Squirrelmummy: 6 weeks after stopping Prozac

[Squirrelmummy]

Hi, 

I'm new, thanks for letting me join. 

I started Prozac 7 years ago after having severe anxiety after my daughter was born. My anxiety particularly revolved around sleep. 7 years later and after CBT I felt ready to taper off them which I did slowly over months. I had the usual withdrawal symptoms tiredness, highly irritable, brain fog, sadness and a little anxiety. And some weird symptoms - Im hungry all the time for sweet things and constantly want an alcoholic drink. And the sensation of my eyes wanting to cry when I don't feel sad. Also all my emotions that had been numbed came flooding back - I cry at sad movies and have empathy again. The positive side is that my terrible drug induced sweating problem is gone which is so wonderful! 

 

I didn't revert to the sleep anxiety or panic attacks I had before so I thought hey, I'm succeeding, I'm doing ok.

 

I'm now 6 weeks on but I have suddenly started feeling very sad and tearful and I'm worrying I'm going backwards. Is this normal? I didn't actually start the antidepressants for depression but that's how I'm starting to feel. 

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  It sounds as if you are having symptoms, because you came off the Prozac faster than your brain was able to adjust.  If you read on, and read the links, you will understand what I mean.   We suggest here an extremely slow taper of only 10% reductions of the current dose, no more than every 4 weeks so that the reductions become smaller and smaller.  And, since Prozac has such a long half life, yes, the onset of symptoms can take several weeks or months to show up.  Yes, experiencing this symptom  is very common.  It could be what we call neuro sadness.  Neuro emotions are caused by our brain still being destabilized from withdrawal.  

 

Neuro Emotions

 

It could also be that now that you don't have the emotional numbing from the drug anymore, that some feelings are coming up in you about a loss from the past.  This has happened to me many times.

 

It is much better for your recovery if you completely abstain from alcohol.  This often will exacerbate symptoms, and make it harder for your brain to recover.  

 

Can you please give us specific information in your signature about your drug history for all drugs you are on and have been on, especially for the past 18-24 months?  It would be especially helpful to have the details of your drugs in a concise vertical list (no symptoms), only drug names, specific dates (as best you can say for example early March if you don't recall the day) and dosages of each medication decrease or increase.  Use this format:

 

Drug name: date, dose, date, dose, date, dose…

Drug name: date, dose, date, dose, date, dose…

Etcetera

 

Please read the link below for instructions.  This will allow us to give you the best guidance.  

 

How to List Drug History in Signature

 

Here is some important information about how these drugs actually work.  This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications, and why it's so important to taper slowly and carefully, and be very cautious about changing our doses: 

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

Sometimes, we feel OK, and then get hit with symptoms, and feel as though we are going backwards, but we are not.  It is how the brain heals during this process.  

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

 

Here is a link with checklists of common WD symptoms: 

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen Withdrawal Symptom Checklists

 

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

Stability is really important when we are tapering off psych meds.  Please read the link about stability:

 

Keep It Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

Are you currently having any other symptoms besides the sadness?  

[Squirrelmummy]

On 8/4/2022 at 12:03 AM, getofflex said:

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  It sounds as if you are having symptoms, because you came off the Prozac faster than your brain was able to adjust.  If you read on, and read the links, you will understand what I mean.   We suggest here an extremely slow taper of only 10% reductions of the current dose, no more than every 4 weeks so that the reductions become smaller and smaller.  And, since Prozac has such a long half life, yes, the onset of symptoms can take several weeks or months to show up.  Yes, experiencing this symptom  is very common.  It could be what we call neuro sadness.  Neuro emotions are caused by our brain still being destabilized from withdrawal.  

 

Neuro Emotions

 

It could also be that now that you don't have the emotional numbing from the drug anymore, that some feelings are coming up in you about a loss from the past.  This has happened to me many times.

 

It is much better for your recovery if you completely abstain from alcohol.  This often will exacerbate symptoms, and make it harder for your brain to recover.  

 

Can you please give us specific information in your signature about your drug history for all drugs you are on and have been on, especially for the past 18-24 months?  It would be especially helpful to have the details of your drugs in a concise vertical list (no symptoms), only drug names, specific dates (as best you can say for example early March if you don't recall the day) and dosages of each medication decrease or increase.  Use this format:

 

Drug name: date, dose, date, dose, date, dose…

Drug name: date, dose, date, dose, date, dose…

Etcetera

 

Please read the link below for instructions.  This will allow us to give you the best guidance.  

 

How to List Drug History in Signature

 

Here is some important information about how these drugs actually work.  This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications, and why it's so important to taper slowly and carefully, and be very cautious about changing our doses: 

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

Sometimes, we feel OK, and then get hit with symptoms, and feel as though we are going backwards, but we are not.  It is how the brain heals during this process.  

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

 

Here is a link with checklists of common WD symptoms: 

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen Withdrawal Symptom Checklists

 

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

Stability is really important when we are tapering off psych meds.  Please read the link about stability:

 

Keep It Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

Are you currently having any other symptoms besides the sadness?  

Thank you, that was all very interesting and has given me some things to research. I can definitely see now that it is quite plausible for withdrawal to continue long after the medicine is out of my system which is reassuring. I liked the illustration I read about the plant and the trellis - that explains it really well. 

