Just started taking prozac last week for anxiety. It's seems to actually be creating more requent panic attacks, and I feel kind of over-alert, as if I'm on speed. ANyone else have this? WIll it go away, or should I discontinue? It's driving me absolutely nuts.

Hi there,
I took Prozac for about 6 months a while ago, i have to say the first week was awfull, terrible panic attacks, frequent trips to the toilet, headaches, sweating, it was worse than the initial symptoms i had. Anyway you must definately see this through, the second week was a lot better and by the third i was feeling so much better in myself and most of the awful side effects had dissapeared. My anxiety was a whole lot better and i started to enjoy life like i used to. Obviously everyone is not the same but what you are describing mimics my side effects perfectly. Please try and hang in there i am sure things will start to improve for you soon. If after a couple more weeks there is no improvement i would suggest trying Lofepramine, this is fantastic for Anxiety and really knocks you out at night if sleep is a problem, i had to stop unfortunately as i suffer constipation and this drug made it a whole lot worse. I hope i have been of some help, please keep me posted on how you are doing. Kelly x

Thank you so much for your response. I didn't take the dossage this AM as normal, as I'm still waiting to hear back from the doctor. At worst, I'll miss one day, I guess, if the doctor also says to fight through it.


But I don't know how anyone can live with these effects for a whole week. It's almost like the drug says: "you think you have, anxiety, I'll show you anxiety!" to make you thankful for the lower lever you previously suffered from.

If the doctor says so, though, I'll try to fight through it.


I was hoping for easy solution, but I guess everything has a price attached.

Thanks again. Damn is this tough.

Doctor finally called back. I'm to go down to 10mg for two weeks, then up to 20mg if all's well. Hope this doesn't mean I'm prolonging the side-effect period.


Let me tell anyone out there reading this whose considering starting SSRI's, these initial side-effects will make you really think twice. They suck, and suck really really bad.

Let me tell anyone out there reading this whose considering starting SSRI's, these initial side-effects will make you really think twice. They suck, and suck really really bad.

SSRI'S are good med's, not everyone has side effects, and for those that do it does run it's course. I'm surprised the doc put you on prozac. It lost it's popularity years ago.......

Doc chose it becuase I have family members who have used it with success. Ironically, he said it also had least severe side-effects.

Yeah..side effects are bad. Im going through hell moving off of a simple 10mg of paxil to 10mg lexapro. almost fainted at work today after having a panic attack.

cant wait till this is over!

Adam

Boy, do I relate! This is my 4th week on 50 mgs zoloft, after being on 25 mgs for three weeks, and it's been a very rough road. The thing is, it's addressing my depression, but I still feel wired and panicy, especially in the morning and evening, and can't sleep without ativan or ambien. But my days are finally a good deal happier and more productive, so I'm hanging in there. Anyone who tells you that side effects on SSRIs are mild is either in denial, hasn't tried them, or got lucky! It's hell getting adjusted! I hear that prozac and to an extent, zoloft, are among the more activating, at least initially, but I can tell you that lexapro was no picnic for me either! Hang in there!

Adam, I've been following your progress. For you, it's doubly hard, getting off paxil and onto lexapro. I think that you're very brave. I hope it helps to know that so many of us can relate and are rooting for you every day!

Good luck to you both!

Thanks. What do you mean by prozac being more "activating?"


(Pharamacist friend just told me "temporary" side effects could go on for months of the whole time -- :eek: . Can anybody give me a rough time estimate 'till this initial stage will go. Just go ahead and lie, I need to see a light at the end of this tunnel.

