Katey7485: Kate from Western Australia, Prozac withdrawal and ADHD

[Katey7485]

Hi, my name is Kate, and I live in Western Australia. I am here for a bit of advice and reassurance please. I will provide a brief history here:

 

* I have been on 20mg of Prozac for OCD and health anxiety, on and off for about 20 years. When I’ve gone off, I’ve gone cold turkey (and then reinstated due to anxiety rebounds eventually). The withdrawals seemed to get worse over time. 

 

* Nov 2023, I wanted to get off as I believe that the Prozac was messing with my cycle and libido - I had no interest in my boyfriend. Cold turkeyed Prozac 20mg, I had brain zaps for 2 months but then nothing (or so I thought).

* May 2024, Suddenly out of nowhere, I started getting these terrifying and really visceral panic attacks that felt initially like a seizure. The first one sent me to the ER. They started increasing in frequency over the weeks until I had one at work and went on leave. 
 

*Late May 2024, I went back to my doctor, and he told me to go back on 20mg Prozac. I agreed because the panic attacks were terrifying. Anyway, I went back on, the first 4 days were fine - good almost, but then on day 5, I flipped out. Complete anxiety, almost total insomnia with hypnic jerks all night, panic attacks, depersonalisation so bad I felt like my brain was switched off. I stopped the Prozac again (was only on 5 days)

 

* June 2024, struggled in this state (from reading afterwards, I think I “kindled”) for two weeks, it didn’t stop, I was suicidal. I was admitted to hospital, and was there for about 3 months total in the psych ward, they didn’t know what was wrong but they gave me PRN Valium and seroquel on occasion, and then weened me off near the end of my stay. I was a lot better (it abated with time) but still had a lot of problems on discharge - on the last fortnight of hospital stay, the doctors diagnosed me with ADHD and put me on Ritalin 10mg morning, 10mg at lunch.

 

* Sep 2024, Started Ritalin 10mg morning, 10mg lunch. It seemed to stop the racing thoughts that I still had and allowed me to work 4 days a week.

 

* Now (late Oct 2024), 

 

My withdrawal symptoms have been really intense, minor Akathisia that starts when I sit still too long (don’t get it at night), periods of depression, mood swings, somatic hyper focus, anxiety in abdomen, tingling around head, stiffness in neck, twitching in legs, feeling weak on one side of body sometimes, depersonalisation at times when I’m talking to someone and my mind is thinking SO differently, it’s so hard to explain, I’ve lost body confidence too also I have a feeling of profound unease like something is wrong - that is the symptom I hate the most! I feel so damn WEIRD when moving sometimes, I can’t explain it.
 

But now it’s been ramping up again and it’s really scary, I don’t want to go back to hospital, they couldn’t explain the weird symptoms and said that it is chronic “anxiety” and that the Prozac was out of my system months ago, and they didn’t really help, just helped time pass. 
 

I’ve noticed that my anxiety ramps up an hour after my Ritalin doses - everything ramps up, all the weird symptoms too but I feel better mostly at night when it’s dark. 
 

I’m just here for help and advice please, could the Ritalin slowly be ramping up my anxiety? Could it be making my protracted Prozac withdrawal worse? Should I reinstate a small amount of Prozac or is it too late? What should I do to feel better?
 

So I’m currently on:

 

Ritalin 10mg in morning, 10mg at lunch.

 

I’ve been off Prozac since Nov 2023. (Apart from the 5 days Prozac that kindled me and kicked off and worsened the symptoms) 

 

Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[Katey7485]

So I’m starting to wonder if maybe I don’t have protracted withdrawal, and am just fooling myself. 

[Jane318]

Greetings @Katey7485 and welcome to SA!  

 

We are a community of volunteers providing peer support in the tapering of psychiatric medications and their associated withdrawal syndromes. 

 

Thank you for completing your signature.

 

I am so sorry for your ordeal.  We've seen that prior history of cold-turkeys and too-fast taperings tend to make it more difficult with each attempt to stop.  The symptoms you describe, including the delayed onset of withdrawal symptoms is unfortunately not unusual. 

