Debziere Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 Child is having bad side effects, dr just increased dosage to 20. Was 10 for about 6 weeks. At this point side effects: Talking and writing about death Self injury Extreme aggression (very uncommon for her) Nightmares I need help, I know what wd is, was hesitant to put her on meds. She's been on 10 mg capsule Prozac about 6 weeks, upped dose to 20 for 5 days. She is still very fragile any abrupt drop could be adverse. I need to know how to titrate or taper her. Since she's only been on 20 for 5 days, I'm thinking stopping the extra dose, but need to know how to taper 10 mg capsule. Length of time she has been on has not been that long. I have reached out to all her psych people and no one will return calls, and psych wants to keep her on this. I am seeing these Behavoioral changes and will not subject her to this any longer, how to titrate 10 mg Prozac capsule? Thank you Link to comment
nz11 Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 Welcome to sa I am so sorry your daughter has been given prozac. Hopefully a mod will be in soon. 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
Fox Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 A mod will be with you soon. But Prozac comes in liquid form for easier tapering. Prozac 10 mg 03-15 to 10-15. Prozac 20 mg 10-15 to 12-15. Taper prozac 01-16 to 03-16. Last Prozac 03-14-16. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus KarenB Posted December 20, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted December 20, 2016 Hello Debziere, Such a difficult time for you as a mother, wanting to protect your daughter. Hopefully the information we have here will help you to build a safe plan. We recommend a gentle taper, reducing by no more than 10% of your current dose each month. This allows the brain time to adjust as you go, and lessens any withdrawal. Some of us reduce by smaller amounts, or follow a micro-taper. You could have a read of those threads and see if either way resonates better with you. It's true she has not been on it that long. Usually we say if a person has been on it for a month or less they can reduce a bit faster, but that may not be advisable with your daughter already being so fragile. Have there been any changes in your daughter since the increase to 20mg? If not, then you may indeed be able to simply cut that back to 10mg, as you say. But if there have been changes, then you might like to approach that more carefully. Perhaps down to 15mg one week then down to 10mg the following week - but it will depend on exactly what's been happening for your daughter lately. Tips for Tapering Prozac It comes in a liquid, but if that is difficult for you to obtain, you can make your own. The instructions are in that link. Many people find Fish oil and Magnesium useful during withdrawal. Keeping things simple in your daughter's life will also help: Keep it Simple; Keep it Slow; Keep it Stable Non-Drug Techniques to cope with emotional symptoms. Please put your withdrawal history in your signature – all drugs/dates/dosages etc - so we can see your daughter's situation easily whenever you post, and help more accurately. Thanks. Symptom Checklist Have a read of those and then come back to this thread to discuss things further. This can be your journal to record your progress and to ask questions. Welcome to SA, Karen 2010 Fluoxetine 20mg. 2011 Escitalopram 20mg. 2013 Tapered badly and destabilised CNS. Effexor 150mg. 2015 Begin using info at SurvivingAntidepressants. Cut 10% - bad w/d 2 months, held 1 month. Micro-tapering: four weekly 0.4% cuts, hold 4 weeks (struggling with symptoms). 8 month hold. 2017 Micro-tapering: four weekly 1% cuts, hold 4 weeks (symptoms almost non-existent). 2020 Still micro-tapering. Just over 2/3 of the way off effexor. Minimal symptoms, - and sleeping well. Supplements: Fish oil, vitamin C, iron, oat-straw tea, nettle tea. 2023 December - Now on 5 micro-beads Effexor. Minimal symptoms but much more time needed between drops. Symptoms begin to increase. 2024 April - Updosed to 6 microbeads - immediate increase in symptoms for 4 days. Decreased to 5 microbeads. 'The possibility of renewal exists so long as life exists.' Dr Gabor Mate. Link to comment
Newbeginning Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 Prozac has a risk of causing suicidal ideation/attempts and aggressiveness, particularly among children/teens. This is in the black box warning on the med itself. You said she has been on the higher dose for 5 days only? Then I would just go back to 10mg. The risk of it causing a reaction from changing dose after 5 days is much lower than the risk of being suicidal as a side effect-in my humble opinion. Once she's stable again, I would taper more slowly. Whatever you do, I would make sure she's not alone and keep communicating with her until all this settles. Since it's been just 6 weeks, it should be easier to stabilize her from this bad reaction to the med. Best of luck and hugs SSRIs 3-4 times in the last 14 years; would take them for 6-8 months and then taper off under dr supervision with no problems. Med history prior to 2015: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6012-newbeginning-my-withdrawal-story/?p=267313#entry267313 04/2015: Prozac decreased to 15mg over last 3 months; effexor held steady at 8mg; current effexor XR: 20 beads of a 75mg capsule per day (about 8mg) 06/2015: Prozac: 10mg; effexor XR: 19 beads (about 7.5mg); 07/2015: Prozac: 8.5mg; effexor 18 beads; 08/2015: Prozac: 7.5mg; effexor: 17 beads End of August: withdrawal: depressive symptoms, crying spells. Realized I was measuring prozac dose wrong for the last 2 months. Reinstated Prozac 8.5mg; Kept effexor at 17 beads. Stabilized in 5 weeks. 