I had horrable side effects from ssri. I have always been very healthy person, but started zoloft (same class as prozac) for pms and it had me thinking that I was going crazy. I started on 25mg and over the next few weeks I was getting dizzy, shaky, my anxiety levels increased, and I just felt like my insides were go..go..go. I didn't know what was causing my symptoms at the time so my Dr order blood work and an increase to 50mg. Well 50mg almost pushed me over the edge. My anxiety levels went so high I couldn't even go into a grocery store, and I had to take leave at my job as an aerobics instructure, thing I enjoyed became scary, and I started to have full blown panic attacks. I started having hot flashes, an increase in bad headaches, and my energy level dropped. Towards the end I was seeing flashes or lines of light, and having ringing in the ears, I also started to clench my jaw. I had soooo many tests done, and was going dr to dr. I honestly started to think that I was loosing my mind. I would sit on the computer for hours everyday (to scared to go anywhere) and research. My dr never told me about the side effects on ssri's, and the company websites are not much help eather. I found an article in 'The New England Journal of Medicine' on serotonin syndrome, and there were all of my symptoms. I started weaning myself off of it and became my old self again. At least I know that I'm as health as a horse from all of the blood work, mri's and everything else I've had done. I have found through my experience you have to be your own advocate.

Well, just that it's more apt to make you jittery and anxious at first rather than fatigued. Lexapro made me both very tired and jittery for the first three weeks - not a fun combination! I think that early side effects prevent many of us from reaping the ultimate benefit of antidepressants. That's been the case with me - just couldn't stick them out, so now I'm back trying zoloft for the third time, and determined to stick with it! All I can say, AnnArborHawk {neat name!} is that the benefits of zoloft are finally beginning to outweigh the negatives, but my body clearly hasn't still fully adjusted. If I went by how I felt the first couple of weeks, I'd have bagged it yet again, so that should give you hope! I think that we're all very different in our reactions to meds.

Yeah..side effects are bad. Im going through hell moving off of a simple 10mg of paxil to 10mg lexapro. almost fainted at work today after having a panic attack.

cant wait till this is over!

Adam

Adam, You should have stuck with the Paxil, Your brain was more accustomed to it, now it has to get use to the lexapro...With the recall I switched from 25 CR to 20 Regular. No difference that I can tell.........Good luck!! :)

yeah i know...i figured the doctor knew best. i was a wreck after simply going from the cr...now im just destroyed.

SSRI'S are good med's, not everyone has side effects, and for those that do it does run it's course. I'm surprised the doc put you on prozac. It lost it's popularity years ago.......

Paxilhead: what did you mean when you said " prozac... lost its popularity years ago" ? any info about that? where can I find it?

thanks

leibnyz
(on 2nd day of prozac)

I don't buy that "that Prozac has lost it's popularity".... what is has lost is it's patent and therefore the newer SSRI's are being marketed more aggressively! Paxil spent more money last year on marketing than Nike did for its shoes!!!

Prozac is still the first line of choice for many people. It's just that the devil is in the dosing. If you start too high...ie> 10- or 20MG, it may wig you out as it did me the first two weeks. I thought I was losing my mind. Same things you are experiencing. And I had to quit after 14 days. However, I started again with the liquid at 2 drops and every week would increase by 2 drops...eventually I got to 5MG (20 drops) and everything is GREAT...no side effects no panic no nothing. And by the way, it is the easiest SSRI to get off of because it has the longest half life. Give it a try at a smaller dose and work your way up. It's still a great med.

Paxilhead: what did you mean when you said " prozac... lost its popularity years ago" ? any info about that? where can I find it?

thanks

leibnyz
(on 2nd day of prozac)

The more popular SSRI's out now are Paxil, Lexapro, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, etc. Prozac is still albeit popular among younger people for Dr's to prescribe (less risk of suicide on Prozac for them)...

So would 10mg prozac still be considered a highish initial dose? I'm still hesitent to take any. (Last dose was 20mg on Tuesday morning -- and I'm still exp. side effects).

So would 10mg prozac still be considered a highish initial dose?

Nope, some people start at 20....

Paxilhead, people prone to anxiety and panic most likely will not tolerate the standard dose....which is 20mg. In my opinion Ann, you should start very small and work your way up. By the way, in doing that search you will find that the efficacy of Prozac dosages was the same for 5mg as it was for 10mg just with little or no side effects...something to think about...why go through those terrible side effects when you can just slowly work your way up?

My Doc started me on the 20mg dose, the side effects in the first week was awful but the end result with this med was excellent, i agree starting on a lower dose and building up would be a good idea, this wasnt an option i was given.

