AldstadtGirl: Prozac withdrawal - severe muscle and joint pain especially at night

[ChessieCat]

What drug have you reinstated?

[AldstadtGirl]

Hi Chessie,

 

Prozac (fluoxetine). I was on 2.4mg for about 2 months and then panicked and went back onto 20mg. I feel horrible, very very anxious, especially in the morning, dizzy, blurred vision, anorexia, diarrheoa. Is it dangerous to cut down to 10mg?

I'm very underweight (weigh only 103lb/46kg at 5ft 6). Wondering if severe side effects are due to dose too high. Any advice very much appreciated. Terrified.

[ChessieCat]

So that we can see your drug history at a glance, which means that we do not have to go back through your posts to get the information, please create your drug signature following these instructions:

 

Instructions:  Withdrawal History Signature

 

Please remember to update it whenever you make a change.

 

I will let the other mods know that you need some assistance.

[Altostrata]

Hello, @AldstadtGirl

 

Yes, we need to see your drug history in your signature.

 

You've been taking 20mg fluoxetine for almost a month, is that correct? When did these effects get more severe? 

 

You might go to 15mg for a week and then 10mg.

[AldstadtGirl]

Hello Altostrata,

 

I will do amend my drug history soon but far far too anxious this morning. I reinstated 20mg of fluoxetine on October 11th. My regret around this is so intense. My life has completely unravelled and I feel very very unwell. I've been extremely low, anxious, suicidal and numb for weeks. I don't understand what's happening to me and why my reinstatement is not 'working'. On night of November 8, I experienced severe agitation and complete body muscle contraction. I was pacing and called my dad on video saying 'look what these drugs are doing to me'. In the morning, I wrote a will with all my passwords in it because I am in such desperation. My brother called and I told him I could not go on. He flew from Finland to Switzerland to get me and I have been supervised by him and his wife and friends since. I am terrified of being alone. Now I am again as people can't look after me forever. I do not want to die but the situation with these drugs has destroyed me and my life. I have no income, am alone, and literally do not know what to do. Weirdly although in serious shock and panic as everything dissolves, I cannot cry. I am frozen. I've never reacted to Prozac this way: vision getting blurry, anxiety and agitation nonstop virtually, can't sleep, ravenously hungry, constant worry. I don't know what to do. Any advice? Please.

[Overwhelmedlady]

Hi @AldstadtGirlPlease tag @Altostrata so that she can read your post as soon as she gets the notification.Try to calm down and breathe.I am also in a very desperate situation and I can understand exactly how you feel.Hold on please and try to tag her or other mods so that you can get a quick answer.

[AldstadtGirl]

How do I tag? 

[AldstadtGirl]

@Altostrata

[AldstadtGirl]

@Overwhelmedlady Thank you so much for your reply. I'm sorry you are struggling to. Scared senseless.

@arbor and @Altostrata and @ChessieCat dear moderators, I have updated my drug history and feel I've messed up s much I will never get out of this. I am torn between staying at 20mg in hope of some stability though 7 weeks have brought nothing but terrible side effects and utter loss of functioning, and going down to 18mg and starting to taper slowly again. Just want off this stuff but so so scared. Please see message earlier today. Have I damaged myself beyond hope? Blurred vision extremely disturbing. Thank you in advance for your help. Sending everyone in this hell love. 

 

@Altostrata I was unable to function and very very low having skipped a dose on Nov 9 (doctor said I should taper off completely over 3 weeks after serious episode overnight; clearly that is terrible advise) and then gone to 10mg for a week. As I can't sleep I've been taking the odd .5mg of Lorazepum )on two occasions took 1mg but think it's affecting my memory and making everything worse. On Saturday last weekend was taken to ER and told to take 20mg Ambien to sleep. Did so, slept 6 hours, extremely dizzy, confused and fearful the next day. Vowed never to take any more benzos but being pulled by establishment that is trying to send me to hospital. I know I'm reacting to the prozac but scared to go down in dose as literally alone and have no stability in my life. SLeep no more than 3 hours a night and morning anxiety is totally debilitating. 

[Overwhelmedlady]

@AldstadtGirl you are welcome. Hope some mod answers soon.Stay calm.🌹

[arbor]

Dear @AldstadtGirl

 

I'm terribly sorry to hear how rough the symptoms have become.  Alto has suggested:

On 11/8/2021 at 5:29 PM, Altostrata said:

You've been taking 20mg fluoxetine for almost a month, is that correct? When did these effects get more severe? 

 

You might go to 15mg for a week and then 10mg.

