Mbrady1988 Posted December 14, 2024 Posted December 14, 2024 Good evening! I’m going to try my best to explain my situation. Please excuse my scattered thoughts and I really hope someone can help me! I’m pretty desparate! About 3 weeks ago I started to taper Prozac every other day for 1 week as instructed by my doctor! I even requested to have an app with her so we could talk about how sensitive I am to withdrawing from medications and she basically scolded me and said that Prozac is a self tapering medication and there should be no withdrawal effects! About a week ago they started to creep in. Heightened anxiety, vomiting, dirrhea, feeling like a lump is in my throat, dizziness and an inner restlessness that I wouldn’t wish on anyone! I went to the hospital yesterday with a severe migraine where they wanted to admit me, extreme light sensitivity and trembling hands also. I’m wandering if there is anyway if I could reinstate at a low dose to possibly find some relief. I was given Ativan but it seems to make me more dizzy! 11/21 Venflaxine 75 mg for ocd/anxiety 12/22 Venflaxine increase to 150mg 3/23 venflaxine started taper due to elevated liver enzymes. Would take me 4 months 4/23 start cymbalta 60mg lowering venflax 9/23 Vilazadone 20mg increased to 40 3/24-started lamotrigne 10/24 start prozac 20mg to 40 mg at 3weeks 11/24-prozac wean every other day then d/c
Moderator FireflyFyte Posted December 15, 2024 Moderator Posted December 15, 2024 Hi Mbrady1988, Welcome to Surviving Antidepressants. Thank you for summarizing your drug history in your signature. 18 hours ago, Mbrady1988 said: About 3 weeks ago I started to taper Prozac every other day for 1 week as instructed by my doctor! Skipping doses can really destabilize someone which is why we never advise this method to taper. We have more info at NEVER SKIP DOSES TO TAPER. When you were skipping doses, were you still taking 40mg of Prozac? 18 hours ago, Mbrady1988 said: I was given Ativan but it seems to make me more dizzy! How many doses of Ativan have you taken? What is your dosing schedule? 18 hours ago, Mbrady1988 said: I’m wandering if there is anyway if I could reinstate at a low dose to possibly find some relief. Given that you stopped taking Prozac around two weeks ago, you are in a reasonable window to try reinstatement. Further details are available at Reinstatement: About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms. Once I can confirm your final dosage amount, can better advise on how much to reinstate. Thanks, Firefly Pre- October 2022: Wellbutrin, Escitalopram, Citalopram, Sertraline, Adderall IR, Vyvanse, Propranolol, Buspar, Ativan, and Latuda Oct 13, 2022 - Oct 24, 2022 and Oct 31, 2022 - Present: Zyprexa (2.5 mg). Jan 29, 2023 = 2.375mg -> Jan 22, 2024 = 0.97mg -> Dec 24, 2024 = 0.265mg Oct 14, 2022 - Present: Prozac (40mg) upped from 20mg on Nov 1, 2022. Oct 31, 2022 - Present: Gabapentin (300mg 3x day) -> May 3, 2023 = 300mg 2x day -> Jan 7, 2024 = 400mg
Mbrady1988 Posted December 15, 2024 Author Posted December 15, 2024 Thank you so much for taking the time to respond! I was tapering the Prozac 40mg every other day. I actually was back in the hospital again last night with my HR in the 140’s, muscle rigidity, tremors, and labs really out of wack which they never are! My wbc was high which I read can be from acute stress on the body! Since I haven’t been sick lately, I’m sure it’s the withdrawal! I feel at loss because I told my doctor I’m super sensitive to withdrawing and she basically doesn’t care! This has been life altering and I feel like I’m truly traumatized! I’m a nurse myself so the lack of knowledge and compassion from my nurse partitioner has been truly eye opening! Thank you, Melanie Brady 11/21 Venflaxine 75 mg for ocd/anxiety 12/22 Venflaxine increase to 150mg 3/23 venflaxine started taper due to elevated liver enzymes. Would take me 4 months 4/23 start cymbalta 60mg lowering venflax 9/23 Vilazadone 20mg increased to 40 3/24-started lamotrigne 10/24 start prozac 20mg to 40 mg at 3weeks 11/24-prozac wean every other day then d/c
