I saw my GP this morning because the physical symptoms of my anxiety are becoming more difficult to manage (shakiness, heart palpitations, dizziness/unbalanced feeling, "brain fog", etc.)....I've had these sensations on and off (mostly on) for the last eighteen months...he prescribed 20mg of Prozac, but I am absoultely terrified to take it after having read all the horror stories from people who have had serious side effects....has anyone had a good experience with this drug? I think I'm most afraid of some sort of psychotic breakdown or permanently altered state of mind....am I being silly? I'm so mad at myself for Googling the side effects and for reading people's posts about the ways it ruined their lives....I need some relief from the anxiety (because, in all honesty, that's ruining my life too), but don't want to go from the frying pan into the fire. I tried citalopram earlier this year and had unpleasant side effects, so am a bit gun-shy about trying something new....
Oh...good stories only, please...I'm scared enough!
Check out a few verses in the bible related to welness and get focused on them..for eg...'Greater is who is in me than who is in the world'. I'm in no way talking religion here..just developing a rapport with the God who created the Earth and it's inhabitants....i too suffered once from severe panic attacks to the point where i beacame suicidal at one point....man it's a spiritual thing...take charge of your life...let God deal with it!
I'm with you, wearykitty. I've been prescribed Cymbalta and am also scared to take it. I appealed to God for help and he told me that my serotonin level is very low and that I need an antidepressant to raise the level. Once the level is raised, many of my symptoms will become much more manageable. I went to the doctor to request one and Cymbalta is the one she recommended for my symptoms. I have much pain, along with panic/anxiety, and she said that Cymbalta is good for relieving pain. So, the prescription has been called in and is waiting at the pharmacy, but I'm terrified to take it because of the same fears you have. I'm afraid that it will alter my brain chemistry and that I'll end up having more side-effects than I started with and then have to get off it and have withdrawal, etc., etc. BUT, it could help so much and God is telling me to try it. He is saying that my brain chemistry NEEDS to be altered. My doctor is actually wonderful and she said that if Cymbalta does not help or I have many side effects, we will try another one. Additionally, they want to give me the generic, and I don't do well on generics. So, now I have to insist on the name brand. I'm already envisioning stress with this, but I need to calm down. I often imagine scenarios that start my panic going and the situation hasn't even happened. By the way, I also had bad effects from citalopram--even more panic. So, I'm with you. We hear so many bad stories, but there are good stories out there, so I'd love the good effects from readers as well. I do have two friends--one is on Prozac and one is on Paxil and they said that these two helped them tremendously for their issues. They both said that they take "baby doses", so if I do go ahead and do this, that's what I'll do--start with 1/2 of what the doc prescribed--maybe even 1/4, we'll see. But, yes---good stories, please!
hi
my doctor once said something very wise to me about the internet: people who write in to the support forums etc are those who have a problem and need to share it. people who have no problem / are cured etc just get on with life and tend not to write it on the internet.
yes there are horror stories. but there are possibly many more people who are taking prozac with no side effects.
your GP should know your sensitivity to these medications given how you reacted to the citalopram so in theory that should have been taken into account.
i would suggest to take the medication, as perscribed, and keep in contact with your gp - over the phone if necessary - to make sure that whatever you are experiencing is ok.
good luck.