Thank you for completing your signature.  If you are now tapering to 18mg, could you include that as well.  This will help Alto to assess your situation.  It may also be helpful to note as much as you can about the changes in your symptoms.  Are they worse before or after you take the Prozac?  Do you notice differences between evening severity and morning?  Do you take the medication in the morning or evening?  If you are using alcohol or coffee, I recommend avoiding them for now.  

 

I know the blurry eyes is frightening.  I find a tiny bit of relief in applying ice to them.  I want to send this now so you can gather information.  And I will get back to you.

Know that you're not alone, and that in time, you will eventually get better.

Hugs, Arbor

[AldstadtGirl]

Dear @arbor

 

Thank you for your reply. I just don't know how I'm going to get out of this one. Symptoms and WD were one thing, but now my life situation is compounding everything.

 

I am not tapering to 18mg yet as did not have syringe with me to measure. Isn't dropping to 15mg a big drop? I'm concerned about how much I've been bouncing around and now very confused.

 

Symptoms of agitation and anxiety as much worse in the morning. Sometimes by evening my body is fairly calm. My life situation is getting so so dire now that I am beginning to enter freeze mode and feel myself shutting down. I think symptoms of agitation, panic, restlessness and inability to think clearly are worse about an hour after I take the Prozac in the morning. I feel like I'm on speed most of the time, and I am very hot, which is weird because it's freezing outside, I'm thin and have always felt cold. I'm beginning to wonder if there is an additional hormonal issue triggered by WD (I'm 41, last period August as weight has been plummeting since). I'm constantly twitching my muscles, like I need to contract them and burn energy. Cannot relax. No, I do not drink any alcohol or coffee at all. I used to use the latter but stopped completely 2 months.

 

 

 

[Kostas]

Hi, 

I am very sorry, and thinking of you being alone in this difficult time...

Is there any way to be in a family/friendly environment who will accept you unconditionally, and assist you, till you find comfort?

It will happen in the end ,but it needs time and not panicking!

 Something like yours, happened to me when I was at your age, after a horrible burn out from the work stress. 

Only the unconditional support from my parents and siblings saved me ..

It took me a year to recover and be functional again, and now 16 years after still fine and happy.

I am always grateful to all of them..

I see your are a fighter, and you will come back in the end.

Be well from sunny Athens. 

[vincent]

Hi Aldststadtgirl

 

I understand what you are going through and can almost feel your suffering. These are the thoughts  that got me through a similar experience ;

 

"This is a drug induced experience , a horrible 'trip'.  It is temporary, but it will end and I/you  WILL be fine"

 

There are some very knowledgable people on this forum and I am sure they will be offering some adivice.  To me, it seems obvious that it is the big changes you have made with this drug but there is definately a bright light at the end. 

 

Good Luck

 

Vin

[arbor]

Dear @AldstadtGirl--I don't know why I didn't receive your tag.  Our system may not be working well right now.  If you wish to tag further help, you may need to tag them again.  From my experience with Prozac, it sounds as if the drug has "pooped out" in terms of helping you, leaving you with its negative side-effects.  I recommend reducing to 15mg right away and without further delay, as Alto has already suggested, going in a week to 10mg.  The fact that your symptoms are worse suggests after taking Prozac suggests that it could be causing a mild form of serotonin syndrome.  This was my diagnosis, even after I had gone to zero, as Prozac has a long half-life.  I also lost a lot of weight immediately and have always been thin.  I further suggest that you take the recommended supplements, especially the fish oil.  Recent studies are showing that Prozac reduces our ability to process omega-3's.  Keep us informed as you reduce, so we can help you gage changes, and make further decisions as you go along.  I also recommend that you have people around you read here and inform themselves of what you're dealing with.  Let them take care of you as much as the situation allows.  Avoid stress as much as possible.  You're in a seriously difficult place with this medication which is the fault of repressed studies, and so forth.  Don't blame yourself, and at the same time, I urge you to follow Alto's recommendation.   

With heartful concern,

Arbor

[Altostrata]

On 11/8/2021 at 5:29 PM, Altostrata said:

....

You've been taking 20mg fluoxetine for almost a month, is that correct? When did these effects get more severe? 

 

You might go to 15mg for a week and then 10mg.

 

@AldstadtGirl I suggested this 3 weeks ago, when it probably would be easier to reduce rapidly. Do not do this now.

