stopped Fluoxetine after 5 days,awful side effects.1 week later & still ill

Sorry you are having a bad day Holly. I have had a reasonable couple of days, I have had lazy mornings then just a little activity in the afternoons, am even enjoying a glass of wine right now. I am hoping I am on the up, I had to give up my job a couple of months back so I am hoping to do some part time work if I continue to get better but you never know how you are going to feel from one day to the next! Hope you have a better day tomorrow x

Hi Holly!  I am so sorry that you were having a bad day.  We all have them...but then something happens and we have a good one too!  I hope that today is the good one that follows the bad one!  Stay positive!  I know that is easier said than done.  Have you ever listened to the anxiety coaches podcasts?   They have been really relaxing for me when life feels overwhelming!  I pray that today brings you peace!

Hi ladies , hope you've all had a good day . I've had a couple of good days , a bit wobbly this afternoon , but hopefully it's passing 🤞. Had my last CBT appointment today,7 weeks with no medication,after 2 weeks on sertraline, 10 days diazepam and almost 12 weeks on fluoxetine !! Here's hoping these awful side effects are now easing and looking forward to better days ?? Hoping the same for you all too. Take care Xx

I have been better lately, I do tend to sneak back to bed after breakfast with a coffee and chill time. Today I even managed a little clear up in the garden, the sun was shining so happy days. Glad you seem to be better Karen, what about everyone else? X

Hi, I think it’s coming off the Prozac. I saw my gp today, I said I was still a little dizzy and fatigued, but that I was feeling better and eating. He said it’s now probably just my brain readjusting. I feel.better that’s the main thing. Hope everyone starts to feel good soon x

Jami,

So sorry to hear that you are going through this.  It is so unfortunate that these medications don't help everyone the same way.  There are plenty of people out there just like us that had awful reactions to prozac.  Reactions that you couldn't possibly tough out for weeks like our doctors suggest.  It will get better, I promise!  It has been three weeks since I stopped taking prozac after I had a reaction that sounds the same way that your did.  I have been doing well with the help of meditation, counseling, and lots of understanding that this isn't something that will go away overnight.  But it is something that you can deal with and live with!  Anxiety was the reason that I went on prozac but it made me feel so much worse I couldn't believe it.  It sounds like you have a wonderful understanding husband that will help you through this.  Find something that helps you see your anxiety for what it is, rather than terrifying episode after episode.  From the sound of it, you have made it through so much and you will make it through this too!  Don't give up!  It will get better and remember that you aren't alone!  There are tons of us out there who are going through the same struggle!

Hi jami, i took fluoxetine for almost 12 weeks and suffered with really bad side effects . I persevered as i thought things would get easier but they never did . It's 9 weeks since i stopped cold turkey , i asked my Dr about tapering but he said i didnt need to. I'm sorry to say that the side effects since stopping have been as bad , panic attacks, really anxious ,strange feelings of shakiness ,fuzzy head and at times Light headed. The stage I'm at now is getting better ,side effects are a little easier and I'm having more good days . Just want to feel like 'me' again . Really hope things get easier for you soon. Take care Xx

Hi Jami, yes the side effects of being on or coming off these for some of us are just unbearable. It took 3 weeks for me just to start feeling “normal” again. This drug works on half lives so a week and 50% is out of your system, another week later another 25% out etc so it takes a while. Once the drug is out your brain then needs time to readjust to being drug free. Good luck, I hope you start to feel better soon, I suffered exactly as you have, it will get better x

Hey I’m on a tapering regimine for my Prozac but I am considering just going cold turkey from here. I have been taking 10mg for almost 2 weeks. Then decided the side effects weren’t worth it so started tapering off. I have been taking 10mg every other day for a few days now and am just wondering how you’re feeling so far? The doctor also has me on clonazapam 4x a day to deal with the anxiety the Prozac is causing me. 

I would advise against quitting cold turkey. I did that back in early Feb and have been paying hell ever since.

I'm back on 20mg starting 4th week and while I feel better mood wise, the anxiey and morning wretching is still there.

Per Katecogs a poster on there, I am and suggest also that you give it more time.  From what I have read, stopping then trying to start a regular dose again is pure hell.  I'm also taking clonazapam as well but I cut the .5 mg dose in half before I go to bed.

Natural vitality calm is a magnesium supplement that I have found to be of some help in easing the anxiety.

