I have wanted to stop as I wonder if it is still helping me? I occasionally feel depressed but nothing like before Prozac. My concern is I have been on Prozac for greater than 30 years. Does it get better or is this a lifetime problem? I have been off one month and now I am feeling irritable, angry and mild anxiety. Are these side effects of stopping? Should I go back on Prozac or will these go away?
How long do side effects last after stopping Prozac? I have recently weaned off it.
Question posted by rn87 on 21 Aug 2010
Last updated on 11 February 2020
18 Answers Page 2
To quote a 60s saying... "If it still feels good doit"! [I added the "still"] It's that simple. When it no longer feels good , wean off it... and from Sacosam's "For what it's worth dept"! on weaning off something... a short time & yer hurtin'... a long time & yer happy! been there, done that. I'm comin' down off Sertraline after 8 or 9 yrs. It was a good run and it helped me a lot but the ol' body says time to change directions! Sacosam
Hello... I am not an expert on this subject by any means, but I've been working in the medical field (neurology) for over 11 years (not a doctor or nurse). One of the most common mistakes with patients that take any kind of mood stabilizing medications is that they end up stopping it because they feel better, and therefore believe that the medication is unneccessary. You have stated that it was helping to some degree- " I occasionally feel depressed but nothing like before Prozac". Since you have been on this for a long duration of time, you might just need an adjustment of dosage by your physician. I don't know all of the medications that you are on, but I have read that Prozac is sometimes used in conjuction with a medication called olanzapine (Zyprexa) to reap it's full benefits.
Or you may need to be switched to a different antidepressant all together, everbody is different and it takes trial and error to find the right medication and dosage that is helpful for you as an individual. There are also other modalities that can be introduced like excersise, maybe accupuncture, physical and psychological therapies, and lifestyle changes including eliminating/reducing stressors. It's definitely not wise to stop this, or any other med without the supervision of your doctor (or without their knowledge). Please make an appointment asap with your doc and discuss this with him/her. Cessation of antidepressants by the patient's choice happens too often... and sometimes with a bad outcome. Best wishes...
I am impressed!
Now, I agree with you with regards to zyprexa (olanzapine) atypical (or second-generation) antipsychotic medications, which I take for BPD.
But my opinion is that he was fine with prozac, why put more chemicals in his bloodstream, specially stronger ones like antipsychotics, I aslo take two more abilify and seroquel.
I am more manic than depressive, and take quite a few more meds, benzos, mood stabilizers, etc. And I wish I did not , ( I am 41, been on meds for 21 years) because at the end of the road one always ends up feeling intoxicated with so many chemicals in one´s organism.
So from my perspective if his withdrawals symptoms do not improve, he should contact his /her psyachiatrist of course and solve this issue. Which by the way I also agree with you must be done under medical supervision, both discontinuation and getting back on the med, by the way I misread and thought he had discontinued the medication under medical supervision, as all meds should be.
Take care
sTiger... you are very intelligent.
Thank you, Maso.
I also took prozac but only for ten years, I remmember when I stopped the med, nothing happanend .Thank God.
You are not looking at side effects or long term ones... you are experiencing withdrawals from not taking prozac.
Every medication has, well, obviously benefits , side effects ( which appear when treatment begins) and withdrawals symptoms( they manifest once you have stopped the use or discontinuation of prozac in this case).
Certain Prozac withdrawal symptoms can include,
irritability, agitation ,dizziness, burning, or tingling sensation, anxiety confusion, headache, insomnia, tiredness.
In most people, these symptoms improve with time, without the need for any treatment. In fact, Prozac is probably less likely to cause withdrawal symptoms than other SSRI antidepressants because it stays in your system for so long. Even if you stop taking Prozac quickly, the level of Prozac will slowly decrease in your body over time.
Now if you decided to discontinue prozac, it must be for a very important reason, after using it for thirty years.
The withdrawals will go away but you will have to be patient, again I believe it is not healthy to stop a med , then feel bad and start taking again.
I am not judging you , it is my own personal opinion.
Now if you feel you must get back on it discuss this with your psyachiatrist, see what he / she recommends, and together make a schedulled plan to get you back on prozac.
Take care-
I did consult my MD about stopping and he advised me. I know weaning is important. The reason I wanted to stop is because it has been 25 years since I started it. I was in a very different place at that time and my depression was very bad at times. Now, I guess I can wait to see if it comes back and if it does, back on prozac I will go! It's just the feelings I am having now I don't ever remember having and I guess I was wondering if being off of prozac is the cause. Is it withdrawal symptoms or was prozac supressing this part of me?
I am coming off Prozac also, after over 15 years on it. It has indeed helped me... be "level". Indeed, I am also very much experiencing the classic withdraw effects: irritability, agitation ,dizziness, burning ,or tingling sensation ,anxiety confusion ,headache ,insomnia ,tiredness, even panic attacks.
It has been a month: First week not too bad, 4/10. Second and third week REALLY bad 7/10. (at times, like the end of the day, 8/10, I come home after work and collapse not able to function). Now in the fourth week, tapering down and not as bad, 6/10.
The question was asked why go off it? Were trying to determine if all these years on it has caused slight liver damage. (Which in itself has a variety of bad symptoms. )
I have taken Prozac on and off for about 12 years but never stopped without getting on something else like lexapro. I can't even remember exactly what my depression looked like before Prozac so how do I know if this is withdrawal or who I actually am without it
-Hannah
I have been on 50mg of Prozac for almost 3 years, 5 weeks ago the Dr increased it 10mg more, by the two week mark I was really out of sorts, total brain fog, this had never happened with any increase prior, exhausted couldn't fun ction, almost 3 weeks ago the Dr said to stop taking extra increased dose, I did, I cannot get my head right, still in a total fog and disoriented at times, cannot drive and have been unable to go back to work, any advice, suggestions?
Look into 5-HTP. I have found a lot of people with good results. I'm on day 2 now.
Related topics
prozac, depression, side effect, anxiety and stress
Further information
- Prozac uses and safety info
- Prozac prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Prozac (detailed)
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