How long do you feel it took to adjust to lowering SSRI dose?

[purrsian]

I've been on fluvoxamine since I was about 18 (now 33) on doses from 50mg to 150mg (went up and down a few times in the first years before sticking to 100mg for the past 5-8 years). I was never diagnosed with depression and was put on it more for anxiety. It didn't really help much, but I've been unable to come off it because of withdrawal symptoms.

I've finally been trying to reduce my dose because I do not feel like I need it and I'm also trying to conceive. I tapered for 3-4 weeks to reach 50mg and have been at 50mg since approx 10 June (just over 2 months). I initially had a bit of brain zaps, but not too bad since I was tapering. However, I still feel I'm not myself, with anxiety, depersonalisation and apathy being increased and my ability to cope with stress being lower.

I've tried looking for info on how long it takes to full adjust but can also find info on those immediate withdrawal symptoms which I'm past. I'm also usually more sensitive to medications (like many of us with CFS, not that any literature ever talks about that). Every health practitioner says something slightly different about how long it will take and I feel like there is very little actual research or literature about it.

I was just wondering if anyone could share their opinions on how long it took them to adjust? I'm not talking about the brain zaps type withdrawal symptoms that are shorter term, but more how long it took to feel emotionally stable or more 'yourself'. A few doctors have suggested my described symptoms indicate I need to stay on the medication, so I'm trying to decipher how long I should stick it out to see if this is just me (and thus in need of the 100mg) or if my body is just taking time to remember how to function without it.

 

[Alvin2]

This is the best place to get lots of detailed information
https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/

 

[Centime Tara]

@purrsian Yes, survivingantidepressants.org is great. I was on Paxil for more than 20 years, and tried and failed to get off it twice before finally succeeding. You have to go way more slowly than seems reasonable. It took me over a year to get from 60mg. to 20, and then I was able to switch to another SSRI without a problem. If you want to get off entirely, the general rule of thumb is to go down 10% of the previous dose every month or so. That’s not 10% of the original dose!!! So the amount you decrease gets smaller and smaller as the dose goes down. It can take a couple of years.

 

[YippeeKi YOW !!]

@purrsian

A few doctors have suggested my described symptoms indicate I need to stay on the medication, so I'm trying to decipher how long I should stick it out

I need to say upfront that I have a really, and I mean REALLY jaundiced view of Drs and especially ones that prescribe psychiatric meds without having a considerable educational background and experience and instruction in their uses and contra-indications.

That said: Drs almost invariably say that your reaction indicates that you really, like really really, honestly, really, need to take more of whatever they've prescirbd for you, or that you've had prescribed by another Dr, for several reasons, one being that not to avow that necessity may leave them open to further action, legal or professionally remonstrative, down the road. They will NEVER admit that anything that you've been prescribed may be doing considerable harm. It's just not in their skill set.

The other reason (there's many more, but I don;t want to depress you needlessly) is that withdrawal from these psychotropic meds is extremely, and I mean extremely, difficult and time consuming. Since to them, time is big money, they just dont want to be bothered. Patience with patients is another thing not often in their skill set.

or if my body is just taking time to remember how to function without it.

That's part of it, tho it's mostly your brain and neuro system that are having difficulty adjusting.

You have to go way more slowly than seems reasonable

ABSOLUTE GOSPEL !!! @Centime Tara is right!!! Waay waay more slowly. It can take a couple of years or more. But if you dont proceed slowly, your brain will be zigging and zagging, along with your focus, your grip on reality and your emotional balance, for waaaaay longer than anyone would like to endure.

If you want to get off entirely, the general rule of thumb is to go down 10% of the previous dose every month or so. That’s not 10% of the original dose!!! So the amount you decrease gets smaller and smaller as the dose goes down. It can take a couple of years.

I'd start out even slower, say about 5% a month. This gives your brain and neuro system time to slowly adjust to the changes, which will make for a much softer landing once you're finally done. Or, if you're going to do the 10%/month, make it 10% every 6-8 weeks until you et an idea of how your system is handling it.

Don't expect any help from your prescribing, or any other, Dr. It's criminal in its negligence, but they simply won't confront the truth of any of this. They'll tell you that it's all in your head, that you're a train wreck and a mess, that you dont need less of the medication, you need more. They'll try to switch you to another, similar, medication.

Just grit your teeth and know that this is your only way out, unless you can find a tapering Dr, and they're really hard to find. They dont advertise, they need special certification and licensing, they're under intense scrutiny from the AMA and the DEA's drug posse, and they usually have more patients than they an easily accommodate.

You can get off this. Honest.

 

[Centime Tara]

Definitely check out survivingantidepressants.org. They have lots of advice and formulas to help taper. Many people use a pill-cutter, or a microgram scale, and you can also have a compounding pharmacy create personalized doses to help you taper.

 

[JES]

I wouldn't remember myself how I felt like 10 years ago with or without antidepressants, so my best guess is that if don't feel right several months later after tapering the dose, it's not likely you will improve much, but more likely this is your new "normal" on that particular dosage.