What does it feel like when you stop taking fluoxetine?

October 10, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a 2019 review of research, approximately 56% of people experience withdrawal effects when stopping antidepressants, and for some, the experience can be difficult and include severe symptoms. Understanding what does it feel like when you stop taking fluoxetine is the first step toward managing this process safely and effectively with your healthcare provider.

Quick Summary

Stopping fluoxetine can trigger antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, causing a range of physical and emotional sensations as the brain adjusts to lower serotonin levels. Symptoms can include dizziness, flu-like feelings, mood swings, and sensory disturbances like 'brain zaps.' Professional guidance is crucial for a safe, gradual tapering process to minimize withdrawal discomfort.

Key Points

Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome: Stopping fluoxetine can lead to withdrawal symptoms as the brain adjusts to a rapid drop in serotonin levels.
Common Physical Symptoms: Expect potential side effects like dizziness, vertigo, flu-like symptoms, nausea, and unusual sensory experiences such as 'brain zaps'.
Emotional Changes: Mood swings, increased anxiety, irritability, and feelings of detachment or depersonalization are also common psychological effects.
Delayed Onset: Due to its long half-life, fluoxetine withdrawal symptoms may not appear for days or even weeks after stopping, unlike shorter-acting antidepressants.
Gradual Tapering is Key: Never stop fluoxetine abruptly. Work with a healthcare provider to create a slow, gradual tapering schedule to minimize the severity and duration of withdrawal symptoms.
Differentiating Withdrawal from Relapse: Distinguish withdrawal symptoms (quicker onset, unique physical signs) from a relapse of the original condition (gradual onset, typical symptoms) to ensure proper treatment.
Supportive Measures: Therapies like CBT, regular exercise, a balanced diet, and strong social support can help manage discomfort during the discontinuation process.

Why Stopping Fluoxetine Causes Withdrawal Symptoms

Fluoxetine, commonly known by the brand name Prozac, is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that works by increasing the level of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter involved in regulating mood, emotions, and other bodily functions. Over time, the brain adapts to the consistently higher levels of serotonin. When you stop taking the medication, especially abruptly, the brain must adjust to a sudden decrease in this chemical, which can result in a wide array of physical and emotional symptoms, known as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.

While fluoxetine has a relatively long half-life compared to other SSRIs, which may lead to milder or later-onset withdrawal symptoms for some, others may still experience significant discomfort.

The Spectrum of Physical Sensations

Many of the feelings associated with discontinuing fluoxetine are physical and can be unsettling or even frightening if unexpected. It's important to remember these sensations are temporary as your brain and body find a new balance.

Common physical symptoms include:

Dizziness and Vertigo: A feeling of lightheadedness or unsteadiness, which can make walking difficult.
Flu-like Symptoms: This can feel like having the flu, with headaches, muscle aches, fatigue, and sweating.
Gastrointestinal Issues: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or appetite loss are frequently reported.
Sensory Disturbances: These are some of the most unique and jarring symptoms. They include a sensation often described as 'brain zaps'—brief, electric shock-like feelings in the head or limbs. Other sensations can include tingling, numbness, or hypersensitivity to sound.
Sleep Problems: Disrupted sleep is common, leading to insomnia or, conversely, vivid and unusual dreams or nightmares.

The Emotional and Psychological Effects

Beyond the physical sensations, stopping fluoxetine also impacts emotional and psychological well-being as the brain's neurochemistry shifts. While it can be confused with a relapse, these are distinct experiences.

Emotional symptoms may feel like:

Anxiety and Mood Swings: Heightened anxiety, agitation, irritability, and intense mood swings are common.
Dysphoric Mood: A general state of unease or dissatisfaction.
Feeling Detached: Some individuals report feeling a sense of depersonalization, or feeling detached from their surroundings.
Concentration Difficulties: Problems with focus, memory, and concentration can occur.

Withdrawal Timeline: Onset and Duration

The timeline for fluoxetine withdrawal can vary significantly among individuals, influenced by factors such as dosage, duration of use, and individual physiology. Due to fluoxetine's long half-life, symptoms may appear later and last longer compared to shorter-acting antidepressants.

