Snurd

[Snurd]

I may be stupid, and I apologize if I offend you, but I've been taking Fluoxetine 20mg for several years. Over the last year or so I've had extreme difficulty having a climax, and I'm really tired of it. Fluoxetine must be the culprit as prostate, etc is ok.

I'm very tempted just to quit taking my once a day bedtime dose cold turkey. If I have anxiety trouble I can take a alprozolam (Xanax). All this discussion about a year or two of tapering seems to me to be absurd.

Please educate me.

[nz11]

Snurd,

Welcome to sa.

You might like to start an intro thread and put in a drug signature.

You mean your doctor didnt warn you about the life altering PSSD ? or the need to taper in a safe way off these brain altering potently addictive chemicals? The hundreds of toxic side effects or the over 58 withdrawal symptoms ?...If not dont worry you are not alone.

 

Let me put it this way if you follow your own advice 'tempted just to quit...CT' because 'tapering seems absurd' then i can tell you, you will have an education alright. imo

 

if your intention is to get out from under the weight of this mind numbing drug then i invite you to start an intro topic and the good folk here will walk you through a taper. 

 

You are certainly not stupid just ..like myself and many others completely oblivious to our plight and the uninformed road we have blindly been pushed down.

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/80-new-to-the-site-please-start-a-topic-in-the-introductions-forum/?p=170

 

If I have anxiety trouble I can take a alprozolam (Xanax).

please be aware addiction to a benzo can be established within a weeks use.

 

Welcome you have come to a place sought by millions but found by few....!

[dalsaan]

HI Snurd,

 

Welcome to SA.   This site exists because many people experience significant withdrawal symptoms and have to taper off very slowly.   This is thought to be because the brain has remodelled itself to adapt to the presence of antidepressants and needs time to remodel as they are taken away.   There is some research to support this.  However, drug companies do not invest large amounts of money researching what happens when people take their product long term or when they try and come off.  

 

The most significant evidence base is right here and in patient accounts spread all over the internet.

 

Some people can come off quicker than others and with minimal of trouble, others are not so lucky.  Unfortunately, we cant know in advance which boat you will fall in.  On that basis, I suggest its better to be safe than sorry.   No one ever recommends cold turkey - not even drug companies that have a vested interest in constructing their products as relatively benign.

 

If you want to come off, start slow.  If you have no adverse reaction you can increase your tapering speed.  This is a negotiation with your nervous system, it dictates the rate it can handle.

 

Here is a thread on tapering off fluoxetine - http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/759-tips-for-tapering-off-prozac-fluoxetine/

 

and one on the key principles of tapering - http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6632-the-rule-of-3kis-keep-it-simple-keep-it-slow-keep-it-stable/

 

Prozac has the benefit of a long half life but that doesnt mean it is without the risk of withdrawal.   Please read some of the material here before going CT

 

Dalsaan

[nz11]

Snurd you might like to go to the local library and read the book 'anatomy of an epidemic ' by Robert whitaker ...this book is actually educating many doctors .

 

Have a look at ch 14 'The story that was and wasnt told' It talks about prozac and xanax in the same chapter.

 

Also check out the lilly 27 page patient information leaflet on prozac, especially between pages 13 and 14 for info on pssd. I think Lilly has put this in there to try to halt the soaring law suits.

Psychology 101 when given a list of things to remember most people will remember a few from the beginning and a few from the end of the list and not a lot from inbetween.

Perhaps thats why Lilly put this info slam bang in the exact centre of the PIL. Just a thought imo.

[Hudgens]

Do not stop cold turkey-but if you do, and run into a wall of withdrawal symptoms, don't worry- you can go right back on again and start a slow taper after you stabilize agian-it does work.

[dalsaan]

Do not stop cold turkey-but if you do, and run into a wall of withdrawal symptoms, don't worry- you can go right back on again and start a slow taper after you stabilize agian-it does work.

I wouldn't rely on this strategy, some people find that the wall of withdrawal symptoms sensitises the system and makes reinstatement more difficult due to adverse reactions.

 

Dalsaan

[KarenB]

Hello Snurd,

 

Once someone realises they want off an SSRI, It's very common to then have to come to grips with the fact that it is a slow process.  When bad things are happening to us, we want to stop them fast.  The trouble is that with SSRIs that can cause further difficulties - if you go too fast at the start it might end up taking longer overall.  Better to start gentle and see what rate works best for you. 

 

Also worth remembering that you don't have to have completely tapered to see some results.  Things can gradually improve as you gradually taper. 

 

For myself, getting to grips with the time-period involved was the hardest part.  I recommend reading lots and building up your understandings to create for yourself a place where you know why you are doing this - that's where you can find strength.  The facts are very motivating.  And there will be plenty of support for you here. 

 

Go gently,

Karen

[Hudgens]

Dalsaan's right, reinstatement doesn't always work. It always worked for me, but some have a lot of trouble with it. Probably best if done no later than a month or two after stopping-But best is to taper slowly to begin with.