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I'm taking Prozac and feeling really bad please help

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Posted 5/27/2009 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I'm on day 9 of 20mg Prozac and I'm getting worse. My anxiety is so bad I just want to get out of my body fast. But I can't. I just really hate this and can't see my way forward at all. Please talk to me and let me know this will be ok, because right now I can't see it changing and I hate it big time.
Posted 5/27/2009 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
grizzly pooh.prozac is an ssri which you probably know.any of the ssri's can increase anxiety levels.but prozac did it to me too.talk to your dr and see if he or she will suggest an alternative med.they all seem to work different on different people.(very frustrating).i'm dealing with similar problems myself.but i had to get off of the prozac for that reason.hope you find relief  my best ernie.
Posted 5/27/2009 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
I say hang in there for at least a month. But, see if you can get something to take to help with the anxiety. I take 60 mg. of Prozac now. I also take Ativan. Ativan doesn't give me any side effects. I feel absolutely normal while taking it.

I do remember when I first started taking the Prozac I would call my best friend all the time. I didn't feel well. Some of the side effects were too much. She told me to stick with it. Here I am about 7 years later, still on the Prozac. Please give it time. But also see if you can get some Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin, or something to help you through these first few weeks. Let us know how it goes!
Posted 5/27/2009 11:58 PM (GMT 0)
P.S. 20 mg of Prozac was good for me up until recently and that's only because I'm going through some issues. Please, hang in there!
Posted 5/28/2009 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your encouragement. this is really really hard and even tho i have my parents here visiting and my daughter home from school, i feel really bad and can't shake it. I've rung my doctor and am waiting for her to call me back. i'll ask about Ativan or similar but I seem very sensitive to meds so not sure about that. I've used prozac before and can't remember being this bad but i was so bad when i started taking it last time, who knows. I'm definitely worse today than yest, getting more anxious each day. But you've reminded me that i'll get thru this, becuase you have. So thanks for that
Posted 5/28/2009 4:28 AM (GMT 0)
No problemo! We are here for you! I remember the anxiety being bad when I first started the Prozac but you have to keep putting positive statements in your head. "You will get through this." "You will feel better soon." Hang in there, Sweetie! Let us know what we can do to help you! turn
Posted 5/28/2009 8:41 AM (GMT 0)
Aries8 you are very supportive and I appreciate it. I talked to my gp about ativan or similar and she doesn't want me taking anything else, so for now I need to hang in there. I took panadol for the aches this arvo and watched a movie with my parents and felt a bit better for a little while. I managed to go to the shops and buy my daughter shoes she needed, and have a hot choc, so that's an achievement. Since I've been back home i've just done nothing on the lounge, aching alot again and bit anxious and very very down. My thoughts are bleak and bad for past and future and it's very hard to remember i'll get through this. Plus i'm worried because my parents leave on Tuesday and then i'm by myself during the days. I'm not working...not well enough...I'm finding this forum a lifeline altho being on a different time zone makes it difficult. Where are you Aries8? thanks again x
Posted 5/28/2009 12:21 PM (GMT 0)
Grizzly pooh

I know how you feel as I walk in your shoes too. I have been dealing with the Anxiety and depression for 26 years or so and I did very well for years on one medication and then it just pooped out.............

My Pdoc has had me on  many different meds and I finally decided I would like to try going without the AD and just use  Buspar, Valium and Trazodone, No SSRI for now as it seemed to make me feel worse or the same but no great improvement.

As Aries said each person is different and it may take up to 4-6 weeks for the full therapeutic effect of your SSRI med to kick in.  If you can get past the side effects while getting onto the med hopefully it will be the drug for you and help you. 

Remember to go easy on yourself right now and do not expect a quick cure.  If your feeling anxious let your self feel and don't beat yourself up................you will get better.  Practice staying in the moment..........do not worry about tomorrow.

Gentle Hugs,

Kitt

Posted 5/28/2009 1:03 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks. You must have known I'm avoiding going to bed for fear I'll wake up early and be really anxious again tomorrow. i'm wondering whether to take a sleeping pill or not to help me sleep a bit longer. It was horrible this morning, i was awake and v anxious from 5.30. What do you do when that happens? I'm sorry to hear you've had this for 26 years, wow you deserve a lifetime achievement award. You are also very encouraging...it is comforting to know that we humans can deal with this. Thanks for your post. I'll will take on your suggestion of going with the anxiety, being patient, and concentrating on now. Hard to do but I'll give it a go. thanks xx
Posted 5/28/2009 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
I've never tried Prozac, but I know that when I started Lexapro, the anxiety definitely got worse before it got better. Once your body adjusts to the new meds you will see improvement. In the meantime, just know that what you are going through is normal and although extremely uncomfortable, it's not harmful. Happier days are just around the corner. Now just enjoy being with your family and try not to give that nagging anxiety more attention that it deserves.
Posted 5/28/2009 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
Such good advice from everyone! I am located in California, about one hour from San Francisco and Sacramento.

Some docs don't want you taking other meds, especially tranquilizers due to their addictive quality. But if some day you are able to try them, they work really well as an "as needed" med.

Keep yourself busy but not frantically busy. Take care!
Posted 5/28/2009 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Aries8, I asked my doc about the tranqs on your suggestion, so I will definitely keep it as a back up plan. i've been awake since 5.30 again but took the Prozac an hour ago and am ok ie better than yesterday. In fact I'm going to take my girls to school then go for a swim (it's warm and sunny here). How are you feeling? i hope you've picked up from earlier when you were teary. I'm starting to really like this forum contact btw, i've never used the net before for support. Take care xx
Posted 5/29/2009 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
I forgot to mention this, I couldn't sleep for the longest time. Then my 12 year old daughter said, "why don't you take your pills in the morning?" Well, that was the answer. I now take my Prozac way before bed so I can sleep well.
Posted 5/29/2009 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Aries8. I take mine in the morning and then get a reaction quite quickly. i'm tired at night and get to sleep ok but then i'm awake and v anxious at 5.30 which i hate. I was wondering whether it would be better to take it morning or night? i'll just stick with it for now. btw i sent you an email!
Posted 5/29/2009 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
Aries8, yesterday i got very anxious again and suicidal and rang the doctor and went straight in to see him. he prescribed valium which i've taken but it didn't seem to help. i don't think i took enough so i've now taken another 2mg and will see how that works. Thanks for your suggestion, I really appreciate it (even tho I was loathe at first to take meds, i can see now that i need them). I hope you're also feeling better? Many thanks
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