Edub26: Will I ever be free from antidepressants?

[Edub26]

I have recently reinstated Prozac at 30mg to due to being ripped off of them too fast. I’m on week 9 and still having waves, they aren’t as bad as they have been. I’m hoping that means normalcy and leveling out is just around the corner. My psych provider wants me to up my dose to 40mg, but I feel like 30mg hasn’t been in my system long enough to level out. My plan is to come off of them VERY SLOWLY once I am stabilized for 6 months. My psych provider keeps saying “You can try to come off it again, but some people just need to be on medication for the rest of their life and that’s okay”. BUT my anxiety was manageable and NOTHING compared to how it’s been with withdrawals. I was prescribed Prozac by a primary care doctor and I trusted them, but this has really sucked. 

Should I give the 30mg more time to build up? I’m only on week 9 

Has anyone been successful of coming off Prozac and being able to live their normal life again? I’m so worried this fear and anxiety is never going to end and I’m just going to be stuck on this medication forever.  

[Frogie]

@Edub26

 

Welcome to SA. We are a volunteer ran site helping people taper off psychiatric medications or have tapered off and are now healing.

 

 

 

This is your introduction page where you will receive information, ask questions and meet other members. We ask that you only have one introduction page so we can keep all your information in one place.

 

 

 

Here is some important information about how these drugs actually work.  This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications:

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

 

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

 

Keep It Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

 

I know you did a signature and I appreciate it. But can you please update it so it is in this format.  Include drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements in the last 12-24 months. Also include supplements. This will help us give you the most accurate advice we can. 

• Any drugs and supplements prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years. 
• Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago) 
• Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016. 
• Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses. 
• A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. 
• This is a direct link to your signature:  Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

 

I'm very glad that you have decided to hold until you stabilize, that is a very good idea. It can take months, so I am glad you are waiting 6 months. I'm going to give you some links that you will find useful when you begin to taper. Unfortunately most dr's know very little about these drugs and the implications they cause by not tapering properly.

 

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

The slowness of slow tapers

 

The Brassmonkey Slide Method of Micro-tapering

 

Preparing to taper

 

Dr. Joseph Glenmullen's withdrawal symptom checklist

How do you talk to a doctor about tapering and withdrawal?

Tips for tapering off fluoxetine (Prozac)

 

What is withdrawal syndrome?
 
About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms
 
The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

 

 

 

There are many success stories on members tapering off of Prozac. I can think of one in particular @O2bhappy. She has healed and living a happy life. You can search success stories and read them.

 

Success stories: Recovery from psychiatric drug withdrawal - Surviving Antidepressants

 

 

 

We don't suggest a lot of supplements on here as they can be stimulating to the central nervous system (CNS), except 2. If you would like to try one, try a small amount and wait a few days before introducing the other.

 

 

Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

 

 

After you have read the links provided, please reach out with any questions you may have.