Hello and first thank you for taking the time to read this...
I'm a 33 year old female who has battled severe depression and anxiety for 20 years. I've also been diagnosed with PTSD from several different traumas through out my life (witnessing my toddler sisters death, 3 stillborns, and cancer). I never actively sought help and treatment until fall of 2008.
In October of 2008 I began taking 10mg than 20mg of Lexapro after my 3 stillborns. I was having all day anxiety, I couldn't leave my house for months, I never ate, i cried all day, and I attempted suicide. (My OBGYN prescribed Lex to me at a follow up appountment after the loss of our 3rd child). Over the course of a couple weeks I felt alive. I was happy, I could leave my house, I could be alone without having a nervous breakdown, I had energy, I went from 88lbs to 110lbs. It was life changing.
In February of 2013 I was diagnosed with cancer just months after having my son. It took one month to go from abnormal to stage III. I was lucky and only required surgery and a long road of recovery. In the fall of that year I was causing my oncologist to be concerned about
my cancer returning in my ovaries. That scare triggered something awful. I talked to my OBGYN and he suggested switching to Zoloft, he believed the Lex was no longer working for me.
I began Zoloft and that began 6 weeks of hell I can't describe! 8 hour long anxiety attacks, racing thoughts, self harming thoughts, thoughts of hurting my children, I dropped an enormous amount of weight because I was too sick to eat. I also was prescribed Ativan to help with the transition...it was no help! The anxiety was so horrific I was taking more Ativan than prescribed and it didn't even take the edge off. I found a wonderful psychiatrist who immediately contacted my doctor and had me taken off of Zoloft (my doctor kept telling me to give it another week every time I called).
I was put back on Lexapro, but it had no effect. Over the course of the end of 2014 and all of 2015 my family doctor took over my meds, working hand in hand with my psychologist, trying a slew of new meds, none working. They would take away anxiety, but replace it with horrible agitation and no patience. Bad anger problems. At the end of last year my family doctor wanted to try Lexapro again. At first I thought, wow, it's working like the first time. That was short lived!
My psychologist retired last year so my meds have now fallen solely on my family doctor. He told me he wouldn't change meds anymore until I got back into therapy and I did. I found an AMAZING therapist and for the first time feel I found someone who can truly help me work through my past. I've noticed small changes within myself. Her coping techniques are incredible!
I had an appointment with my family doctor last Thursday for my allergies. He asked how the Lexapro was doing. I shared with him I wanted to try Prozac. I did some research and felt it would be a good fit for me. He agreed. He prescribed me 20mg of Prozac and instructed me for one week to cut down from 20mg of Lex to 10mg and once the week was up start the Prozac.
I took my 10mg last Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday night, And Sunday night (March 31st-April 4th). Sunday evening I got a terrible stomach pain that lasted about
5 minutes. Followed by horrible nausea! I was up all night with it and had it all day today. Last night I became anxious. As the day went on today the anxiety was getting worse and worse. I had and still do have a bad headache and see "floaters". I called my pharmacist and he said it's more than likely the affects of cutting my Lex dose in half. He said I should be okay to go ahead and start the Prozac, but to call my doctor. I did just that. Explained all my physical symptoms and stressed how horrible and overwhelming the anxiety was. The nurse said she would talk to my doctor and call me back. Here is what I got back...go back to my 20mg of Lexapro and forget the Prozac because my body wasn't tolerating the titrate. I told her he never made me titrate before, why do I have to do it now? He always just switched them out. She said if I want an answer to that I needed to make an appointment to ask him myself. She also said if I want to change my meds anymore I need to go through a psychiatrist. I get it, but I just recently found a therapist that I feel is the perfect fit for me! I'm supposed to stop seeing her and start all over again with someone I may not connect with just so my meds aren't handled by my doctor? He said get in therapy for him to help me, I did, and now he won't help me! I contemplated just taking the Prozac tonight against what he said but I chickened out.
Here are my questions....
Have any of you made the switch from 20mg of Lexapro to 20mg of Prozac?
If so, did you have to titrate? I don't understand what 7 days of a half dose serves a purpose for! Or did you just make the switch straight out?
How did you respond/like Prozac?
Am I experiencing some sort of withdraw symptoms from the half cut dose? If so how long does this last?
Would you abandon a therapist you have connected with and trust just so a psychiatrist can handle your meds?
I'm so lost, confused, and feel like crap! I could use any and all advice and guidance on this. After my Zoloft nightmare switching drugs makes me nervous.
I should also add I'm on 1mg of Klonopin at bedtime.
Thank you for your time and help! It's much appreciated! No one around me understands :(
Post Edited (kwilson) : 4/4/2016 10:30:44 PM (GMT-6)