10/2015: Prozac: 8.5mg; effexor: 17 beads; 11/2015: Prozac: 1.9ml (7.5mg); effexor: 16 beads; 12/2015: Prozac: 1.6ml; effexor xr: 16 beads. Withdrawal: neuroemotions 01/2016: prozac: 1.6ml; effexor xr: reinstated 17 beads, withdrawal improved; 02/2016: Prozac 1.5ml; Effexor: 17 beads; 03/2016: Prozac 1.3ml(5mg); Effexor: 17 beads (7mg)-withdrawal (flu-like malaise, lightheaded, drowsy) started end of March. April 15: reinstated Prozac 1.5ml. Stabilized. 2 weeks ok. End of April: Withdrawal (neuroemotions). Eventually stabilized in April-May. Apathy improved. 3 month hold until August. August 2016: apathy came back; October 2016: updosed to Prozac 1.6ml. Bad reaction: anxiety, depression. End of October: went down Prozac 1.5ml. Stabilized over several weeks. Dec 9: tried macca for energy: anxiety/depression. Improved over several weeks, but not completely resolved. Dec 31: cut Effexor 5% to 16 beads. After 9 days: withdrawal anxiety, depression; tried updosing to 17 beads Feb 7 but anxiety got worse; went down to 16 beads May 2017: Anxiety improved; severe depression continues; September 2017: finally stabilized!!!!!! 09/07/2017-12/31/2017: hold Stable on Effexor 6mg and Prozac 6mg until around 2019-2020. Side effects (fatigue, anhedonia) continued, but had some long lasting windows thanks to therapy. Windows lasting 5-6 months each year followed by relapses. 2019: bad reaction to melatonin 3 mg. Withdrawal after taking it 2 months. When I tried to stop it developed severe insomnia that lasted 6 months even after I reinstated melatonin. Only slept again because I took hydroxyzine 5 mg 3 times a week for few months. Stopped hydroxyzine with no issues. Sleep normalized. 2020-2021: Holding on Prozac 6mg, Effexor 6mg, Tapered melatonin 1 drop every 2-4 weeks down to 1.5mg. Had to hold because further cuts were causing severe drowsiness. 2021: Insomnia returned due to caffeine use for few months (only started after months of use). I also had a concussion at this time. 2023: took hydroxyzine 5-100mg for one month (kept increasing dose every 3 days because I developed tolerance). Tapered for 1 week. After 1 month: withdrawal neuroemotions. Reinstated 5mg 2 months after stopping. Gradually increased to 25mg, stabilized, but withdrawal came back after 10 days. Kept increasing dose and withdrawal returning. Currently at 40mg. Not sure how to stabilize. Link to comment
Debziere Posted December 20, 2016 Author Share Posted December 20, 2016 Prozac has a risk of causing suicidal ideation/attempts and aggressiveness, particularly among children/teens. This is in the black box warning on the med itself. The school is not accepting this as truth, and put her in ISS without my knowledge yesterday, where can I find this black box warning? You said she has been on the higher dose for 5 days only? Then I would just go back to 10mg. The risk of it causing a reaction from changing dose after 5 days is much lower than the risk of being suicidal as a side effect-in my humble opinion. Yes, went back to 10 today. Once she's stable again, I would taper more slowly. Whatever you do, I would make sure she's not alone and keep communicating with her until all this settles. Since it's been just 6 weeks, it should be easier to stabilize her from this bad reaction to the med. Best of luck and hugs Link to comment
Debziere Posted December 20, 2016 Author Share Posted December 20, 2016 Thank you for the information here on the microtapering, etc., and liquid conversions. The psychiatrist will probably demand that she stay on this Med., I am not keeping her on this Med., she has never been in trouble a day in her life, ever, she has extreme anxiety, began self injury with objects to my knowledge yesterday. The school put her in ISS without my knowledge yesterday, they called after school was over and told me. Left her in a cubical to self harm. A liaison counselor was aware of the situation did not address this with the school. I did not want To send her to school today. The school does not care about the medicine side effects. Where do I find the black box warning? What other Med would be "ok" as I know her psych will put her on something else or insist keep her on this. Since it's been 6 weeks exactly once her symptoms began I know it's effecting this behavior.i don't want her to go through we but would prefer to get this out of her system what would be the best way, every other day dosing? What I said advisable? Thank you Link to comment
