Cold Turkey Quitting Antidepressants?!
Question: Cold Turkey Quitting Antidepressants!?
If someone has been taking Prozac 40 mgs!. for 8 weeks, what can they expect to happen if they "cold turkey" stop taking them!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
On an individual level - anything could happen!.
Although increased time on drug is generally associated with greater difficulties in withdrawal; there are those who find short-term exposure has resulted in a prolonged / severe withdrawal experience!. Most of the trials were of only a few weeks duration, and within them, withdrawal appears to have been treated as return of depression!. 8 weeks is more than long enough for dependence/tolerance to have occurred!. One unlucky individual on Lexapro (another SSRI) got the brain zaps and prolonged w/d after 10 days usage!. So, the experience might be anything from: no apparent effect!.!.!.!. right up the scale!. That's why acquiring background knowledge on the subject is a major plus; should someone be affected, both they and the people around will have been fore-armed with the withdrawal facts and the situation can be addressed as required!. And should the individual withdrawing get the anger/irritability strikes, or crying spells, or mood swings etc then there is a greater chance that the personal / professional fallout can be mitigated!.
40mg is a relatively high dose, so treat it with due deference!. I realise that many will not regard it as so, however the dose-relationship trial efficacy level was 5mg (link below)!.
Do some reading up of withdrawal literature, and be on speaking terms with the basics - very important with Prozac because of its longer half-life & therefore the delay that generally occurs before the withdrawal (w/d) emerges!. For those with a gentle withdrawal experience, the time taken to do this may be considered superfluous, however a little reading may be invaluable for others!.
Prozac half-life 4-6 days; Typical Onset of Withdrawal 2-3 weeks (figures from Glenmullen)!.
Individuals can feel withdrawal earlier, or later than this - depends upon how sensitive they are to the process, how efficiently they metabolise the drug!.!.!.!. the known and described Catch-22 with Prozac is that people can think they are free and clear of withdrawal, BEFORE it actually starts (half-life)!. So be aware that being 4-6-8 weeks out from a Prozac dose drop does not necessarily mean the w/d process is evaded!.
Ideally, a relatively short exposure should indicate a swifter taper would be tolerated, but as already stated, please understand this is not always true!.
Prozac is available as a liquid, should this prove to be useful, then please read Prof!. Healy's comments on switchover/stabilisation!. Occasionally there are adverse reactions to the liquid version!.
Withdrawal checklist below!.
Link to Glenmullen withdrawal book (chapter available online)
Link to Healy withdrawal literature
If the cold turkey is a response to various Prozac adverse effects, you may find some of the bottom link's hints/tips to be of help!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Although increased time on drug is generally associated with greater difficulties in withdrawal; there are those who find short-term exposure has resulted in a prolonged / severe withdrawal experience!. Most of the trials were of only a few weeks duration, and within them, withdrawal appears to have been treated as return of depression!. 8 weeks is more than long enough for dependence/tolerance to have occurred!. One unlucky individual on Lexapro (another SSRI) got the brain zaps and prolonged w/d after 10 days usage!. So, the experience might be anything from: no apparent effect!.!.!.!. right up the scale!. That's why acquiring background knowledge on the subject is a major plus; should someone be affected, both they and the people around will have been fore-armed with the withdrawal facts and the situation can be addressed as required!. And should the individual withdrawing get the anger/irritability strikes, or crying spells, or mood swings etc then there is a greater chance that the personal / professional fallout can be mitigated!.
40mg is a relatively high dose, so treat it with due deference!. I realise that many will not regard it as so, however the dose-relationship trial efficacy level was 5mg (link below)!.
Do some reading up of withdrawal literature, and be on speaking terms with the basics - very important with Prozac because of its longer half-life & therefore the delay that generally occurs before the withdrawal (w/d) emerges!. For those with a gentle withdrawal experience, the time taken to do this may be considered superfluous, however a little reading may be invaluable for others!.
Prozac half-life 4-6 days; Typical Onset of Withdrawal 2-3 weeks (figures from Glenmullen)!.
