MisterS: Seeking validation around withdrawal

[MisterS]

Hi all,

 

Breifly, I stopped taking fluoxetine in February after 3 years on it, with 7 previous years on different SSRIS. 
 

I didn’t taper.

 

its been 3/4 months now, and I want to ask if what I’m experiencing could be withdrawal, and if anyone has experienced any of the more unusual symptoms below**.

 

1. intense emotions and sadness.

2. EXTREME irritability 

3. loss of pleasure in pretty much everything

4. (** I don’t know how to describe this, but a strong, impulsive feeing of hopelessness, feeling trapped in my existence), almost like a suicidal feeling, and subsequent terror that I’m actually suicidal.

5. Impulse to self harm (never acted on, possibly OCD resurfacing).

 

Im struggling immensely. If alarm bells are ringing, rest assured Im not going to act on the impulses. They feel unnatural and dystonic. 
 

Could the above be withdrawal? Is it possible to experience withdrawal after 3 months, especially on fluoxetine with its long half life? 

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, MisterS.

 

All the symptoms you describe are very typical withdrawal symptoms resulting from your cold turkey of fluoxetine.   Yes, it is very possible to experience withdrawal after 3 months; there is often a honeymoon period of 3 months with withdrawal symptoms hitting hard at that point.  Fluoxetine, like all psychiatric drugs, requires tapering, and its long half life doesn't change that necessity; all the long half-life does is to delay withdrawal.  It is not self-tapering.

 

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

When we take psychiatric medications, the CNS (central nervous system) responds by making changes over the months and years we take the drug(s). When the medication is discontinued, the CNS has to undo all the changes it made. Rebuilding the neurotransmitter production and reactivating the receptor and transporter cells takes time -- during that rebuilding process symptoms occur.  

 

These drugs alter the architecture of the brain, and the time necessary to heal the brain and return to homeostasis is, unfortunately, impossible to predict.  Withdrawal symptoms arise because your body got used to the drug being present and now has to work very hard to accommodate its absence.

 

Brain Remodelling 

 

Reinstatement of a very small dose of the original drug is the only known way to help alleviate withdrawal syndrome.  The only other alternative is to try and wait out the symptoms and manage as best you can until your central nervous system returns to homeostasis.  Unfortunately no one can give you an exact timeline as to when you will start feeling better and while some do recover relatively easily, for others it can take many months or longer.  

 

Reinstatement isn't a guarantee of diminished symptoms for everyone but it's the best tactic available.  You're just outside the time period where reinstatement predictably works, up to 3 months after last dose.  So it might work or it might not.  We usually suggest a much smaller reinstatement dose than your last dose.  These drugs are strong, your system has become sensitized and If you take too much it may be too much for your brain and can cause you become more unstable.   Then, once you've stabilized on the reinstated dosage, which can take several months,  you can begin a 10% per month taper down to zero.   Please read:

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms. -- at least the first page of the topic

 

Let us know if you're interested in reinstating and we can suggest a reinstatement dosage.  Please don't reinstate without letting us suggest a dosage.  A question: What dosage were you on when you quit?

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems.

 

This is your Introduction topic, where you can ask questions and connect with other members.  We're glad you found your way here.