Onset: Unlike many other antidepressants where withdrawal starts within a couple of days, fluoxetine symptoms can take longer to emerge—anywhere from a few days to several weeks after the last dose.
Duration: While some people experience only mild, short-lived effects, others report symptoms that persist for several weeks or months. In rare cases, they can last longer. Most often, the body adjusts over time, and symptoms gradually lessen.

Distinguishing Withdrawal from Relapse

It is crucial to differentiate between antidepressant discontinuation syndrome and a relapse of the underlying condition, as the treatments differ entirely. Misdiagnosis can lead to unnecessary resumption of medication.


Feature	Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome	Relapse of Depression/Anxiety
Onset	Occurs within days to weeks of reducing or stopping the dose.	Develops more gradually, typically over weeks or months.
Symptom Type	Often includes distinct physical symptoms like 'brain zaps,' dizziness, and flu-like aches.	Primarily involves the return of core depressive or anxious symptoms.
Response to Restarting Medication	Symptoms typically improve rapidly, sometimes within hours or days.	Symptom improvement is slow, taking weeks to become noticeable.
Symptom Trajectory	Usually improves over time as the body adjusts.	Symptoms tend to persist or worsen if not treated effectively.

How to Safely Stop Taking Fluoxetine

Stopping fluoxetine should always be done under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Abrupt discontinuation, or 'cold turkey,' is not recommended and significantly increases the risk and severity of withdrawal symptoms.

The Tapering Process

A gradual tapering schedule, worked out with your doctor, is the safest approach. This involves slowly reducing the dose over a period of weeks or months, allowing your brain time to adjust to lower serotonin levels. For individuals on high doses or long-term treatment, a longer taper is often advised. A doctor may also monitor you for a recurrence of symptoms or provide medication to manage specific withdrawal effects.

Supportive Strategies for Discontinuation

Psychotherapy: Continuing or beginning psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can provide essential support for managing emotional and psychological changes.
Lifestyle Adjustments: Maintaining a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and ensuring adequate sleep can all help the body cope with the transition. Exercise, in particular, can boost mood-regulating neurotransmitters.
Open Communication: Keep an open dialogue with your friends and family. Informing them about the process can garner crucial emotional support and help them understand any mood changes you may be experiencing.

Conclusion

Stopping fluoxetine can produce a wide range of physical and emotional sensations, from dizziness and 'brain zaps' to heightened anxiety and fatigue. While fluoxetine's long half-life often makes withdrawal symptoms milder than with some other SSRIs, individual experiences vary. The most critical step is to never stop the medication suddenly. By working closely with a healthcare provider on a gradual tapering plan and incorporating supportive lifestyle changes, individuals can navigate the process safely and minimize discomfort as their body adjusts to life without medication. A clear understanding of the symptoms and distinguishing them from a depressive relapse is key to a successful transition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Withdrawal symptoms occur due to a sudden decrease in the brain's serotonin levels, which the body had grown accustomed to while on the medication.

The duration of symptoms varies, but they often last for several weeks. Some individuals may experience effects for months, though the intensity typically lessens over time.

A 'brain zap' is a common withdrawal symptom described as a brief, electric shock-like sensation in the head. It can sometimes be triggered by eye or head movements.

It is not recommended to stop fluoxetine 'cold turkey.' Abruptly stopping can increase the likelihood and severity of withdrawal symptoms, and potentially cause a relapse of the underlying condition.

Withdrawal symptoms typically appear within days or weeks of stopping and include physical sensations not common to depression, like dizziness and 'brain zaps.' A relapse tends to occur later and involves a gradual return of core depressive or anxious symptoms.

A healthcare provider may sometimes suggest temporarily switching to an antidepressant with a longer half-life, or prescribing other medications to manage specific withdrawal symptoms, as part of a supervised tapering plan.

Engaging in psychotherapy, such as CBT, can help manage emotional and psychological challenges during withdrawal and can also lower the risk of a relapse.

Fluoxetine has a longer half-life than many other SSRIs, meaning it remains in the body for a longer period. This creates a slower, more natural taper and can result in milder or delayed withdrawal effects for some individuals.