Individuals can feel withdrawal earlier, or later than this - depends upon how sensitive they are to the process, how efficiently they metabolise the drug!.!.!.!. the known and described Catch-22 with Prozac is that people can think they are free and clear of withdrawal, BEFORE it actually starts (half-life)!. So be aware that being 4-6-8 weeks out from a Prozac dose drop does not necessarily mean the w/d process is evaded!.
Ideally, a relatively short exposure should indicate a swifter taper would be tolerated, but as already stated, please understand this is not always true!.
Prozac is available as a liquid, should this prove to be useful, then please read Prof!. Healy's comments on switchover/stabilisation!. Occasionally there are adverse reactions to the liquid version!.
Withdrawal checklist below!.
Link to Glenmullen withdrawal book (chapter available online)
Link to Healy withdrawal literature
If the cold turkey is a response to various Prozac adverse effects, you may find some of the bottom link's hints/tips to be of help!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
id taper off with the supervision of a doctor
getting off AD's is no joke, especially prozac
expect withdrawl symptoms such as cold sweats, feverish feelings, dizziness, headaches, even things as extreme as tics and twitching!.
you can find even more info at www!.prozac!.com
just from expereince though i would suggest tapering off your meds and letting a dr!. supervise you!.
it might not be so bad as you've only been on a relatively low dose for 8 weeks but i would still expect some of the withdrawl sypmtoms
good luck!Www@Answer-Health@Com
getting off AD's is no joke, especially prozac
expect withdrawl symptoms such as cold sweats, feverish feelings, dizziness, headaches, even things as extreme as tics and twitching!.
you can find even more info at www!.prozac!.com
just from expereince though i would suggest tapering off your meds and letting a dr!. supervise you!.
it might not be so bad as you've only been on a relatively low dose for 8 weeks but i would still expect some of the withdrawl sypmtoms
good luck!Www@Answer-Health@Com
DON'T EVER DO IT! The best way is to slowly wean yourself off, decrease the dose very slowly - take all the time you need!. It may take a while but it's so worth it - you can actually live quite a normal life and function properly (go to work etc) as opposed to ending up being severly depressed and very ill for weeks (I have been there)!.
Seeing your doctor before cutting down is crucial!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Seeing your doctor before cutting down is crucial!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
they could have seizures and a complete breakdown!. never do this it is very dangerous!. i'm studying psychology,and i know a lot about mental illness,i am going for a degree in psychology!.go to your doctor and see if you need more medicine,instead of what you are taking!.god bless and good luck!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
For me, my eating habbits went back to normal and I did get sad but then I remembered I control my happy!.
Nothing serious happens!.
I stopped taking those and my Wellbutrin cold turkey!. got a few headaches but then my body got used to it!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Nothing serious happens!.
I stopped taking those and my Wellbutrin cold turkey!. got a few headaches but then my body got used to it!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Don't do it!. It's awful and it can make you very sick!. Someone shouldn't go off of their medication without checking with their doctor first and then need to wean themselves off of it very gradually!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
it is best to see a doctor when getting off prescription drugs these types of drugs have smoe of themost harmful withdrawal symptoms tha can lead to death extrememy important to seek guidance and help when quitting themWww@Answer-Health@Com
You could become nauseous, have muscle spasms & become really depressed, among other things!. You must wean off them gradually!. Talk to the doctor, first!. Good luck!Www@Answer-Health@Com
bad news! dont stop cold turkey!. they may have just began to work, they take a few weeks to get into your system!. you should talk to a doctor!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I took Zoloft for only two months and quit cold turkey - It was awful!. Don't do it - Talk to your doctor about weeing off of them!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
dont do it!.!.!.could have devastating effects!.
The shooter in Illinois college had just stopped his prozacWww@Answer-Health@Com
The shooter in Illinois college had just stopped his prozacWww@Answer-Health@Com
No sleeping, listless, restless, decrease in appetite, mood swings!. To name just a few!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
eight weeks is not a long enough term to be concerned about stopping abruptlyWww@Answer-Health@Com
Don't do it! Slow and steady wins the race!. See your doctor!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Talk to your Dr!
You do not want to do it!
Its not healthyWww@Answer-Health@Com
You do not want to do it!
Its not healthyWww@Answer-Health@Com
your depression will be worse than ever!. let your doctor be the doctor, not you!Www@Answer-Health@Com