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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lynn Dutton on July 21, 2005, at 1:25:20
I am trying to withdraw from Prozac slowly but keep getting nausea and cold sweats every day. I tried once before, gave up and went back on it. Can anyone tell me the best way to withdraw and get through these symptoms?
Posted by woolav on July 21, 2005, at 1:26:03
In reply to Prozac withdrawal symptoms, posted by Lynn Dutton on July 17, 2005, at 12:46:21
Why are you wanting to get off prozac? For me, I just switch to another AD and have not really had the withdrawl feelings. You may want to check out the withdrawl site, ppl there will have better answers for you. Just look for the link at the top of the page.
S
Posted by Lynn Dutton on July 21, 2005, at 1:26:03
In reply to Re: Prozac withdrawal symptoms, posted by woolav on July 18, 2005, at 8:05:23
Some of the reasons I want to get off are sexual side effects. And another reason is, I think I can do OK without taking anything at this time. The reason I went on it is I had so many things in a short amount of time and I couldn't deal with everything. My husband, driving on his way to work and his fault, had a car accident and a co-worker was killed, 2 others badly injured. Then just a few months later, he was working on the car, with it running, and it slipped in drive and ran over his leg, which was broke in 5 places. He was off work 18 months, no health insurance, living on my $100.00 a week for that time. Now that I look back, I don't know how I made it through that time even with Prozac. Deep down, I know, that if I have to deal with numerous problems at any time in the future, I will probably have to go back on something. But I would just like to see how I can do without taking anything. I have been on Prozac for 15 years.
Thanks for the previous post, I was glad to hear from someone.
Posted by SLS on July 22, 2005, at 9:34:58
In reply to Re: Prozac withdrawal symptoms, posted by Lynn Dutton on July 18, 2005, at 12:43:08
Hi Lynn.
How much Prozac are you taking?
Prozac tends to be one of the easier SSRI drugs to discontinue. Because it has such a long half-life and remains in the body for so long, you can actually skip days. For instance you can use 10mg doses and use it every other day, then every third day, then every fourth day.
Alternatively, you can take 5-10mg doses only when withdrawal symptoms appear. This is probably what I would do. In this way, you don't confine yourself to a specific schedule that has little to do with the actual physiological changes occurring in the brain. I like to call this a flexible-dosing method. In the beginning, you might have to take these smaller doses once a day. The amount of time between doses will gradually lengthen to days. The key is to actually wait for the symptoms to appear before taking your next dose. However, try not to allow the withdrawal syndrome last for anything more than an hour. Suffering is not necessary. You will be using Prozac only as needed as if it were aspirin for a headache.
- Scott
Posted by Josh Sanders on August 7, 2005, at 9:57:35
In reply to Re: Prozac withdrawal symptoms » Lynn Dutton, posted by SLS on July 22, 2005, at 9:34:58
> Hi Lynn.
>
> How much Prozac are you taking?
>
> Prozac tends to be one of the easier SSRI drugs to discontinue. Because it has such a long half-life and remains in the body for so long, you can actually skip days. For instance you can use 10mg doses and use it every other day, then every third day, then every fourth day.
>
> Alternatively, you can take 5-10mg doses only when withdrawal symptoms appear. This is probably what I would do. In this way, you don't confine yourself to a specific schedule that has little to do with the actual physiological changes occurring in the brain. I like to call this a flexible-dosing method. In the beginning, you might have to take these smaller doses once a day. The amount of time between doses will gradually lengthen to days. The key is to actually wait for the symptoms to appear before taking your next dose. However, try not to allow the withdrawal syndrome last for anything more than an hour. Suffering is not necessary. You will be using Prozac only as needed as if it were aspirin for a headache.
>
>
> - Scott
This is Josh,I am currently taking 40 mg per day, and have been for at least ten years. I plan to see my doctor about getting off of Prozac next week, but in the meantime, what type of withdrawal time can I expect, and what symptoms? I am quite certain that I am no longer depressed, and that if anything, Prozac is causing any feeliings of depression I still experience.
Thanks!
Posted by SLS on August 8, 2005, at 7:06:56
In reply to Re: Prozac withdrawal symptoms » SLS, posted by Josh Sanders on August 7, 2005, at 9:57:35
Hi Josh.
> I am currently taking 40 mg per day, and have been for at least ten years. I plan to see my doctor about getting off of Prozac next week, but in the meantime, what type of withdrawal time can I expect, and what symptoms? I am quite certain that I am no longer depressed, and that if anything, Prozac is causing any feeliings of depression I still experience.
Reducing the dosage and discontinuing an antidepressant after successful treatment is best done gradually. This will, of course, help prevent your having to experience a withdrawal syndrome. More importantly, however, it helps to prevent a true relapse.
I have no recent personal experience with discontinuing Prozac. I was on it so long ago at 20mg, that I don't remember if I suffered any withdrawal symptoms. Discuss with your doctor his recommendations for tapering the Prozac. If he has none, you might try reducing the dosage by 10mg every two weeks and down to 5mg for the last week. With Prozac, you actually can skip days between doses, so if you don't seem to be able to work with 5mg doses, you can take 10mg every other day and every third day for the last two weeks. Ask your doctor to prescribe for you the 10mg pills to work with.
Please post your experiences as you progress through your discontinuation phase. I'm sure people will be able to help you through it. Generally speaking, Prozac is about the easiest of the SRI antidepressants to discontinue.
Good luck.
- Scott
This is the end of the thread.
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