curcud: Planning to taper Prozac

[curcud]

I wanted to introduce myself. I plan to taper off of Prozac, and I feel that this community will help me manage my titration. If you have any questions, let me know!

Edited May 27, 2017 by scallywag
tags

[Madeleine]

Welcome to the Forum!

[mammaP]

Hi Curcud, welcome to SA, I am sorry that you didn't get a mod welcome, sometimes the forum moves so fast that some new posts drop off the first pages very quickly. Thank you, Madeleine, for responding. 

 

 I will get some links for you, but I guess you have already seen them! It is handy to have them at the top of your intro so you can easily find them for reference as you taper. I see you are tapering from 40 to 20mg. A faster taper can go fine at first but needs to be slow at the lower doses to avoid withdrawal. 

 

Tapering prozac  

 

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

 

Tapering 10%

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1024-why-taper-by-10-of-my-dosage/

 

The 3 KIS

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6632-the-rule-of-3kis-keep-it-simple-keep-it-slow-keep-it-stable/

[curcud]

Hello all! I came here last year, with the full intention of tapering off of Prozac by this time. Well, I succeeded in tapering down to 20mg, but now I want to be off of it completely. So here I am, reintroducing myself and hoping that I can stick with it this time. 

[ChessieCat]

Hi curcud,

 

I have merged the new Intro topic you created with your original Intro topic.  Each member has only 1 Intro topic where they can ask questions and journal their progress.  Please do not create any more Intro topics.  Thank you.

[ChessieCat]

Please update your drug signature so it remains current  This is the format that mods prefer because it allows us to see your history at a glance.

 

A request: Would you summarize your history in a signature - ALL drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly?

• Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses.
• A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. 

• Any drugs prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years.
• Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago)
• Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016.
• Link to Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

[ChessieCat]

Below is information and links which you might find useful/helpful.  You may have already seen some of them, but having them all in one post so you can refer back to them may be helpful.

 

SA recommends tapering by no more than 10% of the previous dose followed by a hold at that dose for about 4 weeks to allow the brain to adapt to not getting as much of the drug.  This is because psychiatric drugs create a physiological dependence, not physical like caffeine or nicotine.

 

Patience is needed to get off these drugs.  We suggest throwing out the calendar and listening to your body and your symptoms.  If after 4 weeks you don't feel stable, feel unwell or life circumstances are a bit more stressful than usual (for example the Christmas period, winter time, or job change) it is better to stay at that dose for a bit longer until things settle down.

 

Before you begin tapering what you need to know

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Tips for tapering off Prozac (fluoxetine)

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's Withdrawal Symptoms

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

How do you talk to a doctor about tapering and withdrawal?

What should I expect from my doctor about withdrawal symptoms?

 

Brain Remodelling

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

Keep it Simple, Slow and Stable

Keep Notes on Paper

 

Rate Symptoms Daily to Check Patterns and Progress

Tapering Calculator - Online

 

It is best to make only 1 change at a time.  It is also better not to start taking a complex vitamin because if you experience issues you will not know what exactly is causing it.  B vitamins can be stimulating especially B6.  hypersensitive-to-b-vitamin-or-b-vitamin-complex  If trying anything new, start with a small amount to see how you react and build up to the recommended amount.  The only supplements which SA recommends are Magnesium and Omega-3 Fish Oil.  Try a small amount one at a time to see how you react.

 

Even with a careful and slow taper you will most likely experience times of discomfort.  It is best to learn and use Non-drug techniques to cope

 

There are many existing topics and discussions on this site.  You can use the site search function on the main page of the site at the top right, or use a search engine and include survivingantidepressants.org in your search string.

 

This is your own Intro topic where you can ask questions and journal your progress.  We suggest that members visit each others Intro topics so that can support and encourage each other.

[Carmie]

On 3/7/2018 at 8:01 AM, curcud said:

Hello all! I came here last year, with the full intention of tapering off of Prozac by this time. Well, I succeeded in tapering down to 20mg, but now I want to be off of it completely. So here I am, reintroducing myself and hoping that I can stick with it this time. 

 

Hi curcod, 

 

How are you doing with your tapering? I saw in your signature that you are taking B vitamins and multivitamins. I just wanted to let you know that you can get adverse effects from these while tapering. 

 

This site recommends magnesium and fish oil though. Just start slowly with one and up it and see how you go and then try the other. Some people can’t tolerate these either but some have found them beneficial.

 

Hope your tapering is going well💚