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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by michelle41A on September 26, 2010, at 14:58:13
In reply to Re: Zoloft too stimulating, Should I try Celexa?, posted by bulldog2 on September 26, 2010, at 14:37:59
> > Hello!!
> > I was on prozac for my anxiety last year and it was way too stimulating.. Pdoc put me on Klonopin (.50 1x/day) and Zoloft (12.5mg to start) which I started taking Sept 4th. The Klonopin is great for the anxiety! I feel "normal" without being a zombie. I am concerned about the long term use of Klonopin as an anti anxiety med though :(
> > Unfortunately, when I take my Zoloft, I get a panic attack about 30min later. My hot flashes have returned as well ( I had hot flashes, heart palpations and missed periods on Prozac) I think that the Zoloft is too stimulating for me :(
> > I know that Zoloft works on dopamine as well and that may be what is causing the anxiety. I also was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure ( I am 41)
> > My question is, does Celexa work only on Seretonin? Would Celexa be a better choice for anxiety?
> > I am wondering if the zoloft is interfering with my hormones. Any info would be greatly appreciated!
> > I am going to a Reproductive Endocronologist on Oct 6th so hopefully I will get more info then :)
> > Thanks!
> > Michelle
>
> Luvox is a unique ssri and may be good for anxiety. You can take it at bedtime and sleep.I will ask my Pdoc about Luvox this week :) Thanks for the info
((HUGS))
Posted by Phillipa on September 26, 2010, at 19:33:42
In reply to Re: Zoloft too stimulating, Should I try Celexa?, posted by michelle41A on September 26, 2010, at 14:58:13
I take luvox know as fluvoxamine now as only generic available in short acting but now they have a long acting luvox. I've been on it for years. My body doesn't want me off it. I also take benzos for anxiety. But when first took luvox got up to 250mg and no side effects at all. Did take ativan with it. Phillipa
Posted by morgan miller on September 26, 2010, at 20:15:31
In reply to Re: Zoloft too stimulating, Should I try Celexa?, posted by michelle41A on September 26, 2010, at 10:17:42
I'm wondering a dependency on klonopin isn't making your anxiety worse than it was before starting klonopin. There are some psychiatrists that believe benzos may interfere with the efficacy of SSRIs as they are CNS depressants, similar to the way alcohol may also interfere with SSRI efficacy. I'm just always curious to know how someone might have reacted to an SSRI after a few months if they had never been on a benzo from the get go.
It's possible that you may feel less anxiety if start raising the dose of Zoloft. I felt much better on 100 mg than I did on 50 mg.
I would seriously consider trying Lexapro instead of Celexa, if you are going to switch to another SSRI.
Morgan
Posted by michelle41a on September 26, 2010, at 22:55:08
In reply to Re: Zoloft too stimulating, Should I try Celexa?, posted by morgan miller on September 26, 2010, at 20:15:31
> I'm wondering a dependency on klonopin isn't making your anxiety worse than it was before starting klonopin. There are some psychiatrists that believe benzos may interfere with the efficacy of SSRIs as they are CNS depressants, similar to the way alcohol may also interfere with SSRI efficacy. I'm just always curious to know how someone might have reacted to an SSRI after a few months if they had never been on a benzo from the get go.
>
> It's possible that you may feel less anxiety if start raising the dose of Zoloft. I felt much better on 100 mg than I did on 50 mg.
>
> I would seriously consider trying Lexapro instead of Celexa, if you are going to switch to another SSRI.
>
> MorganI have had increased anxiety and hot flashes on just 12.5 of zoloft over the past week :(
I did try to increase the dose but the anxiety was worse. The zoloft seems to be reacting in the same way that prozac did when I tried it for the second time back in Oct 2010..
