Posted by LyndaK on October 6, 2001, at 0:47:31
In reply to Prozac Withdrawal - need advice - going off meds, posted by Kimmm on October 2, 2001, at 19:21:25
I agree with what everyone else here has said. Decrease gradually. I also advocate staying on a very low dose. That's what I'm doing now (though I'm on Zoloft, not Prozac) and I still feel very good emotionally -- actually... better... because reducing the dose has also decreased the side effects -- including the sexual ones. :)
Good luck.
Lynda
> I've been on 20mg Prozac for about 2 years now. I've started researching the potential withdrawal symptoms, and I can't believe the severity of the symptoms. I've never been addicted to anything my entire life. It almost sounds like you go through hell before you go on Prozac, and then you go through hell again just to get off of it. I am generally a health conscious person, and I looked into all the side effects of taking the medication PRIOR to taking it, but I had no idea this was an addictive drug and would have to deal with withdrawal symptoms when I decided to go off of it. It amazes me that my doctor never told me.
>
> Overall, I'm happy with the results of taking Prozac - I was diagnosed with clinical depression, and EVERYONE noticed a difference in me once I started taking it. The only major side effect is not having a sex drive. But now I'm ready to give it a try on my own without the meds. I don't see medication as a permanent solution to depression. But who am I to say?
>
> So my question is - do I try quitting cold turkey? Depending on the side effects (I still want to be able to function), I'd prefer to quit cold turkey rather than going through a long drawn out process. Any advice? I'm not nervous about getting depressed again, I'm more nervous about all the withdrawal symptoms I've been reading about. Facial tics, muscle spasms, fatigue...it sounds worse than my pre-Prozac days. How do you function in the real world if you are going through all these symptoms?? Any advice on how to cope is appreciated.
>
> Kim
poster:LyndaK
thread:5505
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010927/msgs/80420.html