Mbrady1988 Posted December 15, 2024 Author Posted December 15, 2024 I just realized I left out the Ativan part! My primary care physician prescribed 0.5mg three times a day for 2 days then as needed. Today, when the tremors started up again about 10am I got desparate and found a 10mg bottle of the generic Prozac. I tried opening the capsule to take of half the medicine but it was basically powder instead of little beads. I took the 10mg and as of 4pm the tremors are gone anxiety has lowered some but I’m still dizzy! I pray I haven’t taken to much but I was so desparate after 1 week of pure heck! Do you think if the Prozac 10mg was going to make things worse it would have already happened? 11/21 Venflaxine 75 mg for ocd/anxiety 12/22 Venflaxine increase to 150mg 3/23 venflaxine started taper due to elevated liver enzymes. Would take me 4 months 4/23 start cymbalta 60mg lowering venflax 9/23 Vilazadone 20mg increased to 40 3/24-started lamotrigne 10/24 start prozac 20mg to 40 mg at 3weeks 11/24-prozac wean every other day then d/c
Mentor Catina7 Posted December 16, 2024 Mentor Posted December 16, 2024 Hi @Mbrady1988, I'm so glad you found this wonderful community. There have been many healthcare professionals who have been personally affected by antidepressant withdrawal, and it wasn't until it happened to them that they realized just how real it is. Doctors in general are clueless when it comes to how to safely taper people off the very drugs they themselves prescribe, and are not trained to recognize and deal with withdrawal symptoms. Things are changing, but it's been a slow process. I'm sure when @FireflyFyte has a chance they will be able to instruct you further about the best course of action to take at this point. Hang in there! We are all here to support you along the way. ♥️ Disclaimer: This is not professional medical advice but is based on personal experience only. 1994 - 2017: Prozac, Cymbalta, Celexa, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Seroquel, Buspar, Lorazepam, Xanax, Ambien 2005-present: Trazodone 50 mg 2017: Effexor XR 37.5 >> 75 mg 2020 (March) - Began 10% monthly taper of 75 mg Effexor XR (in hindsight this was much too fast) 2021 (Sept) - Completely crashed at 12 mg with horrific symptoms. Went back up to 37.5 mg but kindled myself (held for two years) 2024 (Avg. # of beads per 37.5 mg capsule = 117) - 1/1: -6 (111) | 2/1: -5 (106) | 3/1: -5 (101) | 4/1: -2 (99) | 5/1: -3 (96) | 6/1: -4 (92) | 7/1: HOLD | 8/1 -4 (88) | 9/7 -4 (84) | Oct. HOLD | Nov. HOLD | 12/1 : -1 (83) 2025 1/1: -1 (82) Other medications: Levothyroxine 50 mcg 🔑 A Key to Survival: Turn outward, not inward. Use the art of distraction to focus on anything but how you're feeling inside. Never give up hope that you'll make it through and heal.
Moderator FireflyFyte Posted December 17, 2024 Moderator Posted December 17, 2024 On 12/15/2024 at 5:14 PM, Mbrady1988 said: I just realized I left out the Ativan part! My primary care physician prescribed 0.5mg three times a day for 2 days then as needed. Are you still taking the Ativan? On 12/15/2024 at 5:14 PM, Mbrady1988 said: Do you think if the Prozac 10mg was going to make things worse it would have already happened? Have you continued to take the 10mg? How are you feeling? Pre- October 2022: Wellbutrin, Escitalopram, Citalopram, Sertraline, Adderall IR, Vyvanse, Propranolol, Buspar, Ativan, and Latuda Oct 13, 2022 - Oct 24, 2022 and Oct 31, 2022 - Present: Zyprexa (2.5 mg). Jan 29, 2023 = 2.375mg -> Jan 22, 2024 = 0.97mg -> Dec 24, 2024 = 0.265mg Oct 14, 2022 - Present: Prozac (40mg) upped from 20mg on Nov 1, 2022. Oct 31, 2022 - Present: Gabapentin (300mg 3x day) -> May 3, 2023 = 300mg 2x day -> Jan 7, 2024 = 400mg
Mbrady1988 Posted December 18, 2024 Author Posted December 18, 2024 Hi! I still have a bottle of the Ativan but don’t feel like they hep much at all! I didn’t take the Prozac today because unfortunately I’m way worse! I feel like every part of my body is failing me. 11/21 Venflaxine 75 mg for ocd/anxiety 12/22 Venflaxine increase to 150mg 3/23 venflaxine started taper due to elevated liver enzymes. Would take me 4 months 4/23 start cymbalta 60mg lowering venflax 9/23 Vilazadone 20mg increased to 40 3/24-started lamotrigne 10/24 start prozac 20mg to 40 mg at 3weeks 11/24-prozac wean every other day then d/c