 

As for the drugs list, that would be impossible without requesting my medical history as my memory is appalling. All I know is from July 2014 I started zopiclone as I wasn't sleeping well after I had my daughter and was very anxious. I realised I was becoming reliant on them and my anxiety spiralled leading to a breakdown in, I think, early 2015. I started citalopram and began to improve but I didn't like the side effects such as the buzzing in my ears. So then I tried pretty much all of them - Mirtazepine, paroxetine, ametriptaline, seroxetine and others I have forgotten (sorry for the spelling!) I had the Paroxetine for the longest duration and at one point decided to see if I could quit - so I attempted to go cold turkey but withdrawal was horrendous and my symptoms came back so went back on antidepressants, this time Fluoxetine. This was my best so far with least side effects. I was on 20mg for years and then increased to 40mg couple of years back when I started to feel a bit depressed. To be honest, it was really helpful, it levelled me out and I was able to do my CBT therapy which helped me to get on top of my anxiety disorder and live along side it rather than having it dominate me. 

 

This brings me to now. I halved my dose for 28 days from 40 to 20 and then halved it to 10mg for 28 days and stopped altogether 19 days after that. I suffer with premenstrual dysphoric disorder so I did it with my menstrual cycle so that I dropped a dose at the beginning of the good part of my month. 

 

I am finding that I am struggling more without the antidepressants during my luteal phase as that is when my mood is lowest anyway and I can really feel the difference. 

 

I am sad but also irritable, brain fog, emotional and bad tempered. I seem to have sensory overload and find repetitive noises, certain feelings on my skin etc irritating in the extreme. One random and probably unrelated symptom but my taste buds are gone and things don't taste the same (I don't have covid). 

 

I don't intend to go back on and taper slower, I'm going to stick it out and hope the bad days get fewer and further between. 

 

I am taking omega 3, magnesium, vit D and bach flower remedies. 

 

Do need to knock the booze on the head but it is sometimes the only relief for the irritable rage that I feel. 

[getofflex]

17 hours ago, Squirrelmummy said:

 

As for the drugs list, that would be impossible without requesting my medical history as my memory is appalling. All I know is from July 2014 I started zopiclone as I wasn't sleeping well after I had my daughter and was very anxious. I realised I was becoming reliant on them and my anxiety spiralled leading to a breakdown in, I think, early 2015. I started citalopram and began to improve but I didn't like the side effects such as the buzzing in my ears. So then I tried pretty much all of them - Mirtazepine, paroxetine, ametriptaline, seroxetine and others I have forgotten (sorry for the spelling!) I had the Paroxetine for the longest duration and at one point decided to see if I could quit - so I attempted to go cold turkey but withdrawal was horrendous and my symptoms came back so went back on antidepressants, this time Fluoxetine. This was my best so far with least side effects. I was on 20mg for years and then increased to 40mg couple of years back when I started to feel a bit depressed. To be honest, it was really helpful, it levelled me out and I was able to do my CBT therapy which helped me to get on top of my anxiety disorder and live along side it rather than having it dominate me. 

 

This brings me to now. I halved my dose for 28 days from 40 to 20 and then halved it to 10mg for 28 days and stopped altogether 19 days after that

Please summarize this info above with just drug names, dates, and doses, as best you can remember, and put this in your signature box.  On a computer, just click on your name in the upper right hand corner of the screen, select, account settings, and click on "signature", and put it in the box, and click save when you are done.  This way it automatically includes this with each of your posts.  

 

17 hours ago, Squirrelmummy said:

I was on 20mg for years and then increased to 40mg couple of years back when I started to feel a bit depressed. To be honest, it was really helpful, it levelled me out and I was able to do my CBT therapy which helped me to get on top of my anxiety disorder and live along side it rather than having it dominate me. 

I'm very glad your CBT therapy helped you so much, and helped you cope with your anxiety disorder so well.  

 

17 hours ago, Squirrelmummy said:

I am sad but also irritable, brain fog, emotional and bad tempered. I seem to have sensory overload and find repetitive noises, certain feelings on my skin etc irritating in the extreme. One random and probably unrelated symptom but my taste buds are gone and things don't taste the same (I don't have covid). 

These sounds like typical symptoms of withdrawal.  These will gradually and eventually go away, and you may experience windows and waves along the way.  When you have a wave it doesn't mean you are going backward, although it may certainly feel like it.  It means your brain is entering a new phase of healing.   This link is very helpful: 

 

Steps for Managing WD Symptoms

 

17 hours ago, Squirrelmummy said:

I don't intend to go back on and taper slower, I'm going to stick it out and hope the bad days get fewer and further between.

That's good.  Yes, the bad days should get fewer and further between, but I strongly suggest you give up the alcohol altother, as this is likely to destabilize your nervous system, and can put people in a significant wave that can last for a while (several weeks).   There are other ways to deal with irritable rage.  I've had this, and it helps a lot to journal about your rage.  Just really let it out, curse all you want to, don't censor yourself at all.  Or, pound on a pillow for while, or scribble on a big pad of paper, allowing all the anger and rage to come out as you do so.