When u wean off Prozac, does ur depression return?
535875
SSRIs such as Prozac balance out the serontin level in your brain. For a person with (genetic) depression, the chemicals in the brain are inbalanced so as to cause feelings of depression. Antidepressents regulate these chemicals to as to levels that allow a person to cope and function without depression. \n Some people may only have to go on antidepressents for a short time; however, others stay on antidepressents for their whole life so as to regulate the chemicals in their brain to prevent the depression from coming back.\n So, the depression might come back or it might not. Either way, see a therapist during this time. If it comes back, you'll need to get back on meds right away; if it doesn't, you might still need to see a psychotherapist for a little while.
1143671
It depends on the dosage you are taking and the exact reason why it was prescribed, you may be able to stop cold turkey or you may have to wean yourself off of it. Check with your doctor to be on the safe side. Depending on the dosage and reasons if you go cold turkey you may end up seriously depressed and/or suicidal.
839786
You need to get back to the doctor pretty damn quick.  I was on anti-depressants.  It took about 3 weeks for me to start to feel better, i.e. more positive, wanting to talk to people again, go for a walk etc.  I was on them for quite a long while, they worked for me.  I think you need to change yours, speak to your doctor about all your 'worries, fears, anxieties'  I feel for you, I hope you get the help you need.  Life is for living.
1041864
Hello..The depression is a serious condition and i will suggest you to visit a psychiatrist. I am so sorry for your loss..Take my condolences,but you have to proceed to live.Would you think that your unkle will like to see you sad and suffering? No..There are really working great SSRI antidepressants(like Sertraline,Paroxetine etc.) and they are prescribed only by a specialist.If you feel also anxiety He/She may may add some temporary tranquilizer..Good luck!!
764233
When I came off my antidepressants I did it over 6 months, gradually reducing the dose every couple of weeks.  I think your doctor was wrong to tell you to be treatment less for a week, but that is just my opinion.  Go back and see him and tell him how you feel!...;
351585
Yes, you can. Everyone seems to totally freak out about taking other medications when you're on Prozac, but in reality, no over the counter medications apart from St John's wort are likely to interact with it.
1097971
I have been on Zoloft 100mg daily for almost two years.  The only time I have problems is when I forget to take it or get slack because I have been feeling good.  I found out that you have to keep taking it even when you feel great, because if you stop, you feel really rotten and the depression seems worse than ever.  The doctor told me that it is not likely to have to raise my dose, most people do not become "immune" to it, so it is unlikely it will stop working.  If you start having depression start to creep in, talk to your doctor and they can adjust your dose.  Hope this eases your mind a little and remember...Don't sweat the petty stuff & Don't pet the sweaty stuff."
589984
I am on Effexor and am in the process of coming off of it.  I was on 300mg, now am on 225mg.  So far I really haven't noticed any debilitating symptoms, and I feel like I have more energy.  Not too much dizziness, which is good.  I do experience the 'shocks' but not much.\n\nI've been told that the last small doses are the hardest to get off of -- when you get down to 37.5mg.  I'm not looking forward to it, but my psychiatrist tells me that most people actually do not experience severe symptoms like people complain of on the internet.  And if you are having a hard time and your doctor offers you a small dose of Prozac to relieve your symptoms, take it!  It won't be hard to get off of like Effexor, and it really will help with your withdrawal symptoms.  At least give it a try.\n\nGood luck!