Hang in there and keep us posted

Hi, I was told by my doctor to just stop after being on 10mg fluoxetine for 3 weeks. If you were only on 10mg also and just for 2 weeks you should be able to stop. It works on half life so will take a few days just to get half the drug out of your system. The side effects of being on them for me were just too awful and took about 3 weeks for me to feel better after ending my dose. My gp said it was safe for me to just stop. Hope you feel better soon

Thanks! i hope i feel better soon as well. I hate the increased anxiety the most. What were the worst side effects for you personally, cause who knows i may get no withdrawls at all. that happens sometimes.

 

While I was on them I was in bed Almost 24/7. I had shakes,  arms, hands and head mainly. I felt very sick and lost my appetite. Increased anxiety, adrenaline rushes that just kept going and generally just felt exhausted and awful, I couldn’t do anything. The symptoms continued for 3 weeks after coming off, my doctor said once they are out of your system it takes a while for your brain to readjust to having no medication. I went back on amitriptyline which I don’t have any side effects. My symptoms were severe whilst on them so until they were out of my system they carried on. I am a lot better now though. Everyone is different so I would say what ever symptoms you have now will gradually improve the more the drug leaves your system. Good luck

I took fluoxetine for almost 3 months and suffered horrendous side effects. I spoke to my Dr about stopping them and asked about tapering , he said i didnt need to. It's nearly 11 weeks since i stopped and it's not been easy , but the side effects of stopping have been no worse than while i was taking them. Pleased to say I'm now starting to feel much better,and I'm having more good days than bad . As others say it's different for everyone , hope things get easier for you soon . Take care X

Hi Karen, glad to hear you are feeling better, apart from a cold I am better too, starting to get my life back x

any advice for the nausea and no appetite? the nausea hit me like a truck today.

Thanks Christine, good to hear you're starting to feel better too Xx

Hi Happytimes!

The happy times are coming - you have to believe that. The way that you feel now is not going to be the way you feel forever, no matter how much your mind and body make you question it. I have taken fluoxetine twice before in my life with absolutely no problems, but this time the experience was horrendous. I pushed hard through every symptom for 21 days and then just cracked. The panic attacks were too much. I have plenty of experience with panic attacks, but these felt like I had absolutely no control over my mind and body and it scared me so deeply. Withdrawal from fluoxetine in the past for me has been quite minor, but because my body reacted so poorly to starting up this time, it reacted poorly to withdrawal as well. Ultimately, the problem was having the stuff in my system, so the long half life does not work to your advantage in this type of situation. My experience is almost exactly like Christine's. After the 21st day with no medication in my system I started to have a couple decent days, but nausea and dizziness, anxiety, random crying spells, insomnia, and muscle pains persisted. I've been entirely off the meds for 27 days now and this last weekend was actually so phenomenal. I would say I'm about 85-90% me, and feeling so grateful for it. My doctor assured me that when I reach five total weeks off of the medication I should be feeling all me again. The biggest struggle at this point is just letting go of the new fears that I have developed over the last couple months. This last weekend I still had a little bit of headache and a very small amount of nausea but I was able to get out of the house and go to the garden centre with my husband and my small child, and run errands all day, happily! - things I haven't done in ~2 months. Had tiny little setback with anxiety yesterday but I took 0.5mg lorazepam and have been feeling great since. I did rely on 1 mg of Lorazepam fairly often throughout my withdrawal, mostly to sleep at night, and if I absolutely had to leave the house (because I had become quite agoraphobic). I did find a website that really did help me. I took screenshots on my phone of the most important pages and made a separate folder so that if I needed to access them quickly, I could. I have done cognitive behavioral therapy for my anxiety in the past, and it helped to read through the work books again (it's free). Unfortunately, because the medication was causing my anxiety there wasn't really too much that I could do to mentally fight back against it until there was less medication in my system. I was fearful about becoming addicted to the lorazepam, as withdrawal from that (once dependant) is quite a nightmare as well, so I tried to use it only when I absolutely needed it, which for me was 19 out of the 30 pills that I was prescribed over a 5 week period. I can't tell you how frustrating it's been to have my symptoms shift and change and get worse and then better over and over. Focus on getting through this mentally - and I would suggest keeping a diary of your symptoms so that you can look back and see that you really are improving when you might not be feeling it. Like I said for me it's been 27 days now and I feel so, SO much better!!!! A month ago 27 days in the future felt like it was way too overwhelming and way too painful to get through, and it really has been hard, but I am so grateful to be where I am now. Also a huge thank you to everyone who responded to me on my original post - you guys gave me so much hope when I was really desperate, and I can't tell you how much I needed that.