 

On 11/24/2021 at 12:11 PM, AldstadtGirl said:

 

@Altostrata I was unable to function and very very low having skipped a dose on Nov 9 (doctor said I should taper off completely over 3 weeks after serious episode overnight; clearly that is terrible advise) and then gone to 10mg for a week. As I can't sleep I've been taking the odd .5mg of Lorazepum )on two occasions took 1mg but think it's affecting my memory and making everything worse. On Saturday last weekend was taken to ER and told to take 20mg Ambien to sleep. Did so, slept 6 hours, extremely dizzy, confused and fearful the next day. Vowed never to take any more benzos but being pulled by establishment that is trying to send me to hospital. I know I'm reacting to the prozac but scared to go down in dose as literally alone and have no stability in my life. SLeep no more than 3 hours a night and morning anxiety is totally debilitating. 

 

We would never advise anyone to skip a dose of anything.

 

On 11/24/2021 at 10:27 PM, AldstadtGirl said:

Symptoms of agitation and anxiety as much worse in the morning. Sometimes by evening my body is fairly calm.

 

How did your symptom pattern change after you went back to 20mg fluoxetine? What time o'clock do you take fluoxetine? Do you take any other drugs? Dosages and times, please.

[AldstadtGirl]

@Altostrata I really need to talk to you. It's too complicated and I'm very very alone. PLease could you talk on whatsapp? Desperate

0041 79 174 1399

[Overwhelmedlady]

Dear @AldstadtGirl I know that you are feeling awful and it's probably a huge effort to post the details of dosage,times etc. But please give it a try so that altostrata or any other mod can assist you.Hold on and things will slowly improve as soon as you get instructions.Sending you a warm hug girl.

[arbor]

Dear @AldstadtGirl

I realize you're suffering.  Alto's recommendations are the most useful for you at this time.   I want you to know I am aware of how painful your situation can be, and am sending you wishes for your recovery.

💗Arbor

[AldstadtGirl]

Dear @Overwhelmedlady, @Altostrata and @arbor

 

My life is literally unravelling. I was supposed to go to the US to be with my partner and start a new journey of healing supported by someone I love. However, he has had a full meltdown under pressure and has now bailed on me. I am alone, quit my job to travel so gave up medical leave, and now facing life with no income and no support in one of world's most expensive countries. It is dark and cold and I honestly am so stressed I can barely process my new reality. Since my serious suicidal episode 3 weeks ago I have not been or slept alone. Although I know I have having side effects from the prozac, I now can't fully tell the difference between situational anxiety and drug effects. Like I said, my personal situation is totally totally unstable and I am very scared. I don't want to live like this.Tonight is the first night that I am alone. I've completely lost myself through the trauma of my attempt at WD and the ensuing chaos and ineffectiveness of reinstating.

I've been back on 20mg for 8 weeks this coming Monday (29th Oct). I take it in the morning. I am very shaky and anxious, can't think and wring my hands trying to figure out how my life fell apart. I can't digest anything, have diarrheoa, and am unable to hold weight. When I was in WD I was suffering immensely but had some windows. Now no windows, just numb with anxiety laid on top. In evenings I am calmer. I'm finding it very difficult to assess my situation and do not know what to do about dosage. My taper over 1.5 years falied miserably. I'm especially scared about the blurry vision I've developped in only a couple of weeks. I guess it could just be my prescription changing but it seems very odd it's happening now as it has been stable for years. My head feels stuffy, and tonight my neck and shoulders are very tight again. The constant clenching of muscles in legs and glutes is exhausting. But like I said, my life situation is so so dire now that I don't know what's meds and what's situation. All I know is I want this stuff out of my body and so wish I could CT. I know that's a bad idea though. I don't know what's going to happen to me. I see no light at all. Friends are giving up on me too as they are so exhausted by my situation. I know all of this is too much for any of you to solve, but I wanted to be transparent. Between August and now I've lost everything: sleep, healthy weight, job, relationship, tapering progress, hope...

I've really messed up. If I'd been in a different environment I think I could have pushed through the pain of 2.4mg. I regret bitterly not checking in more with you before reinstating. Going back to 20mg was madness born of desperation in a moment of terrible neuroemotions. But I didn't fully realise.

I welcome any advice. Thank you and so so sorry. Feel at very end of the road. And I don't say that lightly. I cannot handle this and being posioned at my own hand every day.

