Certain how to wean off prozac factors, such as the speed of a person’s metabolism, may also cause withdrawal symptoms to appear more quickly or gradually. Doctors refer to withdrawal symptoms as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. It is important to remember that Prozac withdrawal symptoms are temporary and will eventually subside.
Social Support and Therapy
Research suggests that people who participate in psychotherapy while discontinuing antidepressants are less likely to relapse than those who do not. This may include trying different antidepressants or combinations of antidepressants. Recent research suggests that a longer taper (at least one month) that continues until your dose is down to zero is the best way to minimize SSRI withdrawal.
What should we expect when coming off of fluoxetine?
Epigenetics, nutrition and mental health. Keks N, Hope J, Keogh S. Switching and stopping antidepressants. We have been successfully assisting clients toward their goals of improving natural mental health for nearly a decade and a half now. At Alternative to Meds Center, Prozac titration, also known as Fluoxetine tapering, is only part of the overall picture. A client coming to Alternative to Meds Center for relief from unwanted symptoms such as mental unease, stress, depression, insomnia, mood swings, etc., will be assessed in a much more comprehensive way so as to support getting off Prozac. It is truly unfortunate that medical practitioners including psychiatrists seem inadequately trained to investigate root causes, but simply to find which drug seems like the best fit for the patient’s set of symptoms.
He shares considerations for going off your meds and what to be sure to communicate to your doctor. But it’s vital that you do so carefully, with the help of a doctor, says psychiatrist Andrew Coulter, MD, MA. When you’re in the midst of depression, it can feel like you’re completely alone — but statistics-wise, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Since feeling feverish is a common withdrawal symptom, try to dress in layers so that you can strip down or put something back on depending on whether you feel hot or cold. If that’s not an option, you can at least make yourself more comfortable until these unpleasant symptoms pass.
If your withdrawal symptoms are too severe then your tapering plan should be stopped or slowed down. The time between dose reductions should be as long as it takes for any withdrawal symptoms to disappear or improve. So, any withdrawal symptoms may develop several days, or even weeks, after reducing the dose. It’s also best to reduce the dose slowly if you have had withdrawal symptoms in the past. This is much quicker than the weeks that antidepressants will normally take to relieve symptoms of anxiety or depression that have returned.
Assessment Prior to Prozac Tapering
This is because the higher the risk of withdrawal symptoms, the slower you will need to taper. We have suggested some commonly used antidepressants that might be appropriate for the two styles of tapering. This is because tablet antidepressants do not come in amounts small enough to reduce your dose this slowly. No matter how low the dose you get to, you can still get withdrawal symptoms when you stop completely. It is best to wait at least four weeks to see if withdrawal symptoms start before making the next reduction.
Appendix 1: Potential risk of withdrawal symptoms with individual antidepressants
This can make it harder to tell if symptoms are due to withdrawal or the return of your original symptoms of anxiety or depression. So, with these, symptoms can start days or even weeks after stopping or reducing your dose. This may be one or two days for some antidepressants – or even after missing a single dose. Withdrawal symptoms normally start soon after your medication is reduced or stopped.
Changing Your Lifestyle
If you are experiencing Prozac withdrawal symptoms, some strategies may help alleviate them. Withdrawal symptoms can occur when stopping the use of any antidepressant medication, including Prozac. Prozac is generally well-tolerated by most people, but like any medication, it can cause side effects. It may take several weeks or even months for Prozac to take effect, and it’s important to continue taking the medication as a healthcare provider prescribes.
Withdrawal symptoms usually improve quickly (in days or even hours) if you restart your antidepressant. Some antidepressants, like fluoxetine, take a lot longer to leave the body. The return of depression or anxiety usually takes longer – typically weeks or months. See the section on ‘When and how to stop antidepressants’. The low mood and difficulty in sleeping can feel like the symptoms of depression. But it can happen if you have taken an antidepressant for just a short time too.
- Dr. Samuel Lee is a board-certified psychiatrist, specializing in a spiritually-based mental health discipline and integrative approaches.
- Allow another 2 to 4 weeks and repeat, with further periods of lowering the dose and waiting if needed.
- This can include getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly.