778842
If you or someone you know is severly depressed then going to the doctor for a proper diagnoses is vital in gaining your life back in order.  \n\nSome signs do include:\n*loss of appetite\n*anything and everything you did before that you enjoyed, you dont enjoy anymore.\n *loss of motivation\n*anti-socialness\n*mood swings\nand many more...\nthere are ways to get help! And no one deserves to live this way.\n\n:o) Take Care
489062
It depends what you're depressed about, and how deeply you're depressed. If it's about disappointments, troubles... everybody has em. If what you feel is really extreme, meaning, u might not know how to handle it, seek help, and dont go taking zoloft and shiit just because your boyfriend left you (thats a natural, understandable kind of depression- the assumption that its normal to be happy 100% of the time is bullshiit)- those things are addictive and have bad sideffects - the best advertizers make it seem as simple as an over-the-counter advil. You have to tell yourself you'll overcome it and just know theres something better out there than how you feel now. This is something that you have to know somewhere inside - you create this reality for yourself even if you cant change the outside reality thats bothering you - to kind of look into the future that you want and see it as a reality that you have to work towards or bust - think of everything youre missing in life if you stay depressed or if you let what got you depressed keep you that way forever. and even if you cant change the circumstance that caused your depression, you'll have a much better chance to function if you shake it off or give yourself a ballpark deadline as to how long you'll be sunk into that low feeling- you just must invent your own determination or think about what really does it for you in life or what would do it for you- and think, i wont have that if i stay constantly depressed.so after sulking for a limited time to get it out of yo system, u have to move on- makes sense? at some point you have to be hard on yourself and tell yourself to cut it out - to start being nice to yourself, be a little gentle and not cruel to your own self - and when the depression has overstayed its welcome, and if youre determined to come out of it, you gradually open back up again. people should rely alot more on themselves than external medicines for depression - only as a last resort (and through a registered psychiatrist who you tell exactly how you feel, how long and what made you depressed) but generally even if its with medicine, you always count on yourself- at some point feeling better becomes your decision to consciously modify your mood - like becoming a character who you slowly believe in. even meds dont work if you dont believe youre the one who controls how you feel and how you react to things. just think if the depressions making it too hard on you and if you decide against it, decide to fight against your depression, refuse too accept it after its been too long - and you make that choice, bottom line, to float back up from the drowning depths of sorrow or just to stay there - even with meds, nobody but u can make that decision for you!
750145
EXERCISE!!!!!!!!!!!  It will also relieve your depression and allow you to stop taking the anti-depressants.  But start the exercising first for a life-changing experience.  Peace and good luck.
246110
i was on them last year and was finding myself crying for no reason etc...worse than the depression they were prescribed for , i took them for three weeks and weaned myself off them, figured if i was to be messed up in head i would rather be aware of things and in control of depressing moods, it took about two and a half months to wear it off
845252
I was on the same thing for a little while. It is an anti-psychotic drug, but that doesn't mean your prescriber thinks you're psychotic, both anti-depressants and anti-psychotics are used for numerous conditions not just depression or psychosis.\nI stopped taking it because it didn't do a thing, not that I noticed anyway.\nForget any stigma you may think is attached to certain drugs of diagnosis, focus on being well and getting better and improving these things, what may have caused you to be unwell shouldn't be all you focus on, if you do that it can take over your life altogether, believe me I really do know about that, it's what happened to me.\nYou could also get a second opinion, and probably should, it's amazing how doctors diagnosis can vary so much from each other, I think it's worth seeing  another doctor even if only so YOU can look at your situation from a different angle.\nHope this helps a bit and good luck
1138886
It looks as though you have gotten a lot of good answers already.  I just wanted to tell you that I am in the medical profession and I can tell you for a fact that anything you tell your doctor is confidential.  However, if the psychiatrist, doctor, psychologist, etc. feels that you pose a risk to yourself or to someone else, they will report you.  \n\nWhat happens is that you'll be placed on what they call a 51/50 hold, where you will be admitted to a psychiatric facility and then interviewed and assessed by an appropriate staff memeber (doctor, psychiatrist, etc).  If they agree with your doctor's assessment, then you will be held for a few days until you have been placed on medication and stabilized on those meds.  \n\nI know this sounds scary, but this is actually a good thing, because it gives you a safe place to stay where you'll get the help you need, and you will most likely be placed back on antidepressants.  \n\nI'm not sure why your doctor took you off Prozac, but doctors and psychiatrists are the only people who can put you on medications, so a counselor will not place you back on any antidepressant. \n\nOne other thing to note is that if you are having suicidal thoughts, but aren't actively planning to commit suicide, then your doctor may not place you on a 51/50.  It all depends on the doctor's assessment.  I would advise you to be as truthful as possible with your doctor, because that is the only way he or she can help you.  \n\nI wish you the best of luck.
59067
Yes! 98% of depressed people can be treated and many "cured" so it does not return. The cure is a change in both the brain (correct chemicals) and in the mind (appropriate thinking). Dr. Daniel Amen has some amazing SPECT scans of depressed then cured brains as proof.
641716
yes you should be here it takes 3-4 weeks for Prozac to start to work and then sometimes your doctor will need to adjust the dosage to find what works for you I am sure it is hard to have your friends react the way you say they do but sometimes what people don't understand they react to the wrong way find yourself a counselor who does group therapy it can help to have someone who understands what you are going through to talk to if you are spiritual then reach out to your higher power for help as for suicide it is a permanent solution to a temporary problem please seek help  for yourself don't be ashamed or afraid to do so you are not he only person who has the problem you are dealing with and if you look you will find those who are willing to help you
675722
OK....time to take your Prozac