Prozac Withdrawal: Timeline, Symptoms, and Coping

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTimelineSymptomsEffectsPreventionCopingWarningsLong-Term TreatmentResources

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Timeline

Symptoms

Effects

Prevention

Coping

Warnings

Long-Term Treatment

Resources

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When you think of antidepressants, Prozac is probably one of the first to come to mind.Prozac(fluoxetine) is an antidepressant used to treat a variety of disorders, includingmajor depression,obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD),panic disorder, and some eating disorders.

When you stop taking this medication, there is a chance that you may experience Prozac withdrawal for a couple of months after stopping this drug while your brain adjusts to lower levels ofserotonin.

Prozac belongs to a class of medications known asselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These drugs increase the amount of serotonin in your brain, which helps improve your mental health. When you quit taking this medication, it takes some time for your body to adjust. This means that you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, digestive problems, dizziness, disrupted sleep, and mood changes.

Keep reading to learn more about what you can expect from Prozac withdrawal, including how long it will last and the symptoms you may experience after you stop taking fluoxetine.

Prozac Withdrawal Timeline

The good news is that among the SSRIs, Prozac is the least likely to cause withdrawal symptoms. The reason for this is Prozac’s long half-life.

A drug’shalf-lifeis the time it takes for 50% of the drug to be removed from your body. Most SSRIs have a half-life of approximately one day, but Prozac’s half-life is four to six days.This is important because withdrawal symptoms typically begin when a drug is about 90% out of your body.

Prozac is unique among antidepressants because its withdrawal symptoms typically don’t appear for several weeks. Unfortunately, this is a bit of a double-edged sword because Prozac withdrawal symptoms also tend to last longer—about two months.

The longer timeline associated with Prozac withdrawal increases the risk of misdiagnosis. Because withdrawal symptoms appear later and last longer, it is often mistaken for a relapse. This may lead people to unnecessarily start taking antidepressants again.

Prozac Withdrawal Signs and Symptoms

Recognizing the signs of Prozac withdrawal, along with the extended timeline on which they occur, can help you distinguish withdrawal symptoms from relapse. Symptoms associated with SSRI withdrawal are varied, affecting many different bodily systems.

Prozac withdrawal symptoms can range from mildly bothersome to severe and incapacitating. They generally begin between 1.5 to 10 days after a decrease in dosage or discontinuation of the drug.TheDiscontinuation-Emergent Signs and Symptoms Scale, or DESS, is a checklist you can use to evaluate your symptoms and their severity.

Understanding Withdrawal and Its Effects

What Are the Effects of Stopping Prozac?

Antidepressantslike Prozac are among the most commonly prescribed medications in America. In a given month, more than 40 million people take an antidepressant. About one in four have been taking them for ten years or more.

One of the reasons long-term antidepressant use is so common is that people are afraid to stop taking them. These concerns center around the potential for relapse of symptoms and possible withdrawal. And these fears are not entirely unfounded.

Prevalence of Antidepressant WithdrawalMore than half of people (56%) who quit antidepressants experience withdrawal symptoms such asirritability, dizziness, nausea, and prickling sensations.Going off antidepressants can also increase yourrisk of relapse, including the return of symptoms of depression or anxiety. Quitting is also associated with a 60% increase in suicide attempts.

Prevalence of Antidepressant Withdrawal

More than half of people (56%) who quit antidepressants experience withdrawal symptoms such asirritability, dizziness, nausea, and prickling sensations.Going off antidepressants can also increase yourrisk of relapse, including the return of symptoms of depression or anxiety. Quitting is also associated with a 60% increase in suicide attempts.

It is important to work with your healthcare provider to weigh these risks against the potential risks of continuing Prozac. Fluoxetine has a number ofside effectsthat can negatively impact your life. While many of these dissipate over time, sexual side effects may continue even after you have stopped taking the drug.

How to Prevent Prozac Withdrawal

Fortunately, quitting Prozac doesn’t have to be a nightmare. If you are worried about withdrawal, your provider may recommendtapering your doseversus quitting cold turkey.

Your provider may recommend a short taper of one to two weeks (given the long half-life of Prozac, in some respects, it tapers itself) or a longer taper that plays out over the course of several weeks or months. Recent research suggests that a longer taper (at least one month) that continues until your dose is down to zero is the best way to minimizeSSRI withdrawal.

Coping With Prozac Withdrawal

If you are currently experiencing Prozac withdrawal symptoms, there are ways to ease your discomfort, including:

If you are experiencing Prozac withdrawal, talk to your doctor about remedies that might help. They can refer you to a therapist, prescribe medications that may help, or suggest other approaches that you may find helpful.

Warnings When Stopping Prozac

One important aspect of quitting Prozac that you should be aware of is that there is a risk that symptoms of major depression will return. Studies show that Prozac can increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in those diagnosed withmajor depressive disorder(MDD), especially children and adolescents.

As a result, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a black box warning (the FDA’s most serious warning) that Prozac usage may increase the risk of suicidality.

The FDA urges patients, families, and health professionals to closely monitor warning signs of suicidality in children and adolescents who take the antidepressant, especially at the beginning of treatment or when doses are changed.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the signs of suicidality to be on the lookout for include:

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

There are also risks ofProzac overdose, so make sure you seek immediate care. Symptoms of a Prozac overdose include confusion, dizziness, fever, hallucinations, and loss of consciousness. If you think you or someone else is experiencing a Prozac overdose, seek medical attention immediately.

Importance of Long-Term Treatment

Your long-term outlook will depend on your particular circumstances, such as why you stopped taking Prozac and what symptoms you are currently experiencing. If Prozac didn’t help or you had to stop taking it because ofunwanted side effects, you will need to develop a long-term plan to treat your depression. This may include trying different antidepressants or combinations of antidepressants.

Watch for Signs of RelapseMore than 40% of people who have a depressive episode will go on to have at least one more episode in their lifetime.For this reason, maintenance treatment is vital. Maintenance treatment is essentially a long-term treatment designed to prevent relapse. It can include medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two.

Watch for Signs of Relapse

More than 40% of people who have a depressive episode will go on to have at least one more episode in their lifetime.For this reason, maintenance treatment is vital. Maintenance treatment is essentially a long-term treatment designed to prevent relapse. It can include medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two.

Research suggests that people who participate in psychotherapy while discontinuing antidepressants are less likely to relapse than those who do not.Therefore, the American Psychological Association (APA) recommends various forms of psychotherapy, includingcognitive behavioral therapy,mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, orinterpersonal psychotherapy, to reduce your chances of relapse.

Types of Psychotherapy for Depression

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline connects you with staff or volunteers at a crisis center near you. The people on the other end of the line can help you calm down and figure out what to do next.

If your doctor isn’t helping, consider finding a new psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist in your area. TheSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)has a searchabledirectoryof qualified providers. You can also call them at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

If you have health insurance, you can also search the company’s list of local providers who accept your insurance.

Takeaways

The 5 Types of Antidepressants

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