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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SuzieWong on August 7, 2004, at 5:43:00
Can someone please tell me if they have suffered extreme anxiety while taking Prozac.
I have always been an anxious person and suffered with social phobia, panic attacks etc.
I've been on Prozac now for 3 months, very low dose, and I can't believe the way my mind is acting which I can only put down to the Prozac I think. It seems to make me have obsessive thoughts, they get worse then better and now worst again. T
The obsessive thoughts are like my mind is racing, my skin prickles with anxiety. The anxiety is to do with the thoughts that I'm going mad. That all of this is really me being led towards dementia etc. Its like i'm anxious about everything but not in the panic attack style. Its like it makes me really hot, makes me catch my breath, makes me go weak in the legs etc.
I don't want to stop taking the Prozac because I had to take it to curtail the side effects of withdrawing from Celexa. I actually feel well physically and whereas I used to always worry about being ill I'm now worrying about going mad and that i'll be carted off to an institution while going mad etc. Its like I'm claustraphobic about being in my own body.
Someone please tell me this might be something to do with the Prozac rather than it being me.
Posted by crazychickuk on August 7, 2004, at 5:51:17
In reply to Extreme anxiety from Prozac, posted by SuzieWong on August 7, 2004, at 5:43:00
Its anxiety allright, you are not going mad love, did you have these kind of thoughts before the prozac? what dose of prozac are you on? can you ring your doc and discus this with her/him ? maybe its time to try something else..
i had a great experience with zoloft (lustral) for obsessive thoughts... just my expperience..
sorry i cant be of more help
Posted by linkadge on August 7, 2004, at 7:51:44
In reply to Re: Extreme anxiety from Prozac, posted by crazychickuk on August 7, 2004, at 5:51:17
I changed from celexa to prozac and I noticed a huge difference in many things. I was much more pysically and mentally jittery and anxious. I did not feel right at all. I wasn't sleeping well or eating well. It just seem to shift my obsessions from one thing to another. Before I was obsessed about neetness, after this changed to thoughts of dying.
Anyhow It was not the drug for me.
If you are thinking about stopping the prozac, It should be much easier than the celexa. It stays in your system for more than a week. If you still think you need medication, you might want to try something else.
Linkadge
Posted by flipsactown on August 7, 2004, at 8:26:09
In reply to Extreme anxiety from Prozac, posted by SuzieWong on August 7, 2004, at 5:43:00
Hi, I've taken 80mg of Prozac for over 7 years until it finally pooped out. My guess is you're probably needing an increase in dosage. It sounds like your anxiety has gotten worse as your body adjusted to the low dose Prozac. Discuss an increase in dosage with your pdoc. Good luck.
FST
> Can someone please tell me if they have suffered extreme anxiety while taking Prozac.
>
> I have always been an anxious person and suffered with social phobia, panic attacks etc.
>
> I've been on Prozac now for 3 months, very low dose, and I can't believe the way my mind is acting which I can only put down to the Prozac I think. It seems to make me have obsessive thoughts, they get worse then better and now worst again. T
>
> The obsessive thoughts are like my mind is racing, my skin prickles with anxiety. The anxiety is to do with the thoughts that I'm going mad. That all of this is really me being led towards dementia etc. Its like i'm anxious about everything but not in the panic attack style. Its like it makes me really hot, makes me catch my breath, makes me go weak in the legs etc.
>
> I don't want to stop taking the Prozac because I had to take it to curtail the side effects of withdrawing from Celexa. I actually feel well physically and whereas I used to always worry about being ill I'm now worrying about going mad and that i'll be carted off to an institution while going mad etc. Its like I'm claustraphobic about being in my own body.
>
> Someone please tell me this might be something to do with the Prozac rather than it being me.
Posted by woolav on August 7, 2004, at 9:49:52
In reply to Re: Extreme anxiety from Prozac » SuzieWong, posted by flipsactown on August 7, 2004, at 8:26:09
I had some of the anxiety that your referring to in the beginning with prozac. Well, I'm still in the beginning really. But, it seems like its getting better. I also take lamictal with my prozac and that really helps. Also, i have xanax as needed...Are you taking anything else with the prozac?
S
Posted by linkadge on August 7, 2004, at 9:55:10
In reply to Re: Extreme anxiety from Prozac, posted by woolav on August 7, 2004, at 9:49:52
I have to note that anxiety is not uncommon with prozac. Just because it't marketed for anxiety does not mean it is anxiolitic for everyone.
It is considered the most activating of the SSRIs. An increased dose may help, or it may make things worse.
Linkadge
Posted by SuzieWong on August 7, 2004, at 11:31:27
In reply to Re: Extreme anxiety from Prozac, posted by linkadge on August 7, 2004, at 9:55:10
Thats what I'm scared about. I had extreme anxiety from withdrawing from Celexa but nothing like the sort of anxiety I have now....I actually have obsessive thinking type of anxiety now, like all these thoughts are so overwhelming that they make me anxious and my skin prickle etc.
I'm tempted to stop taking Prozac but I was so ill when I was withdrawing from Celexa...thought I had a terminal illness or somelthing I felt so physically ill and now I feel great physically...its just these thoughts and what they're doing to my anxiety levels
Posted by linkadge on August 7, 2004, at 12:21:05
In reply to Re: Extreme anxiety from Prozac, posted by SuzieWong on August 7, 2004, at 11:31:27
Tell the doctor and try something different.
This would be me oppinion
Linkadge
Posted by leos on August 9, 2004, at 10:50:51
In reply to Re: Extreme anxiety from Prozac, posted by linkadge on August 7, 2004, at 12:21:05
the same thing happened to me. i was taking 10 mg to start then slowly increased to 20 mg (the usual dose) and a few days later i had terrible anxiety/panic attacks. i kind of blame myself b/c ive read that prozac is or can be stimulating and is prob not the best med for someone with anxiety. i was stubborn and ignored that little important piece of information and paid the price. my pd advised i could stop taking it immed. (i was only on it for 2 wks) and was soon much better. now, if i could find something to treat my irritability, impatience, mood swings - i'd be in business. prozac does not induce anxiety for everyone but im guessing if you already have anxiety this might be a med to stay away from...
Posted by woolav on August 9, 2004, at 13:54:10
In reply to Re: Extreme anxiety from Prozac, posted by leos on August 9, 2004, at 10:50:51
Ive been on prozac 20mg for 3 wks now and at first I had major anxiety, but my pdoc warned me about this side effect at first and told me to take extra xanax. Which i had to or otherwise i would have stopped taking it as well. But now, I feel better with the anxiety and am definately going to give prozac a chance...But, that's just how it effected me..(the xanax was a life saver)
S
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