URGENT my friend has stopped her fluoxetine because she's on nicotine patches??

[Curiousmama]

I've never heard of contraindications with the two?

She's usually on the ball so am shocked she's done this? Are there any adverse effects known when you combine fluoxetine and patches?

She's being a total ratbag but I can handle her as it's better she stops smoking. She's only 41 and coughs all the time, has smoked since 15. She's on day 3 now so doing well. I asked her today if she's still taking her anti ds properly and that's when she told me she'd stopped!

Any advice please. TIA

just bumping as she's on her way over here and I want to be able to tell her something. I think maybe she should ring nhs direct if she can't chat with her dr?

I dont know of any contraindications of taking both. Can you call NHS direct to ask them?

Yes I'll get her to do that as she really should be taking her anti ds. Thanks Jax.

She can use patches and take antidepressants.

Thanks. She's taking her ads tonight after work.

Erk... I wouldn't want to give up AD's and fags on the same day, I would have killed someone!

Good that she's taken them. If she's still worried you could speak to a pharmacist on her behalf?

I know she was in a bit of a mess but has been round for a good chat and seemed a lot better.

Never a good idea to give up those sorts of ADs cold turkey, IME. If she's fine, fine, but likely after a few days she might start suffering withdrawal symptoms (anxiety, insomnia, headache from hell, low mood etc etc etc) and if so it will make it much harder to keep to the not-smoking. SSRIs like fluoxetine need to be tapered downwards - e.g., slowly reduced doses over a long period.

Yes you're right narmada. She told me it's been 2 weeks since she took any..although is back on them now. I'm amazed she hasn't felt worse than she does to be honest?

Oh good, I am glad she is back on them! The good news is the withdrawal symptoms should abate almost straight away. Then she can come off 'em slowly if she needs to, although I can't imagine they interact with nicotine supplement.

Yes I'm glad too. Awful thing has happened her old dog died It was expected just not yet. He was lovely she was so devoted...she also lost a dog last year too.

And she's back on the fags for now but who can blame her? So no worries about the patches. It's only her first time trying to stop.