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Gosh I wish I could answer that, my doctor prescribed me some anti-sickness pills but I can’t say they helped, I lost a heap of weight that I couldn’t afford to. You could ask your doctor for something or eat when it wears off, sip water. I tried meal replacement drinks at times I couldn’t eat, make a smoothie with milk, a meal replacement powder ie Complan, add a banana and liquidise. Wish I could be more helpful.

its alright your advice is helpful enough! the nausea has subsided thankfully, at least for now. I guess this will be a long journey. one that i am not ready for but have to make in order to feel better again.

Hi Jami, pleased you are having better days now. I would say I didn’t seem to feel much difference on a daily basis but, over the course of 4 weeks I could definitely notice a difference on a weekly basis. Just down with a cold now but I can deal with that 😆

Glad to hear you are doing better!

I'm on week 4 of going back on 20 mg dose.  Yesterday was a good day, today not so  good.  Woke up anxious, wretching, and here at work feeling VERY anxious and jittery.  I am hoping that it will kick in soon because this routine is sure getting old.

At any rate, always glad to read success stories on here. It cheers me up a bit

How how soon did you start getting the withdrawal effects after you stopped taking your last pill? 

I was so I’ll on them that doe me it was more a case of getting them out of my system. All together I think by week 3 off the pills I was a lot better, not 100% but better. Everyone is different though and because I had such a bad reaction to them I was glad to get them out. Once out I guess it took a few days for my body to adjust to no medication at all.

Oh I meant like how long after your last pill did you start to feel the effects. Cause I’m on day 2 and all I have is some high teens anxiety nausea that comes and goes and bowel problems of the liquid veriety.

It could take a few days, I had nausea before I went on them so for me it’s probably different. After a week half the drug will be out of your system so hopefully you should notice a difference by then if not before

Alright I’m going to give it a shot. Screw it, I heard the withdrawal effects start on your third day after your last dose so I’ll see tomorrow how I feel. It might be a breeze. Who knows, thank you for your advice and I’ll let you know how I’m holding up on it.

Good luck, I’m sure you’ll be fine

Woke up today with a weird sensation in my forehead and semi weak legs. Klonopin helped a little bit but did you notice if the effects of your withdrawal came and went or if they were constant for 3 weeks.

Hi, constant at first but gradually had some slightly better days then bad ones, no idea why. I pushed myself to doing things some days but still made sure I rested in between. From talking to others it’s faitly common to have good days and bad days

Ok cause these weak legs are going to kill me I swear to god lol. I hope this doesn’t last and goes away by tomorrow. Or I may cave and take a dose of the Prozac.

Hi Happytimes, 

I was on Flu for 4 days. It really messed me up. Although now I can say it's probably completely out of my system, I probably have other issues now. I've had to take Ativan and I was given 2.5mg of Zyprexa to help me sleep. Now I have those in my system. 

I think coming off Prozac made me feel so depressed and heightened anxiety that I felt like I needed to goto the hospital. That's when they put me on those. It's like an ongoing effect.

Rah this all started cause I was hospitalized voluntarily for panic disorder cause I classified as gravely disabled, they started me on the klonopin which I’m fine with but then said hey let’s put you on propranolol and Prozac as well. I should have said no to the Prozac. But I was ignorant and trusted the psychiatrist in there. After 4 days I got out and kept taking it everything was decent until 2 weeks. Then everything hit the fan I was having suicidal thoughts horrible nightmares. Couldn’t eat, was losing weight and they decided to take me off cause it wasn’t safe. So here I am day 3 of no prozac and it’s a little hard but manageable so far. But I don’t think I have the willpower to take 3 weeks of feeling like this constantly that’s why I needed to know if some days I would feel a little better.

I had weak legs on the fluoxetine but once it was out of my system they seem much better now

You will get better, believe it, some days may be awful, they were for me but others will be better, eventually you will get there

thank you, its  day 4 and I'm honestly feeling better than i did yesterday so that's good in my book! only thing that keeps bothering me is the mornings, racked with anxiety and weird lightheadedness but honestly im starting to think its from not taking my klonopin and propranolol wearing off during the night. cause once that kicks in i feel loads better.

Glad you’re feeling better, hope you get there soon and start feeling more normal

Thank you! So did the symptoms wear off the more the weeks went by? Cause in two days it’ll be a week so 50% should be out of my body by then right?

Yes that’s right, after that it should start getting easier

So made it past a week and it has gotten a lot easier I think. I woke up this morning with very little anxiety and feel alright for the most part. But still have two more weeks until it’s fully out of my system I think. But very hopeful it won’t get much worse.