Amber234 Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 Hi My doctor diagnosed me with depression and prescribed me 20mg/5ml liquid Fluoxetine, I am also hypothyroid and it has been noted my thyroid results show undermedication. My thyroid consultant however is not increasing my thyroid medication even though she knows my results are not optimal. I have tried to suddenly take myself off the Fluoxetine and within 2 days of not taking it I had very bad nausea. I then retook the Fluoxetine and the nausea went away within minutes. I have only been taking the Fluoxetine for a month so I didn't know I had to taper the doses. How do I need to taper the Fluoxetine please? Thank you. Medical history 12 - 18 months Hypothyroidism/Hashimotos Thyroiditis diagnosed late 2012 (Levothyroxine 150mcg, Liothyronine 10mcg) Vitamin D deficiency diagnosed late December 2013 (cholecalciferol 800iu) Iron deficiency diagnosed late December 2013 (Monofer/IV iron given April 2016) Polycystic ovarian syndrome diagnosed late September 2015 Depression diagnosed late September 2012 (1 day on Sertraline), late November 2013 (1 week on Citalopram), start of September 2016 (Start of September taking Fluoxetine 5ml - stopped on 8 October, experienced nausea within 2 days so reinstated 5ml on 11 October, this is my current dose) Oesophageal stricture/narrowing/acid reflux diagnosed end of April 2016 (End of April started Lansoprazole 30mg) Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted October 13, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 13, 2016 Hi Amber and welcome to SA, You did the right thing going back on the fluoxetine immediately the withdrawal symptom appeared. About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms and Dr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist Were you taking any other drug prior to starting fluoxetine? If you didn't, you should be able to do a fast taper of the fluoxetine. If you were taking another drug our suggestion may be different. Once we have additional information of your drug history we will be better able to offer suggestions based on your individual situation. Please put your Withdrawal History in Signature. Please include details for the last 12-18 months of all drugs, dates, doses and discontinuations & reinstatements. If you can't remember dates, please write it as "early March" or "mid-August". Please provide a summary of any drugs prior to that which can just be listed with start and stop years. Please include all prescription, non-prescription drugs and supplements you are currently taking. I'm giving you a list of links to check out: Before you begin tapering what you need to know Why taper by 10% of my dosage? (this will still be helpful for you to read, even though you may be able to go faster) These will hopefully provide tips about how to talk with your doctor. It is helpful to be assertive and know the ways to talk to the medical profession so that you can get what you need for your taper. What should I expect from my doctor about withdrawal symptoms? How do you talk to a doctor about tapering and withdrawal? These helped me to understand SA's harm reduction method of tapering which allows the brain to adapt to not getting as much of the drug. They might help you to understand why you experienced withdrawal symptoms. Brain Remodelling Video: Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery You can ask questions here in your Intro/Update topic and journal your progress. Click "Follow" top right and you will be notified when someone responds. * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
Amber234 Posted October 14, 2016 Author Share Posted October 14, 2016 (edited) Thank you, I wasn't taking any other antidepressant other than Fluoxetine but I have been taking thyroid medication, supplements and other things, I will include in signature everything else. Edited October 15, 2016 by ChessieCat Removed quoted post Medical history 12 - 18 months Hypothyroidism/Hashimotos Thyroiditis diagnosed late 2012 (Levothyroxine 150mcg, Liothyronine 10mcg) Vitamin D deficiency diagnosed late December 2013 (cholecalciferol 800iu) Iron deficiency diagnosed late December 2013 (Monofer/IV iron given April 2016) Polycystic ovarian syndrome diagnosed late September 2015 Depression diagnosed late September 2012 (1 day on Sertraline), late November 2013 (1 week on Citalopram), start of September 2016 (Start of September taking Fluoxetine 5ml - stopped on 8 October, experienced nausea within 2 days so reinstated 5ml on 11 October, this is my current dose) Oesophageal stricture/narrowing/acid reflux diagnosed end of April 2016 (End of April started Lansoprazole 30mg) Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted October 14, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 14, 2016 Hi Amber, Thank you for providing the information. I am not familiar with thyroid issues, except that I know you have to have regular blood tests so that you are on the correct dosage. Do you have blood tests done? How often? When was the last one? A couple of the other mods are familiar with thyroid conditions so they will be better able to help with this. However, these are the SA topics discussing thyroid: thyroid-symptoms-hypothyroid-hashimotos thyroid-problems-misdiagnosed-as-psychiatric * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
