GillyB: Hi there, I have been wondering if anyone has experienced brain fog when tapering off Fluoxatine. I have been very tired and have also been experiencing Nerve pain.

[GillyB]

I have been on most Antidepressants over 28 years. Most of them have had terrible side effects and I have not had much success. I have also tried many times to come completely off antidepressants only to experience a lot of brain, brain fog and tiredness. 

I am currently trying to come off Fluoxatine and have been on 20mg. I am taking 10mg atm but am feeling very lethargic and tired, with brain fog and confusion. Can anyone tell me if they have experienced this and have successfully come off antidepressants?

I am afraid I will never successfully come off these Antidepressants. 

Cheers from GillyB

[Emonda]

Welcome @GillyB

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2 hours ago, GillyB said:

I have also tried many times to come completely off antidepressants only to experience a lot of brain, brain fog and tiredness. 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage? The reductions should get smaller and smaller each month, for example: 10mg, 9mg, 8.1mg, 7.3mg etc. This process involves a degree of trial and error, as there is no way of predicting how an individual will respond. Importantly, if you develop unpleasant side effects from tapering, halt the taper, give yourself time to settle, and once stable, taper more slowly and by smaller amounts moving forward. The experience of others suggests that the lower you go in dose, the slower you need to go with tapering.

Those that taper too quickly often develop very unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. This Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) is a helpful summary of what many experience.

You mentioned brain fog. I've certainly read plenty of others mention this, too.

2 hours ago, GillyB said:

I am taking 10mg atm but am feeling very lethargic and tired, with brain fog and confusion.

I suspect you have tapered too quickly. A long hold (months) should see the WD symptoms improve...but we will know more based on your signature.

2 hours ago, GillyB said:

Can anyone tell me if they have experienced this and have successfully come off antidepressants?

Please visit the success stories. There are plenty there who have experienced what you have.

2 hours ago, GillyB said:

I am afraid I will never successfully come off these Antidepressants. 

I've had this fear. Sure, I'm still not off them, but following the advice on this site, I find myself having successfully reduced my dose by 90% over 34 months. I've been taking them as long as you.

Recovery from ADs and tapering is not linear. There are good days and not-so-good days/weeks/months. This is referred to as the Windows and waves pattern of stabilization.

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 fatty acids (fish oil)

Avoid alcohol.

Don't change the manufacturer of your AD.

Once again, welcome to S.A.

Emonda

[GillyB]

🐝2000 Sertraline 75mg 3mths . Felt Highly suicidal on these tablets.

     2001 Effexor 30mg for 8 mths feeling no change, constantly feeling nauseous. 2001 Hospital stay attempted Suicide x2 late December

     2002 January Paroxetine 30mg 2 years, very tired and suffered terrible constipation. 

 2005 Citalopram 2 mths only , bad headaches. 2005 Mirtazapine 4 weeks only, very severe restless legs. 2005 Paroxetine 20mg , continual constipation. Persevered with 10mg for the next 2 years.

2007 Fluvox 20mg for 6 months. Continual Headaches. 

2007 Tried Effexor again.

2008 20mg Paroxetine continually on and off this medication for years.

2019 tried Lithium 200mg and some vitamin B9 and B12 medication . Felt desperate and suicidal

2020 Fluvoxatine 20mg felt best with this, however getting nerve pain and irritable bowel. Insomnia

2020 200mg Epilim nil change just feeling sick and toxic.

2021 10mg Vortioxetine 6 weeks only, could not sleep, had nausea and Diarrhea T🐝