Stuck in a constant cycle of starting and stopping Prozac. Is this withdrawl?

QUESTION

I was initially prescribed Prozac 4 years ago for general anxiety and was successfully on the medication for 2 years. It really helped me get through a rough patch and I had nothing but positives to say for those first two years. My PCP and I decided I didn't need it anymore during an annual check-up, but my life has been hell ever since stopping.

Roughly 2 weeks after quitting, I started getting chronic panic attacks almost every day. Extreme dizziness, brain zaps, brain fog, and major OCD happened too. It got so bad that I couldn't leave my house and would flat out have panic attacks anywhere I went. I also developed extreme social anxiety where talking to people was almost impossible. I’m constantly on edge and my nervous system feels stuck in fight-or-flight mode 24/7.

I went back to my PCP and he said these are just normal withdrawal symptoms that should go away in less than a month. However, for the last 2 years these symptoms have been unbearable. I only make it a few weeks before I have to restart Prozac just to ease the symptoms. Once I start again, they typically go away. The longest I’ve made it was 33 days before I couldn't deal with it anymore.

Does this sound like Prozac withdrawal or a relapse of my original anxiety? I never had these issues before starting Prozac. Back then, my anxiety was just being slightly worried before a big trip—basic stuff.

Posted Feb 22, 2026, 4:55 PM UTC

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