bad prozac reactions - little help please?

hello everyone! I was getting terrible panic attacks, making me feel violently sick and generally freaking out and needing to go home, up until the point i became pretty much house bound. I could go on walks if i knew i was completely alone and in controll, but ANYTHING else and i would feel terribly sick before going out and terribly sick the whole time i was out. I also got bad stomache aches and migrains pretty much all the time, which were checked out and they found nothing, so i guess that was the stress of having the anxiety disorder.

So basically, they put me on prozac, the lowest dose once a day, and they told me it doesn't work for 4 weeks and everything so i thought i would give it a go. I am 4 days into the treatment (so 4 pills have been taken) and i am feeling SO terribly ill. I was up all last night in the toilet trying not to be sick, i am finding it hard to eat this morning. A friend of mine who also has anxiety troubles said that often these meds make you worse before they make you better and my doctor said somthing simular - PLEASE can someone ease my mind on this?

thanks a lot!

boxcastle,

I went up on zoloft about 10 days ago. The first 7-8 days were horrible. I was in a constant state of panic and anxiety. I was really had a hard time. It was unbearable at times and was very hard to just breathe. I found it helpful to read a book called "embracing the fear". It gave me something to do to better understand anxiety and panic, and i felt it helped me through that toughest of times ( most of all it gave me something to do). I had a total lose of appetite, was totally nauseated, sweaty palms, ached, lethargic, a Tired but wired feel, dry mouth, and the total inability to relax. Total in ability. And the constant state of anxiety and panic only made me feel that it was the zoloft increase that was doing this to me. Even strong Benzos seemed to bring me no relief. I felt like i was battling the zoloft and that the zoloft was actually inducing the panic and anxiety, and i still belief that was the case.

I think my body is beginning to get used to the zoloft. I'm eating some again and my overall state of anxiety and panic feel lower. I dont feel like i'm fighting the zoloft anymore. So, while I've never taken prozac, it does sound like similar side effects. Time went by really slow (last week feels like a month) and posting here helps a lot.

I'm not really sure if thats helpful. Just know that a lot of people have been through it and its excruciating at times. hang tight, talk to you doctor about, make sure you drink water, and try and eat something. Also, if you can, try and do something to get you blood flowing. I went out and rode my bike. It was really hard for me to leave and do that, but that helped time pass and help with my over health (i think). If you are house bound, maybe there is something you can do that will help a little with that? some in home exercise?

keep posting! hang in there!
Dan

Yes, it's common for SSRI's to actually cause anxiety in the beginning. Many people I know begin SSRI treatment along with a benzo to get them over the hump. If you're having THAT hard of a time, you might ask your doc about that.

I've never had any luck with SSRI's treating anything for me. And I've had awful side-effects, too. They're just not for everyone.

Your A/P sounds similar to mine, actually, with all the nausea and stuff. I know how you feel...it can be really bad. Wrecked my life pretty good. I was lucky in that I had a great employer who was extremely patient and even supportive of me. If not for that I don't know where I'd be right now (they also gave me great insurance...haha...and it took forever for the doctors to figure out I was having panic instead of some weird GI issue).