactly when I started again. For most of that time I was on 10mg citalopram until December 2014 when it was increased to 20mg. Tried setraline in February 2015 which I didn't get on with and then switched to Prozac a few weeks later. Prescribed 40mg but ignored practioner nurse and have been taking 20mg.

I am now just over 7 weeks stopped. I was doing ok but recently have been struggling a little. I have been feeling tearful although not actually crying at times and anxiety has come back a little. I was dating for a short while and she broke that off so this is affecting me too.

I haven't reached for the Prozac yet but have been tempted. I want to stay strong and stay off.

Any advice?

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • roximl
    roximl andrew34411

    Posted

    Hi, I've recently stopped taking fluoxetine too. It has a long half life so although it has been 7 weeks, it has only recently been completely out of your system. I've had days where I've considered taking it again as I'm struggling to cope but I try and focus on why I stopped taking it. I really struggled with the side effects and if I can stay off it, then I will. 

    I think if you're having more bad days than good then maybe you're not ready to be off medication yet, but take some time to think about it as it isn't going to work instantly if you start taking it again. You should also see a GP before starting it again as they may have better advice for you or should at least know that you've decided to take it again.

    hope this helps,

    Roxi

     

    • andrew34411
      andrew34411 roximl

      Posted

      Thanks Roxi, that has helped. I will see how I go.
  • dawn07848
    dawn07848 andrew34411

    Posted

    Yes! Take a much smaller dose of fluoxetine. I had been on it for about 7 years at about 1mg per day. Eventually started feeling depressed and irritable so like an idiot I thought I needed to change meds. Went on Zoloft 25 then 50 then 75. It was horrible. Just went back to fluoxetine last week but standard starting dose of 10 mg made me feel horribly depressed, anxious and awful cardiac arrhythmia. Did some research online and found info about people doing very well on "micro-doses" of SSRIs. I believe I'm in that category. I clearly cannot take even the starting dose of any SSRI, but I definitely need something. I've tried every SSRI at the "recommended" dose and I stopped all of them because they made me feel much much worse. I do well on about 1mg of fluoxetine per day. Sounds ridiculous but it works for me. Doctors prescribe way too much of these very harsh and potentially damaging medications. For me, in this case, less is more.

    • andrew34411
      andrew34411 dawn07848

      Posted

      Thanks Dawn, that's very interesting. I agree less is more and doctors do prescribe willy nilly and will increase your dose or change your meds at a drop of a hat.

    • dawn07848
      dawn07848 andrew34411

      Posted

      Yes they do. So many people don't have succes with these meds and that could be why. It's discouraging and disempowering when people are already depressed and scared.

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