stopping fluoxetine

[Tooodlepip]

Hi

If I just stopped my fluoxetine which I always forget to take anyways havent had any since the week end I think, what would happen. I am suppose to be on 40mg a day but only sort of remember them every other day or so, sometimes I'm good and I remember to take them. I cant say that my mental health is hugely better on them and I wont try anything else as I dont like feeling tired all the time, which I do these days anyway. So some advice please has anyone ever done this, I have been on them since september so nearly 6 months I was only planning on taking them for 6 months anyway or 9 cant remember.

Thanks

Not a good idea to stop taking them without the advice of the GP. You run the risk of withdrawal side effects which are not pleasant.

You say you won't try anything else - there are many different types of ADs around which all work in slightly different ways. It often takes two or three goes to get the right one for you, so please don't give up on them completely.

Why did you plan only to be on tablets for a fixed amount of time? The thing with depression is that it can't be "cured" as such, and the ADs alleviate the symptoms. If you were diabetic, you wouldn't aim to stop insulin after 6 months. Some conditions are long term, and you have to accept that whether you like it or not you may have to be on medication long term. That is why it is important to find an AD that doesn't make you feel foggy all the time.

Go back to the GP and ask if you can switch to another type of AD.

Hi
Thank you Vanillacandle for the reply, my gp told me that a 6-9 month course is usually all that is required to treat depression, I sort of hope then I can come off them soon then. There hasnt been a huge difference with me although that initial really deep depression lifted and now I am just on an even keel but I sort of think I can maybe maintain that myself of am I delluding myself here?

A lot depends on what caused the depression in the first place. If it was PND or a one-off bad situation, then I think you may be OK to come off the ADs with GP's support and advice. Otherwise, you may be in it for the long haul - my DH was diagnosed 10 years ago and has been on ADs ever since as they are what keep him on an even keel (well, most of the time).

I would go back and have a chat with the GP and see if he thinks you can stop, or go onto a lower dose for a while to see how you cope. If you fall off the tightrope again in the future, you can always go back on the tablets.