Well I think I might have a new problem. Doing a little research. I am 95% sure that Teva pharmaceutical (the 10mg and 20mg capsules) are immediate release and do not have any beads in them. I don't remember ever have any beads or rattle in the pills. There are delayed release fluvoxatine pills but it appears I have not been on those. 

6 minutes ago, HopeHeals said:

Okay, that is good to know. I appreciate your guidance so much! I won't lie the thought of peaking in 8-9 months sounds completely unbearable and scary. My life has shrinked so much, it is hard to imagine living like this for years. I know once you are in it you get through it, but I am afraid. I do think over the years this drug has been causing a lot of severe intrusive thoughts for me, so I worry about going back to it. But also, withdrawal is doing the same so I understand in a way the need for a slower reduction. 

 

I just called the pharmacy. Teva was the brand I was given in the 20mg capsules in February. I suspect Teva has been the brand I have had for the past few years mostly based on appearance. I called another pharmacy I used a long time ago and the brand was Northstar. I am having the pharmacy fill a 10mg capsule script I have in Teva brand today and will have it picked up. I have uploaded a photo of the capsule I've been taking in the past. I am a little confused about what HCL means. 

 

Once I get my hands on a capsule today and open it I will report back to you both!

Sounds good. To confirm these are 10mg manufacturers original not compounded from the 20mg capsules by the pharmacy?

1 minute ago, Chippy said:

Sounds good. To confirm these are 10mg manufacturers original not compounded from the 20mg capsules by the pharmacy?

Correct, the pills I have been on at 10mg and 20mg are manufacturer originals. I made another post above, but it looks like there are no beads in them and the type of Prozac I am on is immediate release, which I never realized before this moment.

1 minute ago, HopeHeals said:

Correct, the pills I have been on at 10mg and 20mg are manufacturer originals. I made another post above, but it looks like there are no beads in them and the type of Prozac I am on is immediate release, which I never realized before this moment.

I’m not sure about this. LIC said the coating of the beads makes them a bit delayed in release in her post earlier. Have you got one there? Can you open it? 

A quick AI search says

HCl stands for hydrochloride and indicates that the medication is in its salt form to improve stability and solubility in the body. Fluoxetine HCl (hydrochloride) is the active ingredient in fluoxetine capsules, 

1 minute ago, Chippy said:

I’m not sure about this. LIC said the coating of the beads makes them a bit delayed in release in her post earlier. Have you got one there? Can you open it? 

A quick Google suggests there is powder in it. I would think a diy liquid from that is the way forward. 

1 minute ago, LostinCanada said:

A quick AI search says

HCl stands for hydrochloride and indicates that the medication is in its salt form to improve stability and solubility in the body. Fluoxetine HCl (hydrochloride) is the active ingredient in fluoxetine capsules, 

Got you so hence it’s a powder

I think the hcl capsules can be dissolved in water shell and all and then you can use the fluid in the normal way? @LostinCanada 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/forums/topic/759-tips-for-tapering-off-prozac-fluoxetine/

 

dissolving the capsule too I imagine helps with accuracy. 

@HopeHeals @Chippy

 

Liquid is the way to go for sure. You need to get some needless syringes.

Please read up on the dih liquid part of this link:

https://antidepressantrecovery.org/topic/240-preparing-doses-for-tapering-weighing-diy-liquids/?do=getNewComment

 

Fluoxetine is really stable as a DIY liquid. It lasts in the fridge for a month though most change it out at 14 day.

1 minute ago, Chippy said:

think the hcl capsules can be dissolved in water shell and all and then you can use the fluid in the normal way

Yes.

 

What were you thinking for a reinstatement dose @Chippy

1 minute ago, LostinCanada said:

@HopeHeals @Chippy

 

Liquid is the way to go for sure. You need to get some needless syringes.

Please read up on the dih liquid part of this link:

https://antidepressantrecovery.org/topic/240-preparing-doses-for-tapering-weighing-diy-liquids/?do=getNewComment

 

Fluoxetine is really stable as a DIY liquid. It lasts in the fridge for a month though most change it out at 14 day.

Yes.

 

What were you thinking for a reinstatement dose @Chippy

She’s only been off 3 weeks so i thinking about 10mg tbh but suggested 5mg to be safe and then maybe 1mg updoses from there.  Thoughts?

21 minutes ago, Chippy said:

thinking about 10mg tbh but suggested 5mg to be safe and then maybe 1mg updoses from there.  Thoughts?

I think this sounds reasonable.

 

I am working through reading the links on liquid! I do not have a lot of clarity of mind today so I am also running this information by my Mom as we speak. @Chippy I do have question, why is 5mg potentially more safe versus 10mg?

4 minutes ago, HopeHeals said:

I am working through reading the links on liquid! I do not have a lot of clarity of mind today so I am also running this information by my Mom as we speak. @Chippy I do have question, why is 5mg potentially more safe versus 10mg?

The longer you leave it the more risk. You’ve been off 3 weeks not 3 days.
 

You were on 20mg and dropped to 10 a couple of months ago which will have destabilised you. So I’m concerned you might be a bit sensitive to the updose. But not as concerned as I would be if it had been 3 months.
 

The lower dose mitigates that risk. If it had been longer I would say more like 1 or 2mg. 
 

You might be fine with 10. I just wanted to be safe. 

@Chippy @HopeHeals

 

I want to stress, because of the long half life...it takes longer for the dose to kick in. So once you reinstate, it may take a month to feel the effects, so if you start to high or updose to quickly, the negative effects (if there is any) take longer to show up. Therefore low and slow is especially important with prozac/fluoxetine.

