OnTheRocks: Have I Made Huge Mistake

[OnTheRocks]

Hello, hopefully everyone here is doing well today. I'm really hoping I can get some advice and support for my situation.

 

Long story short I reluctantly started taking Fluoxetine after having a mental health crisis at the start of this year. My symptoms were obsessive thought, racing heart, total loss of sleep (for several weeks), thoughts of death etc. On March 15 I began with 20mg Fluoxetine before being increased to 40mg. 

 

Everything went well and I improved quickly, loss of libido and an inability to climax being my only issues of note. I'll.come back to this 

 

I kept up my regime till August and was feeling like my old self. I dropped from 40mg to 20mg for a couple of weeks and all was fine my plan was to stay for a while and then drop off.....then my issue.

 

I went on holiday for 3 weeks and packed an old box of medication. So I was forced to cold turkey. At first I was worried but I experienced absolutely no withdrawal. My ability to climax returned in a week and I thought everything was fine. When I came back from holiday I never went back on Fluoxetine and have been off since.

 

This week something has changed. I have started suffering with ED. I can get there but it's a struggle and not spontaneous as was before I started meds. I started to panic and am now concerned that having stopped abruptly I am stuck with this. My sleep has also started to suffer and depsite being very tired the last two nights I've struggled to stay asleep though the night. I'm beginning to get anxious and have been obsessively worrying that I've done serious damage to myself. 

 

I have read that about reinstament but am concerned that 1. Having stopped 2 months ago its too late and 2. Going back on will compound my ED issue..I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place, no pun intended.

 

I was in a great place and hoped my AD journey was only going to be short (6 months) but appears not. 

 

Any guidance, support etc would be brilliant. I have read much of what you make available 

 

Edited October 27, 2024 by Emonda
Name to title

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  I'm sorry to hear that you are dealing with ED and sleep issues.  It is not uncommon for withdrawal symptoms to not show up until 2 or 3 months after stopping medication.  

 

Here is some important information about how these drugs actually work.  This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications.

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

I understand your concern about reinstating.  Personally, if it were me, I wouldn't reinstate unless I had severe symptoms that were making it very hard for to function in day to day life.  About how much sleep are you getting each night?  Reinstatement is a personal decision only you can make.  There is some risk it could make things worse, but it could also make things better.  If you did reinstate, I would suggest a very low dose, like 2 mg of fluoxetine.  (This is assuming your drug signature is complete, and you have been on no other psych drugs.) 

 

You haven't been off the drugs that long, so it is possible a very small reinstatement may help you.  Please carefully read this thread, and let us know what you would like to do.  

 

About Reinstating and Stabilizing to Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms

 

Good luck, and please let us know how you are doing.

[getofflex]

On 10/27/2024 at 5:08 AM, OnTheRocks said:

I'm beginning to get anxious and have been obsessively worrying that I've done serious damage to myself. 

I just want to reassure you that it is extremely unlikely that the damage is permanent.  What has happened is that your brain has changed to accommodate the presence of the drug, and it takes a very long time for the brain to change itself back to working normally without the drug.  It is a good thing that you were only on the drug a few months.  Many on here have been on many psych drugs for years/decades and have recovered!

[Dutchlady]

Hi @OnTheRocks, I just came across your post. Curious to hear what you decided. Did you reinstate?  How is it going?