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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by NikkiT2 on July 4, 2003, at 8:39:16
4 weeks ago I started Prozac.. 20mg every other day for 2 weeks, and now 20mg every day for 2 weeks.. 3 days ago the anxiety that I've had under control for 6 months started to show itself, and now I am in a real edgy anxious state... stomach churning, shaking..
Could it be the prozac???
Nikki
Posted by Dragonslayer on July 4, 2003, at 17:54:16
In reply to Could it be the Prozac???, posted by NikkiT2 on July 4, 2003, at 8:39:16
Posted by jay on July 4, 2003, at 23:28:13
In reply to Could it be the Prozac???, posted by NikkiT2 on July 4, 2003, at 8:39:16
> 4 weeks ago I started Prozac.. 20mg every other day for 2 weeks, and now 20mg every day for 2 weeks.. 3 days ago the anxiety that I've had under control for 6 months started to show itself, and now I am in a real edgy anxious state... stomach churning, shaking..
>
> Could it be the prozac???
>
> NikkiYes, it could be..as I have also been on Prozac around the same time you have. Of course it affects people differently. Compared to Effexor...though..I must say, this may be just as bad at times, but it doesn't seem to last as long.
Now, I also take pain meds, codiene, which may help a bit with both depression and anxiety.I also was prescribed clonazepam, and then had Zyprexa added PRN, 5mg's. I find the Zyprexa can leave a terrible hangover, and the hunger craving it causes is tough (for me being overweight a bit to begin with!). But, put the Prozac and Effexor side by side, and I will take Prozac anyday, and run away from anyone who makes me take Effexor. :)(I lasted 5 years on it...and lived to tell!...heh.) It's (Prozac) *not* perfect, and I strongly advise use of clonazepam (or any benzo) plus Zyprexa PRN.
Of another interesting note, I tried Prozac kinda close to when it came out, back in 1992. I took a 20 mg capsule and, ughh, 'freaked out'..really...I had to take a large dose of lorazepam to calm me down...and never touched the stuff (Prozac) since. But, now I am on generic Prozac..fluoxetine (not sure which company)..and I sometimes wonder if that makes a difference.
So, I'd highly suggest getting a benzo, using Zyprexa PRN. Prozac seems to be getting left behind with all of the newer meds, where I think for depression it casts a wide net with a more positive side effect profile than other SSRI/SNRI's. Just to note..I tried Celexa and Paxil, and both had a very nasty 'blunting' effect on my emotions that Prozac doesn't. Also, Zoloft helped but made the anxiety far worse than the Prozac. I think Prozac's benefit may come from it's long half-life which creates more of a 'smooth' reaction.YMMV...IMHO..etc..so keep that in mind. :-)
Best of luck anyways...
Peace,
Jay
Posted by galkeepinon on July 4, 2003, at 23:51:02
In reply to Could it be the Prozac???, posted by NikkiT2 on July 4, 2003, at 8:39:16
The same exact thing happened to me when I started on Prozac and my dosage schedule was exactly like yours is here. I would like to think it isn't the Prozac, but it very well could be. I hope you feel better.
gal
> 4 weeks ago I started Prozac.. 20mg every other day for 2 weeks, and now 20mg every day for 2 weeks.. 3 days ago the anxiety that I've had under control for 6 months started to show itself, and now I am in a real edgy anxious state... stomach churning, shaking..
>
> Could it be the prozac???
>
> Nikki
Posted by jay on July 5, 2003, at 2:38:35
In reply to Re: Could it be the Prozac??? » NikkiT2, posted by jay on July 4, 2003, at 23:28:13
Sorry, I also didn't mention I am on Metformin, which may be causing (99.9 percent sure) at least a good chunk of the current anxiety, and switches to depresion. (No..I am not bipolar.) I've done a ton of research on this (plenty on Pub Med) and never realised how much a role Metformin can play in causing psychiatric, and 'not feeling well' symptoms. But, also...I've lost a bit of the Prozac 'charm' overall. So..I guess my suggestion is don't really consider taking Metformin (Glucophage..brand name I think.)
You may still want to consider my other suggestions..though. Best wishes..
