Prozac Withdrawal: Timeline and Symptoms

People stop taking antidepressants like Prozac^® for a variety of reasons. Maybe you’re experiencing some of the medication’s more severe side effects. Maybe you’re not getting the results you were hoping for from it. Maybe your healthcare provider has instructed you to stop taking them, or maybe your symptoms of anxiety and depression have been in remission for six months, and you feel like the medication is no longer necessary.

Regardless of why your relationship with the medication is coming to an end, you might have some questions about what happens when you stop taking Prozac — specifically about Prozac withdrawal.

Does Prozac withdrawal exist? How severe are its symptoms? How can you avoid it? We’re digging into all of these questions and more, so keep reading to get some answers.

Yes, it can. But before we jump into the potential risk for antidepressant discontinuation syndrome (the clinical term for Prozac withdrawal), let’s unpack how Prozac works. 

Prozac — which goes by the name fluoxetine in its generic form — is a type of antidepressant that belongs to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) category of medications.

SSRIs are well known for their ability to treat some of the symptoms of depression. SSRIs like Prozac work to treat depressive symptoms by helping to regulate the activity of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is one of the brain chemicals that helps regulate mood and anxiety.

This medication has been used to treat a variety of mood disorders and psychological disorders, including:

• Panic disorder and panic attacks

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Bulimia

• Anxiety disorders

• Major depressive disorder 

If Prozac does so much to change your serotonin activity, you might rightly assume that going off the medication could cause some problems — and that’s true to an extent. 

This doesn’t mean that you’re “addicted” to Prozac. Prozac isn’t considered a habit-forming medication.

“Withdrawal” can be a confusing word to use to describe what happens when you stop taking Prozac because it typically paints the picture of someone who is experiencing drug cravings.

That doesn’t happen with Prozac — or any SSRI, for that matter. Instead, your brain experiences something different when you stop taking Prozac.

Not everyone experiences problems when going off of Prozac, especially when they do it gradually and under the guidance of a healthcare professional. 

Prozac has a longer half-life than other SSRI antidepressants. A drug’s half-life tells you how long it takes to be eliminated from the body. A drug with a long half-life, like Proazc, leaves your body slowly and gradually, making withdrawal symptoms less likely to occur.

Even when you do experience antidepressant withdrawal symptoms, they can be reduced in severity by proper ongoing treatment.

Symptoms vary widely and can vary in length of time, time of onset, and severity.

Let’s take a look at what you might experience.

While the symptoms of Prozac withdrawal do vary from person to person, you may experience any of the following as a result of withdrawal from Prozac:

• Mood swings and changes

• Agitation and irritability

• Anxiety

• Headache 

• Dizziness or feeling lightheaded

• Numbness or tingling in extremities

• Flu-like symptoms

• Sweating

• Confusion

• Fatigue

• Insomnia

• Suicidal thoughts and suicidal ideation

Essentially, you may experience both physical and psychological symptoms from the withdrawal. The important thing to remember is that even though these symptoms are uncomfortable, sometimes even scary, there’s no actual medical risk associated with them. They’re temporary and can’t hurt you beyond the discomfort they cause.

Severe symptoms might include intensified versions of the above and even sensations described as brain zaps. So, how long might unwanted side effects last? Let’s look at a timeline for context.

How long does Prozac stay in your system? That’s a good question, and it often comes up when people are considering discontinuing the medication.

The half-life — or how long it takes for the active ingredient to reduce its effect by half — of Prozac is four to six days, but it can take weeks to leave your system fully.

Two main factors play a role in the Prozac withdrawal timeline: onset and duration. Discontinuation symptoms typically occur with a delayed effect, so you may not experience any mental or physical symptoms on your first day without medication.

Onset: Typically A Few Days

Withdrawal symptoms may take days or weeks to occur. There’s even evidence of late-onset, which could extend the window to months, depending on your dosage and other factors.

Length of Symptoms: Typically a Few Days to a Few Weeks

Fluoxetine withdrawal symptoms can last for up to two weeks if the medication is abruptly discontinued, but it won’t always take that long. 