That is why I decided to stop the zoloft and keep taking the klonopin.. I am afraid that if I try to go to 25mg zoloft, the anxiety would be too much :(
When I switched from 50mg zoloft to 20mg prozac (jan 2006) everything was ok for a while on the prozac. Prozac seemed to be helping, but I felt more agitated on it. Also, I started getting hot flashes (mild)
Pdoc started me on Strattera (he thought I may have had add with anxiety), not too sure how long I was on it(Maybe a few months) but I stopped cold turkey in Feb 2007 (it was making me more anxious). The day after I stopped strattera,I had 30 hot flashes in one day! Hot flashes continued daily for the rest of 2007. I still was not having periods but would get PMS for 2 weeks every month.
Found out that Prozac and Strattera are chemical cousins and don't react well together, causing side effects.
May 2008 started having heart flutters, no anxiety attacks. They would happen when I was completely calm. Horrible insonmia
June 2008 began slow taper to 10 mg of Prozac to ease heart and hot flash issues. Seemed to help. Heart flutters were infrequent over the following months. Went off prozac completely in nov 2008.
This is the first time I have been on Klonopin and it helps a lot with anxiety, more so than prozac. I think what has happened is that the zoloft is as stimulating as the prozac. Maybe it took 2 weeks for the zoloft to reach a steady state in my body which could explain the hot flashes and anxiety after taking the zoloft..
I do have elevated levels of FSH and LH hormones which may be contributing to my anxiety.. I have the appointment with the endocrinologist on 10/6 so hopefully he can help figure this out.
I will be calling my pdoc Monday morning to see if I should start celexa again or lexapro. This anxiety relapse is scaring me but hopefully I will get answers soon! I also have an appt with my therapist this wednesday as well :)
Posted by morgan miller on September 26, 2010, at 23:05:04
In reply to Re: Zoloft too stimulating, Should I try Celexa?, posted by michelle41a on September 26, 2010, at 22:55:08
That really sucks michelle. Hope you get things figured out soon. Good luck!
Morgan
Posted by michelle41a on September 26, 2010, at 23:27:37
In reply to Re: Zoloft too stimulating, Should I try Celexa? » michelle41a, posted by morgan miller on September 26, 2010, at 23:05:04
> That really sucks michelle. Hope you get things figured out soon. Good luck!
>
> MorganThanks, Morgan! Sorry for my long posts, the past few days have been a bit trying for me :(
I really do appreciate all your advise and info! I will post progress updates in the upcoming weeks :) I am determined to not let anxiety rule my life!
I have been on other anxiety forums and I must say that this one has the most compassionate and knowledgeable people!
((HUGS))
Posted by morgan miller on September 27, 2010, at 18:39:37
In reply to Re: Zoloft too stimulating, Should I try Celexa?, posted by michelle41a on September 26, 2010, at 23:27:37
Michelle, have you checked out the Alternative Board for some ideas on treating anxiety?
Posted by Phillipa on September 27, 2010, at 19:52:17
In reply to Re: Zoloft too stimulating, Should I try Celexa?, posted by michelle41a on September 26, 2010, at 22:55:08
Michelle if you have elevated levels of FSH most likely you are entering menopause don't your age but for some it starts early some in 30's and the hot flashes indicate that to me and the FSH do you know what the level is? I think anything over 30 indicates it. And seriously my anxiety was so horrible at that time. Phillipa
Posted by linkadge on September 27, 2010, at 20:09:00
In reply to Re: Zoloft too stimulating, Should I try Celexa?, posted by morgan miller on September 26, 2010, at 20:15:31
Some studies have found benzodizapine maintainance prevents relapse over SSRI alone.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on September 27, 2010, at 21:33:48
In reply to Re: Zoloft too stimulating, Should I try Celexa?, posted by linkadge on September 27, 2010, at 20:09:00
I sure believe that. Phillipa
Posted by weatherfreak on September 28, 2010, at 5:29:29
In reply to Zoloft too stimulating, Should I try Celexa?, posted by michelle41A on September 25, 2010, at 12:21:58
I personally found celexa way more stimulating than zoloft but everyone is different. I also found it gave me really bad anxiety after a week, BUT I react badly to all SSRI's/SNRI's
Posted by michelle41A on September 28, 2010, at 10:56:28
In reply to Re: Zoloft too stimulating, Should I try Celexa?, posted by morgan miller on September 27, 2010, at 18:39:37
> Michelle, have you checked out the Alternative Board for some ideas on treating anxiety?
