Mark88: Prozac withdrawal, need advice

[Mark88]

Hi please help

Edited May 9, 2021 by arbor

[arbor]

Hi @Mark88Welcome,

 

This is a nonprofit site run by volunteer Administrators and Moderators.  I'm glad you found us.  It sounds as if you might be in distress.  Please feel free to give us further details about what you are experiencing with withdrawal from Prozac so that we can answer as specifically as possible.   

Here are some links that might help you get started:

 

 symptoms and self care 

 

Tips for tapering off Prozac (fluoxetine)

(You may have to type this into the search option)

 

 

 

This is your Introduction topic where you can ask questions and connect with other members.  We ask members to fill out a medication signature to make it easier for readers to understand your situation.

Here is a link to guide you with that:   

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

 

I'm looking forward to hearing from you,

Arbor

 

 

[Mark88]

On 5/8/2021 at 10:33 AM, Mark88 said:

Hi please help

Hello hope I’m doing this right 😊

just hoping for some encouragement I’ve reinstated Prozac but still have very bad withdrawal symptoms after 6 month, is this normal 

[Yesyes123]

Hey @Mark88

 

After reinstatement, how long did you take 20mg before upping it to 30mg?

 

What symptoms do you still have now?

 

Peace and healing

[Mark88]

I went to 30mg after 3 month.

the main symptoms are anxiety and restlessness leg

[Mark88]

Hello I’m hoping someone can help me understand what I’m going though, I  quit Prozac last year, then reinstated and have been going through hell since 

[Mark88]

Hi I’m hoping someone can help me understand what I’m going though, I quit Prozac last year reinstated 6 months ago and have been going though hell since.

regards mark

[Mark88]

Can someone please let me know if I’m posting this in the right place.

thank you 

[arbor]

Hi @Mark88  I've asked for one of the more experienced Moderators to help you.  I don't have enough knowledge around reinstating to advise you.  Here are two links that I hope can give you information about your situation.  I can share with you that I experienced restless leg syndrome when on too high a dose of Prozac, and again during the acute phase of withdrawal.  At 30 months since zero dose, I still experience it, but only intermittently.  @Yesyes123has raised useful questions.  Adding the timing of your reinstatements to your signature will help others determine your best approach.  I'm sorry you're in hell.  I know firsthand what that can be, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.  It's the worst thing I've ever known.  Please know that you're not alone, and that over time it will get better.  It takes time for reinstatements to stabilize the disruption of w/d.  Your current dose sounds high to me for reinstatement where usually small doses are used.   I'm sending you another link for selfcare as you go through this.  How are you doing with sleep? appetite?  Are you noticing any differences with the introduction of risperidone?  

 

 

about-reinstating-and-stabilizing-to-reduce-withdrawal-symptoms

 

After Reinstating or Updosing, How Long To Stabilize?

 

 symptoms and self care

 

 

Many people find fish oil and magnesium helpful, see King of Supplements: Omega 3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oil) and Magnesium, Nature's Calcium Channel Blocker

 

I realize I'm giving you a lot to read, but I'd like to add that charting your symptoms can be helpful for both you and others assessing your situation, so here is this link:

 

 

 

Rate symptoms daily to track patterns and progress

 

Keep notes on paper

 

Dr. Joseph Glenmullen's withdrawal symptom checklist

 

Please stay in touch,

Arbor

 

 

 

[Mark88]

Hi I do get some sleep, but always wake up panicking then it settles down a bit,

The risperidone seams to help but I don’t like taking it, just feels like I’m adding another drug to the problem.

thank you for replying 😊

[arbor]

Thank you @Mark88  While I understand your reservations re risperidone (and will have to read up more about it) the fact that you are getting some sleep is terrific news.  I simply had none for a long time and then nightmares and panic wakenings.  The panics have subsided for now.  The nightmares are sporadic.  I look forward to your eventual freedom from w/d (as well as to mine and everyone else's!)

Thinking of you,

Arbor

[Mark88]

Do you think that risperidone needs to be tapered even at .5mg?

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @Mark88

 

How are you feeling now, on 30mg Prozac? Why did you increase it from 20mg? How have your symptoms changed since you increased the dosage?

 

How did you feel after you reinstated 20mg?

 

Please add the dates you started each drug to your signature. Yes, risperidone eventually will have to be tapered.

[Mark88]

Hello thank you for replying,

im still very anxious like I’ve had 1000 cups of coffee, and just feel uneasy,

yes I went from 20 to 30 but didn’t make much difference, maybe agates me more not sure,

 

[Mark88]

The dr put me up to 40mg but I only went up to 30 to see how it went

[Erell]

7 hours ago, Altostrata said:

Welcome, @Mark88

 

Why did you increase it from 20mg?

 

How did you feel after you reinstated 20mg?

Hello @Mark88

 

Can you try to answer with more details ?

 

Did the reinstatement of 20mg help ?

 

Take care ☀️

[Mark88]

Hi

when I reinstated it made me much worse I was anxious and nauseous for weeks, 

but the doctor told me to ride it out, I’m still very anxious and feeling awful but the debilitating depression is a lot better than it was in the beginning 

[Altostrata]

15 hours ago, Mark88 said:

im still very anxious like I’ve had 1000 cups of coffee, and just feel uneasy,

 

Did you feel like this from when you reinstated 20mg last November?