 

On 10/22/2024 at 9:49 PM, Katey7485 said:

I’m just here for help and advice please, could the Ritalin slowly be ramping up my anxiety? Could it be making my protracted Prozac withdrawal worse? Should I reinstate a small amount of Prozac or is it too late? What should I do to feel better?

 

Give that your anxiety worsens soon after taking Ritalin, it seems likely that it is responsible for ramping up your anxiety.  It is also possible that it is worsening your Prozac withdrawal symptoms, but it is not possible to be conclusive.  We do know that both of these drugs are very powerful and getting off of them can be very difficult.    You can read about Ritalin side effects here https://www.drugs.com/ritalin.html.  Here is a list of 198 drugs that interact with Ritalin, including fluoxetine (Prozac).  

 

Given the length of time since you stopped Prozac however, we would not recommend reinstating it, as this could make things worse, as it did before.

 

It will take time for your body to recover / heal from stopping Prozac so quickly.  But you will heal.  In the meantime, I encourage you to read some threads we have on how to cope with withdrawal symptoms:

Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms

 Easing your way into meditation for a stressed-out nervous system

Music for self-care: calms hyperalertness, anxiety, aids relaxation and sleep

Ways to cope with daily anxiety

"Change the channel" - dealing with cognitive symptoms

Dealing With Emotional Spirals 

Shame, guilt, regret, and self-criticism

Symptoms and Self Care

 

 

This is your introduction topic.  Each member gets one intro topic- please post updates and questions here, in this thread.

 

Do explore the rest of the forum – there is a lot of great information here.  Be sure to read “About SurvivingAntidepressants.org,” which has good information about how to use / search the site: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/forums/topic/54-about-survivingantidepressantsorg  

 

Also, feel free to read and comment on the intro threads of other members.  This is how you build a community of people who understand what you are dealing with.   It is so helpful to connect with others who are experiencing the same things.

 

I look forward to following your journey, and helping out in any way I can.

 

Best wishes.

 

[Katey7485]

Hi Jane, thank you so much for the warm welcome ❤️ 

 

I will read through all those links on the weekend, thank you. I will read and comment on other members intro topics too. 

 

Thank you for reassuring me that I’m not imagining all this, and I’m not just going psychotic. It is completely unbelievable to me sometimes, it feels like internal torture sometimes, if I had known that this could occur I would have NEVER gone on the Prozac in the first place - never. 
 

I have seen my doctor in the meantime, she is very good and has halved my Ritalin , and is changing the dose to long release instead of short release. She is going to taper me off if the anxiety doesn’t go away. I have less anxiety, but my concentration was shot today, I really have bad ADHD, and it did help with it.
 

Would it be OK to ask about specific symptoms too? I’m just wondering if withdrawal can cause crazy obsessions and thoughts to pop into the head? I get worrying thoughts about being tortured or other scary obsessions (like that the world was going crazy with me) but I don’t truly believe them - they are distressing though. Is my mind lying to me? Thank you.

[Katey7485]

I’m really struggling today, extra anxiety in the abdomen that comes and goes, a feeling of this strange background dread sensation and a feeling that something is profoundly wrong. It’s a nice sunny day though, what is wrong with me? It’s so vague I don’t even know what is wrong with me, there’s no reason for this 🙁

[Yichin]

Withdrawal from Prozac happened to me just as you describe it. Is there someone at home who can keep an eye on you and not leave you alone? The symptoms slowly get better. At this point, i refuse to take any other psychotropics or supplements. Hang in there. 

[NBJ71]

Hey @Katey7485

I had huge issues after taking Sertraline for 7 days. I didn’t realise the damaged it had caused until I had severe issues with supplements weeks later. I also admitted myself to one of the UK’s premier and extremely expensive “facilities”. They gave me Diazepam and Zopiclone. 
I then found this website of wonderful people, realised my error and discharged myself. After tapering off the meds I have a lot of your symptoms.

It’s been 6 weeks now and some of the symptoms are improving slightly. As I was told, the early weeks are about doing whatever is needed to survive each day and that was very true. It’s seriously tough to go through this but it’s going to pass, none of this is permanent. You definitely will feel better with time. Thinking of you. 

