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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Going off prozac after 2 weeks?!
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
Going off prozac after 2 weeks?!
by charliemay, Aug 20, 2007 01:23PM
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!
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!
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Aug 21, 2007 05:35PM
, Aug 21, 2007 05:35PMTo: charlietmay
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.
