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I stopped using Prozac after 3 years and now am having side effects, what should i do!?

By Anonymous March 30, 2009 - 10:22am
 
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I Argue A lot,I Can't Hardly Sleep And Many Other Side Effects. A Close Friend Of Mine Told Me To Start Taking St. Jhon's Wort But I Don't Know What It Is..I Never Cut The Doses Or Left The Pill Slowly, I Just Jump Right Off It And Now It's Making Me Go Crazy. Can You Guys Please Help Me? Am So Worried About My Family. Thank YOU. ATT Maria B.

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Maria,

Why did you say that you are "so worried about your family"? Are you afraid that something might happen to them? Are you worried that you might hurt them?

If you said "yes" or "maybe", please call 911 right now and get help.

There is a national hotline for crisis intervention, to help families be safe: National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE(7233).

Abruptly stopping Prozac can make you feel like you are "going crazy" as you said. Please seek help immediately.

March 31, 2009 - 12:35pm

Maria,

I want to agree with Susan and Kristin and encourage you to call your doctor and see about going back onto the Prozac and weaning yourself off slowly.

Did you stop taking it for cost or insurance reasons? If so, can you tell us where you are? We may be able to find some resources for you in terms of prescription companies that help with the cost, or low-cost clinics that would help. It's also possible your doctor would lower her/his cost if she/he knew that you were having financial difficulties.

What happens when you go off Prozac or another anti-depressant without doing it gradually is that your brain and your body reacts to not having the substance it has gotten used to having. You're having withdrawal symptoms, and they might last for weeks or months without some help from your doctor. Many doctors have their patients reduce their doses over a matter of months just to avoid the kind of symptoms you're having.

Can you go back to your doctor? How long has it been since you stopped taking the Prozac?

March 31, 2009 - 9:24am

I'm so sorry about what you're going through!! When exactly did you stop taking the Prozac? Did your doctor advise you to stop cold turkey like that? If so, I'm really surprised because you can have really serious side effects, like the ones you're describing, if you suddenly stop without weaning off of it gradually. Can you contact your doctor to let him/her know that you've stopped taking it?

March 30, 2009 - 11:50am
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