Hi everyone. I suffer from anxiety and panic disorder. Prozac really saved my life and I've been on it for 3.5 years. A month ago, my generic script changed...cue the anxiety! Reassured by the pharmacist that they're all the same. Wrong...I had some up and down anxiety again. Well it became bad last week so my doc upped me from 40mg to 60mg. I took 6 days of it and I couldn't handle it. The anxiety was thru the ROOF! Shaking, restless, etc. I decided to find my original generic Prozac I was taking and I'm back down to my 40. I've only been at that for 2 days. Things are improved but the anxiety still peaks. Can the 60 still be in my system? Help....I worry endlessly!
Sorry to hear. You'll have to ride it out. Same happened to me with generic change. There is a difference no matter what they say. Normally when switching or going up or down, small and slow the best. Tapering no more than 5% every 2-4 week's to let your brain get use to it for the future. There is a Facebook group, fluoxetine/Prozac should be illegal that has alot of information and people that have been through the same or similar.
It's wild because I've done so well for 3.5 years on it! No issues... now it feels like the start up effects. My anxiety has increased and it scares me..I've had to take some time off work.
Yeah I hear you. I've had similar issue's. Originally on Zoloft, Celexa and as of 3 year's ago, fluoxetine. Fluoxetine the most difficult and the most side effects I've ever had. Not a fan and upcoming will taper off for good. Celexa I didn't have near the issue's but was forced to switch. SSRI's are a unique animal/beast on the brain. You'll get there.
Thank you. In the midst of it, it seems like you'll never get better. I have planned for 2 weeks off work and I'm praying it improves much before then. My family doctor wants me to see a psychiatrist to help manage the meds more since that's more their speciality. So I'm riding the xanax train to help me thru right now.
Yes. See a psycharist. They are much more knowledgeable about this. Good for your GP for suggesting it.
It is so hard to get into a psychiatrist!! I have an appt Wednesday to see their therapist first then he will get me in with the psychiatrist. Frustrating process when you're so overwhelmed by it..
Be careful and read up on slow tapering with the Xanax also. Same applies with slow tapering and small amounts. Educate yourself on tapering. Ashton manual. Dr's are quick to throw a med at you but in my experience, not educated on the right way to taper.
Check the PL (Product Licence) stamped on the side of each box. If identical, then the meds are exactly the same. I somehow think they'll be different though.
Apparently though the active ingredient is probably the same, the inactive (shell of the meds) often differs which strangely does affect different people.
They were all different manufacturers. The one I used for 3+ years was made by PAR. The new one was Aurobindo and then he called me in 20's (to up me to 60) and they were by Pliva.
If both companies use exactly the same ingredients then the PL will match, regardless of who made the product. There was a TV programme on some months ago about this, and concentrated on cold remedies i.e. brand names or generic ones, whereby they carried the same PL number so it was best to buy the cheaper one in this case.
Upping your dose wouldn't really be the answer as the meds don't work that quick anyway plus any increase in meds increases anxiety initially. Also you've been fine for 3.5 years so why would you suddenly need an increase?
The Pharmacist is the expert in meds, not the psychologist. Doctors / physicians are the experts in diagnosis. Mind you, the Pharmacist might not be aware how ingredients affect different people.
My other post is being moderated as I mentioned a book. I can send this via a private message.
I was starting to have break thru anxiety so my doctor just said let's increase it. I really couldn't handle the physical/mental side effects which is why I went back down to 40. Tho now I'm feeling anxious all over again and I think it's because of increasing then decreasing. I have an appt next week with a psychiatrist.
Yes when you increase you get side effects including increased anxiety, and when you decrease you get withdrawal, so you could be getting a mixture.
Oh good times then! Lol!! Have you been thru this yourself katecogs? I've been perfectly fine for 3.5 years and I'm just terrified of these feelings again. The physical "anxiety attacks" are subsiding but I feel like mentally things are still feeling scattered.
Yes I went through many years of horrendous anxiety, read a lot about it which helped allay my fears, started on SSRI's and recovered. I spent many years on meds before coming off.
Being terrified of the anxiety feelings is the key. Its that what keeps you ill. You have anxiety which frightens you which then produces more anxiety, keeping you in the loop. Anxiety produces side effects of weird thoughts, constant thinking, tiredness, aches and pains and a whole of host of other things - which the sufferer can also become afraid of, again producing more anxiety which they're already afraid of. So that cycle continues - anxiety / fear / anxiety. Breaking that cycle is the answer.
K x
You couldn't have said it any better! There are times in the " throes" of the panic that I'm terrified I'm " going crazy". Which makes me keep worrying something is wrong. I'm hoping these next couple days everything starts to balance out mentally from the up and down. I have begun counseling last week so I'm hoping with the meds and talk therapy I can finally start to feel some relief again. Like I said, a month ago, I felt great! I really hate anxiety/panic. 😞
Yep, I was the same, terrified I was going crazy. You're not ..... its just the release of adrenaline.
I'll private message you.
K x
It sounds like you may have had some side effects fillers in the new drug. Even though the main ingredient is the same the rest that makes up the medication is usually not. My sister ended up in hospital from when her generic brand of tablets became un available so they switched her to another generic... it sent her anxiety through the roof... the Doctors and the Phamacists both explained that a lot of people have reactions to the fillers in the tablets so a direct switch is not always a direct switch. I do not do well with anything generic so I stay with the main original brand of Prozac... my thoughts are even though it costs a bit more no matter where I am in the world if I ask for that main original brand then I will always get the same content. I know if I get my script filled for generic at different drug stores that the chances are it will be different generic brands and I just do not want to mess with that stuff. You will settle down again...
Thank you so much for your feedback. I have called my pharmacy and told them that I will ONLY do this one particular generic and that they need to let me know if there's a change so I can call around. They also told me that they can special order it for me so 5 days ahead of time, I call them and they'll have it. The physical side effects are getting better. It's the mental anxiety that's still bothersome. Tomorrow will be day 4 back at 40mg on my original generic.
Can it be normal to not be ok at a higher dosage and to go back down? Concerned that I had such a bad reaction on the 60 and needed to go back to 40. Tho with all the generic brand changes I'm not sure what to think!