[Jane318]

On 10/24/2024 at 8:59 PM, Jane318 said:

Give that your anxiety worsens soon after taking Ritalin, it seems likely that it is responsible for ramping up your anxiety.  It is also possible that it is worsening your Prozac withdrawal symptoms, but it is not possible to be conclusive.  We do know that both of these drugs are very powerful and getting off of them can be very difficult.    You can read about Ritalin side effects here https://www.drugs.com/ritalin.html.  Here is a list of 198 drugs that interact with Ritalin, including fluoxetine (Prozac).  

 

@Katey7485,  After doing some research, thought I would pass along some additional information that may be helpful.  SA does not have a topic for ritalin/methylphenidate, but we do have one for another amphetamine (adderall). I assume the process is similar for both, and they both have a similar half-life.  Tips for tapering off amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall)

 

I hope you are doing okay, please know this will pass.  Thinking of you today.

[Katey7485]

On 10/27/2024 at 1:15 PM, Yichin said:

Withdrawal from Prozac happened to me just as you describe it. Is there someone at home who can keep an eye on you and not leave you alone? The symptoms slowly get better. At this point, i refuse to take any other psychotropics or supplements. Hang in there. 

Thank you, I live alone but my boyfriend comes over most nights, I really appreciate your kind words. I work part time, and although I get a lot of scary symptoms at work, I do feel safer around people 

[Katey7485]

On 10/29/2024 at 1:10 AM, NBJ71 said:

Hey @Katey7485

I had huge issues after taking Sertraline for 7 days. I didn’t realise the damaged it had caused until I had severe issues with supplements weeks later. I also admitted myself to one of the UK’s premier and extremely expensive “facilities”. They gave me Diazepam and Zopiclone. 
I then found this website of wonderful people, realised my error and discharged myself. After tapering off the meds I have a lot of your symptoms.

It’s been 6 weeks now and some of the symptoms are improving slightly. As I was told, the early weeks are about doing whatever is needed to survive each day and that was very true. It’s seriously tough to go through this but it’s going to pass, none of this is permanent. You definitely will feel better with time. Thinking of you. 

Thank you so much, I am doing my best to survive whilst having to work part time. 
 

I’m so sorry to hear that, Zoloft is absolute poison, I’m sorry that you experienced the psychiatric hospital system too, but I am so glad that you are slowly recovering ❤️‍🩹 

[Katey7485]

On 10/29/2024 at 6:13 AM, Jane318 said:

@Katey7485,  After doing some research, thought I would pass along some additional information that may be helpful.  SA does not have a topic for ritalin/methylphenidate, but we do have one for another amphetamine (adderall). I assume the process is similar for both, and they both have a similar half-life.  Tips for tapering off amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall)

 

I hope you are doing okay, please know this will pass.  Thinking of you today.

Thank you so much Jane, I shall explore that area now - I really appreciate your kindness ❤️

[Katey7485]

@Jane318 Hi Jane, or anyone else, I just have a question for my learning if you wouldn’t mind?

 

I’m just wondering, is what we go through with protracted withdrawal coming of SSRI’s, the same or similar to older, different or atypical antidepressants with the waves and windows? Like Mirtazapine for example?
 

My best friend takes Mirtazapine and wants to withdraw from it but I am wondering if I should warn her and send her to surviving-antidepressants?

 

will her withdrawal be similar to an SSRI?

[Jane318]

8 minutes ago, Katey7485 said:

@Jane318 Hi Jane, or anyone else, I just have a question for my learning if you wouldn’t mind?

 

I’m just wondering, is what we go through with protracted withdrawal coming of SSRI’s, the same or similar to older, different or atypical antidepressants with the waves and windows? Like Mirtazapine for example?
 

My best friend takes Mirtazapine and wants to withdraw from it but I am wondering if I should warn her and send her to surviving-antidepressants?

 

will her withdrawal be similar to an SSRI?

Yes, these apply to all types of antidepressants.  You can read about tapering off mirtazapine here:

 

[Jane318]

@Katey7485 - just checking in to see how you are doing.  Do you have any more questions?  I missed your earlier questions about intrusive / scary thoughts -  yes these are common withdrawal symptoms, unfortunately.  I linked this previously, just reminding you that this provides some good strategies for dealing with intrusive / negative thoughts: Change the channel" - dealing with cognitive symptoms.