Amber234 Posted October 14, 2016 Author Share Posted October 14, 2016 (edited) Hi thank you ChessieCat, yes I have blood tests done, I am tested every 6 weeks at the moment because my endocrinologist is not happy with where my levels are. She admits my results aren't optimal but isn't adjusting the dose. The last blood test was done at the start of August. Edited October 15, 2016 by ChessieCat Removed quoted post Medical history 12 - 18 months Hypothyroidism/Hashimotos Thyroiditis diagnosed late 2012 (Levothyroxine 150mcg, Liothyronine 10mcg) Vitamin D deficiency diagnosed late December 2013 (cholecalciferol 800iu) Iron deficiency diagnosed late December 2013 (Monofer/IV iron given April 2016) Polycystic ovarian syndrome diagnosed late September 2015 Depression diagnosed late September 2012 (1 day on Sertraline), late November 2013 (1 week on Citalopram), start of September 2016 (Start of September taking Fluoxetine 5ml - stopped on 8 October, experienced nausea within 2 days so reinstated 5ml on 11 October, this is my current dose) Oesophageal stricture/narrowing/acid reflux diagnosed end of April 2016 (End of April started Lansoprazole 30mg) Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted October 15, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 15, 2016 Hi Amber, There is no need to quote a post. It just adds clutter to your topic. I will edit your posts and remove the quotes. Just start typing in the Reply to this topic box and then click Post. Instead of quoting a whole post, I sometimes copy and paste the part I am referring to and put it is "...." especially if I am responding to something in a post which is 2 or more before my response or if it is in the previous post which mentions a variety of things and I am responding to 1 or 2 of them. Thank you for responding to my question about blood tests. I've notified the other mods about your situation with being on the fluoxetine for such a short time and asked them the best way to get off it quickly. * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
nz11 Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 Amber Welcome to sa You are very fortunate to find this place at this early stage. Please consider doing your own research on the drugs the doctor gives you before taking them. Especially so when it comes to chemicals for subjective labels. We are living in the information age and ignorance is now a choice ...well i cant talk but i've had a turnaround. i have found putting my misplaced trust in doctors is pretty much akin to putting trust in a house of cards. These are not 'medicines ' that are being peddled they are very dangerous chemicals, that have obtained approval by misconduct and once that happened the marketing machine kicked off big time selling diseases. To use the 'D' word in front of a doctor is actually an extremely dangerous thing to do. nz11 Thought for the day: Lets stand up, and let’s speak out , together. G Olsen We have until the 14th. Feb 2018. URGENT REQUEST Please consider submitting for the petition on Prescribed Drug Dependence and Withdrawal currently awaiting its third consideration at the Scottish Parliament. You don't even have to be from Scotland. By clicking on the link below you can read some of the previous submissions but be warned many of them are quite harrowing. http://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/PE01651 Please tell them about your problems taking and withdrawing from antidepressants and/or benzos. Send by email to petitions@parliament.scot and quote PE01651 in the subject heading. Keep to a maximum of 3 sides of A4 and you can't name for legal reasons any doctor you have consulted. Tell them if you wish to remain anonymous. We need the numbers to help convince the committee members we are not isolated cases. You have until mid February. Thank you Recovering paxil addict None of the published articles shed light on what ssri's ... actually do or what their hazards might be. Healy 2013. This is so true, with anything you get on these drugs, dependance, tapering, withdrawal symptoms, side effects, just silent. And if there is something mentioned then their is a serious disconnect between what is said and reality! "Every time I read of a multi-person shooting, I always presume that person had just started a SSRI or had just stopped." Dr Mosher. Me too! Over two decades later, the number of antidepressant prescriptions a year is slightly more than the number of people in the Western world. Most (nine out of 10) prescriptions are for patients who faced difficulties on stopping, equating to about a tenth of the population. These patients are often advised to continue treatment because their difficulties indicate they need ongoing treatment, just as a person with diabetes needs insulin. Healy 2015 I believe the ssri era will soon stand as one of the most shameful in the history of medicine. Healy 2015 Let people help people ... in a natural, kind, non-addictive (and non-big pharma) way. J Broadley 2017 Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus JanCarol Posted October 15, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 15, 2016 Hey Amber, I'm really worried about 2 things: 1. You said: My thyroid consultant however is not increasing my thyroid medication even though she knows my results are not optimal. Please, seek a new thyroid consultant. I know, sometimes it's hard to have choices, but this is negligent. Please, go to www.stopthethyroidmadness.com. Learn why you are hypothyroid and try and address it. Is it Hashimotos? (very common). Is your water fluoridated? (really, not meant for human consumption!) If you are on Facebook, there are a number of Facebook thyroid groups, and often you can find a local one which recommends practitioners. This is important. Thyroid, especially chronic (long term) conditions, whether hypo- or hyper- can wreak havoc on your system, and start a cascade that affects other endocrine problems. 