Fluxotine- coming off after five weeks

[midnightagents]

Hi, had some great advice last time about switching the time of my medication over. I now need some advice about stopping them as im experiencing severe side effects such as sleeping for about 14hrs a day, severe depression and strong craving for alcohol. I have had a look on this site and the rest of the web but the advice is a bit contradictory, some people are saying take one every other day for a few days, and some people are saying that your body needs a constant run of no pills. I have only been on them a short while so am hoping that the weening off period should be shorter and less severe than if i had been on them longer. I know it would ideal to see a dr in this situation but i cant get an appointment for ages and i need to start doing something about this situation now. Thanks very much for any advice.

shamelessly bumping, would really love some advice. I didnt take one today and have quite a bad headache, will probably take one tomorrow and continue every other day for a while? Do you think it would be ok to have a glass of wine tonight, been really craving (as mentioned ubove)

Hi, coming off ssris like fluoxetine is bloody hard going so good on you for getting there. The best way seems to be very slowly! I have done alternative days in the past once I was on the lowest possible dose. If it's not working, you can ask for liquid form and gradually reduce the dose at a steady rate. Not all gps are clued up or sympathetic, though lots are of course! Best wishes, hope it goes well

Please get an emergency appointment. You were obviously put on them for anxiety/depression, so how are you going to manage your symptoms?
I am on 40mg and have no desire to stop ever, after having three horrible relapses the three times I tried to come off.
It was a fucker to settle down in though; the anxiety was exacerbated by the Prozac initially so the GP gave me diazepam to take the edge off until the anxiety decreased. It has probably saved my life though. Please be careful; your life and your mental health is very precious.

Thanks for the replies guys. Shit hearing how hard it is to come off them makes me glad I'm trying it now not further down the line! They started to work at first but now I'm worse than ever, I'm not sure if I could relapse as such as my depression is quite severe on them, though weirdly anxiety is less. Which is often the opposite of what people say is meant to happen! Anyway I can't go on staying in bed so much, Definitley need to make a change. Will try alternating for a week. Thanks for the advice. My dr acts a bit bored of me keep coming in lol, makes me not want to go in as much.

Hi OP, please get an emergency appointment.

Do not do this without your doctor's help. It can take a lot longer than five weeks for these pills to work and for you to get used to them. What you're feeling may not be symptoms of the pills - it could be symptons of your illness.

Please book an emergency appointment on Monday and see your doctor.

Also OP, some people can feel worse to begin with. Because you're taking the pills you expect to feel much better and when you don't feel better straight away it can lead you to feeling worse.... It can take time. If you need to sleep, sleep. Have a glass of wine.

Take care

Hi thanks for replying I'll try to get a drs app at some point but they're Definitley not open over the weekend and I have an exam Tuesday and Friday of next week which I have to sit (even though I've done no revision for them). I didn't take one yesterday and I feel so much better today, honestly I know it's only a day and might be placebo effect but I feel cheerier, clearer and less tired. I'm loathed to take one today and go back to feeling completely shit and shakey again, but I know cold turkeys meant to be harmful. I might ring 111. Thanks for all the advice!

I am not for one minute advocating stopping all of a sudden and would join others in encouraging you to see the GP pronto. However, fluoxetine has a much longer half-life than other SSRIs and it's likely any withdrawal will be delayed and/ or possibly less severe.

Thanks for the advice aperhead. I've taken one today after a gap of 1 and a half days. I'm guna to leave it longer before taking one next time. I desperately want to be off them and feel so much better without them.

We're here for you. Look after yourself.

Weird, after taking one yesterday I'm back in bed again all day today :( aching all over and dizzy/lightheaded. Really did feel so much better yesterday with a day and a half break. Not sure if that was placebo or not though. I can't face taking one today. Just feel so rubbish and tired. My 3.8 year old is running riot and I haven't taken her out all weekend or revised enough :( feel so shit now, need to be off them.