Prozac 40mg cold turkey... Am I insane?

[[ji...]]

Hello all, well I'm starting to feel my last cut level off. My goal is to be substance free so I'm able to have children some day. I've taken prozac or some other form of antidepressant for 15 years. I really feel like I have taken it so long it is not really helping anymore and is just one more drug in my system. I really want to get off it, but not sure if I should do it before my Klonopin taper is through or after. I'm worried both ways ( naturally ). I want to do it cold turkey because I can't split the capsules my Dr. gave me, and don't want to go see him because he is worthless for advice ( unlike this wonderful group ). I have read from other's experience that CT is ok for Prozac. Any advice? Thanks

[[La...]]

I really no nothing about withdrawal from prozac but you mentioned they are in capsule form, the benzo temazepam that I take is in capsule form to and I have been able to twist the capsule apart to take out the powder inside and liquid titrate it, just a thought, hopefully others with prozac experince will chime ih with some help Ladygrace

[[fi...]]

I haven't been on Prozac, but I am on another SSRI (Paxil).  I would not recommend the c/t approach.  If necessary, I would see another doctor and get a lower dose and keep getting lower doses until you can safely taper off of Prozac.

 

However, it is normally recommended that you taper off of benzos first and then later on get off of the antidepressants.  I tried the opposite way, and it did not work.  I am now planning on tapering the benzos first this time.

 

At any rate, I hope this information proves helpful.

 

Sincerely,

 

fg

[[ji...]]

Thanks for your replies! I needed them tonight as I'm already starting to get prozac withdrawl symptoms...no fun as I feel like crying all day and don't want to eat or get out of bed. Decided fishingguy is right and I should do it last. I'm just getting impatient and want to have a baby eventually and feel time is slipping away, but in the grand scheme of things, what's an extra few months. When I do cut it out I think I may need to ween as well, maybe break the capsules because I'm not in the mood to visit my insane Dr.

[[fi...]]

I think you're making the right decision to come off of the benzos first.

 

fg

[[sh...]]

I took prozac for 20 years and decided to wean off- you really shouldn't go c/t as I weaned off somewhat fast- 1 eod then 1every 2 days etc. I still had some w/d symptoms ( I didn't realize at the time) those w/d symptoms though mild got me a diagnosis of fibro and put on Lyrica- which I hated and GP weaned me off too fast which plunged me into nightmare of taking Xanax and ambien to stop the symps- Take it slow and one at a time- you don't want to suffer

[[pr...]]

CT off any med that affects neurotransmitters is a bad idea. 

 

Usually with antidepressants it's necessary to taper off just like with benzos.  Many people have trouble with antidepressant withdrawal.  Some people say that for them getting off benzos was easier than getting off an SSRI.  So it's hard to say how it will go for you except that a CT is probably a bad idea.

 

I'm pretty sure Prozac comes in a liquid formulation which you can use to taper.

 

The forum Surviving Antidepressants has more information about getting off ADs.