 

If yes, you are taking too much Prozac. If I were you, I would slowly reduce it to avoid withdrawal symptoms. It could be 5mg would have been a sufficient reinstatement. See Tips for tapering off fluoxetine (Prozac)

 

It's very possible the "debilitating depression" was a withdrawal symptom and it is resolving as it ordinarily would, but you are still feeling adverse effects from too much SSRI. Contrary to popular belief (among doctors), antidepressants are not anti-anxiety drugs.

 

You're probably taking risperidone unnecessarily, too, but it also needs to be tapered. I would do that later.

[Mark88]

The anxiety was there before I reinstated and I was having lots of panic attacks as well,

they seam to be a lot better now, the panic attacks where why I was given risperidone witch helped but gives me bad restless leg for a few hours after taking it,

all though the depression is much les painful, I still have no feeling of joy at all.

The Drs only want to throw more Prozac a the problem witch just makes everything worse,

do you think my body will eventually adjust to the 30mg so I can start to taper if and when I feel better?

im just terrified to start changing anything, this has been and still is the most horrible thing I’ve ever experienced,

I feel for everyone on here only people who have gone though this could possibly understand how horrible it truly is.

thank you so much for your help it means so much to me.

[Altostrata]

My guess is that 30mg is too much for you, that's the 1000 cups of coffee. I would step down to 20mg by reducing 5mg every  week.

[Mark88]

Quote

 

Hi do you mean reduce by 5mg a week or a month?

[Mark88]

How can I tapper from .5mg of risperidone, has anyone done this?

[Mark88]

I never seem to get any response for hours or not at all I thought it was a community for helping and supporting each other 

[Mark88]

I’m in a mess and just need someone to communicate with😕

[Erell]

6 hours ago, Mark88 said:

I never seem to get any response for hours or not at all I thought it was a community for helping and supporting each other 

 

Hello Mark88,

 

I'm sorry you are going through a rough time and feel lonely, really.

 

The team is composed of volunteers who has or are going through WD themselves. 

We just do our best to share our support, infos and the knowledge gained from thousand testimonies.

 

You might want to discover others on their threads, that's usually how our members meet and support each other.

 

I understand your need of support, we all do understand and feel the same. We all just do the best we can while going through a difficult journey ☺

 

- How do you feel about Altostrata's suggestion to reduce your Prozac dose ?

 

6 hours ago, Mark88 said:

How can I tapper from .5mg of risperidone, has anyone done this?

 

Yes there are people who tapered Risperidone.

It's not always easy to find threads using the researche tool on SA, it's easier if you use Google.

For example : you type on Google "survivingantidepressants" and "Risperidone " or whatever subject you are looking for.

 

See what I found : 

 

-tips-for-tapering-off-risperdal-risperidone/

 

You can also find stories of people who tapered it, here is an example :

 

-razmuk-done-with-risperdal-and-all-the-other-poison-for-good/

 

 

 

 

Take care ☀️

[Mark88]

Thank you so much fo replying, it means a lot to me, and I understand that everyone on here is or has gone through this nightmare.

with COVID happening, the mental health system is so overloaded that you just can’t get to see anybody for help,

ive pretty much had to find out what’s going on with me myself, my dr said it’s just my mood haha!

so I just scan the internet looking for answers or hope.

your all doing a fantastic job so thank you😊

[Mark88]

Can anyone tell me if I make up some liquid Prozac out of capsules, will it decomposes or loose any of its strength,

if it’s in the fridge for a few days?

[Nomansland]

Hello @Mark88,

 

here you can find all the informationen about every way possible you can taper prozac (including selfmade liquid):

 

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2021 IMPORTANT WITHDRAWAL SURVEY, PLEASE PARTICIPATE: https://uelpsych.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0AR9IsQ61jsiXBk

[Mark88]

Hi I’m looking for some advice, I was changed from Prozac30mg to duloxetine 30mg 12 days ago,,

all was going ok but now I’ve gone into withdrawals from the Prozac, should I take some Prozac or stop the duloxetine,

I didn’t want to change but I was suicidal and the dr said that the Prozac probably wasn’t working, any help would be appreciated 

[Mark88]

Update. Sorry that’s 60 mg of duloxetine, I’m thinking if I take 20mg of Prozac and ween off over a few months, do you think this is a good idea or not? I’m unable to see a dr till next week and want to avoid destabilising my cns if at all possible. I stoped Prozac abruptly then started taking the duloxetine.

[Mark88]

Could I get a reply please 

[tiredtess]

I think it is something to discuss with your Dr

tt

[Mark88]

Haha I knew that would be the answer 😂 the reason I asked on here is because Im yet to find a Dr that will even entertain the idea of withdrawal from ssris but thanks anyway.

stay strong and heal👍

[tiredtess]

I don't think anyone could answer differently unless they are medically trained and it would be dangerous to do otherwise. There are many GPs here in the UK who will support and advise on withdrawal if that is what one requires and is right for you

tt

[Gridley]

19 hours ago, Mark88 said:

the reason I asked on here is because Im yet to find a Dr that will even entertain the idea of withdrawal from ssris but thanks anyway.

Doctors, whether GP's or psychiatrists, know nothing about withdrawal or safe tapering, and as you said deny the existence of withdrawal.  Such information is utterly absent from their medical training.  If you will post your question in your own thread in the Introductions and updates forum, I'll be happy to try to help you.  Type @Gridley and when a rectangle pops up, click on @Gridley and I will be notified that you've posted.

[Mark88]

Hi I can’t find introductions and updates can you help me