If you experience severe depression, suicidal thoughts, or panic attacks, get help right away. Uncontrollable physical symptoms, like constant throwing up, also warrant immediate medical attention. Stress management techniques, like deep breathing coming off of prozac or yoga, can also make a big difference. Talk to your clinician about the benefits and risks of antidepressants in your particular situation, and work with her or him in deciding whether (and when) to stop using them. Before discontinuing, you should feel confident that you’re functioning well, that your life circumstances are stable, and that you can cope with any negative thoughts that might emerge.
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They generally begin between 1.5 to 10 days after a decrease in dosage or discontinuation of the drug. The Discontinuation-Emergent Signs and Symptoms Scale, or DESS, is a checklist you can use to evaluate your symptoms and their severity. Prozac is unique among antidepressants because its withdrawal symptoms typically don’t appear for several weeks. Unfortunately, this is a bit of a double-edged sword because Prozac withdrawal symptoms also tend to last longer—about two months. While stimulant withdrawal is typically not life-threatening, it can be psychologically distressing.
Warnings for Antidepressant Withdrawal
They generally fall into physical, psychological, and neurological categories. If symptoms last more than a month and are worsening, it’s worth considering whether you’re having a relapse of depression. Before finalizing the plan for stopping Prozac, your doctor will make sure you are emotionally and mentally ready for this step.
Prozac, or fluoxetine, is a medication commonly prescribed to treat depression, anxiety, OCD, and other mental health disorders. While it can effectively improve symptoms, some people may experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking it. Prozac withdrawal can be uncomfortable and can even mimic the symptoms of the condition it was prescribed to treat.
But they think it may be because serotonin drops quickly when you stop taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). This drop in serotonin causes certain physical and mood-related symptoms. When someone stops taking Prozac (fluoxetine), they may experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can vary in severity and duration, depending on the individual and their situation. It is essential to understand the potential risks of Prozac withdrawal to prepare for what may happen and seek appropriate medical attention if necessary.
Gradual Tapering
This requires working with your healthcare provider to reduce your dosage slowly versus stopping your medication abruptly. You might continue to experience severe symptoms of depression or anxiety after your withdrawal symptoms subside. This is because you are no longer treating your mental health condition. In this case, your doctor could recommend a different antidepressant to help you manage your symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms can vary in severity and duration, depending on how long you have taken the drug, the dosage, and other factors. Some people experience mild symptoms that last a few days, while others may experience more severe symptoms that last for weeks or even months.
How is antidepressant discontinuation syndrome treated?
Researchers don’t know the exact cause of discontinuation syndrome. But they think it’s related to a sudden decrease in serotonin levels if you stop taking an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) or SNRI (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors). Your body responds with physical and mood-related symptoms due to this sudden lack of serotonin. This depends on several factors, such as the drug you were taking, how long you took it, and what your dose was.
- Some common Prozac withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, depression, irritability, fatigue, and insomnia.
- Your doctor might suggest talk therapy to help you cope with mood changes.
- When these neurotransmitter levels suddenly drop, whether by quitting a medication abruptly or greatly lowering its dosage, withdrawal symptoms can emerge.
- Those who have been taking fluoxetine in the long term should work with a doctor to find treatments and strategies to minimize the potential withdrawal effects.
- If you plan to stop taking Prozac, continue reading to know what to expect, including the types of symptoms commonly experienced and how to come off Prozac safely to minimize the occurrence of symptoms.
- You may also have trouble with your antidepressant due to alcohol use or other psychoactive drugs.
Stimulant withdrawal
Common Prozac withdrawal symptoms include dizziness, nausea, headaches, irritability, anxiety, insomnia, and flu-like symptoms. These symptoms can vary in severity and duration depending on the individual and their dosage. It is recommended to gradually taper off Prozac under the guidance of a healthcare provider to minimize the risk of withdrawal symptoms. As dire as some of these symptoms may sound, you shouldn’t let them discourage you if you want to go off your antidepressant. The antidepressants most likely to cause troublesome symptoms are those that have a short half-life — that is, they break down and leave the body quickly.
However, withdrawal symptoms are more common in antidepressants with a shorter half life. This means drugs that stay in the body for a shorter period of time. This includes antidepressants such as paroxetine, sertraline, escitalopram, and citalopram.
Each type of antidepressant is different, so your provider will be the best guide to help you go off of the medication. “Some people tell us that being on an antidepressant doesn’t fit with their treatment ethos, and others just don’t want to have to remember to take a pill every day,” Dr. Coulter says. They may be able to switch you to a different antidepressant or to a generic version — one that’s covered by your health insurance or falls within your financial abilities if you’re paying out of pocket. You might think your doctor doesn’t care about your financial situation or that they can’t do anything to help. But if you’re unable to pay the high cost of your antidepressant subscription, let your doctor know.
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Whatever the case, you’re feeling more emotionally stable and better equipped to face the world sans medication. If you have quit taking your antidepressant and have anxiety or chronic pain, talk with your healthcare provider about how to ease these issues without worsening your condition. Here are a few more ways to prevent or cope with antidepressant withdrawal. Antidepressants with a longer half-life, such as Prozac, are less likely to cause problems on discontinuation. The term half-life refers to how quickly the amount of a drug in the body reduces by half.
(See the chart “Antidepressant drugs and their half-lives.”) Examples include venlafaxine (Effexor), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), and citalopram (Celexa). Extended-release versions of these drugs enter the body more slowly but leave it just as fast. Antidepressants with a longer half-life, chiefly fluoxetine, cause fewer problems on discontinuation. If you are planning to stop taking Prozac or are experiencing withdrawal symptoms, there are steps you can take to manage them.
The length of your tapering $will depend, in part, on what antidepressant you take (and its dosage), as various medications stay in the bloodstream for different lengths of time. Whether you’re concerned about social stigma or want to try therapy as an alternative, you may prefer not to be on antidepressants — and that’s OK. Just be sure to communicate that preference to your doctor so they can help you make a safe transition to being medication-free. They may also ask about your openness to trying other methods of treatment for your depression, such as psychotherapy. 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.
When you think of antidepressants, Prozac is probably one of the first to come to mind. Prozac (fluoxetine) is an antidepressant used to treat a variety of disorders, including major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, and some eating disorders. Our Austin and Dallas drug rehab centers are equipped to help you achieve lasting recovery from drug addiction. So please don’t let another precious moment go by while gripped by the devastating effects of addiction. Depression is a serious and potentially life-threatening illness if it is not properly treated. It’s important to consider all of your options and work with your healthcare provider to make the best choice for you.
When you stop taking this medication, there is a chance that you may experience Prozac withdrawal for a couple of months after stopping this drug while your brain adjusts to lower levels of serotonin. Private treatment providers such as Priory offer detox plans that are tailored to meet your needs and our experts are highly experienced in supporting people to recover from prescription drug addiction. Medical support can help with symptom management and reduce the risk of relapse. Like serotonin, tryptophan helps stabilize your moods and sleep patterns and even improve your metabolism.
