Taking prozac for a week will I have withdrawls if I stop?

[sophiachanel92]

Hi all Ive been having some issues with my family's understanding of my condition & I want to thank everyone at MedHelp who has been so kind to help me! My doctor put me on prozac 20 mg 1x/day for anxiety last week and I started taking the pills last Thursday pm so I have been taking them for one week only (today was my last pill). My parents are against psychiatry completely and my mom found the pills today. We got in a big fight and she asked me to flush them. I wasn't reluctant, I just didn't want the drama so I flushed them gladly. I also didn't like how the anti-depressants made me so forgetful. Then I read up on withdrawal symptoms from anti-depressants. I have only been taking them a week. I have never taken any other anti-depressant medication before. Also, I must note that this medication is for anxiety, not depression. Will I have horrible withdrawals? I see my doctor again on the 18 and I am telling him that I want to stop the medication all together. I thought I needed it, but I really want to conquer my issues with therapy and the now loving support of my family (in any means non-pharmocological of course!) I won't be able to see him until then. Will I have horrible withdrawal symptoms since I only took them for one week? Please let me know! :D

[13Jorie]

Hi when you stopped your prozac, did the your side effects completely gone instantly? Thanks so much...

[4Maddie44]

Hello there, I am so glad you have let me know how you are getting on.  I always worry about people I have had correspondence with on Medhelp.

I am so glad things are going well for you.  Seems like you have everything under control.  I am glad you have a good therapist.  I never did find one I got on with.  

As doctor prescribed medication for your anxiety, and it works for you, I am delighted.  

Let me know how you get on please.

[sophiachanel92]

Hi Maddie, So sorry that I haven't written you back yet! I'm just going to therapy and I'm working with an excellent therapist who encourages me to meditate and encourages me to talk it out! And yes, relaxation techniques like meditation help too! Also, if I have terrible anxiety, I can always take a Xanax, I have many that were prescribed to me by that same doctor. So that's pretty much how I do it! :D

[4Maddie44]

It is your choice whether you want to take meds or not.  The doctor should not get mad at you.  He was only trying to help you allieve your symptoms.  It is your choice whether you don't want to take medication for your anxiety.

If you feel you can manage without, then he will accept that.  I expect you knew the doctor would prescribe some sort of medication when you went to see him.

As you may be aware, different medications act in different ways on people.  What suits one person, may not suit another.

I do hope "the natural therapy route" helps you.  What exactly is that?  How are you going to relieve the anxiety you are suffering.  Are you going to therapy, take supplements, relaxation techniques?  It will be really interesting to know how you get on.

I am so glad you have the full support of your family.  let us know what the doctor says.

Take care.

[sophiachanel92]

I do seriously hope that the doctor doesn't get mad about me wanting to get off the meds. I didn't really like how they made me feel anyway. I'd rather do the natural therapy route for right now just considering my situation.

[nursegirl6572]

Can you ask your family (or one family member) to go with you to the doctor, so the doc can talk to them and explain the purpose of medications?  It is really a shame that they're being so closed minded about this.  While not everyone agrees with medications, sometimes they are warranted.  I also find it ironic that they're okay with a potentially habit forming med like Xanax, but not an antidepressant.  It sounds like they need some education to be honest.  You shouldn't feel as though some treatment modalities are not an option for you based on their opinions.

You definitely need to keep up with therapy, and keep working on your family to see if they can have a change of heart about the medications.  I wouldn't worry too much about any major symptoms coming off the Prozac after only a week.  These medications take time to work (4-6 weeks, sometimes more), so you weren't on it long enough for it to really do anything yet.  The unfortunate thing is, if you had been able to continue taking it, you may have found it very effective.

Take care, let us know what's going on!

[4Maddie44]

Shame your family don't want you to take medication for anxiety.  

I found Prozac gave me terrible side effects and stopped it after two weeks with no withdrawals.  You should be OK.  

At least you have family support, so hopefully you will find therapy helpful.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on.

[sophiachanel92]

Thanks for your prompt and kind response! :) My family isn't against the medication, they're against the medication for ME haha. They think I'm "happy go-lucky" and don't need medication. They're not against me going to therapy, however, they don't like the idea of me being on antidepressants. (They were totally cool with me keeping the Xanax, though, since I told them it works as an excellent muscle relaxer for my neck problems.) I will absolutely keep you updated! :D

[remar]

Prozac is for both anxiety and depression. I'm sorry, but I don't understand why your family has a problem with you taking meds when you need them. You can feel strange and have side effects the first week or so and that's normal.
Since you've only been on this med for a week you may not have any withdrawal. If you do it will most likely be mild, like an upset stomach and headache.
I hope therapy works for you. It does for many people.
Will you please keep us up to date on how you're doing?