Tapering: Prozac

reinstated

17 posts

MLew

March 17, 2026··

Posted in:Introductions and Updates Prozac (Fluoxetine)

After discovering a benign brain tumor and having it removed in February 2025, I went on a mission to "clean up" my life. Started eating organic, got rid of perfumed body products, started taking supplements, etc... ...and decided to try going off my anti-depressant. That I have been on for 30 years. Went to my doc. She didn't really have much guidance on the process, so I ended up fast tapering it. And put myself into withdrawal. I reinstated the med (had been at 60 mg. started back at 10 mg.). My doc up-dosed me three weeks ago to 30 mg. from the initial 10. This was during my week-long visit to the psych ward. I've had about one window per week until the third week, when I had three that lasted at least a half day. While I have been hopeful about the reinstatement, I'm not convinced it's working and am seriously considered starting a taper. Any advice appreciated!

Prozac — 30 mg — 30 years — reinstated
Cold Turkey from 60 mg - August 2025
Reinstated 10 mg - December 29, 2025. For about 6 weeks.
Hospitalized - February 11 - 17, 2026
Increased to 30 mg - February 21, 2026

11 Replies

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Catina6mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

"After discovering a benign brain tumor and having it removed in February 2025, I went on a mission to "clean up" my life. Started eating organic, got rid of perfumed body products, started taking supplements, etc..." — @MLew

Hi @MLew and welcome to Taper Community! First of all, I'm sorry to hear about your brain tumor, but I'm glad it wasn't cancerous and that it put you on a path of taking good care of yourself.

"...and decided to try going off my anti-depressant. That I have been on for 30 years. Went to my doc. She didn't really have much guidance on the process, so I ended up fast tapering it. And put myself into withdrawal. I reinstated the med (had been at 60 mg. started back at 1..." — @MLew

I'm sorry you weren't given proper tapering advice by your doctor. It's all too common unfortunately. I've been in the psych ward twice myself and both times were due to antidepressant withdrawal. I just created a document with information about Reinstatement, and I think it will be helpful to you. Please review it and then let us know if you still are unsure about how to proceed: https://taper.community/thread/affd8e83-2361-4973-8f07-76d16744448a We're glad you're here, and we'll help you the best we can! Catina ❤️

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

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BasedStaff6mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

Hi MLew! Welcome and thanks for sharing! Quite the story, you show great resolve and determination. My suggestion would be to try to find a clinician who can help you in the process. Have you taken any steps towards this?

Creator of Taper Community, here to help you.

MLew5mo ago

LighthouseProzac · reinstated

I'm five weeks today reinstated and trying not to freak out. This past week I have developed a numbness that is very bizarre. Emotional blunting is going on - no feelings of joy, pleasure, happiness. I'm also noticing that I'm sensing anxiety symptoms physically, but not mentally, if that makes sense. Same with sexual arousal and orgasm- I'm getting the physical sensations but there are no actual feelings of pleasure. I'm also noticing some cognitive effects, especially involving executive function. Should I decrease my dose? Is my brain and nervous system irreparably damaged?

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BasedStaff5mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

Hey MLew, sorry to hear youre having a tough time. Do not worry, your brain is far from permanently damaged. What's likely happening, your nervous system is in active recalibration. The symptoms you're describing are consistent with a destabilized nervous system that hasn't yet found its new equilibrium. This is sometimes called a "functional dissociation," where the autonomic/somatic pathways are partially online but the higher limbic and cortical integration hasn't caught up yet. The split between physical sensation and emotional experience (anxiety felt in the body but not the mind, physical arousal without pleasure) is actually a meaningful signal that your brainstem and peripheral nervous system are responding, but the cortical and limbic systems responsible for integrating sensation into felt experience are still dysregulated. This is common in reinstatement and in withdrawal states generally. It is uncomfortable and disorienting, but it is not the same as permanent damage. The executive function changes are also typical, the prefrontal cortex is particularly sensitive to serotonergic and noradrenergic fluctuation. On whether to decrease your dose, this is a decision for you to make with your prescriber's input, because it depends. That said, a common clinical concern with reinstatement is reinstating too high, which can paradoxically cause or worsen symptoms. If you haven't already, tracking symptoms day by day this week would give you and your doctor useful information about trajectory. The nervous system is far more plastic than we once believed. The symptoms you're describing, while frightening, are functional, not structural.

Creator of Taper Community, here to help you.

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Catina5mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

"I'm five weeks today reinstated and trying not to freak out." — @MLew

Hi MLew....thanks for your update. Definitely try to remain calm because you haven't done anything that is going to cause permanent harm. Did you have a chance to read over the information about reinstatement?

"Should I decrease my dose?" — @MLew

It's hard to answer this for you. If it were me, I would review the info on reinstatement again and weigh it against how I was feeling. I'm sorry there's not a quick easy answer, but please be assured that you're not permanently damaged. We're here for you anytime....❤️

MLew5mo ago

LighthouseProzac · reinstated

Your responses are very much appreciated, especially today, as I woke up this morning with some pretty major anxiety. And I'm "feeling" it this time (see my previous description of this). Regardless, I have proceeded with my typical daily routine. Regarding the reinstatement, I should clarify: I gave the initial reinstatement at 10 mg about 6-7 weeks. At that time I was working with Outro, who parted ways with me when the SI started and I had to go inpatient. So to sum up the reinstatement: 6-7 weeks at 10 mg, five weeks at 30 mg. At this point, I am hesitant to increase the dose. If anything, I want to start tapering. Now that I have seen the damage that this SH*T has caused, I want it out of my body! To be clear- I am holding at 30 for now and gathering information before starting (or tapering) anything. My biggest fear- am I too old (I'm 58) and been on this stuff too long to expect to get off of it? In your experience, is that realistic? I mean, I'm pretty tough and stubborn and I have excellent family support, but... Thoughts?

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Catina5mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

Hi @MLew, I'm glad we're able to help and support you right now. I understand your hesitancy to increase your dose anymore. I also understand the feeling of wanting to taper and be free of these horrible drugs, believe me! But we need to taper from a place of stability. ChatGPT once said "you don't taper to find stability, you taper from stability." Unfortunately, it can take many months after a reinstatement to reach stability. I think you're approaching this cautiously and are to be commended. We certainly can't afford to make rash decisions. I'm no spring chicken either, but I am determined to get off my own drugs if it's the last thing I do. I think if we do it very slowly then we can be successful. It's great you have a supportive family; that definitely helps! As long as you're not getting any worse with being at 30 mg, a suggestion would be to just give things time to stabilize. Then at that point, you can taper again very slowly.

MLew5mo ago

LighthouseProzac · reinstated

Thanks for your input, Catina!

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Catina5mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

"Thanks for your input, Catina!" — @MLew

You're very welcome ❤️.

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BasedStaff5mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

Hey MLew, thanks for checking in! Ithink Catina raises some good points about taking caution is to be commended. One thing I would recommend per the community is try filling out the taper check ins so its easier to track instead of commenting on the same post.

Creator of Taper Community, here to help you.

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Catina5mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

"One thing I would recommend per the community is try filling out the taper check ins so its easier to track instead of commenting on the same post." — @Based Psychiatrist

This is a great suggestion from BP! I think it would definitely benefit you. 👍

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