Anti Depressant Withdrawal.

[startingover]

I need some advice please...
I have been taking prozac since last May and have decided that I no longer need it.
I saw my doc and explained to him I would like to come off and we discussed a tapering schedule so...
For 3.5 weeks I halved the dose and still felt great
For the last week and a bit I halved the dose again..
For the last 3 days I have felt pretty low.
I am not sure if it depression, withdrawal, or something else.
I know prozac has a very long half life (so withdrawal effects should be less)
Does anyone else have experience of coming off these things?
Many thanks in advance for any advice...

[Waving_not_drowning]

Anti Depressant Withdrawal.

Hey Starting :-)

I have come off 20mgs(one tablet) daily of prozac cold turkey with no noticeable side effects after 2 years..

My depression did return about 4 months later and so I started them again and am staying on them..

I doubt very much that your low mood is a withdrawal symptom or a re-occurrance of depression beacause of the very long half life of the drug..

Just my opinion, I'm sure it's different for everyone..

Cheers :-)

[jinja]

Anti Depressant Withdrawal.

Hey Starts - I have to admit I don't know about Prozac, although I came off Effexor last year.....and what a bitch that was! All I'll say is go slowly. I also took SAMe and some amino acids to assist in the side effects and to help keep me level. Maybe some natural supplements will help?

Good luck - it can be a hard road to travel!

Take care
xxx

[boozehag]

Anti Depressant Withdrawal.

Hey Starts
I was going to say the same thing as jinja maybe dose up a bit more on the supplements and especially exercise to give the serotonin levels a natural boost. Get some sun too as that will also help that is if there is any over there! It probably know it takes a while for the seratonin levels to come back to get back to normal production but I find the l-tryptophan great but I dont think you can take it while you are also taking anti-d's. Chins up you are doing great.
BH

[cymru]

Anti Depressant Withdrawal.

Some reads for you Starts. As you know, its something ive been thinking about.

http://www.mind.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/...ltingSSRIs.pdf

Happy ever after Prozac? - Times Online

Prozac Withdrawal

[Lavande]

Anti Depressant Withdrawal.

I have no personal experience with Prozac but I have been on Lexapro at 2 different times. Weaning slowly is important.

You may be experiencing a return of the depression itself. I have had great success with a natural herbal product called Amoryn. Works better than the Lexapro with no side effects whatsoever. Check it out: AMORYN Mood Booster | Natural Antidepressant | Supplement for Depression & Anxiety

Hope you feel better soon.
Lavande

[brightlite]

Anti Depressant Withdrawal.

I have taken SAM E and then stopped and then started again. I can really tell the difference in my mood. You might want to suppliment with it for awhile.

[brightlite]

Anti Depressant Withdrawal.

LaVande I don't know about AMORYN. Can you buy that in GNC or health food store?

[Lavande]

Anti Depressant Withdrawal.

brightlite,

I don't know if Amoryn is available at GNC.
I order it directly from the website and have also seen it available on ebay (just make sure the expiration date is good if buying from a ebay seller).

I started on this product in January and am so pleased with the results. Like any AD, it takes a few weeks to fully kick in but the results are remarkable.

[bloggy]

Anti Depressant Withdrawal.

I don't know anything about it Starts, but I just want to say I am sorry you are feeling crap. I guess it is normal to feel a bit crap- abit like coming off al- you do feel worse before you feel better...

Maybe you should give it a few days and if it doesn't improve go back and ask the doc? You are doing soooo well coming off everything like you have- you really are an inspiration.

A big hug for you.

[startingover]

Anti Depressant Withdrawal.

Thanks everyone, your responses have been very helpful.
I guess I am very afraid of going backwards i.e slipping back into my depression and all that that entails.
But also I dont want to spend the rest of my life relying on pills to keep me going. I have done that for too long.
Taking something natural is an option, but I guess I need to give this a bit more time before I consider that. I am wary of talking to doc because I have a feeling he will say to up the dose again.
But then I guess thats better than sinking...
Thanks again, it really does help to put these thoughts out there and not just stew in worry.
Thanks for all the links too. Cy those articles are very interesting.
Lavande, Amoryn does look promising, the ingredients are all used to treat depression and i would imagine that together, they pack a powerful punch. I will do some more research and see if it is available in the UK.

[IAD]

Anti Depressant Withdrawal.

The only withdrawal I get when I stop taking my meds. is that I'm a SOB to deal with...........IAD/

[startingover]

Anti Depressant Withdrawal.

What are you saying here IAD ? :-)

[j-vo]

Anti Depressant Withdrawal.

Hi Starting,
I've gone on and off many different anti-depressants. Some are worse than others coming off. With some, I'd experienced a mild, dull headache, and with others, it felt as though I was going to throw up. Prozac is the only medication I haven't taken - I've taken probably all others! Give it a few days and you'll feel back to your normal self. That gets me thinkin'. I'd love to go off my meds someday. I don't want to consider it right now, as I'm doing pretty well with lots. Hang in there!

[startingover]

Anti Depressant Withdrawal.

Thanks Jvo, I have the dull headache too.....
I will give it a few days. I wanna be bouncy again :-)