Tapertrauma: Prozac Tapering withdrawal symptons

[Altostrata]

It could be the 4mg reinstatement is too low. You might increase to 5mg Prozac. Please let us know how you're doing. 

[Tapertrauma]

I have been looking back through my diary and with hindsight I think my tapering regime has been far too rapid although it was way slower than my GP recommended.

01/12/2022 reduced from 20mg to 18mg

29/12/2022 reduced from 18mg to 15mg

08/01/2023 reduced from 15mg to 8mg - not quite sure why I reduced so much, must have been on my GP's instructions

26/05/2023 reduced from 8mg to 6mg - I had a few windows during this period

09/06/2023 reduced from 6mg to 4mg - the withdrawal symptoms have been the worst and the most long lasting. 

 

[Altostrata]

8 hours ago, Tapertrauma said:

I think my tapering regime has been far too rapid although it was way slower than my GP recommended.

 

A very common problem.

[Tapertrauma]

My GP said he'd never had a patient strugling to come off Prozac. But just because he's not come across it, it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. I think i definitely came off the Venlafaxine way too quickly and that has come back to bite me too. 

[Altostrata]

Very common for a doctor to say that he or she hasn't seen withdrawal before.

[Tapertrauma]

28th August

9.00 Slept until then, didn't feel quite so fatigued. 

11.00 Now very anxious- feel really unwell and super scared

13.00 Still very anxious - don't mind feeling anxious so much just hate the feeling of not feeling at all well and out of control - like I have no control over when waves come over me - makes me very frightened and very very tearful.

16.00 Rode my pony out; with my husband walking the dog - pony super excited so takes my mind off feeling bad - think I need to keep myself more occupied

18.00 Managed to cook and eat a nice supper - not feeling quite so bad

21.00 Checked the ponies for the night - felt absolutely fine for about 10 minutes - it was marvelous - although it didn't last and the anxiety came back

21.15 Took 4mg of in 1ml of liquid

23.00 Was super tired when I went to bed but not able to sleep - felt almost too fatigued

[Altostrata]

It looks to me like you need to stay as calm as possible and do things you enjoy as much as you can while you allow your nervous system to settle down. We call this surfing the waves. See

 

 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms

 

Easing your way into meditation for a stressed-out nervous system

 

Music for self-care: calms hyperalertness, anxiety, aids relaxation and sleep

 

Ways to cope with daily anxiety

 

Shame, guilt, regret, and self-criticism

 

 

The importance of recognizing you're feeling good

 

"Forest bathing" reduces cortisol, aids mood, immune system

[Tapertrauma]

30th August

03.15am Dog woke me up to go out from terrible nightmares
08.30 Alarm woke me up. Still very tired. Not anxious yet though.
09.20 I actually feel ok for a minute. So excited, I had to write it down!!
9.33 Didn't last. Anxious now
11.00 Rode out with friend. Not too bad
13.00 Anxious but not too bad
14.00 Had ten minutes of feeling ok
16.00 Headache and nausea and feeling like I have flu.
20.20 Not quite so bad
20.45 Terrible headache and churning guts
21.00 Took 4mg of Prozac in 1ml of liquid
22.40 Almost feel normal
23.30 Feel completely out of control. Like my body and mind don't belong together and I have no control over my body. Absolutely horrible.
23.30 Feel like I'm made of wood or concrete and gave no control over my body.

[Altostrata]

On 8/31/2023 at 6:54 AM, Tapertrauma said:

23.30 Feel completely out of control. Like my body and mind don't belong together and I have no control over my body. Absolutely horrible.

 

Please explain how this felt. Did it start suddenly or creep up on you? Were you dizzy? What happened?

[Tapertrauma]

Hiya Altostrata,

 

Please explain how this felt. Did it start suddenly or creep up on you? Were you dizzy? What happened?

 

It creeps up on me - and this is the worst aspect of the WD - I also used to get it when I was upping doses. It is by far the worst aspect of the WD for me - there is no rhyme or reason to it and it just creeps up on me. I'm not dizzy but I feel like my brain has no control over any part of my body. I never know how long it is going to last and it always makes me very very anxious and then that makes it even worse. If I were to feel like this all the time then I think I'd want to die. It is such a relief when it fades again - but like I say I never know how long it is going to last or when it is going to last. 

 

[Altostrata]

How long does this symptom last? Does it occur often at the same time at night?

[Tapertrauma]

Hiya,

No it can happen at any time. On the whole i usually feel a little mire notmal in the evening.

But have felt so generally awful the last 3 days i haven't even been up to keeping a record. Yesterday i has no anxiety at all but i just felt absolutely completed fatigued all day; like i'd been heavily sedated. It was awful and lasted all day. I had to struggle to do anything and i just wanted to stay in bed all day. But we had guests coming for lunch. It was sooo hard.