I will definitely check the alternative board :) I am working with a therapist on a weekly basis so hopefully he can give me advise on controlling the panic :)
Posted by michelle41A on September 28, 2010, at 11:11:36
In reply to Re: Zoloft too stimulating, Should I try Celexa? » michelle41a, posted by Phillipa on September 27, 2010, at 19:52:17
> Michelle if you have elevated levels of FSH most likely you are entering menopause don't your age but for some it starts early some in 30's and the hot flashes indicate that to me and the FSH do you know what the level is? I think anything over 30 indicates it. And seriously my anxiety was so horrible at that time. Phillipa
Hi Phillipa :)
My FSH was 157 and my LH was 54 back in Nov 2009..I was on Prozac at the time and it was very stimulating to my system. I was having chest pains,"tunnel vision", inner tremors, adrenaline rushes, anger, and hot flashes.. When I tapered off prozac in March 2010, all the symptoms started to fade.. The only issue that continued was the loose BM (sorry TMI)
I just had my FSH and LH tested in August and the levels dropped. My FSH now is 74 and my LH is 34. My Estrogen is at 80.
At the time of the blood tests, I was not on any meds..My hot flashes began to fade last june..But the anxiety stayed :(
I did notice that in week 2 of taking Zoloft everything started to calm down.. I actually started feeling better.. I am not sure why week 3 of taking zoloft triggered headaches for a week and the return of anxiety and hot flashes.. I will be asking the doctor today if maybe as the zoloft started to reach a steady state, my body reacted like it did when I re introduced the prozac.. I want to take the Celexa but I am so scared that the same thing will happen..
Posted by michelle41A on September 28, 2010, at 11:18:00
In reply to Re: Zoloft too stimulating, Should I try Celexa? » michelle41A, posted by weatherfreak on September 28, 2010, at 5:29:29
> I personally found celexa way more stimulating than zoloft but everyone is different. I also found it gave me really bad anxiety after a week, BUT I react badly to all SSRI's/SNRI's
Did you use for SSRI's for anxiety? The only two I have reacted badly to is Prozac and Zoloft.. When I look back at the 5 years I was on Zoloft,it seemed to make me a bit overstimulated but not to the point where it was making me sick..When I was at 50mg, I began to get the zombie like feelings..
Have you found a med to ease your symptoms?
Posted by michelle41A on September 28, 2010, at 11:26:33
In reply to Re: Zoloft too stimulating, Should I try Celexa?, posted by linkadge on September 25, 2010, at 14:36:10
> Some people just find SSRIs in general not good for anxiety. A low dose of trazodone or seroquel might be better if celexa doesn't work.
>
> LinkadgeI will defintely discuss that option with my doc today.. I really am hoping that the celexa will not have the stimulating effect that prozac and zoloft have done to me.
Does Celexa work on only serotonin? The Klonopin works for now, but I have to make sure I take it every 5 hours or I get abdominal cramping.. When Zoloft was working for me in the past, my abdominal cramping/stomach tightness went away.. I am assuming that the serotonin helps the gut stay calm..
Posted by morgan miller on September 28, 2010, at 11:26:51
In reply to Re: Zoloft too stimulating, Should I try Celexa? » weatherfreak, posted by michelle41A on September 28, 2010, at 11:18:00
> > I personally found celexa way more stimulating than zoloft but everyone is different. I also found it gave me really bad anxiety after a week, BUT I react badly to all SSRI's/SNRI's
>
> Did you use for SSRI's for anxiety? The only two I have reacted badly to is Prozac and Zoloft.. When I look back at the 5 years I was on Zoloft,it seemed to make me a bit overstimulated but not to the point where it was making me sick..When I was at 50mg, I began to get the zombie like feelings..
> Have you found a med to ease your symptoms?
