FloraLaurel: Laurel needing help with Prozac

[FloralLaurel]

Hi All!

 

Was previously on Lexapro from 2016-2022.  Last dose Dec 1, 2022. 

 

Severe and debilitating anxiety and panic reared November 2023 and after about a month I asked my family doc if I could start Prozac.  

 

After 7 weeks, it is not doing anything, and the side effects (I assume they are) are really difficult to deal with. So I'd like to come off.

 

I am not sure if I will try something else.  I am having lots of issues functioning and the physical anxiety is extreme so i may still need help (besides therapy). (Palps, vomiting daily, adrenal surges, shaking limbs, loss of appetite, and on and on)

 

I need advice on how to stop the Prozac.

 

I was on 5mg, went down to 4mg for 10 days, now on 3mg. 

 

Since I was only on for 7 weeks and never got above 5mg, do I still need to do the 10% taper?  I feel like then the taper will be longer than me being on it and I just want it out of my system.

 

At what point do I just jump?

 

I have liquid version. 

 

Edited February 1 by FloralLaurel
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[FireflyFyte]

Hi FloralLaurel,

 

Welcome to SA. Please summarize your drug history in your signature by following the instructions at How to Summarize Your Drug History in Your Signature. You may need to be on a computer to complete this.

 

1 hour ago, FloralLaurel said:

I was on 5mg, went down to 4mg for 10 days, now on 3mg. 

 

This is faster than we recommend as we propose a harm reduction model of dropping no more than 10% of the previous dose per month which you can read more about at Why taper by 10% of my dosage? 

How have you been feeling with your drops? 

 

2 hours ago, FloralLaurel said:

At what point do I just jump?

 

Was your highest dose 5mg?

 

Thanks,

 

Firefly

[FloralLaurel]

Hi there-

Thanks so much for the reply. 

Yes the highest dose I ever took was 5mg.  

So far drops have been okay.  The side effects for me from the Prozac are pretty intense/severe. Hence me wanting to get off. So I likely would not be able to tell if I was having discontinuation symptoms vs what is already happening on the medication. 

I did read the posts about the 10% but then my titration would be significantly longer (by months!) than I took the medication to begin with, so I'm feeing a bit conflicted with that. 

[FireflyFyte]

Can you post, in a list format, the timing of your dosage as well as the symptoms you are experiencing?

It will be helpful to see at least three days worth of notes, if possible.

[FloralLaurel]

I'm not sure what you mean by timing of dosage. 

 

And symptoms of side effects from the medication?

 

Sorry!  

[FireflyFyte]

It would look something like this -

 

7 AM - Woke up, slightly anxiety

9 AM - Prozac (3mg)

1 PM - Dizziness

 

It would be a daily log of your symptoms and when you take your medication.

[FloralLaurel]

Every day is different.  If I have something to do like go to work or something it's generally better.

 

But 

Tues Feb 6- had taken dramamine at night before to sleep due to some nocturnal panic attacks

8am- woke up, some anxiety

9am- breakfast from starbucks and went to work

10am- sudden hot flushes, elevated heart rate, impulsive intrusive thoughts about needing to give up.  Agitated. Frightened. 

10:30am- took 10mg propanalol 

Remainder of day better except near end of day where I felt emotional. 

4:30pm- work ended

5:30pm- dinner (had appetite)

6pm- 3mg prozac

8pm-magnesium

10pm- 12.5mg benadryl

11pm-bed 

 

 

 

Wed Feb 7- 

9am- woke up

No work today.

9:30am- breakfast

12pm- went for 30 min walk outside

1pm- lunch (had appetite)

1:30pm-shower/spent time painting

4:30pm- doctors appointment with GP

5:30pm- feeing very irritable. Want to snap at family who won't stop talking.  Feel restless/like I want to move.

6pm-dinner (no appetite)

6:30pm- 3mg Prozac

8pm- magnesium

9pm-did some light weight lighting and some light ab/leg exercises and stretches

Mild tension/pressure in forehead, have also been clenching jaw for hours.

10pm- 5mg melatonin 

11pm- bed

 

 

Thurs Feb 8-

8am woke up. No work today.  Was supposed to have virtual therapy, but therapist had to cancel.

9am- feel restless, uncomfortable.  Chest tight.  Breathing feels shaky, arms shaky. Did not get out of bed until 11am

11am- got up and had a protein shake and a banana.

No appetite.  Body feels shaky and uncomfortable. Head feels foggy or stuffed with cotton.

12pm- went on 10min walk in neighborhood

1pm- head tension is back and jaw tension. Body remains in low level of fear. 

 

 

These physical sensations and nocturnal panic attacks have been going on for many weeks. Prior to any taper. (Partly why I want to taper to see if it's the Prozac that made my anxiety worse or if I'm just in crisis) 

 

The sudden intrusive thoughts are new the past week or so. 

 

[FireflyFyte]

22 hours ago, FloralLaurel said:

These physical sensations and nocturnal panic attacks have been going on for many weeks. Prior to any taper. (Partly why I want to taper to see if it's the Prozac that made my anxiety worse or if I'm just in crisis) 

 

It's tough to discern from these logs. Do you feel worse in the 1-3 hours after taking your dose of Prozac?