[Overwhelmedlady]

Hi @AldstadtGirlSituational stress will surely worsen withdrawal symptoms.I can tell you this because I suffer from it too.I can't assist you with medical advice because I have no experience with tapering plus I am not a mod.But regarding your situational issues I think that you should explore some options.You referred to the cost of living in your country,well though that is true you also live in a country with very strong social security networks.May be you should contact your employer and try to figure out if there is any chance of going back and making an attempt to find a way to get some state assistance due to your current health issues.Also,you should keep in touch with your partner and ask for help,since,due to a miscalculation ,you were left without any income because you 

 

Quit your job based on the belief that you were leaving your country. Third option to consider would be asking your brother who you mentioned previously and ask him for advice and /or financial assistance till you can sort things out.Last but not least,talk to your friends and try to maintain at least some kind of support network in case you need some urgent assistance.I do believe you have some options left and you should try and explore all of them till you feel at least somewhat better and can start sorting things out.You are not alone.Many of us are having to deal with extremely difficult situations.Don't despair and ask for help.Sending you a warm hug from the south.

[Overwhelmedlady]

Hi @AldstadtGirlHow are you feeling? Were you able to stabilize a little bit?  I hope you could find some temporary solutions. Best wishes.

[Altostrata]

Sorry to hear you're doing so poorly. Please answer these questions:

 

On 11/26/2021 at 1:43 PM, Altostrata said:

How did your symptom pattern change after you went back to 20mg fluoxetine? What time o'clock do you take fluoxetine? Do you take any other drugs? Dosages and times, please.

 

[AldstadtGirl]

@Altostrata Hi Altostrata, 

 

I take 20mg in the morning, around 8am usually. It's hard to describe the changes in symptoms when I went back on prozac. I felt like crap for the first week, still anxious, one day basically catatonic, and started getting nosebleeds. I just felt so, so off. I went to ER after 2 weeks feeling very down and strange, uncomfortable. Morning anxiety was through the roof for the next few weeks (though same in WD), and still unable to sleep more than 1.5 hours in a stretch or more than 4 hours a night. Had terrifying episode described earlier on Nov 8. Been feeling anxious and depressed with calm evenings consistently since. Then about 48 hours ago, started feeling very very numb. Now finding I am a lot higher functioning in terms of intellect, memory, basic cognition; I can process information again, but I can't really feel anything and my life situation is obviously causing a lot of stress. Feels like I am ''stabilizing'' somewhat....my body once again adjusting to the poison. I'm very aware of being drugged, like I haven't been before. 

[AldstadtGirl]

Hi @Overwhelmedlady Thank you so much for your kind and supportive messages. I've been trying to sort things out here but the system is not helping if you have any savings at all, so I'm going to have to just spend what I have. I did ask my company to take me back but they said no...unsurprisingly I suppose. I'm just so exhausted from trying to figure out a solution and angry at myself for messing up my taper which left me so vulnerable and unwell. I realise now I went way, way too fast for at least the last 5mg to 2.5mg. Feel so stupid and now at square one and my life is destroyed. There is a tiny glimmer of hope with a loophole in insurance policy but will not know until next week. Again, thank you for being there. I hope you are ok. So many people seem to be struggling right now. I wonder if anyone has a supportive doctor and there, and wonder how I will ever be able to get my hands on liquid formulation. Guess I need to put thoughts of tapering again off until my life situation is at least slightly better....just so want to be off this poison. Sending you a warm hug from a dark and freezing Switzerland x

[Altostrata]

@AldstadtGirl from those initial 2.5 weeks of symptoms, I would have said 20mg Prozac was too much for you. Now that 20mg has taken full effect, how is your sleep, anxiety, etc.? Are you still feeling better in the evenings, when the dose has partially worn off?

 

Be sure to take Prozac at the same time every day. Fluctuations in drug plasma level may continue bad symptoms.

[AldstadtGirl]

@Altostrata, hi again, yes...I know...I should never have gone straight up like that from 2.5mg to 20mg. That's partly why I feel so so so defeated. I panicked after a very bad day of crippling neuroemotions. I regret it so much, and now my poor system has likely got used to the high dose. I feel weird. My sleep is improving (at least I'm getting more of it) and I am starting to feel a lot more tired. Terrible night sweats started up again 3 days ago...sweat literally pours off me and soaks the bed. I feel better in the evenings, yes, but obviously I no longer have healing windows like I had in WD, I simply feel less anxious, more numb and sleepier. 

[Altostrata]

The sweating indicates too much serotonergic stimulation. It's not too late to reduce the dose. I might go to 15mg; after a few days, 10mg, stay there and see if it's better.

[AldstadtGirl]

1 minute ago, Altostrata said:

The sweating indicates too much serotonergic stimulation. It's not too late to reduce the dose. I might go to 15mg; after a few days, 10mg, stay there and see if it's better.

