Would like to talk about withdrawal from Prozac

@maryking3977
How much were you on per day (rather than per week)?

How much do you take per day now to taper off?

I would think you need to taper very slowly since you were on the medication so long.

When I was prescribed Prozac for major depression, I seemed okay on 20 mg per day for about a month then the doctor increased to the dosage to 40 mg which caused me brain zaps. I went back to 20 mg per day for a week or two, then went every other day taking 20 mg and then every third day u til I stopped fully. My taper off was over a month or so and not suddenly.

1. https://www.verywellmind.com/prozac-withdrawal-symptoms-timeline-and-treatment-4766892
2. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/prozac-withdrawal
3. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/prozac-withdrawal
4. https://mentalhealthdaily.com/2014/04/15/prozac-fluoxetine-withdrawal-symptoms-duration/

I have been off Prozac for over a week. I had been taking 40 mg for at 20 years. Dr had me decrease by 10 mg every 7 days. I have a follow up with him in 2 days. It is a video visit. I hope he gives me continued good advice .

@maryking3977, I moved your question to the Depression & Anxiety support group where you will find many people talking about fluoxetine (Prozac) and tapering off it. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/depression-anxiety/

How are you feeling after tapering? How did your appointment go with your doctor?

Well……..he hasn’t given you good advice so far. 40 mgs for 20 years and he has you come off in one month? That’s lunacy. So…….don’t count on him giving you good advice now.

About a month ago I started taking Prozac, I can’t remember what dose but I took it for about a week but it was giving me such bad anxiety and paranoia. I went to the ER and the doctor told me to cold turkey it, so I did.

That was around 25 days ago now but I’m having such extreme paranoia, anxiety, depression and agitation. It seems unlikely to have symptoms like this from the Prozac when I only took it for a week but I’m wondering if it could be the Prozac withdrawals that’s making me like this?

I’m at my wits end with anxiety and paranoia over everything. I’ve been having thoughts that I know are not real like: thinking I’m cursed, thinking god will hurt me, and even thinking a spirit has attached itself to me (which I do kind of believe, but unsure if this is even logical or not.)

I went to the doctor and they put me on Lexapro, and I’ve been taking it for 2 days now but I understand that it takes time to kick in. I just want these horrible thoughts to end but I don’t know if this is the Prozac or not, is it possible it COULD be because of the Prozac?

@ivy5556 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I wanted to let you know I moved your post here so that you could chat with others talking about similar topics related to fluoxetine (Prozac) and then coming off of this medication:

- Would like to talk about withdrawal from Prozac https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/would-like-to-talk-about-withdrawal-from-prozac/

I'm sorry to hear that both your time on fluoxetine (Prozac) and afterward have been really rough, ivy5556, with extreme paranoia, anxiety, depression and agitation. Hoping members here such as @rosebookay @dlydailyhope @maryking3977 will have some thoughts for you on whether these symptoms might be because of the medication. @twindeer @catcatanzaro60 @charlotte1957 @maryjjeandennis also have been involved in Connect discussions about fluoxetine (Prozac) and may have some insights for you.

While you wait for them to respond, you might take a look at this Mayo Clinic information on this medication:

- Fluoxetine (oral route) https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/fluoxetine-oral-route/description/drg-20063952

Are you noticing any effects from the escitalopram (Lexapro) you were put on at this point? If not, have you considered making a call to your doctor's office to get some help soon?

@lisalucier I am currently on Paxil which worked for me for many years. At the age of 78 I was on 60 mg , too much. Lexapro was a horrible experience. I decided to return to Paxil and will try to make it work again at 15 or 20 mg. I have read positive comments on people that returned to Paxil after trying other drugs with failure and are happy they did. This is what I am hoping for.

I used Prozac to get off of Effexor starting in January and it made it very easy. I was down to just Prozac and went off it a few weeks ago with no problem. Prozac has a long 1/2 life so it is regarded as easy to get off of and I have been on it a few times and found it easy to get off of so I don't know what the issue is exactly?

@ivy5556 your symptoms may be a continuation of your illness aside from the effects of the meds. It sounds like you should also be in therapy to help you with you come to terms with your illness, treatment and symptoms.