Posted by Sherry on February 28, 2000, at 21:04:25
In reply to Re: Can I just quit?-Yes, no weaning..but..., posted by JohnL on February 25, 2000, at 5:02:41
> I just wanted to say thank you to all of you who took the time to clear up all of the confusion
about my medication! THANK YOU!
> Prozac has a very long half life and can be stopped abruptly vs weaning. The Prozac in your system will slowly wean down by itself over a period of 5 to 9 days. It takes up to 5 weeks for it to be completely washed out. If any withdrawals are encountered, a single dose as needed might be considered at some point following discontinuation.
>
> If someone has done well on an antidepressant however, I must say I cringe at the idea of stopping treatment. Too often we see the depression return in days to months, and too often we find the same antidepressant does not work as well the second time around. Some people do perfectly fine after recovering from a depressive bout, but a significant percentage of people experience a return of their symptoms.
>
> Dysthymia in my opinion is more serious than a straight forward depressive bout. It is harder to treat generally and has more profound enduring negative effects in all areas of one's life. And it often progresses over time into a more serious and a more resistant condition. Antidepressant treatment is the best prophylactic and can be viewed as good insurance. I base my views on my own personal experience as well as feedback from others' experiences and reviews in literature. I've been burned and learned, and I can't help but feel nervous when someone considers quitting their treatment. But regardless, if Prozac is to be discontinued, it can be stopped abruptly due to its long halflife.
poster:Sherry
thread:22929
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000220/msgs/24698.html