I always have night sweats at this dose. I experienced this over years. I'm terrified to lower (or change) the dose in any way. I feel so very unstable and scared of suicidal episodes and everything I've experienced recently, particularly the November 8th episode. I simply have nobody to help me and cannot risk being locked up in hospital. There is nobody to save me here. Sorry for asking but I thought you recently said I had waited too long to reduce again? I've noticed my appetite is increasing and though I am very very depressed and anxious, I am not actively suicidal any more (last time I was was Sunday).

[Altostrata]

3 minutes ago, AldstadtGirl said:

Sorry for asking but I thought you recently said I had waited too long to reduce again?

 

You waited too long to simply go off without tapering.

 

If you prefer the adverse effects, it's your decision. Please let us know when you'd like to taper a drug.

[AldstadtGirl]

3 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

 

You waited too long to simply go off without tapering.

 

If you prefer the adverse effects, it's your decision. Please let us know when you'd like to taper a drug.

Ah, ok, I see...sorry, I misunderstood. I have not been tracking very well. Is tapering to 15mg for only a week and then to 10mg not very fast? I tapered down 2mg every 6 weeks or so before. Sorry to question so much, like I said I am just absolutely terrified and do not understand what's gone on in the last 8 weeks especially. Do you think 20 down to 10 is not too big due to the hyperbolic dose response curve? I believe at 20mg SERT occupancy is around 80% and at 10mg it is around 70%....ie, a 10% decrease. Incidentally, my neck and shoulder pain have virtually disappeared and do not wake me at night at all now. The pain started in January when I was somewhere between 8mg and 6mg, and it got worse and worse all year until about 3 weeks ago when it began to subside in an intermittent fashion.

[Altostrata]

Since you've been taking 20mg for only 2.5 weeks, you might be able to remove 10mg quicker, down to your floor of 10mg, which you have been taking too long to go off without tapering. You most likely are adapted to 10mg, but may not be as adapted to 20mg.

[AldstadtGirl]

7 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Since you've been taking 20mg for only 2.5 weeks, you might be able to remove 10mg quicker, down to your floor of 10mg, which you have been taking too long to go off without tapering. You most likely are adapted to 10mg, but may not be as adapted to 20mg.

I was only on 10mg for 1 week out of the last 8 (Nov 10 to 15, went back on 20mg on Nov 16). I assumed the increase in sleep and appetite, and decrease in suicidality were signs of adaptation to 20mg. I'm sorry but very confused about what to do. I do appreciate your advice and support so very much. Just feel frozen and in unsafe space.

[Altostrata]

You have been on a minimum of 10mg since October 11.

 

Up to you what you want to do.

[AldstadtGirl]

Getting worse on Prozac after reinstatement, doctor suggesting Remeron

 

Dear @altostrata, @arbor and @ChessieCat,

I'm in desperate need of advice and at the end of my tether. I've now been back on prozac 20mg for over 3 months and am very very depressed and anxious. A lot is situational as I have no support and can see no way out. I am extremely suicidal. I have lost 15lb in 6 months (weigh 102lb and am 5.6ft) and from midnight to 6am every day wake with adrenaline spikes, heart racing and extreme sweating. I have no appetite and despite eating lots of fat, cannot hold any weight. Shrink just suggested adding remeron or switiching to it (30mg). Read some content on it and clearly, it is poison as all this stuff is. All I want to do is taper off prozac and try to heal but I know it takes years and I am traumatised by the last attempt which led me to lose literally everything. Although I have a roof over my head, I do not know how long this will last as I have no income and feel unable to work I am so very low and weak. As I've mentioned before, I'm also in a foreign country where I don't speak the language. Can anyone please help me, suggest anything? I keep praying to God, begging for help. I've asked my brother and father to help (they live in Finland and Argentina respectively) and neither are willing. I can't see a way out other than the obvious....is there anything I have not thought of? My shrink denies all my experiences and says community of WD is statistically insignifant ...the usual lies. I feel I'm going crazy surrounded by people saying I'm not accepting the help they offer. Sometimes I consider giving in, but then I read things on here and realise things could get so much worse. I realise this sounds like a rant but I am literally desperate. I know so many are suffering...why does God let us go through this? I can't in my right mind let them put more drugs in my system. I'd appreciate any response at all.

I wish I could just end it all but very scared to and don't know how to not mess it up.

 

 

Edited January 12, 2022 by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with intro topic

[JesusSavemefromWD]

I am so sorry you are still suffering so much. I just wanted to say that the names of the two first moderators hasn’t turned blue so probably will not get the notification for ur message