ConcernedMomBg: Help with withdrawal symptoms and should we restart prozac

[ConcernedMomBg]

My daughter was on 30 mg Prozac through Jan, when her doctor started tapering her by 10 mg. She was fully off by March 15th and she has been complaining about brain fog and not being able to think. How long will the withdrawal symptoms last? Should we consider reinstating and at home much? Thank you, my daughter is completely freaked out, it is end of the junior year in school and her brain just does not work. 

Edited May 10 by Emonda
Name to title

[Erimus]

Hello, can you follow these instructions to fill in your drug signature. This will help us understand the situation better.

 

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• All current medication you take, the dose you take, when you started the drug, and when you made dose changes
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• Please do not use 07/10/23 // 10/07/23 as this is intepreted differently around the world

 

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Regards

Erimus

[ConcernedMomBg]

 

 

MEDICATION:

1) Prozac:

10 mg -  Aug 2022, 20 mg Oct 2022, 30mg - Jan 2023,20 mg - Jan 2024, 10mg - Feb 2024, 0mg - March 2024 

Current dose:  May 2024 - 0 mg

 

SUPPLEMENTS:

Cod liver oil, Omega 3

[Erimus]

9 hours ago, ConcernedMomBg said:

 

 

MEDICATION:

1) Prozac:

10 mg -  Aug 2022, 20 mg Oct 2022, 30mg - Jan 2023,20 mg - Jan 2024, 10mg - Feb 2024, 0mg - March 2024 

Current dose:  May 2024 - 0 mg

 

SUPPLEMENTS:

Cod liver oil, Omega 3

I would be considering a small reinstatement, given how long she was taking the drug. Due to the long half-life of prozac it is likely that withdrawal hasn't fully kicked in yet, and things could get much worse in the coming weeks. I would suggest reintroducing at around 1-2mg.

 

Here are a few of the most useful links:

 

--------Important topics in the Tapering forum and FAQ--------

 

Micro tapering

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first?

 

How to make a liquid from tablets or capsules

 

Using a scale to weigh and measure doses

 

--------From the Symptoms and Self-Care Forums--------
 
What is withdrawal syndrome?
 
About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms
 
The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Hypersensitivity and Kindling

 

We only recommend two supplements. Omega 3 Fish Oil and Magnesium. Both should be introduced separately and increased slowly.

 

Regards

Erimus

[ConcernedMomBg]

Are there doctors that you recommend we work with who are supportive of this approach. Our current doctors claims that Prozac reduction produces no side effects and withdrawal system and that she is relapsing. 
 

 

MEDICATION:

1) Prozac:

10 mg -  Aug 2022, 20 mg Oct 2022, 30mg - Jan 2023,20 mg - Jan 2024, 10mg - Feb 2024, 0mg - March 2024 

Current dose:  May 2024 - 0 mg

 

SUPPLEMENTS:

Cod liver oil, Omega 3

[Angus]

@ConcernedMomBg I’m very sorry your daughter is experiencing this. I noticed you are located in the LA area. I am also located in California. I have a nurse practitioner that I’m working w/ to help

taper off my Prozac because my psychiatrist didn’t recognize withdrawals either. If you would

like her contact info, I can private message you. 
Angus

[ConcernedMomBg]

Angus, I would appreciate the contact info if you could send it to me. 

 

Also, how are you doing 4 mg of Prozac? I think 10 mg is the smallest available. Are you doing the diluting?

[Angus]

I have always been on generic Prozac, fluoxetine, in a liquid form which makes the small dosing very easy. But there are threads on this forum that give you instructions on how to make smaller doses with pills - either cutting or making them into liquid. 
I would suggest you also contact a taper coach to help you because this can be very overwhelming. There is very little medical help available. Angie peacock is a wonderful taper coach and she has a website that offfers appointments.

She gave me the nurse practitioner contact. I’ll private message you her info.

[Dolemanana]

@Angus if it's not too much trouble, I would also be interested in getting the contact info for your nurse practitioner. I came here looking for recommendations for doctors and found this thread. I have been tapering since 2020, getting close to the end, and need someone who can help me come up with a game plan for these last few months.

[Angus]

You could also tag GotoZero because he tapered off Prozac using a pill, I believe and he may be able to offer you insight.

[ConcernedMomBg]

thank you, I will ask our doctor if they can prescribe the liquid. 

[Angus]

You may want to make sure it’s from the same manufacturer and also some people run into issues switching from pill to liquid. I would ask a mod for

their input on your next steps w/ this.

[Angus]

You can tag the mod, Emirus bc he’s been helping you.

[Erimus]

1 hour ago, ConcernedMomBg said:

Are there doctors that you recommend we work with who are supportive of this approach. Our current doctors claims that Prozac reduction produces no side effects and withdrawal system and that she is relapsing. 

Your doctor is ignorant of the reality of withdrawal symptoms.

 

Please read the links I posted that detail how you make specific doses of medication. The easiest way is to use the liquid from the pharmacy, if this is not possible the next best is to prepare your own suspension by dissolving a tablet in a set volume of water.

 

How to make a liquid from tablets or capsules

 

Using a scale to weigh and measure doses

 

Like I said, the sooner reinstatement is done the better. It takes prozac a long time to completely flush out the system so you still have a great opportunity to evade too many symptoms.

Edited May 8 by Erimus

[Angus]

@Dolemanana I am more than happy to pass on my NP contact info. Although, need to mention that she’s very supportive in a patient led taper and will let the patient take their time,

she doesn’t have as much knowledge on tapering itself. I use her more for allowing me the time to taper and recognizing the need for tapering and acknowledging the reality of withdrawals. My previous dr didn’t think wds were possible and the importance of slow tapering. So I don’t know that my current NP is going to be able to give you specific help in the end of your taper but I can pass on her info if you’d like.