Azl0r Posted September 21, 2016 Share Posted September 21, 2016 (edited) Hi All, My name is Alex. I've recently joined this forum to ask for advice and hopefully meet people who have suffered / are going through what I am currently. I was diagnosed with depression & anxiety by my GP 2 years ago. I was advised to start a course of antidepressants, citalopramto be specific. I experienced some pretty nasty physical symptoms with this (sweating, irritability, headaches, lack of sleep) and so my doctor moved me onto Fluoxetine. My dose over the next few weeks was quickly increased to 60mg per day. After two years I finally started to feel better. During a holiday I missed a couple of doses and, foolishly after not experiencing side effects, took it upon myself to discontinue my medication altogether. The first three weeks were fine, so I thought. I didn't notice anything too drastic and though I must have truly recovered. However, over the last couple of weeks I've felt a change, something my friends and colleagues have also noticed. I'm more withdrawn, I'm anxious, I can barely look people in the eye. I'm having some very dark thoughts and can barely see the positive in anything. I'm desperate for recommendations on what to do, should I start taking my medication again? I have little faith in my GP, he's not particularly supportive, nor empathetic. I hope if anything I can get some advice. Really need it. Thanks, Alex Edited September 21, 2016 by Shep Added username to title and added tags Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Shep Posted September 21, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted September 21, 2016 Hi, Alex. Welcome to SA. I'm glad you're here for support and information. Since you've only been off Fluoxetine for 5 weeks, you may wish to reinstate. However, we've found that many people have a sensitized nervous system after coming off an antidepressant too quickly, so you may not need to reinstate at the full dose. Here is some more information on reinstating and on tapering specific to Fluoxetine: About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms Tips for tapering off Prozac (fluoxetine) Why taper by 10% of my dosage? And here are some links about what to expect during withdrawal and recovery: What is withdrawal syndrome? The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization Please list your medications and dose in your signature. Here is how: Please put your Withdrawal History in Signature. Once you give us a bit more information about your last experience with Fluoxetine, we can help you should you decide to reinstate and do a slower taper. Please let us know the dose you were on when you started your taper, the rate at which you tapered, and the last dose you came off of. Please use this thread to track your symptoms and to ask plenty of questions. Link to comment
nz11 Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 Azlor Welcome to sa. You are suffering withdrawal symptoms and they can be delayed especially so with prozac. Here is the best checklist you will find which lists the wdl symptoms Dr. Joseph Glenmullen's withdrawal symptom checklist (PDF) It sounds to me like you did a cold turkey and jumped off 60mg ...thats some height to jump from. Shep gave you a great link on reinstating which is worth reading and giving thought to. Thought for the day: Lets stand up, and let’s speak out , together. G Olsen We have until the 14th. Feb 2018. URGENT REQUEST Please consider submitting for the petition on Prescribed Drug Dependence and Withdrawal currently awaiting its third consideration at the Scottish Parliament. You don't even have to be from Scotland. By clicking on the link below you can read some of the previous submissions but be warned many of them are quite harrowing. http://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/PE01651 Please tell them about your problems taking and withdrawing from antidepressants and/or benzos. Send by email to petitions@parliament.scot and quote PE01651 in the subject heading. Keep to a maximum of 3 sides of A4 and you can't name for legal reasons any doctor you have consulted. Tell them if you wish to remain anonymous. We need the numbers to help convince the committee members we are not isolated cases. You have until mid February. Thank you Recovering paxil addict None of the published articles shed light on what ssri's ... actually do or what their hazards might be. Healy 2013. This is so true, with anything you get on these drugs, dependance, tapering, withdrawal symptoms, side effects, just silent. And if there is something mentioned then their is a serious disconnect between what is said and reality! "Every time I read of a multi-person shooting, I always presume that person had just started a SSRI or had just stopped." Dr Mosher. Me too! Over two decades later, the number of antidepressant prescriptions a year is slightly more than the number of people in the Western world. Most (nine out of 10) prescriptions are for patients who faced difficulties on stopping, equating to about a tenth of the population. These patients are often advised to continue treatment because their difficulties indicate they need ongoing treatment, just as a person with diabetes needs insulin. Healy 2015 I believe the ssri era will soon stand as one of the most shameful in the history of medicine. Healy 2015 Let people help people ... in a natural, kind, non-addictive (and non-big pharma) way. J Broadley 2017 Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus JanCarol Posted October 4, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 4, 2016 Hey AzLor - did you decide to reinstate? Let us know how you are going! "Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again. My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices. A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia. CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013. Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine). Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 - Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years on Lithium). Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made. The tedious thread (my intro): JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium The happy thread (my success story): JanCarol - Undiagnosed Off all bipolar drugs My own blog: https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/ I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016! Link to comment
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