Dommino: withdrawal from fluoxetine 40mg, since June 30th 2023, no tapering

[dommino]

Hi! I've been taking 40mg of fluoxetine daily for 8 years but stopped on July 30th 2023. I didn't know about tapering until last week so have just stopped completely. Which has been pretty rough. I'm experiencing severe mood swings, brain fog, forgetfulness, terrible brain zaps, up and downs of anxiety and depression. Although I'm pretty sure it's not my depression returning as its very erratic. Also feeling bursts of anger and tearfulness. Digestive issues including constipation, diarrhoea and nausea. Also very low to no libido and sexual dysfunction. The low level sexual dysfunction was one of my reasons for stopping the medication but it seems to be worse now. 

I have started hrt in November 2022, for perimenopause. This helped with most of the unpleasant symptoms I was experiencing, including depression and anxiety. I always suspected I was misdiagnosed with depression and anxiety when I in fact was perimenopausal, so when the hrt got rid of my anxiety and depression I thought it was a good time to test the theory and stop taking my antidepressants. 

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  Yes, cold turkeying off a psych med after we have been on it any length of time is pretty hard on the nervous system and on our bodies.  I'm glad you came to us sooner rather than later.  Let me give you some basic info, and then a specific suggestion.  

 

Thank you for the drug history.  Have you been on any other drugs in the past?  If so, please list.   There is an inconsistency in your dates of when you quit fluoxetine.  Was it June 30, or was it July 30?

 

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.  The symptoms you describe are common ones of withdrawal.  

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Here is a link with checklists of common WD symptoms: 

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen Withdrawal Symptom Checklists

 

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

 

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

 

I believe you could derive significant help from a partial reinstatement of fluoxetine, but I'll need more specific information about when you stopped it and if you were taking other drugs in the past before I can make a specific dose suggestion.  Going back on a small dose of your drug, which we call reinstatement, is best done very carefully.  This is temporary, and after stabilizing you would then taper gradually off of this.  Here is some information about reinstatement.  

 

About Reinstating and Stabilizing to Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms

 

 

 

[getofflex]

I would also like to give you some info about cold turkey, to help you make an informed choice about reinstating.  If you do the reinstatement, chances are very good it will not take you as long to recover as people who do a cold turkey and do not reinstate. 

 

Cold Turkey and Too Fast Taper

Edited August 23, 2023 by getofflex

[dommino]

Hiya. Thank you so much for your reply and all of the help. It really is much appreciated. 

I came off fluoxetine on the 30th June this year.

The other drugs I'm taking are fexofenodrine for hay-fever, elleste duet (estrogen & progesterone) for perimenopausal symptoms and clenil modulite 200mcg inhaler for mild asthma. Also Circadin 2mg x3 per night for long term sleep problems and occasional use propranolol 40mg for anxiety. I've taken 2 of them this week but that's probably the most use they've had in months. I've had the same box for most of a year.

 

I've been taking magnesium and omega 3 for years and wouldn't be without either of them. 

 

I don't know if I'm in a window at the moment or not but I'm feeling immensely better than I have done in weeks. This could also be down to my cycle and the hrt (i could be getting a couple of good weeks before it all gets bad homonally again for another couple of weeks) so,  it's very hard to tell. I'm keeping a journal of symptoms so that I can spot any patterns to help distinguish. 

Please let me know if I've left anything out,  I have a head like a sieve at the moment.

Many thanks 

[getofflex]

20 hours ago, dommino said:

clenil modulite 200mcg inhaler for mild asthma. Also Circadin 2mg x3 per night for long term sleep problems and occasional use propranolol 40mg for anxiety.

Please add this information to your signature - thank you. 

 

20 hours ago, dommino said:

I've been taking magnesium and omega 3 for years and wouldn't be without either of them. 

Please also add this to your signature. 

 

20 hours ago, dommino said:

I'm keeping a journal of symptoms so that I can spot any patterns to help distinguish. 

Great idea.  

 

I'm really glad you are feeling well at this time!  

 

You may be one of the lucky ones who can stop an SSRI drug cold turkey and get away with it, or you may be in a window now, and get hit with a wave down the road. So, if you want to be extra cautious, you could consider doing a very small reinstatement to lessen potential withdrawal symptoms in the future. If you do decide to go with a reinstatement, I would suggest starting with a very low amount. I would start at 4 mg of fluoxetine.  Using fluoxetine liquid is the easiest way to measure the non standard dose, if it's available in your area.  If you do want to reinstate, the sooner you reinstate, the less risky it is.  After a certain period of time, a reinstatement will no longer be advisable.  These links will be helpful: 

 

About Reinstating and Stabilizing to Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms

 

Tips for Tapering and Dosing Fluoxetine

 

Please let us know what you decide to do.