Debziere Posted December 20, 2016 Author Share Posted December 20, 2016 Hello Debziere, Such a difficult time for you as a mother, wanting to protect your daughter. Hopefully the information we have here will help you to build a safe plan. We recommend a gentle taper, reducing by no more than 10% of your current dose each month. This allows the brain time to adjust as you go, and lessens any withdrawal. Some of us reduce by smaller amounts, or follow a micro-taper. You could have a read of those threads and see if either way resonates better with you. It's true she has not been on it that long. Usually we say if a person has been on it for a month or less they can reduce a bit faster, but that may not be advisable with your daughter already being so fragile. Have there been any changes in your daughter since the increase to 20mg? If not, then you may indeed be able to simply cut that back to 10mg, as you say. But if there have been changes, then you might like to approach that more carefully. Perhaps down to 15mg one week then down to 10mg the following week - but it will depend on exactly what's been happening for your daughter lately. Tips for Tapering Prozac It comes in a liquid, but if that is difficult for you to obtain, you can make your own. The instructions are in that link. Many people find Fish oil and Magnesium useful during withdrawal. Keeping things simple in your daughter's life will also help: Keep it Simple; Keep it Slow; Keep it Stable Non-Drug Techniques to cope with emotional symptoms. Please put your withdrawal history in your signature – all drugs/dates/dosages etc - so we can see your daughter's situation easily whenever you post, and help more accurately. Thanks. Symptom Checklist Have a read of those and then come back to this thread to discuss things further. This can be your journal to record your progress and to ask questions. Welcome to SA, Karen thank you I have printed lot of this and appreciate the Information Link to comment
nz11 Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 Debz if you read that great link from Karen on keep it simple you will see that every other day dosing is not the way to go. Its an illusion to think that 'there is another med that can help' (its actually a doctor talk originating from the flawed tailoring hypothesis) they are all dangerously the same. I think that sounds a safe idea to keep her home from school for a while. Many people lose their jobs going through this. 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
nz11 Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 This is what the doctor , pdoc should have informed you of: ..................................... On September 14, 2004 the FDA added a Black Box Warning in regard to antidepressants & suicidality in those under age 18. On September 14, 2004 the FDA mandated that pharmacies provide to all parents or guardians for those younger than 18 an Antidepressant Patient Medication Guide. This guide reads (in part) “Call healthcare provider right away if you or your family member has any of the following symptoms: Acting aggressive, being angry, or violent & acting on dangerous impulses.” This Antidepressant Patient Medication Guide also states “Never stop an antidepressant medicine without first talking to a healthcare provider. Stopping an antidepressant medicine suddenly can cause other symptoms.” On September 14, 2004 the FDA mandated that pharmacies provide to all parents or guardians for those younger than 18 an Antidepressant Patient Medication Guide. This guide reads (in part) “Call healthcare provider right away if you or your family member has any of the following symptoms: Acting aggressive, being angry, or violent & acting on dangerous impulses.” This Antidepressant Patient Medication Guide also states “Never stop an antidepressant medicine without first talking to a healthcare provider. Stopping an antidepressant medicine suddenly can cause other symptoms.” On December 13, 2006, the Black Box Warning for suicidality was updated to include those under age 25. The Black Box Warning is included in the insert to the drugs and in the Physicians’ Desk reference. ............... Heres the thing the risk of drug induced suicidality is there for all ages - doctors and pharma dont tell you this they have kept it hidden. 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
Administrator Altostrata Posted December 20, 2016 Administrator Share Posted December 20, 2016 Welcome, Debziere. If your daughter has been on 20mg for only about a week, you can back down to 15mg by taking one capsule and making a liquid with the rest. Do this for a week. Then back down to 10mg, taking one capsule per day only. We can talk further about tapering after that. Any doctor can prescribe Prozac, it doesn't have to be a psychiatrist. If you don't think you can work with that psychiatrist, perhaps you can talk to your family doctor about your daughter's apparent adverse reaction to Prozac. It is very well known that there is a heightened risk of adverse effects from antidepressants among adolescents and teens. If your psychiatrist denies this, you definitely need another doctor. Ask your daughter to tell you how she's feeling every 4 hours (not while she's sleeping) as you make changes in the drug, particularly after she takes her daily dose. Keep notes on paper about her symptoms, the dosage, and the time of day she takes it. Please let us know how she's doing. This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
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