>Did you ever go up to 100 mg on Zoloft? I never felt well on 50 mg, but I felt much much better on 100 mg.
Posted by michelle41A on September 28, 2010, at 11:35:39
In reply to Re: Zoloft too stimulating, Should I try Celexa?, posted by morgan miller on September 28, 2010, at 11:26:51
> > > I personally found celexa way more stimulating than zoloft but everyone is different. I also found it gave me really bad anxiety after a week, BUT I react badly to all SSRI's/SNRI's
> >
> > Did you use for SSRI's for anxiety? The only two I have reacted badly to is Prozac and Zoloft.. When I look back at the 5 years I was on Zoloft,it seemed to make me a bit overstimulated but not to the point where it was making me sick..When I was at 50mg, I began to get the zombie like feelings..
> > Have you found a med to ease your symptoms?
> >
>
> Did you ever go up to 100 mg on Zoloft? I never felt well on 50 mg, but I felt much much better on 100 mg.No, I never did..At that point, I decided to switch to Prozac.. I guess what scared me about the zoloft that I have been taking the past 3 weeks was the anxiety that started after taking it..
Maybe I should just go back on the 12.5 again and ride it out? When I took the klonopin after the attack, the anxiety did subside.. What began to worry me is that the loose bm's (again sorry, TMI) started back up when only a week ago I was getting better with that.. I will discuss this with my doc today as well.. I guess I need to quit being so fearful of the meds.. All I want is to feel calm again :(
Posted by Phillipa on September 28, 2010, at 19:53:14
In reply to Re: Zoloft too stimulating, Should I try Celexa?, posted by michelle41A on September 28, 2010, at 11:35:39
Michelle that's a high FSH I will check my records and see what my FSH was prior to and after starting bioidentical hormones doc prescribed. Phillipa ps how did you make out at the docs today?
Posted by weatherfreak on September 28, 2010, at 23:26:09
In reply to Re: Zoloft too stimulating, Should I try Celexa? » weatherfreak, posted by michelle41A on September 28, 2010, at 11:18:00
> > I personally found celexa way more stimulating than zoloft but everyone is different. I also found it gave me really bad anxiety after a week, BUT I react badly to all SSRI's/SNRI's
>
> Did you use for SSRI's for anxiety? The only two I have reacted badly to is Prozac and Zoloft.. When I look back at the 5 years I was on Zoloft,it seemed to make me a bit overstimulated but not to the point where it was making me sick..When I was at 50mg, I began to get the zombie like feelings..
> Have you found a med to ease your symptoms?No I haven't found anything that has lasted for me. A few meds along the years have helped at times but always pooped out on me. I'm still looking for something to help me when I go down.
>
Posted by michelle41A on September 29, 2010, at 1:52:40
In reply to Re: Zoloft too stimulating, Should I try Celexa? » michelle41A, posted by Phillipa on September 28, 2010, at 19:53:14
> Michelle that's a high FSH I will check my records and see what my FSH was prior to and after starting bioidentical hormones doc prescribed. Phillipa ps how did you make out at the docs today?
Hi Phillipa!
The Pdoc's appt went well! The appointment with the endo is on the 6th..I am going to ask him about bio identical hormone treatment(if he thinks I need it) I hope he checks my thyroid as well!
My Pdoc and I agreed that I should start taking the zoloft again.. He prescribed me 25mg of zoloft instead of the 50mg.
I was trying to cut down the 50mg pill in half to 25mg then to 12.5 Unfortunately, I was not getting an accurate dose.. I think that may have been a problem but I am not sure...
I took half of the 25 mg dose he prescribed me today and I had no panic or hot flashes.. I am going to stay on the 12.5 for a week or two and see how it goes.. If all goes well,I will go up to 25mg..
I also have had a rough week (My hours were cut at work again and my Husband may be getting laid off) we both work for the Canton township..The township is having budget issues so everyone is freaking out about losing their jobs.. I think that may have added to my stress this week :(
I will keep you posted on my progress with the Zoloft :) I am hoping that it works this time around! I am also hoping I can keep the dose low because I really hate to go above 25mg..