2. Have you reinstated the Fluoxetine? This is not clear from your signature, or from your intro post. Please make sure that we know what you are currently taking. Did you reinstate the full dose? Have you quit it again? Chessie wisely asked questions about your situation, and here's what we suggest: When you quite the fluoxetine (CT = Cold Turkey) you have destabilized your system. What symptoms are you having? I suggest that you want to hold, now. Wait for the symptoms to go away before starting a taper. Then wait another 2 weeks. Then, you can try a 10% reduction. Depending on how that goes, you may be able to decrease 5-10% per week after that. This is superfast by our standards, and you will want to slow down if you get symptoms. Here is information on fluoxetine, and our usual tapering protocols: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/759-tips-for-tapering-off-prozac-fluoxetine/ You will need information to do that, because the pharmaceutical companies don't give us 10% increments - which is the safest reduction to make. It would be best to ask for fluoxetine liquid, as that will make your taper easier. If you cannot get the liquid, you can make it yourself: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/235-using-an-oral-syringe-and-other-tapering-techniques/ How to Make a Liquid from Tablets or Capsule I know this is a lot of information - 1 months seems like a short time - but normally, these drugs can get their hooks in with just 3 weeks exposure. We've had people who had problems from ONE DOSE (in fact, there are studies that show that just one dose of these things can change your brain!). I know many many people who wish they'd gone slower. I don't know anyone who wishes they'd gone faster. Slow, steady, simple - keep your system stable and you can control your symptoms. Please let us know what they are - and how you plan to approach / attack this thyroid problem. It's gone on too long. It's time to let go of being a "passive patient," and take charge of your own well being! ps - the omeprazole - will rob you of essential vitamins and can cause health problems. We have plenty of people here who manage reflux and even hiatal hernia - with non-drug methods. But that is for later (I'm mostly just making a note of it for mods). Welcome to SA! I'm glad you found us, but sorry that you had to look for us. I hope you see the sun today. "Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again. My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices. A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia. CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013. Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine). Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 - Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years on Lithium). Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made. The tedious thread (my intro): JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium The happy thread (my success story): JanCarol - Undiagnosed Off all bipolar drugs My own blog: https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/ I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016! Link to comment
Amber234 Posted October 15, 2016 Author Share Posted October 15, 2016 Hi thank you, I have Hashimotos (raised antibodies). I am still taking the Fluoxetine at the full dose. I experienced nausea when I can off it so I went back on it and the nausea went away. I can only assume it was withdrawal. The water is not fluoridated. Sorry did you mean hypo symptoms or withdrawal symptoms? Medical history 12 - 18 months Hypothyroidism/Hashimotos Thyroiditis diagnosed late 2012 (Levothyroxine 150mcg, Liothyronine 10mcg) Vitamin D deficiency diagnosed late December 2013 (cholecalciferol 800iu) Iron deficiency diagnosed late December 2013 (Monofer/IV iron given April 2016) Polycystic ovarian syndrome diagnosed late September 2015 Depression diagnosed late September 2012 (1 day on Sertraline), late November 2013 (1 week on Citalopram), start of September 2016 (Start of September taking Fluoxetine 5ml - stopped on 8 October, experienced nausea within 2 days so reinstated 5ml on 11 October, this is my current dose) Oesophageal stricture/narrowing/acid reflux diagnosed end of April 2016 (End of April started Lansoprazole 30mg) Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted October 15, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 15, 2016 Hi Amber, "Sorry did you mean hypo symptoms or withdrawal symptoms?" If you are referring to this: "I suggest that you want to hold, now. Wait for the symptoms to go away before starting a taper. Then wait another 2 weeks." JC is referring to withdrawal symptoms. I suggest you keep daily notes on paper of withdrawal symptoms which improve, worsen or stay the same. Rate Symptoms Daily to Check Patterns and Progress That way you will be able to see how you are going, rather than trying to remember it. It is also helpful, if issues arise, to be able to provide us with precise information so we can offer suggestions. * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now