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Increased Anxiety When Starting New Antidepressant

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Posted 1/17/2007 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
Why do so many of us who suffer from Anxiety Disorders (Mine OCD) seem to be subject to increased anxiety when waiting for the ssri to "kick in?" I have had great success with Prozac for my OCD until it "pooped out" after 17 years. However, the first few weeks were brutal. I can remember the exact day in 1989 it kicked in.

Then I tried Lexapro for three months. Not much help, but plenty of increased anxiety. Now I'm on Day 4 of Luvox and have had bigtime ups and downs. Couldn't sleep last night even with .25 mgs of Klonopin. Today was rough up until about an hour ago and I could feel it subside.

Believe me, this is not my stuff. I am VERY familiar with my own creations. This seems to be a sensitivity I have. Seems many of you do too. I can put up with lots of side effects. I just don't need more nervousness and anxiety from my SSRI. Hope it subsides soon. I believe in Luvox for OCD.

Posted 1/17/2007 1:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hello porridge

 

Oh hun I'm so sorry your having to go thru this. It seemed like it took my doc's forever to get my meds all strightened out for me but since they found that magic dosage I have been so much better with my anxiety and depression. Just hang in there hun it will leval off soon. Your in my thoughts and prayers.

Posted 1/17/2007 5:22 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks MsKittie.

It's great having this board. My Wife gets real tired of my "taking my temperature" all the time.It's great being with people who get it.

Posted 1/17/2007 5:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Porridge, It's awful changing med's isn't it? I know how you must be feeling, I was in the same boat a few months ago and the anxiety did pass eventually, just try and stay positive and let us know how it goes!! Best of luck :-)
Posted 1/17/2007 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
since luvox is also a prozac type i doubt it will help, if pooped out on 1 SSRI type, theis generally means trying some other type

yes, antidepressants are those meds that make us feel worse berore hopefully making us feel better

dare I suggest you need to do some CBT

Posted 1/18/2007 6:56 AM (GMT 0)

Harry

I really thank you for the input. You are a good man and spending time here as a moderator is admirable.

Why does my Pdoc, Chairman Of The Department Of Psychiatry at a local teaching hospital disagree with Harry?

Having said that, and I've addressed this before with you. Because one SSRI doesn't work doesn't mean another won't. I had 17 years of near symptom free bliss on Prozac. Lexapro didn't work. Luvox may. If it doesn't I will try another. There are millions of people who are successful with their second or third or fourth try on an SSRI. You simply are giving out poor information. If you can provide a source that says if one SSRI doesn't work chances are none will. I can provide plenty that say otherwise.


Post Edited (porridge) : 1/18/2007 12:12:27 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/18/2007 7:01 AM (GMT 0)

From an OCD site

http://www.minddisorders.com/Ob-Ps/Obsessive-compulsive-disorder.html

Medications

The most useful medications for the treatment of OCD are the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which affect the body's reabsorption of serotonin, a chemical in the brain that helps to transmit nerve impulses across the very small gaps between nerve cells. These drugs, specifically clomipramine(Anafranil), fluoxetine(Prozac), fluvoxamine(Luvox), sertraline(Zoloft), and paroxetine(Paxil) have been found to relieve OCD symptoms in over half of the patients studied. It is not always possible for the doctor to predict which of the SSRIs will work best for a specific patient. Lack of response to one SSRI does not mean that other drugs within the same family will not work. Treatment of OCD often proceeds slowly, with various medications being tried before the most effective one is found. While studies report that about half of those treated with SSRIs show definite improvement, relapse rates may be as high as 90% when medications are discontinued.

Posted 1/18/2007 7:07 AM (GMT 0)
From another of my favorite sites.

 

SSRI poop-out is starting to become common knowledge in the psychiatric community. For most people SSRI poop-out is not an issue, but for some any SSRI will work great for a few months to a couple years or more and then suddenly stop working. Fortunately you can just move on to the next one until the poop-out happens again. What happens when you run out of SSRIs? By then the drug companies will have come out with at least one new one, but guess what? Most people who experience poop-out can go back to their first SSRI and start all over again! Some people are actually on a one or two-year rotation schedule to avoid experiencing the failure. You literally can rotate SSRIs like tires.  Just be advised on point - Paxil (paroxetine hydrochloride) may work for you only once.  Or at least work as well as it did for you only the first time.  So if Paxil (paroxetine hydrochloride) is your favorite, life is going to suck if it pooped out on you.

** had to edit link as it is another forum based like HW .......**

sorry hope you understand

Lyn

BTW Harry is a great asset to forum but is not a moderator .........yet .......lol

Post Edited By Moderator (Howlyncat) : 1/18/2007 3:24:00 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/18/2007 10:30 AM (GMT 0)
Porridge I believe the luvox is great for OCD I a a severe OCD.er myself with cleaning needing things in order lists ...on and on
I can relate that info is great thanks
Lyn

BTW everyone has their opinions as does Harry ........ yeah

Posted 1/19/2007 12:06 AM (GMT 0)
Just a note Harry is NOT a moderator just so you are aware...You can tell who is a moderator by the designation under thier user name on the left.
Posted 1/19/2007 1:37 AM (GMT 0)

Hello Porridge

Thank you so much for this information I didn't know they could rotate these meds. So far mine are doing great so maybe it will be a long time before they have to mess with them again. Best of luck at finding which one's are right for you.

Posted 1/19/2007 7:29 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Michelle

I am not in the business of flaming anyone. However, Harry's advice is just plain wrong and needs to be replied to. It's not opinion it's a fact. Everyone responds differently to these drugs. To say that one "Prozac like AD" doesn't work means they will all fail is just plain off base.

Posted 1/20/2007 5:40 AM (GMT 0)
Great news. I upped the dose today from the initial 50 mgs to 100 mgs. I figured I would get hammered with side effects. In fact, it was just the opposite. Luvox had me feeling almost giddy. Haven't had that since Prozac pooped out seven months ago. I am convinced now I've got it right with Luvox. Can easily see me increasing dosage. Therapeutic dose for OCD seems to be 150-300 mgs. I'm ready for the higher doses. I am very pleased right now. Almost an entire afternoon and evening without obsessive thoughts. My only bump came about an hour ago.I asked myself was that real? Was it just a placebo? Believe me I know the difference. 18 years on SSRIs make you something of an expert.
Posted 1/20/2007 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
I can tell you from experience that if one SSRI fails or is not tolerated, you can very well respond beautifully to another. I was put on Paxil first, did very well for two years, then decided to switch to Zoloft because of intolerable weight gain. Prozac did nothing for me and made my anxiety much worse, so it was back to Zoloft. Now I may try Lexapro to see if my anxiety is better.

So, hang on and keep trying!
Posted 1/21/2007 4:21 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Geebs, It really is a lot of trial and error. I have had more side effect related anxiety today. However, it's only Day 7 on Luvox and Day 2 on 100 mgs. You hang in there too. It's worth the spinach to get to desert.
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