Stopped taking Fluoxetine 40mg 7 weeks ago, and now starting them again - can anyone help?
Posted , 6 users are following.
I stopped taking 40mg Fluoxetine 7 weeks ago after being on them for over 2 years. I thought they had stopped working and I thought i'd give it a try coming off them.
Took advice from Dr ( although she was wary of me coming off them I have to say..) and tapered over a few weeks.
Now feel utterly horrific...really very low, no interest in anything, very irritated, weepy, not washing as much, wanting to stay in bed...thoughts of not wanting to be here anymore, feel useless and just a burden to everyone despite my hubby, daughter and extended family being fantastic.
Spoke with Dr today and she has prescribed 20mg, alongside Amitryptiline 30mg which has been helping for the past 7 weeks with sleep as was not sleeping at all, and cocodomol as I also have Fibromyalgia along with the depression and anxiety.
I guess what i'm asking is...has anyone been in a similar situation and how long should it take to get back into my system and should it help me to feel better?
Any advice would be really appreciated...a bit desperate...☹
0 likes, 15 replies
katecogs LJK68
Posted
The key to coming off medication is to do it slow (whatever your GP says) - and by that I mean probably taking around a year doing so. A few weeks tapering off is way too fast and you’ll just end up with withdrawal symptoms which is what you’ve got. Trust me, I've done this twice now and you simply cannot hurry through this.
Indeed, its best you introduce the meds back in a little at a time (start small and increase) until you’re back to your original dose - then stay there. It’ll be a bumpy ride for sure, but just expect that.
For me, when I restarted meds after about an 18 month break I found it took longer, but you’ve been off these only 7 weeks so it should be an easier ride reinstating them I think.
Why did you think they’d stopped working?
LJK68 katecogs
Posted
Thanks so much for your reply.
I thought they'd stopped working because I was feeling a bit low...but nothing compared to how I am feeling now!
Here's hoping things get better, thank you
katecogs LJK68
Posted
You can still feel a bit low when taking meds - everyone in life has highs and lows but of course when we're susceptible to anxiety I think we feel the lows much worse.
Hope things are going well.
LJK68 katecogs
Posted
I'm feeling a lot better than I was, taking each day as it comes but trying my best...that's really all I can do. I am getting up and exercising and planning meals etc and feeling a bit more hopeful at the moment. Thanks so much X
katecogs LJK68
Posted
Exercise is so good as it raises the endorphins (feel good hormones). Glad you're feeling a bit better - and probably best to wait where you are now re dose, level out even more before reducing anymore. Then take it real slow.
Hope it goes well.
K x
LJK68 katecogs
Posted
Thanks so much X
albert18596 LJK68
Posted
Hello
I once tried to stop PROZAC .....I was off it for about a month and the same symptoms happened to me. I became anxious and depressed all over again. I then re-started the medication and it took two weeks to work. After that I felt like my old self.
LJK68 albert18596
Posted
Thanks very much for your reply, that gives me something to focus on , and the fact that after two you felt like your old self- that really gives me hope.
Noodlesxxx LJK68
Posted
Hey there....i came of prozac last december...i did it slowly over 3 to 4 months....worst thing i could have done...by june i had a breakdown and have only recently got back on my feet and back to work...i found it took me longer this time to pick up again...but i did...and you will too...right now you are recovering and please be gentle on yourself...its so tough when you have a family to look after isnt it?? i think i will be on them for the rest of my life if im honest...never again do i want to go through it all...stay strong....and i do promise this will all get better soon xxx
LJK68 Noodlesxxx
Posted
you have no idea what that means to me, i'm so sorry that you've had to go through all of that, but fantastic to hear that you're feeling better now. your words mean a lot to me and I can't thank you enough
Noodlesxxx LJK68
Posted
Hi..how are you feeling these days?? Hope your doing better xxx
LJK68 Noodlesxxx
Posted
Hi, thanks very much,
i'm feeling a little better, i'm trying to keep exercising and walking to keep my mood up...and weight down. I've always felt its helped. I think a combo of that and being back on the meds is helping me. One day at a time...its full of ups and downs, but i'm keeping trying
XXX
LJK68
Posted
Have also just read the prescription and it says to take 2 a day, so 40 mg which was the dose I was taking 7 weeks ago, so I feel better about that...hopefully won't take long to start working...
Dengirl29 LJK68
Posted
Hi LJk68,
How are you doing now? I kinda had the same situation. I was off my pills about a week because I received a different manufacturer, by the time I realized what it was I was already pretty low. I started back the manufacturer I originally had and increased by 10 mgs per the dr of course. Ive been having a lot of the same blips I had when I originally started. DEPRESSION/ANXIETY/OCD is truely a nightmare!
LJK68 Dengirl29
Posted
Absolutely..
its horrible isn't it?
i'm feeling better than I was... now that i'm back taking them again, just taking each day as it comes, you know the drill.
It was really clear when I came off them, that I absolutely made the wrong decision. Kinda feeling like this is me for life now....but what can you do?
I hope you start to feel better.
Lots and lots of self care and deep breathing X