It works by increasing the levels of serotonin available in your brain. In general, it can take several months for your brain to regulate itself. Your best strategy for going off your medicine is to taper your doses down slowly. Your doctor can help you figure out the best tapering schedule for you. All anti-depressants can potentially lead to withdrawal symptoms, but some are more likely to do so than others.

It is important to work with your healthcare provider to weigh these risks against the potential risks of continuing Prozac. Fluoxetine has a number of side effects that 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.

What causes antidepressant discontinuation syndrome?

Factors affecting withdrawal—including how long symptoms last—include the type of antidepressant taken, its dosage, and the length of time the drug has been used. The best way to avoid Prozac withdrawal is to consult with a doctor and receive a tapering schedule. Your doctor will slowly titrate you off fluoxetine until you no longer have to take it. Using this method will prevent you from experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

Suddenly stopping Prozac will cause a chemical imbalance in your brain, leading to withdrawal symptoms. Research shows that people who exercise at least three times per week are less likely to have a relapse. Keeping your lifestyle healthy also helps your body adjust while you transition off your medicine. Antidepressant withdrawal is not usually physically harmful, but the symptoms can be very uncomfortable. And you may have a relapse of whatever condition you were taking the antidepressant for. Read on to find out more about the symptoms, possible complications, and how to manage them while you transition off your medicine.

These include getting plenty of rest, staying hydrated, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly. It may also be helpful to seek support from friends, family members, or a mental health professional. Although there is no specific Prozac withdrawal timeline, Prozac discontinuation symptoms typically begin around 2 to 4 days after reducing the dosage and usually lasts for around 1 to 2 weeks. However, in some cases, symptoms can occasionally continue for up to 1 year. Once you decide to quit, you and your physician should take steps to minimize or avoid the discontinuation symptoms that can occur if such medications are withdrawn too quickly.

Common Prozac withdrawal symptoms include:

This mainly has to do with how long the medication lasts in your body. Antidepressants that your body breaks down (metabolizes) quickly are more likely to cause ADS if you stop taking them than those that last longer in your system. See your healthcare provider if you’re experiencing these symptoms. Maybe you went on antidepressants after the death of a loved one, the loss of a job or the end of a relationship.

It’s been shown that people are far less likely to relapse after recovering from depression if they exercise three times a week or more. One of the studies in the review found that out of 95 people who abruptly stopped taking fluoxetine, 67% experienced withdrawal symptoms. Doctors do not recommend stopping antidepressant use abruptly because it may lead to more severe symptoms. Fluoxetine withdrawal symptoms may occur when a person stops taking the medication. These symptoms may develop because of the rapid changes in the brain’s serotonin levels following antidepressant cessation.

To help distinguish between withdrawal symptoms and a return of depressive symptoms, it is important to consider when the symptoms first occurred and how they developed. Some research indicates that withdrawal, or discontinuation, symptoms are common, affecting more than half of those who stop taking antidepressants. 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 with major depressive disorder (MDD), especially children and adolescents. If you are experiencing Prozac withdrawal, talk to your coming off of prozac 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.

How Long Does Withdrawal From Antidepressants Last?

Prescription drug detox typically begins with an assessment so professionals can gain an understanding of your level of physical and psychological dependence on the drug. At this stage, medications and therapies can be used to ease your withdrawal symptoms. Medically-supervised detoxes can significantly reduce the risk of severe withdrawal symptoms and relapse. Should you feel like you need to stop taking Prozac, you should consult your healthcare provider about it and work together on a tapering plan.

How Long Does Delta 8 THC Stay in Your System?

If you plan to stop taking Prozac, it’s best to do so under medical supervision. Your doctor can help you create a tapering schedule, gradually reducing your dosage to minimize withdrawal symptoms. They can also monitor your progress and adjust your treatment plan as needed.

• Unlike drug withdrawal, symptoms from antidepressant withdrawal aren’t related to addiction but are a result of your body trying to return to a balanced state after you stop taking the medicine.
• When taking Prozac, your brain gets used to the increased levels of serotonin that the drug provides.
• For example, some people may experience depression and suicidal thoughts.
• Some research indicates that withdrawal, or discontinuation, symptoms are common, affecting more than half of those who stop taking antidepressants.

Antidepressant Withdrawal Risk Factors

It is important to note that the length of time a person takes Prozac can also affect the duration of their withdrawal symptoms. For those who have been taking the medication for a more extended period, withdrawal symptoms may last longer than those who have only been taking it for a short period. Knowing what to expect – the symptoms, timeline, and ways to manage it – makes a big difference. In the first week after stopping Prozac, you might not notice much. Because the drug leaves your body slowly, symptoms can be subtle at first.

Discontinuation vs. relapse

Withdrawal from prescription drugs doesn’t always end when the these symptoms subside. Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) is a collection of related symptoms, including mood swings, sleep disturbances and intense cravings that can persist for weeks or even months. When people abruptly stop taking Prozac, they may not immediately feel the withdrawal symptoms. Instead, it can take up to several weeks for the symptoms to take effect. Unlike other SSRIs, Prozac withdrawal symptoms can last up to two months as opposed to other medications that only cause withdrawal symptoms for a couple of weeks.

How to Manage Fluoxetine Withdrawal

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment. These side effects may include sexual dysfunction, nausea, a loss of appetite, and sleep issues. These issues may cause some people to want to stop treatment with fluoxetine.

At this follow-up appointment, she or he will check to make sure discontinuation symptoms have eased and there are no signs of returning depression. Prozac has a boxed warning, the most serious type of warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Prozac’s active ingredient fluoxetine has a risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. If you are worried about withdrawal, your provider may recommend tapering your dose versus quitting cold turkey. If you or a loved one are seeking recovery services that accept your medical insurance, reach out to Infinite Recovery today. Be sure to avoid alcohol and caffeine as they can worsen your symptoms.

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. Prozac, or fluoxetine, is a medication commonly prescribed to treat depression, anxiety disorders, and other mental health conditions. It belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that increase serotonin levels in the brain. You may get antidepressant withdrawal symptoms after you stop taking your antidepressant, especially if you’ve been taking them for longer than 6 weeks or you stop taking them suddenly.