Prozac Withdrawal Symptoms

Prozac, or fluoxetine hydrochloride, is a drug belonging to the class of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or SSRI and is used for the treatment of depression, panic attacks, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD) and other similar ailments. With the increased usage of anti-depressants there are increased cases of their withdrawal symptoms that are being observed. Once the human system gets accustomed to this drug, even if it’s a low dosage, it exhibits certain retorts when the usage is reduced or stopped. Prozac withdrawal is not a side effect normally spoken about when a person starts taking the medicine. In fact, the withdrawal reactions of Prozac do not show up until the patients or their doctors decide it is time for them to halt or to shift to a different medication. It is at this stage that it becomes a problem. Hence, instead of stopping the dosage abruptly, it is advisable to taper off the medication slowly so as to narrow the chances of withdrawal symptoms from showing up.

Withdrawal From Prozac

The entire phase of Prozac withdrawal – starting from dipping the dosage to ending it – brings along over 50 different symptoms. There are five main types of known withdrawal symptoms of this drug. Read on to know about each of these.

Psychiatric Withdrawal Symptoms

Psychological effects of withdrawal are as:

Restlessness
Anxiety
Aggression
Extreme Emotionalism
Irritability
Hostility
Sleep Disturbance & Insomnia
Unstable Moods
Memory Issues
Agitation
Concentration Impairment
Unnecessary Crying Spells
Speech Impairment
Nervousness
Frequent Mood Swings
Flatulence
Extreme Depression
Over-reacting to Situations
Paranoia
Severe Internal Restlessness (a kind of movement disorder due to inner- restlessness; Akathasia)
Repetitive Thoughts or Songs
Nightmares
Vivid Dreams

Neurological Withdrawal Symptoms

These include:

Feeling of Light Headedness
Confusion
Tinnitus (ear ringing or buzzing)
Vertigo
Giddiness
Sensory Disturbances
Migraine Headaches
Dizziness
Tingling Sensations
Electric Shock Sensations
Visual Hallucinations
Brain Gaps
Depersonalization
Jumpy Nerves
Blurred Vision

Motor System Withdrawal Symptoms

The third type of Prozac withdrawal symptoms are:

Sensation of Tremors
Dystonia
Instability While Walking
Myalgia
Muscle & Joint Pain
Lack of Coordination
Gait Disturbances
Flu Symptoms & General Malaise

Somatic Withdrawal Symptoms

As the name suggests, somatic withdrawal symptoms are generally the ones that affect the overall body as a whole. A few common examples are:

Fatigue
Sweating
Chills & Hot Flashes
Fever
Lethargy
Acute Weakness

Gastrointestinal Withdrawal Symptoms

This category of withdrawal symptoms includes digestive disorders and problems related to it.

Nausea
Diarrhea
Stomach Cramps
Vomiting
Abdominal Discomfort
Increased Headaches
Symptoms of Flu

It is vital to check with your health care provider before deciding to discontinue the medications he has prescribed you. It is also important that he/she monitors your withdrawal symptoms closely. Work it out with your doctor as you stop taking the drug and you can help prevent severe withdrawal symptoms. You also need to keep in mind that rapid withdrawal can turn out to be hazardous to your health. So, do not quit it abruptly, but narrow the dosage gradually.

Apart from your health provider’s strategy to taper off Prozac use or swap it with another drug, there are a few herbs that may benefit you in fighting the withdrawal symptoms like white peony, citrus, fu-shen, ginseng, tang-kuei and polygala. These herbs help invigorate blood circulation and also calm your nerves thereby taking care of some of the most common withdrawal symptoms. However, their dosage must also be optimally prescribed by qualified individuals.

How to Cite

Related Articles

See also

More in 'Health & Fitness'