Going off prozac after 2 weeks?!

Hi,

I have been on Prozac now for just a little over two weeks. My doctor prescribed it for general anxiety. I've tried some anti-depressants on and off over the past 6-8 years. The first week of Prozac was fine, even good, but then I started to experience some not-so-pleasant side effects. Today, for instance, I feel drugged, light-headed, slightly sick to my stomach. But mostly, I am unable to sleep and I just can not handle that. Because of this, and not truly wanting to be on medication in the first place, I would like to go off. But the last time I went off a anti-depressant I had some pretty bad withdrawal symptoms. If I've only had Prozac in my system for a couple of weeks, should I stop cold-turkey, or taper off, to avoid these symptoms?

Thanks!

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

You definitely should not stop cold turkey, but wean yourself over a two week period so the last week you have the lowest dose every 3rd day, then stop.  the lower dose may get rid of your side effects and let you stay on it, so watch that.