Healing > Medications and Therapy

Getting off my meds cold turkey (not entirely by choice)

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NickyFBaby:
Im just writing because recently I had ran out of the meds I was on (Prozac and Zyprexa) for my anxiety disorders. I can't afford to pay for my medication by myself and being that I don't have prescription insurance, the pharm. company was supplying me with my medication free of cost. Sadly, the Pharm. company never sent my docs a refull. I wasn't entirely against going off them, because the AAP was making me really tired and hungry all the time, and to be honest it kind of scared me. I had tried switching to just an SSRI but all that did was make my anxiety really bad. Like worse than it had ever been. So when I ran out of meds, I decided not to panic about it and see if I could deal with the withdrawal symptoms without tapering off. So far so good, but the "brain zaps" are starting to get to me. The first few days weren't so bad, but the last two or three have been a little worse. I guess what im really asking, is has anyone just quit Prozac cold turkey? And if so, how long can I expect these "brain zaps" to last?

Ronnie T.:
Hi Nicky,I really don't know much about Prozac other than Its a benzo,but I can tell you is that I just quit Valium-cold turkey and it wasn't pleasant!! you can expect to have problems for a few weeks(I'm up to 7 weeks now). I don't really know what you mean by "brain zaps" but I have had all sorts of problems-first week was one long panic attack,anxiety,insomnia,diarrhea,muscle cramps and spasms,loss of appetite and other stuff! The second week was pretty much the same except the long panic attack turned intermittent ,I was hungry and the diarrhea changed to bad gas. Three weeks into it I began to start sleeping again.After one month the anxiety sub-sided as well as the camping but the spasms are still with me as well as the gas.I am starting my eight week and I still have the gas and spasms! I will tell you that for me I am unable to feel any sort of High(natural or induced).I was a regular pot smoker and quelled my anxiety 5-7 nights a week with a drink or two,but now they have no effect on me and it really sucks!!! Good luck with getting off the benzo's,you can do it! The first week is the hardest.I can answer questions in greater detail if you would like,just reply!!

eduk8or:
First of all, Prozac is not a benzo, it's an SSRI.  And yes, brain zaps are very common when going cold turkey off an SSRI.  I tapered off of Paxil over a month period, and had the brain zaps for the first week really bad and then just a little the second week, I was also nauseated for 2 weeks.  Things got a little better the third week and I was just dizzy at times and my appetite came back.  Everyone is different though,  I haven't taken an AAP, so I'm not sure about withdrawal from that....

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