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.
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.
