EMBsurf: 2.5 months off Prozac, looking for support

[EMBsurf]

I’ve been off the meds for 2.5 months. Feeling emotionally unstable generally (waves & windows), insomnia, severe anxiety, rumination, & bouts of fatigue, depression, and irritability. My last attempt to get off the SSRI’s was a few years ago; I wasn’t ready, got scared and went back on the meds. Today, I have more support, awareness, ambition, and faith that I’m making a healthy decision this time around.
When I’m feeling overwhelmed I naturally question whether I “should” be doing this, because I’ve been made to believe by society, the drug companies, and my pDoc’s, that I NEED to be on these drugs the rest of my life. I’m not buying it anymore!
I was put on SSRI’s, in my early 20’s, prior to being diagnosed as Hypothyroid AND while still abusing drugs & alcohol. I think it was negligent on the part of K@!$3r to even put me on them in the first place, due to their lack of testing & understanding of my situation. I do accept SOME responsibility for this decision, but I absolutely feel foolish & regret being so trusting in the medical care I was receiving. I try to live in the present and not look backwards, but I'm only human. Sometimes I just need to hear some words of strength, compassion, and hope to continue moving forward despite the turbulence. Thank you.

[Fresh]

Hi EMDsurf ,  welcome to the site.  

2.5 months off isn't easy , but it sounds like you know the drill , and are ready to hunker down until the turbulence subsides.

 

Please could you fill in your signature so we have a time frame for you history.  Instructions are here http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/893-please-put-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature/

 

You'll find many people in a similar situation here as you read more threads in the Introductions forum - lots of people who

understand what you're going through.

 

Best wishes ,  Fresh

[SquirrellyGirl]

Hi EMBsurf! I used to live near Half Moon Bay, a wonderful place!

 

Welcome to SA. Have you gotten acquainted with the various threads here about withdrawal?  It sounds like you've become aware of the true situation with these meds and are ready to be done with Prozac.  

 

As Fresh requested, it would be great if you could fill in your signature so as your thread grows it will be easy for people to get your history at a glance.  How long in total had you been on Prozac?  How did you come off Prozac this time?  Did you taper and what kind of schedule was it?  Did you have withdrawal symptoms as you tapered?  Are there any other drugs in your history?

 

If your symptoms are so severe that it is difficult to function in your life, you are still in that window where a small reinstatement might alleviate symptoms.  Though no one likes to go back on the meds for any reason, the experienced leaders here advise it as a harm-reduction step, with an appropriately slow taper commencing after reaching stabilization.  Here's the thread about reinstating:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7562-about-reinstating-and-stabilizing-to-reduce-withdrawal-symptoms/

 

Usually the mods will advise reinstating a much smaller dose at first to see how it goes, since your system may have adapted back to some degree.  The idea is to only reinstate enough to alleviate symptoms without losing the progress you had made.  Of course, the drugs usually don't come in dosages that make tapering and small reinstatements very easy.  Here's a thread about tapering Prozac that can give guidance about how to achieve odd dosages:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/759-tips-for-tapering-off-prozac-fluoxetine/?hl=prozac

 

I'm sure the mods will be back to give guidance about reinstating, if that is advisable.

 

SG

[Petunia]

Welcome EMBsurf,

I'm sorry you were misdiagnosed and medicated unnecessarily with SSRIs, this has happened to many of us here, causing further problems with dependance and difficulties with trying to come off the drugs. Please don't blame yourself, if we can't trust our doctor to know what's best for us, who can we trust?

 

It takes going through an experience like this to prompt us to start looking for our own answers and its only then we learn that things are no always as they seem.

 

You will get through this and recover. Healing often happens in windows and waves kind of pattern, if you look in our self care section, you will find a lot of information and suggestions to help you get through the recovery period.

 

If you would answer the questions and fill in your signature as Fresh and SG have asked, that will help us tremendously in knowing what to suggest in your particular situation.

 

You can use this thread as your ongoing journal to track progress, write about symptoms, ask questions and communicate with the community, add to it whenever you want. Its a good idea to bookmark it or follow it, so its easy to find again.

 

I'm glad you joined us.

 

Petunia.