Jay
Posted by Viridis on July 5, 2003, at 8:05:16
In reply to Could it be the Prozac???, posted by NikkiT2 on July 4, 2003, at 8:39:16
Prozac made me very anxious and edgy at any dose, and I took it on and off for a long time (sometimes for months at a stretch). The doctors insisted that the side effects wear off, but they never did for me until I quit it for good several years ago.
My current pdoc considers Prozac the most anxiogenic of the SSRIs for people with anxiety problems, and says he generally avoids it for patients in this category. He wasn't at all surprised when I described my reaction to it, and said that's pretty common.
Posted by NikkiT2 on July 5, 2003, at 9:29:43
In reply to Re: Could it be the Prozac??? » NikkiT2, posted by Viridis on July 5, 2003, at 8:05:16
I take 5mg Zyprexa every day, and that normally does a really good job of keeping those "bad" feelings at bay (the suicidal ideation and self harming thoughst).. I guess yesterday really just took me by suprise...
I spoke with my pdoc, and he thinks I should get off the Prozac.. he said simply not to take any more, so will be trying that (hope fully no withdrawal!).. I had a very bad reaction to another SSRI (Seroxat in UK, I forget its US name) so he thinks I'd better stear clear of them for now.. (Effexor worked great, but withdrawal was hardest thing I have ever done, so not going near that again!)
Thanks for the support and suggestions. And its interesting to read Jays comments about Metformin as I was considering goping on this to help control my Zyprexa weight gain and PCOS..
Nikki x
Posted by Viridis on July 5, 2003, at 18:23:25
In reply to Thanks guys, posted by NikkiT2 on July 5, 2003, at 9:29:43
One good thing about getting off Prozac is that it has an extremely long half-life -- much longer than that of Paxil (Seroxat, I think) or Effexor. Since it leaves your system very gradually, you're much less likely to experience the kind of withdrawal you'd get with many other SSRIs etc. Some doctors even use Prozac temporarily to wean patients off other SSRIs that are more difficult to discontinue.
One thing I have noticed, though, is that each time I stopped Prozac (at least 8 or 10 times; in retrospect I can't believe I did that many trials with it!), I had what I assume is "rebound depression" about 10-14 days afterwards. You might ask your doctor about ways of avoiding that, or at least be prepared for the possibility. As I recall, it generally didn't last too long, but was quite pronounced. Of course, that's just me, and if you're lucky (as many are) the discontinuation should be mild and uneventful.
It's good to hear that more doctors are recognizing that SSRIs aren't for everyone, although they're extremely effective for some people. For a while there, Prozac etc. were pushed as the solution to just about every mental illness involving any sort of depression and/or anxiety. When I first saw my current pdoc, I told him about my reaction to Prozac and some other ADs, and he put me on a very low-dose trial of Zoloft, saying he found it a "gentler" SSRI and had used it himself after finding Prozac too intense (he did tell me it caused him some side effects, and was very direct about his experiences). It completely freaked me out, and when I called him he said to stop immediately.
When we discussed this, he didn't read much into it; he just said that some people aren't good candidates for SSRI therapy and should avoid them. So I do, and am much better with a different med combo (Klonopin, Adderall, a bit of Xanax occasionally, and now Strattera, all at low doses).
Posted by jay on July 5, 2003, at 23:51:36
In reply to Thanks guys, posted by NikkiT2 on July 5, 2003, at 9:29:43
> I take 5mg Zyprexa every day, and that normally does a really good job of keeping those "bad" feelings at bay (the suicidal ideation and self harming thoughst).. I guess yesterday really just took me by suprise...
>
> I spoke with my pdoc, and he thinks I should get off the Prozac.. he said simply not to take any more, so will be trying that (hope fully no withdrawal!).. I had a very bad reaction to another SSRI (Seroxat in UK, I forget its US name) so he thinks I'd better stear clear of them for now.. (Effexor worked great, but withdrawal was hardest thing I have ever done, so not going near that again!)
>
> Thanks for the support and suggestions. And its interesting to read Jays comments about Metformin as I was considering goping on this to help control my Zyprexa weight gain and PCOS..
>
> Nikki xHi Nikki, Ya I am also having another rough time with Prozac. I don't want my comments on Metformin to discourage you from atleast giving it a shot, though. Start low and go slow would be my best advise..and I am sure most on here would agree. I hope I didn't go overboard on the negatives.
Best wishes in whatever your choices...
Jay
This is the end of the thread.
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