Anti depressant - fluexotine (however you spell it)

sad_kat

Hey,
basically I decided to come off my meds which was fluexotine/prozac but I haven't told my doctor yet. I came off them because I was throwing up all the time and always had side effects of feeling nauseous and dizziness.

I was on it for depression and social anxiety, I was just wondering is anyone else on it and if they are did you have these side effects too?

I really should be on something else but haven't had a chance to go to the doctor yet, what other medications treat depression/anxiety and are effective?

I'm just worried that no type of medication will suit me because I did think that it was okay in the long run, I just couldn't physically take it. Any advice would be appreciated.

Nie · Newbie User Joined: Feb 20, 2006 Posts: 79

mm.. I never took fluoxetine, but I took other ssri for a long time.
I can't remember any nausea, however the dizziness was horrible.
That's one of the main reasons I stopped.
Anyway, even after I stopped I still experienced this typical dizziness and other weird feelings for many months.

It is very important to gradually lower (or rise) the dosage.
But I think fluoxetine is least problematic here, because of its long time it remains active in the body.
(Though this doesn't mean you should stop it abruptly =,=
I know it is annoying to fade them out slowly but it can spare you months of suffering from really weirdest withdrawal feelings)

I think fluoxetine actually has the longest such duration of all ssri..
The shorter this duration, the more important to lower the dosage gradually & steadily .. to fade it out.
If I remember correctly.

Fluoxetine takes 4-6 days to be degraded completely by the body..
And its active metabolite norfluoxetine 4 to 16..

So this means it is relatively easy to stop when compared to other ssri who are degraded within only a few hours or so.
I took something like that, so I felt withdrawal symptoms even after forgetting to swallow it for just one time.. or did so a few hours later.

If you stop fluoxetine, there will still remain some active substance in you for maybe some weeks until it will be eliminated completely by your metabolism. You must consider the fluox. needs this time before trying out another medication, espec. mao-inhibitors like moclobemide.. Otherwise you might encounter serious problems (like serotonin syndrome worst case).

About other medications..
You can try:

-Another ssri
(but fluoxetine already is a generally well tolerated ssri I think..
& other ssri last shorter in your body
But you can never know, maybe another ssri suits you better?)

-A selective, reversible mao inhibitor
Moclobemide, most likely..
(which is said to improve SA well)

-A tri/tetracyclic one
ah.. but I wouldn't recommend them.
Anyways, if nothing else works, perhaps try these.
They might work better but.. also often have more side effects.
Since they are not as selective as the 'selective serotonin reuptake..etc'
Especially the anticholinergic ones are nasty (in my opinion).
Though if you take one,.. maybe opipramol(?), good against anxiety..

Keep in mind that it is very individual.. perhaps they would be just perfect for you.
Many didn't respond well to other antidepressants except tricyclic ones, for instance.

For SA.. maybe snri too...

I suggest you inform yourself and find something together with your therapist/doctor..

I hope this will help you a little and I didn't make any mistakes ~.~

Ah.. what dosage did you take for fluox. ?
Maybe it would simply help with side effects to just lower it a bit?

Good luck (:

sad_kat · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 5:55 pm Post subject:

hey nie, thank you for your response, I appreciate it Smile

wow you seem to know alot about meds lol, yeah I'm going to take a note of what you said and talk to my doctor about what I should do.
I was only on 20mg a day which is the lowest I think Confused

so I dont think I could go any lower with the dosage.
So Nie, you aren't on medication just now no?
Again thank you so much for your long reply. I'm gonna think about what you've said and consult my doc.

Nie · Newbie User Joined: Feb 20, 2006 Posts: 79

allweb · Newbie User Joined: Aug 29, 2005 Posts: 2

http://www.detoxhub.com/detox-plan.php

ej · Newbie User Joined: Apr 15, 2006 Posts: 1

I have been on prozac for anxiety for about 4 months now, and I havent experienced any side affects whatsoever, however when I started taking it I was told about the side affects that could occur. I have found it really good.
Sorry to hear you havent.

corrinaelizabeth · Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 9:47 pm Post subject:

citalopram is v good 4 depression but leaves funny taste in mouth