 

Thanking of you  -  best wishes.

[Katey7485]

On 11/9/2024 at 10:36 AM, Jane318 said:

@Katey7485 - just checking in to see how you are doing.  Do you have any more questions?  I missed your earlier questions about intrusive / scary thoughts -  yes these are common withdrawal symptoms, unfortunately.  I linked this previously, just reminding you that this provides some good strategies for dealing with intrusive / negative thoughts: Change the channel" - dealing with cognitive symptoms.

 

Thanking of you  -  best wishes.

Hi Jane, thank you so much, I really appreciate that. How have you been doing?
 

I’m struggling today, I was doing better last week but today have had symptoms of head pressure, lightheadedness, and this minor mental confusion, headaches and little dizzy attacks. I get this thing where suddenly I get overwhelmed by sensory sensations sometimes and my brain wants to panic and flip out, but I tell myself in my head to “settle down” to calm it. 
 

This whole thing is madness, I don’t understand why it could come back with such vengeance like this, maybe I just need to see a neurologist and I have a brain disease and not SSRI protracted withdrawal? I’m just struggling and want to feel better. 

Does this still sound like withdrawal? No-one around me in person understands. Thanks so much for your help and support Jane and anyone reading ❤️‍🩹

[Jane318]

@Katey7485 - 

16 hours ago, Katey7485 said:

How have you been doing?

I am doing "okay."  Today has been a good day!  I am having more of them now, continuing to improve / stabilize since my updose in July.  Thank you for asking!

 

16 hours ago, Katey7485 said:

I’m struggling today, I was doing better last week but today have had symptoms of head pressure, lightheadedness, and this minor mental confusion, headaches and little dizzy attacks. I get this thing where suddenly I get overwhelmed by sensory sensations sometimes and my brain wants to panic and flip out, but I tell myself in my head to “settle down” to calm it. 

These are all withdrawal symptoms.  It is normal to have ups and downs.  As you know, this is called  The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization.  It is a good sign that you had a better week last week, that is a sign of healing!   I love that you tell your head to "settle down!"

 

16 hours ago, Katey7485 said:

This whole thing is madness, I don’t understand why it could come back with such vengeance like this, maybe I just need to see a neurologist and I have a brain disease and not SSRI protracted withdrawal? I’m just struggling and want to feel better. 

Does this still sound like withdrawal? No-one around me in person understands

Cold turkeys are enormously hard on our CNS, and Prozac is a terrible drug with a long half-life.  It is not unusual to have severe withdrawal symptoms crop up even after many months off the drug.  Of course, this does not prove that there is NOT something else going on, and if you are able to see a neurologist, (s)he could investigate that.  If nothing is found, which is most likely, at least you would have peace of mind about that.  However, again, the symptoms you describe are consistent with protracted withdrawal.  You might find these links helpful:

What is withdrawal syndrome.

Brain Remodelling 

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

 

Recommend you tabs on your symptoms.  This will help you identify your windows and waves and reveal your progress, which is encouragement we need!  You can use the following list of typical withdrawal symptoms as a template for a journal, if you wish:  Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

You may choose to also track your foods and activities to identify things that trigger symptoms as well.  

 

There are a few things you can do to help your nervous system heal.  Most are intuitive.  Eat a balanced, whole foods diet, stay well hydrated, engage in gentle exercise, and get adequate rest/sleep.  Avoid all neurologically active substances, like caffeine, alcohol, nicotine and recreational drugs- these are like pouring gasoline on a fire for your symptoms.  Avoid adding any further psychiatric medications to deal with your withdrawal from psych meds- the effects of these meds on a destabilized nervous system is unpredictable, and taking something else could make you worse.

 

We recommend only two supplements here at SA, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids.  

 

Encourage you to search the site for Prozac and fluoxetine and/or protracted withdrawal to find other people who WILL understand what you are dealing with.

 

Please keep us posted - Best wishes.

 

[Katey7485]

On 11/13/2024 at 2:44 PM, Jane318 said:

@Katey7485 - 

I am doing "okay."  Today has been a good day!  I am having more of them now, continuing to improve / stabilize since my updose in July.  Thank you for asking!

