Update and Request for Advice (with response)

[Guest guest]

Dear and Group,

I have been regularly following the group with interest but not posting because

I haven't

made a reduction in my current dose since February/2008 and have felt pretty

stable.

Here's a refresher on my case:

--On various SSRI's for 15 years. For most of that time, it was Prozac (20

mgs). When it

went generic, it " pooped out " , and then I took a low dose of Lexapro (5 mgs) for

4.5 years.

--In February/2008 I switched from 5 mgs of Lexapro to 5 mgs of (name brand)

Prozac

because I thought it would be a smoother drug to withdraw from. Initially, I

tried 10 mgs

of Prozac, but felt too racy and speedy and took it down to 5 mgs. (I was only

on the 10

mgs for a day or so, so I didn't step it down gradually.)

I have felt relatively stable since this reduction. I have had some return of

certain

emotional symptoms, but to me they have felt like a return to my original issues

before I

was on medication (social anxiety, getting stressed easily, being fearful to

'put myself out

there'). I didn't have any physical symptoms.

Lately however, in the past week or so, I do feel some physical symptoms that

feel like

withdrawal (some dizziness, hard time sleeping, creepy-crawly feelings on skin

at night,

and anxiety has notched itself up to another level, that while is bearable, is

not very

comfortable). There is a little nausea and bowel changes (not going as

regularly and

occasional diarreah).

Interestingly, some physical symptoms that I normally have when making a drug

reduction

are not present: I'm not sore or achy, I don't have the " cotton head " feeling

or the feeling

that my eyeballs are wrapped in cotton. I don't have abdominal cramping. I

don't have

restless legs at night. And though I do feel down and tired, I don't feel

suicidal, which I

have in the past with drug reductions that were too fast.

I guess I'm a little confused as to why this is showing up almost 8 months

later, but maybe

I shouldn't be since I have heard of this happening to others.

Another thing worth mentioning is that I have started a new job and although I

like it, that

has notched my stress level up some. I haven't really been challenged much

during the

past 6 months, and have had lots of " chill time " working very part-time hours.

Now I'm

working nearly full-time and running around quite a bit.

My question is, should I wait for this to pass, assuming it is some sort of

protracted

withdrawal, or should I go up a little on the medication and then attempt

smaller

reductions when I'm stable?

I know that there's supposed to be a window of time when that is no longer

possible, but

maybe that is for when you're completely off the drug?

Would love to know your thoughts.

** It sounds like you're developing a tolerance. Sitting it out for 8 mos.

without reducing was not a good idea.

You can try going up a little. Then you'll have to look at beginning to reduce

again.

--C