Moderator FireflyFyte Posted December 22, 2024 Moderator Posted December 22, 2024 On 12/18/2024 at 5:39 PM, Mbrady1988 said: I didn’t take the Prozac today because unfortunately I’m way worse! I feel like every part of my body is failing me. In what ways are you feeling worse? Did you notice these symptoms shortly after taking the dose(s) of Prozac? Pre- October 2022: Wellbutrin, Escitalopram, Citalopram, Sertraline, Adderall IR, Vyvanse, Propranolol, Buspar, Ativan, and Latuda Oct 13, 2022 - Oct 24, 2022 and Oct 31, 2022 - Present: Zyprexa (2.5 mg). Jan 29, 2023 = 2.375mg -> Jan 22, 2024 = 0.97mg -> Dec 24, 2024 = 0.265mg Oct 14, 2022 - Present: Prozac (40mg) upped from 20mg on Nov 1, 2022. Oct 31, 2022 - Present: Gabapentin (300mg 3x day) -> May 3, 2023 = 300mg 2x day -> Jan 7, 2024 = 400mg
thenextguy Posted December 22, 2024 Posted December 22, 2024 On 12/15/2024 at 2:05 PM, Mbrady1988 said: I was tapering the Prozac 40mg every other day. Jeez...there's bad tapering advice and there's REALLY bad tapering advice. Why would you tell someone to start alternating days at 40mg fluoxetine also comes in 20mg and 10mg pills? Even if you were going to go fast, which would still be wrong, there is no need to start alternating days at 40mg. These doctors, smh. -Since 2017-ish I've been on Cymbalta & Mirtazapine. At max dose it was 120mg cymbalta and 45mg mirtazapine. This combo was meant to deal with a depressive episode and it worked. Over the next few years I tapered down from those high doses. I had tried to get off the cymbalta twice and had to reinstate twice. I don't remember when. Maybe 2018? 2019? -Since 2020 I've been stable 20mg cymbalta and 7.5mg mirtazapine (this is mainly for sleep now). I have come off of the mirtazapine before without trouble, but still take it occasionally for sleep. -August 2nd began taking 10mg prozac as a bridge to attempt to get off cymbalta. Took 10mg for about a week then 20mg for a few days. Stopped taking the cymbalta and was doing okay for a bit, but things didn't seem to get better and maybe have been getting worse. -8/25/2021 - 20mg cymbalta and struggling. Stopped the prozac. I'm struggling, but I can probably ride this out if I had to. My concern is that things will continue to get worse, as they seem to be doing. -8/29/2021 - things started to get worse. Probably prozac withdrawal. Reinstated 20mg prozac. -9/2/2021 - 20mg cymbalta, 5mg prozac, 7.5 mg mirtazapine --> 9/24/2021 - 20mg cymbalta, 5mg prozac, 3.75 mg mirtazapine --> - 11/7/2021 - 20mg cymbalta, 3.75mg prozac, 3.75 mg mirtazapine --> 4/24/2022 - 20mg cymbalta, 3.75mg prozac --> 6/5/2022 - 20mg cymbalta, 3.33mg prozac -4/25/2024 - Finally started tapering again this year after a long break and some unrelated health matters. I'm now down to just 15mg of cymbalta/duloxetine and doing well! -6/1/2024 - 5mg Cymbalta ____ 6/26/2024 - 2.5mg Cymbalta -7/6/2024 - 0mg Cymbalta (Note, I got cocky and went to fast. Don't do that!) ____ 7/24/2024 - reinstated 5 beads (roughly 1mg) and holding Every wave is one wave closer to the final one. 🏄♂️
Mentor Catina7 Posted December 22, 2024 Mentor Posted December 22, 2024 1 hour ago, thenextguy said: Jeez...there's bad tapering advice and there's REALLY bad tapering advice. Why would you tell someone to start alternating days at 40mg fluoxetine also comes in 20mg and 10mg pills? Even if you were going to go fast, which would still be wrong, there is no need to start alternating days at 40mg. These doctors, smh. Exactly! Where did doctors get the idea that alternating days was a good thing? It boggles the mind. It just goes to show just how much they don't know about safe tapering. That's why the 'strangers' on the internet are the true experts in the field. Disclaimer: This is not professional medical advice but is based on personal experience only. 1994 - 2017: Prozac, Cymbalta, Celexa, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Seroquel, Buspar, Lorazepam, Xanax, Ambien 2005-present: Trazodone 50 mg 2017: Effexor XR 37.5 >> 75 mg 2020 (March) - Began 10% monthly taper of 75 mg Effexor XR (in hindsight this was much too fast) 2021 (Sept) - Completely crashed at 12 mg with horrific symptoms. Went back up to 37.5 mg but kindled myself (held for two years) 2024 (Avg. # of beads per 37.5 mg capsule = 117) - 1/1: -6 (111) | 2/1: -5 (106) | 3/1: -5 (101) | 4/1: -2 (99) | 5/1: -3 (96) | 6/1: -4 (92) | 7/1: HOLD | 8/1 -4 (88) | 9/7 -4 (84) | Oct. HOLD | Nov. HOLD | 12/1 : -1 (83) 2025 1/1: -1 (82) Other medications: Levothyroxine 50 mcg 🔑 A Key to Survival: Turn outward, not inward. Use the art of distraction to focus on anything but how you're feeling inside. Never give up hope that you'll make it through and heal.
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