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I have taken fluoxetine for over 12 weeks now, increased from 20mg to 40mg after 4 weeks and it has not helped my anxiety and panic attacks at all. It is a shame because it doesn't make me sleepy or hungry all the time like other meds I've taken, and my mood is fine, but the anxiety is intolerable. I am stopping tomorrow for a week and then going back on venlafaxine. Has anyone else come off 40mg? Did you have any withdrawal effects please?
You shouldn't really just stop it like that. It needs to be reduced slowly.
Was this on your docs advice?
You will almost certainly have side effects .You need a proper plan to come off these type of drugs .Spk to your Dr about this .It does take a long time sometimes for these drugs to work effectively .You also need to work at reducing the Anxiety by other means whilst you are on them .No drug will cure you without self help or CBT . t/cSue x
Fluoxetine is a very slow-acting med so although most SSRIs should never be stopped abruptly fluoxetine is an exception and is commonly used as an aid to coming off other ADs. Allowing a week off it before you start venlafaxine is not really long enough however (because it stays in your body for up to 4 weeks) and I hope you don't get side effects. Speak to your doc if you're unsure or encounter problems.
Hi this was advice from my psychiatrist and GP, I asked about reducing slowly but he told me there is no need with fluoxetine. The GP said it will be a few days before I feel any different/any effects. I think because it has a long half life it is alright to stop it without reducing, I just hope I don't have too bad a time with the withdrawal. I tapered really slowly off venlafaxine last time and seroxat so stopping altogether is a first for me. I will be starting the venlafaxine on a very low dose building up gradually so over that time the fluoxetine should be out my system.