Coming off !!!

Hi Kayeff

I've been on flu for 11 months now and since boxing day have been coming off them. I was advised by my doctor to come off them slowly, not just stop, which it seems you may have done. For two months i took a tablet every other day the from March one every third day. Approx a month after cutting down to one every other day i started to feel ill, like i had the flu, very achey and headaches, this passed after about 2 weeks but i do think it was withdrawal and that may be what is happening to you.

Obviously i don't know your situation but i too thought i was okay and that i didn't need the tablets anymore but talking to people i realised that its the tablets that are making you feel okay not that you're healed. Hope that makes some sense. I desperately didn't want to be on antidepressants but had to accept i needed them. I too used to think there was all sorts wrong with me, i felt so ill that i didn't think it could be my state of mind, i thought i had to be seriously ill.

Perhaps you should talk to your doctor about how is the best way to come off them and when.

Good luck to you and please let me know how you are getting on

SamB

Thanks SamB for coming back . It is much appreciated.

I stopped taking Flu: on March 1st after being on them for about 6 weeks.

My doctor said stop them just like that on the basis that as they were gradual in their effect in starting , so they would be in their withdrawasl effect.

I don't think he was right. I started to get the \"eebie jeebies\" about a week after I stopped ie aches and pains in the stomach etc.

The problem now is, even if I started to take them again, they would a take a week to 10 days minimum to start taking effect again assuming they would start taking effect. If I continued \"cold turkey\" and keep off of them , how do I know that it is coming off them that is making me feel 'orrible or if I have got somethingh else, which could be anothere worry!.

I was hoping that there would a few more \"Fluoxeteers\" out there that have tried to come off of them and could have experiences to relate.

Thanks again SamB I am gratefurl for your help.

Hi Kayeff

You're more than welcome!

I too wish there were some people on the site coming off them, seems i (and now you) am the only one. I want to hear a success story and also know how other people felt.

Flu takes about 6-8 weeks to actually get into your system, well thats how it was for me and it seems for most of the others on this site. So really i don't think you would have had the full effect of them when you came off them. Seems to me that all docs have their own ideas about coming off Anti D's.

I know about the aches in the tummy, i ached everywhere before i went on them, until they worked and then as i said i felt ill when i was on the day on day off. Really awful pains.

I do hope i am some help. Hopefully someone else will join the site in the same situation as us.

Take care

Sam

Thanks Sam, yes , I was aware that it takes about 6 wks to work but the effects of coming off are just as grim it seems.

But I take what you say as very valid, thanks and I'll keep an eye on this Thread to see if others \"join the fray\".

Maybe talk to you again, keep smilin'.

Kayeff

These stories fill me with fear. I have been avoiding going on anti- depressants for years, but have had to give in. only been on them for a few days, but it sounds like hell to get off the damm things.

Hi to the Guest !

I would'nt worry about coming off of Fluoxetine before you have hardly got on to it.

They will probably solve your problem and that is far more important at your stage of consideration that the thought of trying to come off.

I am in the throes of coming off of them \" cold turkey \" is the expression I use, only because I remember that expression from a film !

In other words I have come off them instantly ie just stopped taking them.

I should have , on reflection, come off of them on a gradual basis as our friend Sam B suggested.

I am still holding on and it is'nt easy obviously due to the withdrawal symptoms but I don't particularly want to go back( albeit very tempted at times) and I hope to ride out the worst of it in another few days.

All drugs are a pain to get shot of but in my view that should not stop

you taking them IF you have been advised that will so you some good.

The testimony's of all those who subscribe to this site surely bear that out.

cheers

Kayeff

Hi kayeff

how long were you on them and did they help you?

Hi G !

I was'nt on them for very long and probably no longer than 8 or 9 weeks.

However I am convinced that they did help but to be truthful , I was also taking Amitriptyline at the same time.

Low doses for both. Amit: at night , which gave me a good nights sleep and Fluoxetine in the mornings, which took about 4 to 5 weeks to kick in.

I did not want to be reliant on drugs however so as soon as I felt a bit better ....anxiety wise ! I came off the Amit: first and then a few weeks later , I left off the Fluoxetine.

I did'nt have too much a problem coming off the Amit: but the Fluoxetine did give me a problem and I am still feeling very delicate after about 3 weeks of not taking them.

As I said earlier , stomach pains , feeling ill and queasy, horrible dreams etc etc.

Only this last couple of days do I feel that I may be coming out of it and I hope that the little improvement that I detect, will continue.

I would recommend without question, that if any one else feels that they want to come off, do it slowly and gradually ie leave one off every other day for a week or so then leave it for 2 days for another week or so etc etc. Don't do it \" cold turkey\" or come off in one go, as I did !!

Although the general advice is that they take about 5 or 6 weeks to start working properly ( although this would depend on the individual, some take longer and some don't take so long) that does not have any bearing, IN MY EXPERIENCE, on the length of time to come off of them.

I only speak from personal experience ands others may well have a different tale to tell.

I hope this will help you and others facing the same set of circunstances.

all the best

Ken

This is just a little update to advise anyone who has been keeping an eye on this thread and my woes...... to say :

My improvement has continued and the after effects which I have to admit were \"tricky\" have now all but subsided.

I feel a lot better than I did . I still have the odd \"collywobble\" but overall a great improvment.

To sum up then..... having been on them for 8 weeks or so ( which I know is'nt all that long compared to others) I have \"gotten\" off of them in approx 3 weeks with reasonable nervousness.

Good luck to all \"Fluoxeteers\"

Kayeff

Hi Kayeff

Thanks for letting us know. Hope the good feeling continues.

I'm still trying to come off. Guess it'll take longer for me as i've been on them a year.

All the best

SamB