Facial Spasms and 'tics' after stopping

[nh_user_1298104]

Hello

So my wife has been on fluoxetine since early December 2019. After suffering some very bad headaches, she stopped taking them four days ago. She stopped abruptly without any consultation with our GP. Anyway, she is now suffering quite a significant withdrawal effect where she is experiencing muscle Spasms in her face and is also ‘lip smacking’. Quite similar to someone who has tourettes.

She’s 36 years old and otherwise in good health. She’s on the tablets due to PTSD from a very traumatic birth of our first son.

Saw GP today and she has changed the anti depressent to sertriline.

Can anyone share any similar experiences or thoughts about this.

She is currently very distressed with what is happening.

Many thanks!

[nh_user_1273259]

Hi Chris
I am so sorry to hear what you and your wife are going through. I think the spasms and tics are possibly due to stress and high cortisol levels as I had something similar. start googling how to help your wife calm her nervous system as she needs to try and find ways to help her calm through her senses to learn to self regulate. If you You tube how to calm the nervous system you will learn alsorts to help her. Propranolol 10mg from the GP really helped me at times my anxiety was worse. The good thing is she is not alone and has you! who sounds like you really want to help, this will help her so much! Good luck and I hope this post helps you a little. Lisa