Robyn22: Ready to give Prozac the boot

[Robyn22]

Hello, I am 63 and past ready to give my 25-year  use of Prozac the boot. I did stop way back for a couple of years, I don't recall any major WD. I've tried several times since but the irritability is overwhelming, for me and my husband. I started on 20mg and have taken as much as 80mg, presently taking 40mg.  I have had never tapered, wasn't aware I needed to. I did wean a 25-year addiction to Xanax a couple of years ago and am finally starting to learn how to sleep again. I would appreciate a plan I can work with. I also have hypothyroidism and adrenal issues which can exasperate my the symptoms of irritability.

Thanks for your time and help,
Robyn22

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, Robyn22.  I'm so glad you found us before beginning your taper.  We have some very specific plans and suggestions for your taper of Prozac.  

 

Please add a signature.  Include drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements in the last 12-24 months. Also include supplements. This will help us give you the most accurate advice we can.  Just add dates to the information in your post and include your xanax taper.  This information will appear below all your posts and is a big help to the moderators.

• Any drugs and supplements 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. 
• Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses. 
• A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. 
• This is a direct link to your signature:  Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

We recommend tapering no faster than 10% of your current dose every four weeks.  Some have to go slower.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

The following link is specifically about tapering Prozac and includes information about how to get the smaller doses you'll need for a 10% taper.  You have a choice between tapering with liquid Prozac, making your own liquid, or cutting the pills and using the AWS Gemini-20 scale (available on Amazon) to weigh.

Tips for tapering off Prozac (fluoxetine)

 

The 10% method works for a broad number of people, but as I said some people have to go slower.  A micro-taper is the gentlest way to come off these drugs.

 

Micro-taper instead of 10% or 5% decreases

 

The Brassmonkey Slide is a way of making micro-taper reductions weekly, as opposed to a larger reduction once a month. I'm using this method to taper off 20mg Lexapro.

 

The Brassmonkey Slide Method of Micro-tapering

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium (magnesium glycinate is a good form) and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Please research all supplements first and only add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems.

 

This is your Introduction topic, where you can post updates, ask questions and connect with other members.  Please feel free to write back with any questions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[laydefish]

Hi @Robyn22 and welcome to the group! Congratulations on deciding to taper yourself off of these awful drugs. Although you have successfully quit Antidepressants in the past, every time you go through the withdrawal experience there is a chance the withdrawal symptoms will be worse, so I'm very glad that you found this form to help you do your taper properly. Hopefully with the guidance of the caring and informed moderators here you'll have minimal symptoms. I'm currently 9 months  Prozac free after 11 years and benzodiazepine free (Valium) after 7 years, and although I'm still taking medication for severe chronic pain, I haven't felt this good in years! I actually feel like myself, it's wonderful! It's also a really good idea to educate yourself as much as possible there are so many things that can interfere with your healing process.So please hang in there it's a difficult Journey but well worth it! Stay strong and feel free to contact me anytime sincerely laydefish

 

Edited June 4, 2019 by ChessieCat
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