SK1987SA: Wanting to taper safely off fluoxetine

[SK1987SA]

Hello everyone,

 

I am new to this site, and hoping to get some advice from anyone who is experienced in tapering off fluoxetine.

 

I have been on this for 2 years, 20mg the first year and 40mg the second year.

 

My doctor advised me to change my doses daily from 40mg to 20mg on alternating days. Its been three weeks, and I have had huge amounts of anxiety return, I am super irritable, finding it hard to concentrate at work, and my dreams have been incredibly vivid, and have had loads of crying spells.

 

I have heard of people advising to taper down by 10 percent a month to avoid withdrawal, and so looking for some advice from someone who might have experienced this first hand. Wondering if what I am experiencing right now is withdrawal or relapse.

 

Thank you x

Edited January 19 by Emonda
Name to title

[Emonda]

Welcome @SK1987SA

 

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12 minutes ago, SK1987SA said:

My doctor advised me to change my doses daily from 40mg to 20mg on alternating days. Its been three weeks, and I have had huge amounts of anxiety return, I am super irritable, finding it hard to concentrate at work, and my dreams have been incredibly vivid, and have had loads of crying spells.

 

The approach recommended by your doctor is not what is recommended here. Take the same dose each day; do not alternate (40mg one day and 20mg the next) or skip doses to taper. Never skip doses to taper. Taking your doctor's approach, I'd expect you would experience WD symptoms: Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

12 minutes ago, SK1987SA said:

I have heard of people advising to taper down by 10 percent a month to avoid withdrawal, and so looking for some advice from someone who might have experienced this first hand.

 

If you were consistently taking 40mg, then you’d start by taking 36mg each day for a month, then reassess how you feel before dropping to: 36mg * 90% = 32.4mg the next month etc. Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

What do you do, given you are not taking 40mg every day? The answer is a best guess. Perhaps: (40mg + 20mg) / 2 = 30mg to take each and every day. You are effectively taking 30mg every day on average. I wouldn’t take less than this moving forward until you stabilise. I’m not sure jumping back to 40mg is the best idea, either. You could try 30mg consistently and see if you stabilise over a few weeks. If not, then we consider the next steps.

 

A few other helpful links:

 

Keep It Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

Windows and waves pattern of stabilization

 

Emotional Spirals

 

Non-drug coping strategies

 

 

 

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

Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

Avoid alcohol. 

 

Please post any updates here in your thread...and remember your signature.

 

Regards, Emonda