vincent Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 A thought occurred to me and I apologise if this has already been discussed elsewhere: Is it possible that the different drug companies produce slightly different amount of drugs in their capsules I say this because my own experience of weighing fluoxetine indicates that no two capsules are the same; there are tiny differences and the statement ‘each capsule contains 20mg fluoxetine’ is not exactly true but based on statistical average and should perhaps read each capsules contains 20mg +/- 5% This should concern us when it comes to micro tapering. If the given error is +-5% for example this could wreak havoc with a micro taper. When finishing this post I realised that there is not much we can do about that or perhaps there is? 2003/7 (at age 52) Prozac 20mg. For chronic fatigue syndrome. 2007/10 20mg citalopram, 2010/11 Cold Turkey citalopram Severe withdrawal, 2011 back on citalopram 10mg, 2014 Discontinued Citalopram over a month period 2014/15 Suffered severe withdrawal and was prescribed Prozac 20mg, 2017/18 After research I decided that I have never had such severe mental illness, only withdrawal 2017/20 Various failed attempts to ‘taper’ (missing doses), 2020 Sept 16th started a 5% taper using mini scales, 2020 Nov Ended taper Back on 20mg Prozac 2021 Nov 24 Reduced to 19mg Prozac from starting dose of 20mg (5% reduction) 2022 Jan 3rd Reduced to 18mg Prozac (5.26% reduction) 2022 Feb 27th Reduced to 17.2mg Prozac (4.44% reduction) 2022 Mar 12th Reduced to 16.8mg Easier to read on Syringe 2022 Jun 15 16mg 4.76% reduction 2023 Mar 29th Reduced to 15.5mg Hand on heart, "Personally I have never heard of anyone suffering withdrawal from Prozac" Dr P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted October 3, 2020 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 3, 2020 6 hours ago, vincent said: Is it possible that the different drug companies produce slightly different amount of drugs in their capsules The amount of drug dose in the tablet/capsule is the same, ie if the box states 20mg you could purchase Prozac brand or a generic fluoxetine and the dose will be 20mg fluoxetine (the drug contained in the tablet/capsule) in both. The weight of the tablet/capsule may be different due to the different types and/or amounts of fillers which are used. * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincent Posted October 4, 2020 Author Share Posted October 4, 2020 11 hours ago, ChessieCat said: The amount of drug dose in the tablet/capsule is the same, ie if the box states 20mg you could purchase Prozac brand or a generic fluoxetine and the dose will be 20mg fluoxetine (the drug contained in the tablet/capsule) in both. The weight of the tablet/capsule may be different due to the different types and/or amounts of fillers which are used. Thanks ChessieCat, I think the differences will not be +-5% but more likely +- 0.005% within the same brand and compounds. I read your blog and can relate to it. Only a few months ago during a telephone consultation the practice nurse advised cold turkey or miss every other day for two weeks. I insisted on seeing the doctor. The doctor's wise advice was 'I personally have not known a patient to suffer withdrawal from Prozac. You can stop taking it, safely' . I informed him of this site and the suffering of thousands of people and decided to take control myself. 2003/7 (at age 52) Prozac 20mg. For chronic fatigue syndrome. 2007/10 20mg citalopram, 2010/11 Cold Turkey citalopram Severe withdrawal, 2011 back on citalopram 10mg, 2014 Discontinued Citalopram over a month period 2014/15 Suffered severe withdrawal and was prescribed Prozac 20mg, 2017/18 After research I decided that I have never had such severe mental illness, only withdrawal 2017/20 Various failed attempts to ‘taper’ (missing doses), 2020 Sept 16th started a 5% taper using mini scales, 2020 Nov Ended taper Back on 20mg Prozac 2021 Nov 24 Reduced to 19mg Prozac from starting dose of 20mg (5% reduction) 2022 Jan 3rd Reduced to 18mg Prozac (5.26% reduction) 2022 Feb 27th Reduced to 17.2mg Prozac (4.44% reduction) 2022 Mar 12th Reduced to 16.8mg Easier to read on Syringe 2022 Jun 15 16mg 4.76% reduction 2023 Mar 29th Reduced to 15.5mg Hand on heart, "Personally I have never heard of anyone suffering withdrawal from Prozac" Dr P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted October 4, 2020 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 4, 2020 2 hours ago, vincent said: I think the differences will not be +-5% but more likely +- 0.005% within the same brand and compounds. There is much more filler than drug dose (active ingredient) in these pills (my Lexapro ratio is 10:1 filler to active ingredient), so these minor variations in weight won't be significant in your taper. 1 Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of April 1: 6.8mg Taper is 91% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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