[Tapertrauma]

So the last two days have taken a whole new turn. No anxiety or depersonalisation just feeling really really sleepy; like I've been heavily sedated. I haven't felt ill at all; just like I want to sleep. I'll take this over everything else, though it's been really hard and I've been working today which was very difficult. 

[Altostrata]

Withdrawal symptoms have a way of mutating. But feeling sleepy may be a step forward....

[Tapertrauma]

6th September 2023

7.00am Had to get up early as I was working on an audit - really fatigued but just about functioning

8.00am Started work from home - becoming anxious

9.00am Very, very anxious and feeling horrendous, trying very hard not to just go and lie down and put the duvet over my head

14.00 Managed to finish the audit - it has been very difficult and I have felt horrendous

16.00 Feel really fatigued but really angry too - am so fed of feeling like this

20.00 Feel really achy like I have flu and am feeling really nauseous

21.30 Took 4ml of Prozac in 1ml of liquid

22.00 Went to bed - feeling really really fatigued and tearful, just feel generally absolutely awful and quite desolate - am really tearful 

[Altostrata]

Nobody seems to like withdrawal syndrome.

[Tapertrauma]

7th September

 

9.00am Really fatigued and really didn't want to get out of bed. Have to feed all the animals - very draining

11.00 Horrid anxiety -feel absolutely awful - trying to keep busy a bit  but very very difficult

13.00 Trying to resist the temptation to go back to bed - reading but feel dreadful

18.00 Took dog and ponies for a walk round the village - find I feel a bit better when I have something else to think about but completely exhausted when I got back

21.00 Took 4mg of Prozac in 1ml of liquid

22.00 Went to bed, completely exhausted by the horrid anxiety side effects today - but not able to sleep - sleep is usually the only thing I'm any good at - really achy legs and headache.

[Tapertrauma]

9th September

09.45am Didn't get up until i was ready. Feel a bit different today. Tired but not like i've been sedated and not anxious

10.50 Have taken some advice from here and have decaff coffee first. Still not anxious

14.00 Went to the village fete! Felt ok; hot but it's 84% here and still not anxious

16.00 Definitely having a good day

18.00 Slightly anxious but baking some bread and reading

19.00 Walked pony and dog round the village. Still hot; but still feeling ok

23.00 Can't sleep at the moment but because the weather is still hot and i've got loads of itchy bites.

BEST DAY FOR MONTHS!!! Almost felt normal for most of the day. Suspect I may have overdone it so will be tired tomorrow but maybe have seen a glimmer of hope today.

 

[Tapertrauma]

Haven't posted recently as have felt so awful most of the time.

 

It is over 3 months since I tapered down to 4mg of Prozac and I am not feeling any better in fact I am getting worse. I am absolutely loathe to get out of bed now. Have relentless  terrible headaches; absolute exhaustion; terrible anxiety. Every one is fed up of me and I'm completely fed up with myself. I can't go to my GP as he said he has never experienced anyone experiencing Prozac withdrawal. I don't know who or what to turn to. I don't want to carry on like this anymore and I don't know what to do.

[Addax]

@Tapertrauma, I am so sorry you are feel so awful.  This part is very much a waiting game. A terrible, terrible waiting game. It can take months to feel changes sometimes. I often think fluoxetine’s half-life extends that out a bit because the withdrawal symptoms can sneak up on you. Even though you are still taking 4mg, withdrawal from the original too quick tapper can hit later than you might expect.  Three or four months have been reported. Back when I hit a wall it was at around the 3 months mark.
 

A month ago Alto suggested that 4 mg might be too low. Had you given any thought to bumping up to the 5mg?

[Tapertrauma]

Hiya Addax,

Thank you for coming back to me. It's always reassuring when someone understands what you're going through. I am reluctant to to back up to 5mg as I remember the terrible side effects when I started taking Prozac. I've felt slightly better today and managed to ride my pony and go to  ayoga class in a yurt!  Very anxious and fatigued later on though.

[Angus]

@Tapertrauma This sounds very promising for you!! I hope you find encouragement in this! 🙏

(I am also tapering off Prozac)

[Addax]

4 hours ago, Tapertrauma said:

I've felt slightly better today and managed to ride my pony and go to  ayoga class in a yurt!  Very anxious and fatigued later on though.

It good to hear you had some relief and got out on your pony then into a yurt for some yoga. Yurt yoga?

 

It’s too bad about the anxiety and fatigue that followed but getting out and doing those things that bring you joy and some peace are so important to you, your mind, and your system. 
 

[Tapertrauma]

Hi Addax,

Am trying to do something everydsy. Am doing an hour's mindfulness meditation and trying to eat more wholefoods. Really fatigued today though but am going to walk with hubby and dog in the woods later. Think i might have a virus too (not Covid) z

[Addax]

Doing something everyday is great! I hope it was a lovely walk. I also hope your virus symptoms pass quickly.  
 