Thanks for your support!!
((HUGS))
Posted by creepy on September 29, 2010, at 8:46:23
In reply to Zoloft too stimulating, Should I try Celexa?, posted by michelle41A on September 25, 2010, at 12:21:58
zoloft doesnt really hit dopamine until higher doses are used. But it does cause akathisia in a lot of people which is weird.
Ive tried to find info on why this happens more often with zoloft but havent found anything that explains it.
Posted by Phillipa on September 29, 2010, at 19:22:04
In reply to Re: Zoloft too stimulating, Should I try Celexa?, posted by michelle41A on September 29, 2010, at 1:52:40
Michelle sounds like you have a really good plan and congrats on the difference the dose made and please keep us posted? Phillipa
Posted by michelle41A on September 30, 2010, at 12:45:09
In reply to Re: Zoloft too stimulating, Should I try Celexa? » michelle41A, posted by Phillipa on September 29, 2010, at 19:22:04
> Michelle sounds like you have a really good plan and congrats on the difference the dose made and please keep us posted? Phillipa
Hi Phillipa :)
I started back on the Zoloft Tuesday.. I feel much better! I think that I let my anxiety cause me to be afraid to stay on the zoloft.. I don't have any more severe panic attacks, but I still get headaches and my hot flashes have returned.. I assume that that the headaches and hot flashes are due to my body adjusting to the zoloft..
I am going to give the zoloft a few more weeks to work :) My pdoc suggested that I keep taking the klonopin (.25 in the morning, .25 in the evening) Hopefully that will ease any anxiety spikes.. I figure once I start feeling better again, I will raise the dose of Zoloft.
I also decided to stay with my Pdoc that has worked with me since 1999.
The new Pdoc I had an evaluation with tried to prescribe me lithium because she said I was bipolar.. I know for a fact that my condition is GAD and I was a bit suprised when she suggested that I was bipolar..
When I told my original Pdoc, he was shocked about her diagnosis and assured me that I only have GAD. My therapist who suggested that I see their inhouse Pdoc was shocked as well. My therapist did not agree that I was bipolar and told me I should stay with my original Pdoc because he has worked with me the longest and knows my mental health history. It just sucks that I have to pay out of pocket :(
Posted by michelle41A on September 30, 2010, at 16:39:05
In reply to Re: Zoloft too stimulating, Should I try Celexa?, posted by linkadge on September 25, 2010, at 14:36:10
Ok, I am getting really concerned now. As some of you know, I have been on Zoloft since Sept 4th. I was feeling better until Sept 19th. That is when the daily headaches started and my anxiety slowly began to increase.. By Sept26, I was a mess! Anxiety was extreme! I had to up my klonopin from .50 ( .25 in the morning .25 in the evening) to .25 3x daily. Doc put me back on Zoloft on 9/28
Felt ok that evening. But now the anxiety is HORRIBLE! I had the worst migrane today! I am still having racing heart and panic as I write this.. I honestly don't know what to do.. Do I take my 12.5mg of Zoloft at 6pm tonight or not? I am so damn scared that this will get worse!! I am thinking of calling my doctor's answering service and asking him what to do! Right now I took another .125 of klonopin to calm me down. So far today I have took .125 at 8:30 am, .125 at 11:30 am .125 at 3pm and now at 5:30 I have took .125 klonopin. Maybe I should take .25 of klonopin instead? Sorry for the rambling folks, I am just really worried what the heck is going to happen next :(
Posted by michelle41A on September 30, 2010, at 17:08:03
In reply to 3rd day back on zoloft, Anxiety is AWFUL!!!!, posted by michelle41A on September 30, 2010, at 16:39:05
I am wondering if I should just go with the .50mg 2x a day like my pdoc prescribed.. I have only been taking .5 klonopin once a day so maybe it is not enough to help with the anxiety that Zoloft can create when you first take it. Kinda scary that 12.5 mg of zoloft a day would cause that much anxiety though. Sorry again folks, just rambling :)
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