Janet: Stopping fluoxetine

[Janet]

I was prescribed 20mg fluoxtine to help with withdrawal symptoms when stopping use of .50mg alprazolam.

 

I have been off the benzo for a year now but the psychiatrist I was seeing said that I should continue to take fluoxetine as she though that I had depression and would need to take it for the rest of my life.  After 17 months use I do not agree with her! I feel like a zombie most of the time and do not have much pleasure in life. I would like to stop taking the drug.

 

I have read all the guidelines etc. and understand what it will entail but wonder if anyone could give me some clear instructions please? I am 76 years old and so not quite as sharp as I used to be!!

I would like to know exactly what amount/strength of liquid fluoxetine to ask my doctor to prescribe

What should I ask my pharmacist for to use the liquid?

What schedule should I use, I am currently taking a 20mg capsule daily.

 

Any help/advice would be much appreciated

 

 

 

[Fresh]

Hi Janet , welcome to the site.

 

Please read this thread on "Tips For Tapering Fluoxetine" http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/759-tips-for-tapering-off-prozac-fluoxetine/?hl=fluoxetine

From this thread:

Using fluoxetine liquid to taper

This is by far the easiest way to taper by very small amounts. It comes in a concentation of 20mg fluoxetine in 5mL of liquid, meaning there is 4mg of fluoxetine in 1mL. If you are taking 10mg Prozac now, the liquid equivalent would 2.5mL. If you want to take 9mg of Prozac, you would take 2.25mL of the liquid.

 

Always check the concentration of the liquid you get as it can vary among manufacturers, and adjust your calculations accordingly.

 

If your fluoxetine liquid contains 20mg fluoxetine in 5mL of liquid:

1 mL= 4mg

0.5mL = 2mg

0.25mL = 1mg

0.2ml = 0.8mg

You will need an oral syringe to measure out your dose of the liquid.

 

Making your own Prozac liquid

Prozac is one of the few psychiatric medications with a long history of do-it-yourself dilution in water or juice. Mixed in cranberry juice, it's been called "Cranzac."

 

My own personal preference would be to dilute it with water, to avoid any degradation that might be caused by sugar or acid in the juice. Also, it will be easier to see how well the Prozac is dissolved in water. (There may be particles swirling around, that's the filler in the Prozac capsule that doesn't dissolve.)

 

Your Prozac solution may be a little bitter -- just swallow it quickly. You might want to chase it with a little fruit juice.

 

There are instructions for DIY Prozac solution here: http://depression.ab.../ht/cranzac.htm

 

Read through the whole topic and come back here with any questions.

Good to have you on board , Fresh

[Janet]

Thank you for prompt response but I HAVE read through all the topics , understood what needs to be done but was looking for more specific details. I do not want to start dissolving capsules and would prefer to use a liquid but do not know what to ask my doctor to prescribe and my ageing brain needs a sort of "words of one syllable " as to how to taper from my dose of 20mgs!

[Fresh]

If you follow the recommended maximum 10% drop , your first decrease will be to 18mg. Hold there for 4 weeks.

If your symptoms have resolved , your next drop will be 18mg minus 1.8mg i.e. 16.2mg Hold for 4 to 6 weeks till all symptoms have resolved.

Your next drop will be to 16.2mg minus 1.6 , i.e. 14.6mg

 

I'm sure someone can help you work out each drop as you go.

 

" It comes in a concentation of 20mg fluoxetine in 5mL of liquid, meaning there is 4mg of fluoxetine in 1mL. "

Ask for this one. It doesn't matter if you get a different one , we can work out the equivalent of 18mg once you get it.

 

Some people have problems switching to liquid because it gets absorbed quicker. We suggest taking half your dose in tablets and half in liquid to make

the transition smoother. Also , transfer completely to 20mg dose in liquid before decreasing at all. Just one change at a time.