Prozac Withdrawal
Prozac withdrawal symptoms can occur at
any dosage. Prozac withdrawl symptoms can begin within eight hours
of a missed dose and can last from one to eight weeks. The
particularly nasty Effexor withdrawal symptoms can easily last
beyond eight weeks.
Obviously, the best way to avoid Prozac withdrawal is to avoid
Prozac. Consider using Deprex, the natural alternative, for
depression symptoms. Deprex quickly,
safely, effectively and gently eases depression symptoms without
the side effects or withdrawal symptoms typically associated with
Prozac and other antidepressants.
If already using Prozac, the best advice is to taper off slowly
instead of going “cold turkey.” It is important to develop a
specific tapering schedule with your health care provider to
minimize Prozac withdrawl symptoms. Anyone discontinuing Prozac
runs the risk of suffering from withdrawal symptoms.
Over 50 different symptoms have been reported with antidepressant
withdrawal, with dizziness nausea, fatigue, headache, gait
instability and insomnia the most common. The lucky ones will
experience only minor Prozac withdrawal symptoms. They might even
blame their Prozac withdrawal symptoms on the flu. For others, the
Prozac withdrawal symptoms are debilitating.
Effexor, Paxil, Zoloft and Lexapro top the “Worst Offenders” list
of withdrawal symptoms. Almost 80 percent of people experience
withdrawal symptoms when discontinuing Effexor. At least half the
people who stop using Paxil experience withdrawal symptoms. The
newer medications Serzone, Wellbutrin and Remeron rarely produce
withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal is most common with antidepressants that have a short
half-life. A half-life is the amount of time it takes for half the
drug to clear from your body. Effexor, tricyclics, MAOIs and most
SSRIs all have the potential to cause withdrawal symptoms.
Of the SSRIs, Prozac generally causes the least amount of
withdrawal symptoms because of its long half-life of two to four
days. In comparison, Effexor has a half-life of about five hours.
Effexor withdrawal symptoms can begin after missing a single dose.
Withdrawal Symptoms:
Anxiety
Dizziness
Fatigue
Restlessness
Tremors
Visual hallucinations
Diarrhea
Blurred vision
Headache
Insomnia
Nausea
Vomiting
Muscle and joint pain
Jolting electric "zaps”
Tingling sensations
Vertigo
Anorexia
Agitation
Gait disturbances
Sweating
Fever
Abdominal discomfort
Flu symptoms and general malaise
Irritability
Aggression
Lethargy
Weakness
Myalgia
Chills and hot flashes
Crying spells
Suicidal thoughts
Sleep disturbance and insomnia
Nightmares
Vivid dreams
Confusion
Memory and concentration difficulties
One particularly disturbing antidepressant withdrawal symptom is
hallucinations. While working through the physical and emotional
effects of Prozac withdrawl symptoms, hallucinations can make the
sufferer feel as if they are going crazy. You are not going crazy.
You unwittingly became hooked on a drug that your doctor, by
prescribing it, told you was okay.
Like Celex, Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft and other SSRI antidepressants,
Deprex aids in the production, increase and release of serotonin.
Unlike prescriptive antidepressant medications, Deprex is a
non-prescriptive, all-natural “antidepressant” that provides the
necessary dietary precursors to complement the body's own ability
to produce and release Serotonin. Deprex also affects
Norepinephrine activity while reducing Cortisol secretion. This
natural rebalancing of brain biochemistry calms anxiety while
easing depression - all without side effects.
Prozac can cause serious
side effects.
Weight gain and
sexual dysfunction
are common Prozac side effects. Less common but life threatening
is the increased risk of suicide.
Prozac has been linked to Parkinson’s Disease and drug-induced
stuttering.
Do not stop taking Prozac without first talking
to your doctor. Your doctor may need to gradually reduce the dose
before stopping Prozac completely. Suddenly stopping Prozac may
cause unpleasant and potentially serious side effects.
*This antidepressant drug information does not
endorse Prozac, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. The
information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible
warnings, uses, precautions, drug interactions, allergic
reactions, or adverse side effects of Prozac. If you have
questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your health
care provider or pharmacist. The information provided should not
be construed to indicate that Prozac is safe, effective or
appropriate.