 

These are all withdrawal symptoms.  It is normal to have ups and downs.  As you know, this is called  The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization.  It is a good sign that you had a better week last week, that is a sign of healing!   I love that you tell your head to "settle down!"

 

Cold turkeys are enormously hard on our CNS, and Prozac is a terrible drug with a long half-life.  It is not unusual to have severe withdrawal symptoms crop up even after many months off the drug.  Of course, this does not prove that there is NOT something else going on, and if you are able to see a neurologist, (s)he could investigate that.  If nothing is found, which is most likely, at least you would have peace of mind about that.  However, again, the symptoms you describe are consistent with protracted withdrawal.  You might find these links helpful:

What is withdrawal syndrome.

Brain Remodelling 

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

 

Recommend you tabs on your symptoms.  This will help you identify your windows and waves and reveal your progress, which is encouragement we need!  You can use the following list of typical withdrawal symptoms as a template for a journal, if you wish:  Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

You may choose to also track your foods and activities to identify things that trigger symptoms as well.  

 

There are a few things you can do to help your nervous system heal.  Most are intuitive.  Eat a balanced, whole foods diet, stay well hydrated, engage in gentle exercise, and get adequate rest/sleep.  Avoid all neurologically active substances, like caffeine, alcohol, nicotine and recreational drugs- these are like pouring gasoline on a fire for your symptoms.  Avoid adding any further psychiatric medications to deal with your withdrawal from psych meds- the effects of these meds on a destabilized nervous system is unpredictable, and taking something else could make you worse.

 

We recommend only two supplements here at SA, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids.  

 

Encourage you to search the site for Prozac and fluoxetine and/or protracted withdrawal to find other people who WILL understand what you are dealing with.

 

Please keep us posted - Best wishes.

 

Thank you so much, this helped me so much when I was in significant distress at the time. I am getting more windows now but I have horrible wave days, like today - where I feel like I have MS or something, my body feels strange when walking and I feel “on alert” to scary symptoms. 
 

I actually went to a specialist dizziness clinic recently and got a really thorough checkup, they put electrodes on my head, cameras pointed at my eyes as my head was moved, all kinds of specialist testing and they couldn’t find anything wrong. In the end the specialist said it’s “anxiety”, but conceded my protracted withdrawal syndrome is probably contributing but he’s “not an expert”. It was reassuring but also scary.

 

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a cure for SSRI protracted withdrawal other than copious but unspecified amounts of time? 

[Jane318]

@Katey7485

 

4 minutes ago, Katey7485 said:

Thank you so much, this helped me so much when I was in significant distress at the time. I am getting more windows now but I have horrible wave days, like today - where I feel like I have MS or something, my body feels strange when walking and I feel “on alert” to scary symptoms. 
I actually went to a specialist dizziness clinic recently and got a really thorough checkup, they put electrodes on my head, cameras pointed at my eyes as my head was moved, all kinds of specialist testing and they couldn’t find anything wrong. In the end the specialist said it’s “anxiety”, but conceded my protracted withdrawal syndrome is probably contributing but he’s “not an expert”. It was reassuring but also scary.

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a cure for SSRI protracted withdrawal other than copious but unspecified amounts of time? 

Yech...  I am so sorry to hear you are suffering a bad wave right now.  I am glad you were able to get checked out, I hope this provides some peace of mind, that at least there isn't something serious physiologically wrong.  Dizziness is a common withdrawal symptom.  Yes, it would be great if there were a faster "cure!"  But you will get through this, you will feel better.  Urge you to keep that as a mantra, because when we feel so crummy, the withdrawal tells us that it will always be like this.  Not true!  The brain is hard at work, recovering.  

[Jane318]

How are you doing @Katey7485?  Wishing you the best for the holidays!

[Hemly]

Hi @Katey7485, I've just found your thread and wanted to drop in to say I hope you're doing alright. 💗

 

I'm also in withdrawal from Prozac and we have many of the same symptoms. It's so, so rough to go through. Thankfully, we do have the light at the end of the tunnel: we know this won't last forever, we just have to hang on.