nate34: fluoxetine for 6 weeks

[nate34]

Ive been on Fluoxetine for 6 weeks after a severe mental health crisis due to a virus my body crashed ,Ive decided to stop taking it cold turkey as Im afraid of withdrawal symptoms further down the line the longer I stay on it,too be honest in the first day or two I devoloped akathisia starting the medication,Im worried I'm getting the symptoms I had in reverse my doctor advised me to stay on till Christmas period,off I feel I got my energy back though im wondering am I just foolin myself for short term gain,as 20 Mg I wasnt allowed taper of or be given a lower dose by my psychiatry team,I think they just feel stopping it is fine without tapering

[Shep]

Hi, @nate34. Welcome to Surviving Antidepressants.

 

You can become dependent on an antidepressant in a month, so it's possible you may have become dependent on it. However, it sounds like you may have had an adverse reaction to it (i.e. akathisia). If that's the case, you may not want to taper. Or you may want to go back on a lower dose and taper off. 

 

Please note this part of the post Tips for tapering off fluoxetine (Prozac):

 

On 7/2/2011 at 2:11 PM, Altostrata said:

Prozac has the longest half-life of any SSRI. After you take it for a few days, half-life is about 16 days. Fluoxetine itself has a half-life of 2-4 days, but as it is processed, your body creates an active antidepressant metabolite, norfluoxetine, which has a half-life of 7-15 days. So Prozac keeps on extending its half-life as it is metabolized.

According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluoxetine , fluoxetine and norfluoxetine inhibit each other's metabolism, extending the half-life of the drug. Because the half-lives are so long, the full effect of Prozac on the brain may not be felt for several weeks.

fluoxetine (1-6 days) ---> norfluoxetine (up to 16 days) ---> other metabolites

Prozac is mainly metabolized by the liver enzymes identified by cytochrome P450 CYP2D6 and CYP2C9/2C19, and inhibits its own metabolism via cyp 2D6 and cyp 2c19, which means lower doses get metabolized faster. (Prozac and its metabolites are also mild to moderate inhibitors of CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, and CYP3A4.)

Is Prozac "self-tapering"?
Because of its very long half-life, Prozac has the reputation of being "self-tapering," meaning it requires only a short taper. However, some people do suffer withdrawal from Prozac, just as severe as other SSRIs. Because of the long half-life, withdrawal symptoms simply take longer to appear.

We suggest starting out with a slow taper of 10% per month for a couple of months; if no withdrawal symptoms appear, rate of taper may be increased -- but slow down if withdrawal symptoms arise.

 

Is fluoxetine the only psychiatric drug you've taken? Please set up a signature with your drug history. For more on setting up a signature, see:

 

How to Summarize Your Drug History in Your Signature

 

After we know your history and any current drugs you may be taking, we can give you more targeted advice. 

 

 

[nate34]

I had flu covid for three weeks devoloped a nasty cough

 

on 5th june fealt I had a major panic attack

 

collapsed vertigo weird feeling in centre stomach

 

Hospital&&

 

Took quetiapine reluctantly as I was told my brain was sending wrong signals to my body

 

 

It gave me major panic attack taking it severe restlessness

 

 

3 times made me ill panic attacks didn't sleep for three weeks got very literally mindwiped

 

I would get a panic attack

 

then a migraine

 

medication takem888

 

(one remeron

 

 

and zanax

 

 

and phenigran)

 

 

 

3 different ocasions as  ended up in er several times situation was a mess and seeing different doctors

 

 

I had covid seen by er given  wrong solution

I had a virus pychitrist gave me seroqual for "sleep" while doctor told me go home and relax

 

It made me really drousy and manicly anxuis wich sent of a chain reaction

ten hour panic attacks weak body strange headaches not able to walk

 

akathasia on 3rd day of taking fluxotine

 

 

my brain chemistry is fried

the road to return?

I dont feel myself I have strange dreams seisure muscle twitching

iI have ringing in my ears and I stopped taking ssri ten days ago

 

am afraid of whitdrawals and nasty side effects

 

my brain was so fried I couldnt function

 

Ive caught up on sleep

 

though I took ssri as I was hallucinating

[nate34]

and  fluxotine was pychitrists solution

 

Im afraid Of all my symptoms returning

 

either way

 

Im afraid I will die of this situation

 

 

[Shep]

Thanks for this additional information, Nate.

 

12 hours ago, nate34 said:

I had flu covid for three weeks devoloped a nasty cough

 

on 5th june fealt I had a major panic attack

 

Were you taking cough medicine or other medications to treat your Covid symptoms? If so, please list them. It's possible you may have had an adverse reaction to something that caused the panic attack. 

 

Please update your signature to include the other psych drugs you were taking (Seroquel, Remeron, Xanax, etc). Please include the dates and doses, as best as you can remember. A direct link to your signature is here:

 

 Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

 

 

[nate34]

I was not taking anything while #i became ill firstly

 

I just had a strange feeling in my stomach

 

I took only seroqual after been given to me by the pychitrist in AndE

 

the first time I was sent home

 

I took 25 mg quitipine it made me very bad especialy in the morning

 

the day after I woke with a rapid heartbeat

 

the third time I was really foggy out of body the psychiatrist said I must take the seoqual

 

It was ao heavy and it made me have a further panic attack

 

I would ave migraines I would awaken with my body numb everywere

 

 

I stopped taking it I would have major panic attacks

 

 

I took the following medication only afterwards

 

one Remeron 

 

and one Phenegran

 

I woke up from taking the phenegron I could barely walk

 

 

 feel its a complete mess and destroyed my bodies equliberuim

[Altostrata]

22 hours ago, nate34 said:

akathasia on 3rd day of taking fluxotine

 

Hello, @nate34 

 

Among our members, we have a small group of people who never did get along very well with the antidepressant. Many have had severe adverse drug reactions (ADR) within a few doses.

 

These people, who are tagged "immediate ADR", have symptoms that are like protracted withdrawal syndrome but they don't have withdrawal syndrome, they have similar symptoms because their nervous systems were upset by taking the drug. Their recovery is slow, with frustrating waves and windows, like people with withdrawal syndrome, but it seems their recovery isn't as long. Since they had a serious ADR to an antidepressant, they probably should not consider reinstatement.

 

Please read Immediate adverse reactions to an antidepressant or within a few doses? How long for recovery?

 

It's possible that having covid made you more sensitive to this. It's also possible some of the symptoms you feel are from covid. When was the last time you took fluoxetine? How has your symptom pattern changed since then?

[nate34]

I have not taking fluxotine in 12 days

 

It flucuates right now I have low blood pressure and a rapid heartbeat

[nate34]

I see the pychitrist at 9 tomorow

[Altostrata]

These could be symptoms from long covid. Up to you if you want a psychiatric drug, please re-read my post.