Morph: stopping Prozac

[Morph]

About 15 years ago I was diagnosed with ADHD and OCD.  I started seeing a physiatrist that put me on the combination of Straterra and Vyvance for ADHD, Trileptal and Trintellix for depression/mood stabilizer and Prozac for OCD.  I have been on this mix of medication for more then 5 years.  I think I am not ready to start weening myself off this medication, because I am in a very good place mentally.  

The last time I tried to stop Prozac I went from 50 mg to 0 over 5 weeks,  but I think that it was way too fast and I had to go back to my previous doze.  Looking back, I should have questioned all this medication when my doctors was prescribing it, but now I feel stuck and not sure where to begin.  Hoping someone here has some suggestions.  

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  You have come to the right place.  Yes, you are right, going off Prozac in 5 weeks was too fast.  If you follow our tapering protocol, it will be much easier on you.  

 

Can you please give us specific information in your signature about your drug history for all drugs and supplements you are on and have been on, especially for the past 18-24 months?  It would be especially helpful to have the details of your drugs in a concise vertical list (no symptoms), only specific dates, include the day (as best you can say for example early March if you don't recall the day), drug names, and dosages of each medication decrease or increase.

 

Please read the link below for instructions.  This will allow us to give you the best guidance.  

 

How to List Drug History in Signature

 

Here is some important information about how these drugs actually work.  This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications, and why it's so important to taper slowly and carefully, and be very cautious about changing our doses: 

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is.  Hopefully you can minimize or avoid this by tapering according to our guidelines. 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

 

Tapering is best done extremely slowly, and we generally taper by 10% of the current dose no more than once every 4 weeks, so that the reduction becomes exponentially smaller.

 

 Why Taper by 10% of my Dosage  

 

Please read the following link carefully to choose which drug to taper first.  This is important. 

 

Taking Multiple Drugs - Which to Taper First

 

 

Stability is really important when we are tapering off psych meds.  Please read the link about stability:

 

Keep It Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

Please keep us posted, and let us know what you decide to do.  We will help you and walk you through your tapering.  Good luck! 

[getofflex]

Please go to 

 

https://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html

 

and use the drug interactions checker to see if there are any drug interactions.  This can help you in deciding on what drugs to taper first.