- You should speak with your prescriber to find out the best way for you to get the dose you need to taper safely.
Medical students
This increase in serotonin levels can help improve mood, reduce anxiety, and alleviate other symptoms of depression. Prozac is a type of antidepressant medication that belongs to the class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Understanding these potential withdrawal symptoms and how to manage them is essential. However, stopping or reducing the dosage of Prozac can cause withdrawal symptoms in some individuals. By taking these steps, you can minimize the discomfort of Prozac withdrawal and work towards improved mental health.
Prevalence of Antidepressant Withdrawal
Due to the long half-life of Prozac, it is less common for people to experience withdrawal symptoms than it is with other antidepressants. A doctor may suggest tapering the medication over 6 to 8 weeks to help reduce the risk or severity of symptoms. Research suggests that anywhere from 56% to 80% of people who attempt to come off antidepressants experience symptoms of medication withdrawal or discontinuation. Sometimes, your doctor may prescribe medications to help manage specific withdrawal symptoms.
How your doctor will guide you
Alternative to Meds Center may be able to provide help for such persons who are looking for safe and comfortable titration from Prozac under careful and exacting medical oversight in a warm and nurturing inpatient setting. Dizziness is one of the most common withdrawals from SSRIs. This is especially true in older persons who just can’t stand up to that level of mental and physical torture.9,10 Realize that you are juggling a number of factors, so taking time off work for a month or more, or at least reducing your work schedule may be helpful if that is possible. But a plan can be drawn up and adhered to with the clear caveat that some flexibility and alertness might be needed for slowing the pace at times.
Between a third and half of people who take an antidepressant will experience such symptoms to some extent. This can reduce the risk of you getting withdrawal symptoms, or mean that any symptoms you have are less severe. You should have the opportunity to choose a drug-free pathway to mental health, instead of relying on drugs to mask the unwanted symptoms which are reducing one’s quality of life. Sometimes there are multiple issues going on concurrent with a medication taper, and these may contribute to protracted withdrawal which is quite difficult to negotiate through without professional help.
- It is essential to never abruptly stop taking any medication without consulting with a healthcare provider.
- When you quit taking this medication, it takes some time for your body to adjust.
- At Alternative to Meds Center, Prozac titration, also known as Fluoxetine tapering, is only part of the overall picture.
- As fluoxetine has a longer half-life than other antidepressants, it may take longer for a person to develop withdrawal symptoms.
- It reflects the best available evidence at the time of writing.
To taper off this medication, you need to take a dose that is less than 2mg, but the dropper mechanism will not allow you to do this. Example 2 might be suitable starting point for people taking the antidepressants in the ‘highest risk’ column in Appendix 1. The most important thing is that these tapering plans are just starting points and should be adapted to your experience of tapering. To get the small doses below, you will need to use a combination of tablet and liquid antidepressants, or just liquid antidepressants.
While many of these dissipate over time, sexual side effects may continue even after you have stopped taking the drug. Prozac withdrawal symptoms can range from mildly bothersome to severe and incapacitating. This may lead people to unnecessarily start taking antidepressants again. Because withdrawal symptoms appear later and last longer, it is often mistaken for a relapse. Unfortunately, this is a bit of a double-edged sword because Prozac withdrawal symptoms also tend to last longer—about two months.
Prozac, or fluoxetine, is an antidepressant in a class known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. By Corinne O’Keefe OsbornCorinne Osborn is an award-winning health and wellness journalist with a background in substance abuse, sexual health, and psychology. If you have health insurance, you can also search the company’s list of local providers who accept your insurance.
If you have been taking antidepressants for many months or years, it’s best to taper more slowly (again, at a rate you find comfortable). If you have been taking an antidepressant for only a few weeks you may be able to reduce, and stop, over a month or so. When you agree that it is time to stop, your prescriber can help you put together a tapering plan.
It’s also worth noting that some people may benefit from taking other medications to help manage withdrawal symptoms. This can help the body adjust to the lower dose of the medicine and reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms. Some common Prozac withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, depression, irritability, fatigue, and insomnia. It is important to note that the length of time a person takes Prozac can also affect the duration of their withdrawal symptoms.