side effects when stopped

Now I am on Prozac, and sometimes I forget to take it or don't have enough money to get a refill right away.  When I stop it even for a day or two, I feel like I'm being punched from the inside, and every heartbeat is like a little electric shock.  I cry all the time and don't want to do anything.

I used to be on Celexa.  Stopping that didn't affect me until 3 or 4 days of no meds.  Then I got a cough and stress incontinence, also cried all the time and snapped at the kids for no reason.  I would also get muscle knots in my back and neck. 

I don't know how much of that was from stopping the meds, but I know that (1) these symptoms would appear every time, no exception, that I stopped and (2) those times were the only times these symptoms would appear, so it seems to be related. 

Hi Peggy,

Thank you for your question. There can be side effects when Prozac is stopped suddenly, instead of gradually tapered. These side effects may include racing heartbeat, dry mouth, increased sweating, stomach upset (burping, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, gas, indigestion), dizziness, headache, shaking, as well as others. Every medication affecs each person differently, so some patients may have all of the above symptoms (and more) while other patients have no problems. I recommend not stopping any medications without first speaking to your doctor, who should be able to tell you the best way to stop taking the medication.

Best of luck,

Casey