Thanks, I can't split the 10mg capsule. So I think I'll try the 10mg at lunch. Then ask about 5's if I still wig-out.

(Did I mentioned this sucks).

It sure does suck but i promise you will get through the side effects and come out the other side a hell of a lot happier. Keep me posted on how things are going. Take Care x

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ooops sorry about that....but also, you can get prozac 10MG in tablets that are scored and you can take half a dose (5MG)....just another suggestion!

Thanks, almost 24hrs since 10mg. Side effects are much less. Down to VIVID dreams, waking up in middle of night, slight wired feel. -- things I can definately cope with for a few weeks if need be.

I appreciate all the responses.

I felt a bit odd for the first couple of weeks when I started on Prozac back in November. I was getting sweats, feeling not quite with it and feeling a bit nauseous, but after a few days those side-effects went away. The only side effect that I'm left with is vivid dreams, but as time goes on they are becoming less and less frequent. The positives far outweigh the negatives as far as I'm concerned. I'm actually leading a normal life again now and not worrying continuously about everything.

Good luck AnnArborHawk. I hope prozac works for you :)

Hi -
I know this is an old post but I'm just wondering how everyone is doing with the prozac now? I just started a few days ago and I don't like the side effects. I get a lot of heart racing and skipping, anyone have that?

It seems that if you stick with it the prozac works. I hope it will for me. I'm taking 20mg for anxiety and I feel more anxious now.

Thanks for you help!! :)

Nope, some people start at 20....

I was under the understanding that 20mg was the starting dose. Although maybe it's different over here in the UK, and it was Fluoxetine (the generic) I started on.

Hi, I've just started on prozac a week ago after being on effexor and cipralex which never helped me. I am on it for anxiety and my anxiety levels have definitely risen since I started. I hope this eases off soon and the benefits start to kick in.

Hi Malibu82,

Are you experiencing any heart racing or skipped beats? This is driving me crazy and I don't know if I will stick with it.

As a lot of us with anxiety/panic know, it's important to start at a small dose....why not get a 10MG tablet and split it in half and start with 5mg for a week and then try to up the dose.....the side effects are a lot less likely at this point. I've been on Prozac 5 mg for four months now and not had to up the dose. I also take 1MG of the extended release Xanax and have not had to up that dose either. It's a good combo. Just my two cents.

Hi -
Thanks for the help. I wish they would prescribe xanax but no doctor around here will, they just say it's to additive. Did you get headaches on the prozac? The last two mornings I have woken up with terrible headaches. Just wondering if it's another side effect.
Thanks again. :)

Howdy, you may need to switch doctors and see a psychiatrist instead....they are more apt to prescribe medications for anxiety conditions. There's a bif stigma out there about benzos...an incredible shame. The Xanax extended release is much different from the regular one where people are popping three and four pills a day. And yes, I did get headaches with the Prozac...horrible at 20mg...but then when I started and slowly went up to 5mg,,,,no problems!

Hi Bondgrll -
Thanks for your help. I will talk to my doctor and see what see says. If she does nothing I will see a psychiatrist. It's been 6 days since started the prozac and I'm not feeling any different. I hope this kicks in soon.
Have a good day :)

Hi all-

I am on my first week of prozac (took it every other day last week, but every day this week), and feel a combination of anxious and "in a fog/not there..." I hate this feeling!!!! Can anyone tell me if this will pan out--I had success with Zoloft a few years ago, but gained lots of weight, which I have now lost, so I really don't want to go back on it...though I don't recall feeling in a fog like this...any thoughts or experiences??

OH YEA!! Been there done that...the whole brain fog...not being there....weird anxious feelings and all that....what dose are you on? I got all those nasty side effects and more at 20 MG. You're experiencing side effects from a good med so why not start at a lower dose and work your way up? If you're prone to anxiety start at 5mg for 10 days and then try to take 10MG but split it up during the day. I know several people who had to start at 2MG of prozac and work up. Do it this way and there are ZERO side effects...a much more pleasant way. And again, I know there are some people out there who may disagree, but in the initial stages of taking an SSRI, it helps a lot of people to take a small dose of a longer lasting benzo like Klonopin or the Xanax XR. Good luck.