seekingserenity76: Introducation

[seekingserenity76]

Hello All,

 

Just a brief introduction.  I finished weaning off of Prozac about 1 month ago.  Have been experiencing serious bouts of agitation, irritability, anger, and frustration. I DO NOT want to take medication anymore....these withdrawal symptoms, and I do believe that is what they are, are awful.  Some days I feel like I am losing my mind. It is nice to know there is a place to come to where others may have experienced something similar and may have tips to help get through this.  Dear God, let there be an end.

[ChessieCat]

Welcome to SA, seekingserenity,

 

You've come to the right place for support and information.  You are correct in your belief that you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

 

Thank you for completing your signature.  What you have written is important historical information about your situation and I suggest that you copy what you have in your signature and paste it into a post.

 

It is more helpful if your signature is a summary of ALL drugs, dates and doses and how you decreased/increased them.  With a long history of drug taking 3-5 years would be reasonable, and for the dates the more precise the better, especially for the most recent, say the last year to 18 months.  This will enable suggestions to be made based on your individual situation.

 

I, and many other members here, fully understand that you don't want to take any more of the drugs.  Unfortunately, the only way that we know of to reduce the withdrawal symptoms is to reinstate a small amount of the drug (DO NOT reinstate the last dose you were on).  The brain has adapted to the drug and it is better for the drug to be reduced slowly to allow the brain to adapt to not getting as much of the drug.  SA recommends a slow taper of 10% of the previous dose with a 4-6 week holding period to stabilise and allow the brain to adapt as you go and to try to keep withdrawal symptoms to a minimum.

 

These are links to information which I hope will help you to understand this suggestion:

 

Introduction to AD Withdrawal Syndrome

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Tips for tapering off Prozac (fluoxetine)

 

These really helped me to understand SA's recommendations:

 

Brain Remodelling (Rhi's Description of Brain Healing)

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

Please have a read of the above information and then ask questions in your Intro/Update topic.  You can also use your topic to journal your progress.  Click FOLLOW (top right) and you will be notified when someone responds.

 

If you do decide to reinstate, I suggest you post your intention and then we can suggest a dose that you could try.  DO NOT reinstate at the last dose your were on as this may be too much because your brain will already have started adapting in the time you have been off the drug.

[Petunia]

Welcome from me too seekingserenity, I'm glad you found us, but sorry you have to be here, it sounds like you are having a rough time at the moment.

 

How did you taper off the Prozac? Are you still taking Abilify? If not, would you tell us how you stopped taking that also?

 

I agree with Chessie, that what you are experiencing is most likely withdrawal symptoms. After taking these kinds of drugs for a period of time, the brain and nervous system adjusts to having them on board, the longer the amount of time, the more changes in functioning occur. This process can be reversed, but it takes time and can be quite uncomfortable and disruptive. One way to make the process a little easier is to reinstate some of the last drug taken, stabilize and then taper much slower. This is not always possible, but when it works, people find that their lives become easier, they are able to function better and still eventually come off the drugs.

 

Here is our reinstatement topic with more details:  About reinstating and stabilizing to stop withdrawal symptoms

 

Of course its your decision and we will be here to support you whatever you decide. But if I were you I would give it some serious consideration. I was taking various SSRIs and other psych drugs for about 15 years and came off them too fast. By the time I found this site, it was too late for me to reinstate, and I'm still in protracted withdrawal after 3 years. I don't want to scare you, most people don't take as long as this to heal, but withdrawal symptoms can continue for quite a while and there's not much you can do but learn how to manage until they go away.

 

Here is the link to our symptoms and self care section, you may find some useful ideas to help manage symptoms as you recover.  Especially read the topics pinned at the top.

 

I'm sorry we are throwing so much information at you, I know its a lot to absorb, but take your time and come back here to your thread with any questions. We will be here to support you no matter what you decide.

 

Please stay in touch and let us know how you are doing.

 

Petunia.