Hi all. Just wanting some opinions and hopefully reassurance at this stage. I've now been on Prozac for 9 weeks in total. I've been on an upped dose of 40mg for four weeks as of tomorrow. Over the past three or so weeks I have had periods of time where I felt genuinely happy, safe, panic free and anxiety under control that could last for 4-6 days. I've then between these good times had 4-6 days where I have had panic, attacks at some points, very depressed mood and still some derealisation. I am also now on 1.5mg Risperdal and have been for 4 weeks too. I've been in a bad head space now going through low moods anxiety and DR since last Thursday. There have been hours or relief that arent as bad at some stages but I'm starting to fret the medications not going to fully work and pull me out of this. Does anyone have any experience that could advise whether they think I need to try something else or if they'd been through this and come out the other side on Fluox? I see my psychiatriast again in two weeks time and at the moment that feels like a whole nother lifetime away. I'm counting hours not days to get through. Many thanks.
Patrick
You seem to have been given a good selection of medications, you say that you are feeling much better at various times. Give your medications time to work well
BOB
Thanks for your comment Bob I guess I just get more anxious when I have good days then really bad ones that make me feel I'm back at the beginning of the process. I think I will stay on Prozac for at least 3 months to see what the results are.
Wow, I am having a similar experience. My psychiatrist cross tapered me from Paxil to Prozac and I’m on week 6 now but only 2 weeks at 40mg and 1 week of no Paxil. I just talked to him since today has been horrible! I feel like I’ll never be normal again. He said to give it two more weeks and if I’m still not better to try go to 60mg Prozac. I’m hoping this is just from Paxil being gone.
Yeah it's quite horrible and frightening isn't it. When I initially upped dose to 40mg of Prozac I had a week of really intense anxiety during the second week that prompted me to call my psych as well. He upped the Risperdal by .5mg. I then had my really great days during half way through the second and third week and I thought I must be recovering at last? Only to fall back into severe anxiety and depressed mood for a week as of tomorrow it's disheartening but we will beat it in the end! My psychiatrist is abroad travelling at the moment and isn't back until my appointment so I'll just keep plugging along until then. Do you have any benzo you can use during this adjustment period on the new dose? I have Valium and it helps but I try my hardest not to take it unless it's urgent and I'm experiencing extreme panic.
I do have Klonopin but I don’t take it unless I’m really bad because I don’t want yodels with getting off that too. I in fact just talked to my psychiatrist and he said to give it 2 more weeks to see if I’ll even out but then if not better to go to 50mg of Prozac. I asked if it was normal to have a spike before finding balance and he said it wasn’t but can happen occasionally. It is frightening and at this point I’m exhausted! Been fighting with this anxiety for 10 months.
That totally makes sense. I'm in the same boat. What made you change from Paxil in the first place? I'm assuming my psych will recommend upping the dose again if I don't stabilise in the next two weeks as well which makes me nervous ugh. I've exerienced panic disorder and anxiety over the past 5 years but get it to manageable points/almost non existent at the best times and this is my biggest relapse since I first started suffering unfortunately. Nice to meet someone in the same position though. You should keep me abreast of your progress and vice versa!
Will do. Hoping something kicks in for both of us soon.
As everyone else said, keep on the road & see where it goes. It takes time, as we all do know. I have tried Prozac, Lexapro, and now Zoloft for my panic/anxiety and it seems that nothing truly sticks with me to work it out. You mentioned you have had this for years-- well I just crossed my year anniversary. Do you find that you wake up feeling anxious? Some people say it's worse for them at night, but man mine is bad upon waking especially. I get freaked out real easily. Best of luck. xx
I switched from Paxil because I tried to wean off and it went bad and then it didn’t work the same for me. I’m optimistic because Paxil worked the first time so I’m hoping that the Prozac will too once my body adjusts.
You have everything to be optimistic about! Prozac did take around 3 months to work for me the first time around to get me to a place where I felt considerably better and functional And that was on 20mg. So I'm hopeful too it can just be really rough. I've felt better than I did these past two days still not great but improvements so that's something!
I'm sorry to hear nothing's really done the trick for you yet. You're going to find something that will though, it's inevitable. With the amount of treatment options available.. um I usually do find my panic and anxiety is worse an hour into waking up then by early afternoon it's settled a bit but lately I've been waking up into panics from sleep which really blows. How long did you stick with Prozac & Lexapro for before deciding they weren't working foe you? X
Im glad you have felt better. It’s been 2 weeks with 40mg so hoping things start picking up. Keep me informed on how you are doing. It feels like we are in a similar situation. Im trying to focus on the good times.
I agree, my anxiety is worse when I wake up and usually by nighttime it’s easing.
Two weeks is still early for a dose change so give it some time it should work I'm trying to tell mysef it definitely will I just have to wait it out. Four weeks for me on 40mg. More good times in life than bad eh!
That’s right. They say 6-8 weeks for full effect so as long as you are having more good than bad then hopefully it will work. Think 2 more weeks and it will fully kick in 😉. I’m hoping does for you and me.
Yea hopefully by then we'll be chatting about how amazing we feel and this is just a memory! Xx keep ya posted
Hi Patrick I'm on week 9 of prozac fluxotine just feel hopeless most side effects have gone just feel horrible inside no matter what I do or where I go I still feel the same I was wondering how your feeling now and did you stick it out I have tried a few others before this with horrible side effects so don't particularly want to change again feels like I been unwell for a very long time should I stick it out I'm fed up of feeling so low and anxious although I'm not as bad as I was ?x