penguinsoffpills: switched from Pristiq to fluoxetine - how do I taper

[penguinsoffpills]

Hi folks,

I'm glad to find this community! I started taking Pristiq 2 years ago. When I decided I was ready to go off, my doctor had my drop it cold turkey and take fluoxetine every other day. After flu-like symptoms, nausea, and being super emotional, she advised me to take the prozac every day and taper off that. I stabilized, which was good, but I do feel like I'm getting more tired and out of it as the weeks pass - who knows if it is withdrawal or the fluoxetine??

 

I'm curious what other people in this situation have done. (I have my doctor's blessing to taper - she advises way too fast.) I want to take it slower but don't want my body to "get used" to fluoxetine, making it harder. I've had sleep issues that I think are related to the ADs, which is why I want to get off. 

 

I was thinking about trying 10% at the 1-month mark and just go from there. I saw that in some forum that if there's no bad impact after a few months, I CAN try a little faster. 

 

Thank you so much for having me here!

 

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @penguinsoffpills

 

It sounds like, relatively, your switch to fluoxetine has been effective, but you need to stabilize at 10mg for a while.

 

Taking any psychiatric drug every other day, even fluoxetine, is like playing ping-pong with your brain. That was very poor advice. You've only started to take 10mg daily. If I were you, I'd wait a month or 2 before even considering tapering, to make sure your nervous system is settled down.

 

To prepare, see Tips for tapering off fluoxetine (Prozac)
 

I hope you discussed your problems with the dosing to your prescriber, it's the only way they'll learn.

[penguinsoffpills]

Thank you so much, I appreciate the advice - and especially that link! I have no idea why she thought every other day was better than a lower dose daily. I'm making sure to tell her all about the withdrawal stuff so she better knows what works. Thank you! 

[Altostrata]

You're welcome. You might also read this to her NEVER SKIP DOSES TO TAPER 

 

Please let us know when you feel recovered from the drug uproar and are ready to taper.