My story/diary so far....

[AnxiousSince1998]

Cheers Karina, how long have you been on avanza now? Did it take long to see a change and to start feeling better? What Prozac dosage were you on, and what were your symptoms? Sorry for the 101 questions, just interested.
Glad you've found something that works for you.

[flipp]

Hi Jase. I have been on Avanza for 8 months now,when I started it I was groggy and tired for a week then started to get the munchies I think I ate 2 bags of killer Python snake lollies a night...lol,then I started to munch on trail mix.The drug kicked in after about 2 weeks,the bloody Prozac was awful i had restless legs heart palpitations and hot bloody flushes,just felt like total shit. I started on 20mg then went up to 40 but had to get off it. I started on 45 mg of Avanza and now on 90mg I was on higher dose but my Psych,is tapering it down as he is pleased with how I am coping. I also have Diazepam did have a high dose when I first had panic attacks but now have 5 mg and take when I need to. I also have therapy on a fortnightly basis plus group therapy which has been really helpful.

[AnxiousSince1998]

Thanks Karina,
I might have to look into some group therapy too....

Had quite a good day today, the tremors have still been there but not as bad, I have had a slight headache, a little nauseous, brain foggy and breathless at times, but I was able to go into the supermarket with no panic at all, which is a massive step forward.

I have just gotten back from a 1.5 hour ride, quite a slow ride, but got out of the house and did a few kms exercise.

Maybe this is the corner I have been waiting for? I know it's only a few days in on the higher dose, but I am seeing some improvement which is so relieving.

I have quite a few long (10+ hour) days of work coming up from Wednesday-Monday, which will be laborious work outdoors (heaps of rain predicted all week), so that will test me a bit.... Then next month is massive, working the Bathurst V8 Supercars, followed by the Gold Coast V8s.... Really draining month, but trying not to think about it all and just take each day as it comes.

All the best guys.

[AnxiousSince1998]

Hey guys,

Sorry I haven't written for a while, I have been Working long days, but have some time off now which is awesome.

After the last couple of weeks on an increased dosage, I have noticed a gradual improvement in the way I'm feeling, which makes me so happy. The tremors have slowed right down, as have the headaches, but I am still waking up early, and appetite can come and go, along with the nausea.

I still have an underlying fear about supermarkets/shopping centres/banks/social places etc, but I think I will be able to start practicing all my CBT/mindfulness techniques again now that the constant anxiety has been dampened. This will help getting me out into these situations for some exposure therapy....

I have been meditating every night before bed, which has helped me switch off before sleep, but I'm finding I get quite tired and energy levels drop randomly throughout the day, sometimes to the point of feeling extremely faint....

The mornings are sometimes a lil tough to wake up to, but once I'm up and moving I seem to be ok. Still nowhere near where I want to be, but so excited to finally see some improvement, and that the med increase didn't leave me with all the reoccurring side effects again.

I do still get foggy and blank mid conversation at times, and the sense of anxiousness is still there, but seems to be blanketed if that makes sense. I'm not on edge, but do get small moments where I feel like things are overwhelming.

Overall I am seeing positive signs, and light at the end of this tunnel, which I have been walking around in, in the darkness all year.... Really hoping for continued improvement.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Cheers, Jase.

[Lady Penelope]

Hello Jase
I hav just read through from the start of the thread. You have great perseverance to stick with Fluoxetine for so long before seeing an improvement. I am on day 20 and really struggling but I am not sure if that's the side effects if just my anxiety which has worsened. Very interesting reading though all your posts and replies. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to do these posts - it helps enormously to us newbies.

[AnxiousSince1998]

Hey guys,
I haven't posted in a while due to actually feeling better ����
BUT, over the past week I have gradually slipped backwards and now I'm once again waking with the internal tremors, hot rushes, neg thoughts, extreme tiredness etc....
I had not done anything different, which makes me think the drug has maybe run its course already....
Everything seems overwhelming, and the thought of socialising, or getting out in the public, once again scares me ����. I was at a stage where I could go to the supermarket without too much fuss, was riding my bike every other day, and even visiting people without too much of a worry, now I've been pretty much lying around on my bed, feeling tired, weak, shakey, edgy, confused, foggy, and depressed.... WHY??
Is this what they call a blip?
I am still meditating each night, but finding it hard to switch off, and usually still awake around midnight.... I've got little appetite again, but I need to force myself to eat, otherwise I become very faint....
Hopefully a little help on here might see me get back on track.
Cheers guys.
Jase.

[AnxiousSince1998]

Same again this morning. Had a pretty broken sleep and feeling so tired and lethargic.
Forced myself to eat a banana, and toasted sandwich, and washed it down with some herbal tea. Feeling shakey, weak, lethargic, tired, neg thaughts, butterflies in my tummy, lightheaded, tight chested, foggy.
Ugh, fly interstate on Sunday for 9 days work and really hope I can bounce back before then.

[AnxiousSince1998]

Hi guys,
Well I survived my interstate work, and I must say it was much better than I thaught it would go.
As I write this though, I'm dealing with internal tremors, sweaty palms, dizziness, feeling overwhelmed, headachey, very foggy in the head, weak and tired.... have felt like this for quite a while now, since my last post actually, but worse again the last few days, whilst being off work.
I don't know if it's the whole Xmas stress piling up, or the fact that I have 33 days working without a day off in January. Last year was a real down time for me with work in Jan, and can't help but think it's going to be the same again....
I went to the supermarket today just for a couple of things and started shaking and feeling faint. It put my confidence back a step.
Anyway, just adding this to my diary here so when I get better I can look back and remember the struggle.
Stay well guys.

[AnxiousSince1998]

Had broken sleep from 6-9am, and still feeling lethargic and scattered this morning. Hoping to get out for a big bike ride to try and burn off these tremors, I don't know why they have come back. For about a week now I have cut down the Valium from half tablet (2.5mg), to quarter tablet (1.25mg) daily now, thinking maybe that's what's making me so tired and heavy.
Hoping for better days....

[AnxiousSince1998]

Yesterday turned out to be a lovely day with my girlfriend. We rode for a couple of hours, and spent some time in a nursery (plants), that I've put off going into, but anxiety was very minimal. I can't explain why I had no problem doing it yesterday but struggle so bad other days.
Today I'm feeling good too, no anxiety, and just got back from a 2 hour ride around the park. Still need to Xmas shop, but might only scoot around and get some smaller things and avoid the shopping centres.
Feels so good to be feeling semi normal again, hoping it lasts.