One review of discontinuation syndrome in children and adolescents found that without treatment, most symptoms “spontaneously resolve” in a couple of days, with one week being considered a longer-than-expected length of symptoms.

Generally, a person’s adverse effects can be reduced either by reintroducing medication at a low dose or simply by the passage of time. In at least one study, fluoxetine was reintroduced to reduce symptoms. 

Withdrawal symptoms from an antidepressant drug typically become less severe over time. If your symptoms aren’t going away, contact a healthcare provider to discuss your situation.

There are steps you can take to make the Prozac withdrawal process a little more manageable. Some things you can do to cope with the symptoms include:

• Therapy. Therapy can be a great resource for managing difficult thoughts and emotions. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be particularly helpful, as it helps you talk through your experiences and gives you tools to reframe negative thought patterns.

• Over-the-counter medications. Certain OTC pain relievers can manage some of the symptoms, like headaches and other flu-like symptoms. OTC sleeping pills may also help with insomnia.

• Exercise and healthy eating habits. Engaging in physical activity can positively impact your mood. Though it won’t necessarily be a cure-all, eating a well-rounded diet that provides proper nutrients can also play a role in managing your symptoms.

Discontinuing Prozac is possible, and with the proper guidance and care, it doesn’t have to be difficult.

Research suggests that gradually lowering your dose over an extended period of time under the supervision of your healthcare provider — also known as tapering — offers the best way to prevent withdrawal symptoms. 

Tapering means that you’ll slowly reduce your dosage over time instead of quitting Prozac cold turkey. So, what does tapering off of Prozac look like?

Some guidelines suggest tapering down to half of the minimum therapeutic dose (typically the lowest dose it comes in) over two to four weeks before stopping.  

But, some research suggests extending that period to a few months and continuing until you reach a dose much lower than the minimum therapeutic dose. As your dose gets smaller, each decrease should also be smaller, like easing up on the brakes to bring your car to a gentle stop.

More research is needed on the optimal taper schedule for most people.  

Strategies will vary depending on your unique circumstances, which is why a trained medical professional is such a valuable asset and partner in your mental health medication journey.

So, if you want to taper off Prozac, talk to your doctor to come up with the best course of action.

Yes, if your anxiety or depression has been well controlled for an extended period of time or if Prozac is just not the right drug for you, you can stop taking it if you do so responsibly and under your provider's guidance. It's normal for your mental health treatment plan to evolve over time.  

All anxiety and depression medications entail some level of risk for experiencing side effects, including withdrawal symptoms. 

Bupropion (Wellbutrin^®) is an antidepressant that’s generally free of withdrawal symptoms. It’s just as effective as Prozac for depression, but it doesn’t work well for anxiety. 

Other treatments, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), don’t involve drugs at all, so there’s no withdrawal. You can find further details about alternatives to Prozac in our depression medication guide as well as our anxiety medication guide.

You may also consider therapy as a treatment option that doesn’t involve medication.

Going off of Prozac or reducing your dosage may be the right decision for your individual mental health needs. But it’s essential to do it the right way. Here’s what to keep in mind about Prozac withdrawal:

• Prozac is an SSRI that’s used to treat a variety of mood disorders, from panic disorder to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), major depression, and more.

• Though some people who stop taking Prozac experience withdrawal symptoms, this won’t be the case for everyone.

• Prozac withdrawal symptoms vary from person to person and in severity. Some include mood changes, increased anxiety and irritability, headache and flu-like symptoms, and insomnia. Although they can be unpleasant, there’s no medical danger.

• If you’re concerned about the potential side effects of withdrawal from Prozac, the best way to limit them, prepare for them, and generally protect yourself from them is to talk to a healthcare provider about your concerns. There are ways to reduce the symptoms of withdrawal through action like gradually tapering.

Stopping your antidepressant is a big decision.

Maybe you’ve already started the conversation about changing or discontinuing medication. Or perhaps you’re considering starting the medication.

Either way, voicing your concerns to a healthcare provider is crucial for your comfort, safety, and self-care.

If you’re looking for support around antidepressant medications right now, consider using our online mental health resources. You can connect with a mental health professional quickly and conveniently and get your questions answered.