Medication switch over

[Maddis mum]

Hi, I am 21 days into taking 20mg prozac a d feel increased anxiety, agitation, fear, no appetite and insomnia. I was wondering if anyone else did a switch from another med to prozac? I was first put on lexapro for 6 mths and while it helped some it only helped half the time so 3 weeks ago I was told to taper down the lexapro and start the prozac. I wonder if it still takes a while to build up in my system even tho I was already on a med?

[Arnie365]

Hi not sure about switching but the increased anxiety with fluoxetine is perfectly normal at this stage. Weeks 2-3 were the worst for me though still get the odd wave now and I'm 6 weeks in.

[shygurl]

I was wondering the same thing. I was on another drug for about a month had to wean off that drug and now. I have been on prozac for only a week and I find I am more nervous than I was before I started prozac. I have started to be scared or afraid for what seems to me to be no apparent reason. Wondering if anyone else seems afraid and such. I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Just wish that I could feel better a lot sooner.

[Maddis mum]

Hi shygurl. I feel the same way. I keep waking up with this adrenalin feeling running through my body. And this nervousness. I am worrying if its to activating or if it wears off.

[Maddis mum]

Thanks Arnie, have you felt any improvement yet?

[Arnie365]

Yes starting to thanks. Am doing therapy as well though so its hard to know which is helping etc but I am a lot better so not too worried which one it is! Side effects have certainly stopped. As I say weeks 2-3 were the worst but did have the odd morning idwake up having wave after wave of panic but this seemed to stop over Christmas.

Are you doing therapy as well? I think it's important to tackle it from both sides so it doesnt come back after I stop the meds.

[Janine]

Yes it is normal to feel all these things, I started to feel better at five and half weeks, it was all bad but weeks four to five were particularly bad for me, I think al lot of that is because it has gone on so long as well and you think you should be feeling better and then instead I felt even worse.

It was worth it in the end even if it did not feel like it at the time.

[Maddis mum]

That's good news Arnie, I hope it keeps getting better for you. I am now week 3 and I just got back from the do for and am freaking out. She wants me to increase my dose to 30. I don't understand. I'm on 20 now. Isn't it to soon? Also would t it just make my side effects worse. As it is my Han are shaking when I try to hold anything. I have the constant fear, agitation, anxiety, insomnia. I just do t know what to do now.

Did either of you get the shaking and trembling in your hands?

[Arnie365]

Hi maddis mum no I didn't get shaking hands. Just the awful wave of panic.

The doctor might have been thinking 30mg all along but wanted to ease you into them. I don't think say doubling the dose equals double the side effects though. It's already starting to get into your system. 40mg is not an uncommon dosage to be given

[Maddis mum]

Well I did it. After lots of crying this morning and panic I took the extra 10mg. Lets see what happens now lol.

Kim

[Arnie365]

Well done! Just remember to be objective about how bad your symptoms are now. Maybe write down on a scale of 1 - 10 how bad they are and refer back to them because we have a tendency to catastrophise everything when we are anxious.

I know when I get chest pains now thy are no where near as bad as they used to be but at first when they start I panic and think oh this is awful rather than focussing on the positive that they are easing and I have them a lot less!

Negative thinking!!!!