Coming off Meds

[Ryn]

Hi,
I have been on Anti-ds for the last 8 months (Fluoxetine 20mgs), and at my last review my GP suggested coming off them after Christmas. Things have been pretty good and stable over the last few months, but I am a bit worried about coming off them. Since having PNI I have come to the conculsion that I don't like change much, and was really scared about starting taking the meds. This has now turned around and I am worried about stopping!! Not sure if this is part of the PNI - or just a bit of apprehension, or whether it means it is still to early to come off. Can any one give me any adivce about how you know that the time is right to come off them? How do you know you are better?? Has any one had any experience coming off Prozac?

Thanks
Kathy

[DCS]

Hi Ryn
Not sure I'm the right person to give advise but I've listened to a friend who's also on the same meds and shes also apprehensive about stopping and to how she may feel, because each day is different and the emotions vary.
I think maybe if you took it a day at a time, speak with your GP (if an interested and helpful one!) or your health visitor and see what they suggest.
With regards to when is the right time, I do think that is when you feel the time is right and feel positive enough to take that step. It may be that instead of stopping it altogether and immediately that you could wean yourself off them, if thats possible. Try not to view it as a big thing to coming off them but as a way foward to you actually wanting to come off them because you feel ready and better in yourself.
Wish you luck, and you will come off them....... When YOU feel ready to. x x

[jennie]

Hard one,
I feel I won't ever come of meds......
Though I've never done it sensibly with support.
If you can come off them use all your support mecanisums....
And don't blame every rocky patch on coming off meds....

I keep making up withs to stop me lowering my dose....

I'll just see Dylan settled in school,
Just till Isabelle is assessed,
Just get Christmas out of the way.......

I wish I didn't need tablets to function....but I do......
I've probably not been of any help....and not sure exactly what I want to say.....,

Look I've been taking them for neally 9yrs....,I know I couldn't breast feed because I knew I needed anti depressants....

Am I adicted or like a diabetic who needs their insulin, I need anti depressants....?
If you don't want to be like me still taking them 9yrs down the line...then at some point you need to come off them......
It's if you think it's the right time and trying it....

What we really need is lots of ladies who have come off them properly(especisslly anyone who was took them long term and needed the mental health sysem whilst ill....

[lisa1234]

Hi Kathy,

I took ADs for quite a while a few years ago for depression.

When I came off them I guess I just kind of knew that the time was right and wanted to come off them. It was done gradually as you have to otherwise you may get side effects. I think what I'm trying to say is if it doesn't feel right now or if you're a bit scared then carry on taking them. When it's right you'll know.

I found it hard with side effects when I came off my ADs (Efexor) but when I stopped Prozac I don't remember a problem, (I was switching ADs though).

Don't feel pressured by the GP but if you do feel stable maybe you could try reducing them very gradually. However, maybe the time's not right just yet. It's really hard to say Kathy but I guess the answer is just go with your heart. I know it's corny but I do think you'll know.

Let us know what you decide.
Love Lisa xxx

[Ryn]

Dear DCS, Jennie and Lisa,
Thanks for your replies and advice. It has been really useful and helpful. I just feel so uncertain about it all, which maybe does suggest it could be too soon. I keep having days where I forget to take my Meds - (this never used to happen it was always so important to remember - now I often miss a couple of days) - which has made me think that maybe I am ready - but I am also scared of going back to where I was if Istop taking them - so I am looking out for any sign.... also don't want to go back to docs and tell him that I have not been taking them regularly - but would like to come off them - not sure why as I don't have a problem taking them - no side effects etc. Oh I am so indecisive.

But thanks all for your advice
Kathy

[scrumpy]

Ryn,
I came off meds about 3 months ago. It was a hard decision to make, but I felt so well in myself that I knew the time was right. I came off them very slowly, decreased the dose a month at a time until I was off them. I had a bit of a wobbly just after I stopped them completely, which was when I started using this site. But now I feel good and really feel that I no longer need them. As the others have said I think you know when the time is right. I'm not saying that you will never have bad days again once you come off them, but I have come to realise now that Just because I feel piised off one day does not mean I am having a relapse. I used to get pissed off even before I had PNI.
Good luck whatever you decide.
Love Toni

[francoise]

do u break the tablets in half at first when u only take one a day ,

[francoise]

i come off prozac a few years ago , i only took them part of the month tho as they were for pms , i hated coming off them , i didnt get any side affects to speak of , just felt my pms coming back abit , but it never got to where it was before i took them , not much help there im sorry , love fran

[scrumpy]

fran no need to break the tablets, my gp just prescribed a lower dose tablet. most meds come premade in different strengths.

[francoise]

oh right , i didnt know that , mine are those citaprolagm thingies 20 mg

[Ryn]

Hi all,
thanks for all the advice.
Fran my meds are in the plastic capsule things - so I have been taking one every other day - (this is what the doc advised) as you can't chop them in half.

My doc has said withdrawl depends on the med you are on.... so I guess I will stick with his advice and all yours
and take it slowly - I think I as I was feeling a bit better I wanted to rush things... thanks for helping me see things a bit straighter. Lets see how just cutting down slowly goes - Need to learn to be more patient!

Kathy

[francoise]

hey kathy dont you get that head buzz thing when your pills were due , if i go more than an hour or two after when i take mine my head goes really bad and starts like buzzing ..love fran

[Ryn]

Fran - yes I do..... how wierd I hadn't really associated it with need the meds - but now you mention it..... I think it was more noticable early on, and has lessened more recently - which means I have forgotten to take then more... Hmmmm
Kathy

[francoise]

see that is what reminds me to take them most days or i would forget and then about an hour later after i take it it goes again , funny isnt it how it can do that, i hate the feeling but i always forget stuff ..love fran

[cinders]

Hiya Ryn,
Just read your thread and thought I would answer as I'm going through the same worry at the mo.
I've been taking my meds since March and like you I've been feeling pretty good for some time and so the Dr has suggested I gradually reduce them.
He reduced my dose and as it got to the end of the pack the anxiety crept in so he suggested I stay on them for another month and reduce them down to half a tablet etc.
I feel strong in myself, but I just think its the worry of falling back again. I dont like change and that could be it too, but I guess we have to give it a go at stopping the meds sometime.
I'm going to make sure i dont have any other major things going on around me when I first come off them and see how things go. Take each day at a time and like someone said before, just cause you're having a bad day it doesnt mean its a relapse.
Anyway, I will be thinking of you and I hope everything works out great for you. Let us know how it goes and I will too.
Cinders xx