Post: #1

This datasheet is in response to this thread: /thread-67947.html

Mainly because I thought it was funny that a patient would have to take tinier and tinier amounts of Zoloft. That is an absurdly complicated and expensive way to manage anti-depressant withdrawal.

That said, for some reason a lot of doctors haven't bothered to learn the correct management of anti-depressant withdrawal, so in case any of y'all have to withdraw from anti-depressants, here is the datasheet for you to discuss with your doctor.

This datasheet is specific for serotonergic antidepressants, which work on the serotonin system in the brain. (I won't discuss the non-serotonergic drugs because withdrawal just doesn't seem to be an issue with them). Unfortunately, serotonin doesn't just manage mood, but also blood supply and pain in the general area of the head. This means that when you stop taking serotonergic antidepressants, you will experience bizarre pain and blood flow problems that make it difficult to live without antidepressants.

The withdrawal pain is usually described as a rattling or buzzing pain in the head - like a swarm of bees is busy raging inside your skull. It is quite often disabling.

This condition is, however, pretty simple to manage. I can't remember exactly where I got this protocol from but I believe it's from Britain (I stand to be corrected), but it's worked well on my patients and I've used it for a few years:

1) Get 4 tablets of Prozac (or any prozac generic - the chemical name is fluoxetine). This should be enough for most people, but some people may need more doses.

2) Stop the antidepressant.

3) After about 1 or 2 days, as soon as the buzz/rattle starts, take a prozac.

4) After about 3 or 4 days, the buzz/rattle will start again - take another prozac

5) After about 5 to 7 days, the buzz/rattle might start again - if it does, take another prozac

6) After about 2 weeks, in the unlikely even the buzz/rattle starts again, take another prozac

Basically, all the antidepressants on the market, except Prozac, work themselves out of your system within 2 days. This leads to a serotonin crash inside your head leading to withdrawal.

Prozac, however, takes about 5 to 10 days to completely work itself out of your system. This gives your brain a chance to stabilize your serotonin levels before the drug wears off. Basically, it's the equivalent of a slow, gentle landing for your brain. Most patients only need two doses and it's almost always around Day 2 and Day 6 after stopping that they need it. Some patients may require a 3rd or 4rth dose. I've not yet had any patient fail to wean off antidepressants using this protocol.

Anyway, if there's anyone struggling with antidepressant withdrawal, I hope this datasheet helps.

Post: #2

Thanks Thomas!
For those wanting more information, Its known as Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome. The link posted send to article from American Family Physician Journal with summary of the syndrome for medical incline individual. This datasheet should be useful if you doctor has no idea on how to handle SSRI withdrawal.

Post: #3

Four fucking prozac. The chick in that story has been suffering horrifically for nine months, and she could've been cured in two weeks with less than a buck fifty in pills.

Every Thomas post makes me realize how fucking BAD American medicine is.

I once went to a doctor at a large, reputable hospital in a wealthy American city, to get help for a debilitating injury.
She gave me two (useless) shots, and told me to see a psychic.

A psychic.

The problem was later cured with stretches.

Post: #4

Good post Thomas. This would likely be effective on most patients with most SSRI's, especially fluoxetine, citalopram and sertraline. I have my doubts about it giving those trying to get of paroxetine much relief and the same for SNRI's, especially venlafaxine. Those two are notorious for bad withdrawal symptoms, most of my patients report withdrawal symptoms of 'brain zaps' after even missing a single dose. I don't recall a good protocol for getting of these right off the top of my head. I believe it is to switch to duloxetine and then taper, I would have to look at Stahl's when I get home if needed.

Post: #5

(04-12-2018 03:34 PM)SamuelBRoberts Wrote:  Four fucking prozac. The chick in that story has been suffering horrifically for nine months, and she could've been cured in two weeks with less than a buck fifty in pills.

Every Thomas post makes me realize how fucking BAD American medicine is.

Her doctor probably told her not to stop the medications, so she had to figure out her own way to taper off.

The method she came up with is not that stupid, and would probably work for a lot of other drugs, but since it only prolonged misery with her SSRIs she should have tried something else or sought other information.

Just curious though, if she just went cold turkey how bad off would she be, and for how long?

Post: #6

Sidenote:

I'm 32, and recently have dealt with IBS. Doctor said it was likely stress induced, which is probably true since I was going through a lot of stress.

Anyway, the doctor started telling me how antidepressants clear it up for many people. I was like yeah I'm not trying to do that, I'll figure it out naturally if you don't have anything less extreme. Then she started getting into the quality of life talk vs quantity as a reason to take the antidepressants. At fucking 32 years old.

Such is medicine in the US.

Post: #7

(04-12-2018 04:12 PM)flanders Wrote:  Just curious though, if she just went cold turkey how bad off would she be, and for how long?

Apparently 2 weeks without the fluoxetine protocol. It can be disabling in some people, as in you can't think straight from the pain.

Post: #8

(04-12-2018 03:53 PM)scubadude Wrote:  Good post Thomas. This would likely be effective on most patients with most SSRI's, especially fluoxetine, citalopram and sertraline. I have my doubts about it giving those trying to get of paroxetine much relief and the same for SNRI's, especially venlafaxine. Those two are notorious for bad withdrawal symptoms, most of my patients report withdrawal symptoms of 'brain zaps' after even missing a single dose. I don't recall a good protocol for getting of these right off the top of my head. I believe it is to switch to duloxetine and then taper, I would have to look at Stahl's when I get home if needed.

I hereby find you guilty of overthinking.

Switch off your biased brain, and read some articles on the subject (I'll leave you some links below), take a deep breath and BELIEVE! Believe that medicine doesn't always have to be complicated, and that sometimes simple solutions work best.

Some academic literature to put your mind at ease:
https://academic.oup.com/ijnp/article/11/5/725/968953
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/article...42/?page=1

Post: #9

(04-12-2018 04:16 PM)Repo Wrote:  Sidenote:

I'm 32, and recently have dealt with IBS. Doctor said it was likely stress induced, which is probably true since I was going through a lot of stress.

Anyway, the doctor started telling me how antidepressants clear it up for many people. I was like yeah I'm not trying to do that, I'll figure it out naturally if you don't have anything less extreme. Then she started getting into the quality of life talk vs quantity as a reason to take the antidepressants. At fucking 32 years old.

Such is medicine in the US.

I've been going through some IBS related issues too, which I can only guess is stress related. I had a particular bad few months a while back (bad break-up) that culminated in anxiety and panic attacks, the first I have experienced anything like that in my life. I'm no longer feeling the effects of the anxiety but my stomach is going nuts. I've been managing it by eating healthy. Caffeine and chocolate can often be triggers. It felt like acid was pouring into my stomach and I had some insomnia as a result (it was worse at night).

I've avoided all meds (apart from taking a total of three mild sedatives). Eating clean seems to be the only sensible option.

Post: #10

Not on antidepressants but I appréciate you putting in a data sheet. Not been enough of them lately.

Post: #11

^I came to say the exact same thing. Make RVF great again.

Post: #12

Welcome back Thomas.