 

4 minutes ago, LostinCanada said:

@Chippy @HopeHeals

 

I want to stress, because of the long half life...it takes longer for the dose to kick in. So once you reinstate, it may take a month to feel the effects, so if you start to high or updose to quickly, the negative effects (if there is any) take longer to show up. Therefore low and slow is especially important with prozac/fluoxetine.

 

Thanks LIC. Do you have any further suggestions? 

29 minutes ago, Chippy said:

Do you have any further suggestions

Please keep asking questions here @HopeHeals before changing anything. This process can be hard but we are here to help. ❤️🙏

 

48 minutes ago, Chippy said:

The longer you leave it the more risk. You’ve been off 3 weeks not 3 days.
 

You were on 20mg and dropped to 10 a couple of months ago which will have destabilised you. So I’m concerned you might be a bit sensitive to the updose. But not as concerned as I would be if it had been 3 months.
 

The lower dose mitigates that risk. If it had been longer I would say more like 1 or 2mg. 
 

You might be fine with 10. I just wanted to be safe. 

I see, that makes sense. It's a bizarre feeling but today it feels like the withdrawal is crashing down on me. I am wondering if this is more of a 20mg-0mg withdrawal versus looking at it as isolated to the 10mg. I wish I had access to 5mg pills today. I am a little afraid of trying to produce the liquid from the capsules safely. I do know that is related to the OCD. 

 

So basically the theory is that 5mg may be less of an updose or shock to the system versus the 10mg and could mitigate the risk factors of an adverse reaction?

48 minutes ago, LostinCanada said:

@Chippy @HopeHeals

 

I want to stress, because of the long half life...it takes longer for the dose to kick in. So once you reinstate, it may take a month to feel the effects, so if you start to high or updose to quickly, the negative effects (if there is any) take longer to show up. Therefore low and slow is especially important with prozac/fluoxetine.

 

That makes sense. I wish I knew whether the 10mg would have any adverse affects. I am really afraid of getting worse, since today seems to be that I am continuing to get worse. I kinda have a generic question but are people who go CT or make a big dose jump and decide to RI usually glad that they did RI, or not so much?

6 minutes ago, HopeHeals said:

 

I see, that makes sense. It's a bizarre feeling but today it feels like the withdrawal is crashing down on me. I am wondering if this is more of a 20mg-0mg withdrawal versus looking at it as isolated to the 10mg. I wish I had access to 5mg pills today. I am a little afraid of trying to produce the liquid from the capsules safely. I do know that is related to the OCD. 

 

So basically the theory is that 5mg may be less of an updose or shock to the system versus the 10mg and could mitigate the risk factors of an adverse reaction?

I understand. It’s hard to not get in our heads sometimes. You need to get used to tapering at some point so might as well be now. It’s not difficult and you’ll be ok with it I know you will. 
 

Yes essentially the lower dose is just the result of a risk assessment. Honestly I don’t expect a bad reaction inside of a month. But as you said this is kinda a 20mg ct in many ways. We can never be sure of these things so it’s important to allow for all the different variables as much as we can at least. 

12 minutes ago, HopeHeals said:

basically the theory is that 5mg may be less of an updose or shock to the system versus the 10mg and could mitigate the risk factors of an adverse reaction?

It is about mitigating an adverse reaction called kindling.

8 minutes ago, HopeHeals said:

generic question but are people who go CT or make a big dose jump and decide to RI usually glad that they did RI, or not so much?

I think all of us that have done it correctly, are glad we did it. I didn't reinstate correctly, I reinstated too high but still am glad I did. I would not have survived otherwise...I kept thinking my withdrawal would end...I held out just past 3 months. I would have reinstated earlier if I knew better.

Reinstatement is the best thing to cushion withdrawal symptoms.

12 minutes ago, HopeHeals said:

wondering if this is more of a 20mg-0mg withdrawal versus looking at it as isolated to the 10mg

Trust your gut on this....if you were already struggling at 10 mg that means your body had not adjusted yet to that dose. It has only been 3 weeks. You could try the 10 mg and stick with it till you stabilize.

You have to weigh it out...risk/benefit.

7 minutes ago, HopeHeals said:

That makes sense. I wish I knew whether the 10mg would have any adverse affects. I am really afraid of getting worse, since today seems to be that I am continuing to get worse. I kinda have a generic question but are people who go CT or make a big dose jump and decide to RI usually glad that they did RI, or not so much?

Everyone is very different. I think you have a very good chance of not reacting badly and also being happy to have ri. As LIC said the crazy long half life of fluoxetine means wd could be delayed and that’s a big risk here. 

4 minutes ago, LostinCanada said:

It has only been 3 weeks. You could try the 10 mg and stick with it till you stabilize.

@HopeHeals I must admit I’ve been torn as to whether 10mg is fine but you have weigh up the risk like LIC said. 

1 hour ago, Chippy said:

@HopeHeals I must admit I’ve been torn as to whether 10mg is fine but you have weigh up the risk like LIC said. 

This all makes sense. I've decided that I want to go back on a dose for sure. I am waiting on the pharmacy to get my prescription filled. 

 

I appreciate all the insight. Right now my Mom and I are trying to decide if 10mg or 5mg is a better step this evening. We are debating right now.

35 minutes ago, HopeHeals said:

Right now my Mom and I are trying to decide if 10mg or 5mg is a better step this evening. We are debating right now.

Whatever you decide, consistent dosing is very important. It adds stress jumping around on dosages.