[Tapertrauma]

Thank you.

Very fatigued but managed the walk. i am soo down about feeling soo fatigued all the time; it's relentless. I've also had a very stiff and sore neck and shoulders and banging headache all week and my guts are all over the place. I never know whether to give in to the fatigue or try and push on through. My husband thinks I'm bone idle I think and that makes me anxious too.

[littlebird]

5 hours ago, Tapertrauma said:

i am soo down about feeling soo fatigued all the time; it's relentless. I've also had a very stiff and sore neck and shoulders and banging headache all week and my guts are all over the place. I never know whether to give in to the fatigue or try and push on through. My husband thinks I'm bone idle I think and that makes me anxious too.

 

Well, your husband can go kick rocks!! 🤣 Maybe you need to hit him with the massive amount of scientific data showing that resting is great medicine and that pushing yourself too hard when ill can lead to chronic fatigue. If your body is saying it needs rest, then resting will likely help you bounce back faster. 

[Tapertrauma]

Hi Littlebird,

Thank you so much for coming back to me. On the whole Hubby's great but he's one of those people who's never had a day sick in 61 years!! I did get to bed this afternoon and did some mindful meditatation. Sending hugs.

[littlebird]

5 minutes ago, Tapertrauma said:

On the whole Hubby's great but he's one of those people who's never had a day sick in 61 years!!

It can be so hard for someone who doesn't get ill to empathize with/understand what it's like to feel under the weather. No sick days in 61 years? Would love to have that sort of constitution, wow!

 

Being ill while tapering is an extra layer of "oh no" on the body and brain. Feels like when I get sick now, I get really under the weather with extra WD symptoms mixed in to boot. Hope you feel better soon and get some solid naps and kick-backs in. Do you have any books/TV/movies you've been wanting to get to? Some relaxation with a nice cup of tea might have you feeling better in no time. Big hugs your way!

[Tapertrauma]

He's built like a whippet, eats like a horse and works on our little farm like a dog ha ha!! 

 

You're so right. When you're poorly it's even worse when you have horrendous wd too. I have my horses, dog and cat to care for but I am trying to make time to crotchet and watch Netflix. 

 

Thank you for your support. It is much appreciated.

[littlebird]

46 minutes ago, Tapertrauma said:

He's built like a whippet, eats like a horse and works on our little farm like a dog ha ha!!

I was just hanging out with a friend who fits this description! Little farm with animals sounds like heaven (though I know it's a lot of work to keep it all going and cared for). 

 

48 minutes ago, Tapertrauma said:

I am trying to make time to crotchet and watch Netflix. 

 

Thank you for your support. It is much appreciated.

Oh that sounds so cozy and nice. Enjoy and feel better soon!

[Tapertrauma]

My fatigue has been unbearable the last couple of days. I've been walking about like a zombie who's been sedated. It's been a real struggle. Then anxiety kicks in and makes me feel absolutely horrible. It's been 4 months now since I tapered to 4mg of Prozac and the side effects of wd aren't subsiding. Not sure whether to push through the fatigue or give up!! I'm starting to panic that the side effects are never going to subside. I feel hopeless and helpless!

[Tapertrauma]

Have had headaches from hell the last couple of days and intermittent bouts of dreadful anxiety which comes in waves. Did manage to get out for a few hours with my husband yesterday and have been to yoga today. The headaches I can bear but the waves of anxiety make me feel so bad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Addax]

Good to see you are still getting out despite the symptoms. I also find the anxiety related symptoms much more uncomfortable and more difficult than the physical symptoms.  
Getting out with your husband, yoga, meditation, out on your pony, those things serve your mind and body well and help you recover and get you through this.

[Angus]

@Tapertrauma I just thought I’d stop by your thread and post here as well:). I feel like I can relate to your journey- the fear of not knowing when things will settle and whether tapering will be possible anytime in the future. But I want to encourage you- I believe we will both turn corners. I have faith that there is so much better to come. Hang in there!! You are so strong!

Angus🌸

[Tapertrauma]

It's now over five months since i reduced from 6mg to 4mg of Prozac (in liquid form) after reducing far too quickly (before finding this forum) and over two years since coming off Venlafaxine over two months after 6 years of being on it.  In the interim O was prescribed two other ADs for short periods and withdrew from them just as quickly. 

Even though it's six months the withdrawal effects are just as severe; fatigue, headaches, blind terror, depersonalisation (which is unbearable) and intermittent GI issues. 

What do you lovely people think I shoud do? I had hoped to have some windows by now? Do I try and stick it out; it's really getting my down or up the Prozac back up and try tapering more slowly?