Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 7954

Shown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Prozac and Xanax interacting with each other

Posted by Vicki on June 28, 1999, at 13:22:45

i need any information that anyone could give on how Prozac and Xanax interact with each other. My doctor has prescribed Prozac..40mg daily and xanax .50 mg twice a day for panic attacks and i seem to be experiencing a profound funk (the only term i could think of) and im having trouble getting out of it. So i troubleshoot and the only thing i can think of is either the prozac or the lithium (450mg twice daily ).. is reacting badly to the prozac. It is affecting my ability to function on a daily basis..work, and such simple things as bathing and dressing. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you

 

Re: Prozac and Xanax interacting with each other

Posted by pandey_m on June 28, 1999, at 15:40:24

In reply to Prozac and Xanax interacting with each other, posted by Vicki on June 28, 1999, at 13:22:45

Vicki i do think it is the lithium - I was on prozac for 4 years 40mg a day and already I was taking xanax 0.5mg at a time, (0 to 4 mg a day - basically SOS)for panic and my doc said carry on with that too. I never had any problems with the combination - after 6 months I didnt need to carry xanax in my wallet any longer because the panic had become a dim memory. (I need the xanax again now). I also used to take just about any benzo for sleep / anxiolysis
w/o probs; not have I read anywhere about adverse interactions between prozac and xanax; or, for that matter, between prozac and any cocktail of benzos including xanax.

So lithium+prozac+xanax=profound funk. Hmmm.
Can someone enlighten us on that?

That was until early last year. Now I am taking Stablon (tianeptine - a french AD) and to sleep I take zopiclone. I am cyclothymic and the docs always tell me I can have lithium if I wish to; and I am in the process of making up my mind about lithium. Your post makes the score one more point against lithium. (sorry for that conflated sentence). Regards.

> i need any information that anyone could give on how Prozac and Xanax interact with each other. My doctor has prescribed Prozac..40mg daily and xanax .50 mg twice a day for panic attacks and i seem to be experiencing a profound funk (the only term i could think of) and im having trouble getting out of it. So i troubleshoot and the only thing i can think of is either the prozac or the lithium (450mg twice daily ).. is reacting badly to the prozac
> Thank you

 

Re: Prozac and Xanax interacting with each other

Posted by W on June 28, 1999, at 21:50:11

In reply to Re: Prozac and Xanax interacting with each other, posted by pandey_m on June 28, 1999, at 15:40:24

> Vicki i do think it is the lithium - I was on prozac for 4 years 40mg a day and already I was taking xanax 0.5mg at a time, (0 to 4 mg a day - basically SOS)for panic and my doc said carry on with that too. I never had any problems with the combination - after 6 months I didnt need to carry xanax in my wallet any longer because the panic had become a dim memory. (I need the xanax again now). I also used to take just about any benzo for sleep / anxiolysis
> w/o probs; not have I read anywhere about adverse interactions between prozac and xanax; or, for that matter, between prozac and any cocktail of benzos including xanax.
>
> So lithium+prozac+xanax=profound funk. Hmmm.
> Can someone enlighten us on that?
>
> That was until early last year. Now I am taking Stablon (tianeptine - a french AD) and to sleep I take zopiclone. I am cyclothymic and the docs always tell me I can have lithium if I wish to; and I am in the process of making up my mind about lithium. Your post makes the score one more point against lithium. (sorry for that conflated sentence). Regards.
>
> > i need any information that anyone could give on how Prozac and Xanax interact with each other. My doctor has prescribed Prozac..40mg daily and xanax .50 mg twice a day for panic attacks and i seem to be experiencing a profound funk (the only term i could think of) and im having trouble getting out of it. So i troubleshoot and the only thing i can think of is either the prozac or the lithium (450mg twice daily ).. is reacting badly to the prozac
> > Thank you

Go back to Dr. Bob's Psychopharmacology Tips and
search for "ssri apathy" - maybe that will match your "funk" and no interaction needs to be involved. Some benzodiazepines produce "depression" in some people - whatever that means. The ssri apathy seems likely to me - I have experienced it first-hand with Prozac (fluoxetine) at 20, 40, 60, and 80 mg per day -certainly 40 is enough - you might try dropping back to 20 but don't get your hopes up. One way you might tell is by eliminating the prozac -TAPER OFF SLOWLY, whatever your doctor says - once off you may feel the "funk" lifting after a couple (?) of weeks. Of course, some other problems may sooner or later return.
W

 

Re: Prozac and Xanax interacting with each other

Posted by Jim on July 1, 1999, at 15:06:41

In reply to Prozac and Xanax interacting with each other, posted by Vicki on June 28, 1999, at 13:22:45

function on a daily basis..work, and such simple things as bathing and dressing. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
> Thank you

Vicki, You need to get of XANAX immediatley: I was on it for 6 years and it supposedly is moree addivtive than strret drugs- You need spiritual help to substitute for Xanax I can't believe your doctor prescribed that

 

Re: Prozac and Xanax interacting with each other

Posted by Jim on July 1, 1999, at 15:17:03

In reply to Re: Prozac and Xanax interacting with each other, posted by pandey_m on June 28, 1999, at 15:40:24

> Vicki i do think it is the lithium - I was on prozac for 4 years 40mg a day and already I was taking xanax 0.5mg at a time, (0 to 4 mg a day - basically SOS)for panic and my doc said carry on with that too. I never had any problems with the combination - after 6 months I didnt need to carry xanax in my wallet any longer because the panic had become a dim memory. (I need the xanax again now). I also used to take just about any benzo for sleep / anxiolysis
> w/o probs; not have I read anywhere about adverse interactions between prozac and xanax; or, for that matter, between prozac and any cocktail of benzos including xanax.
>
> So lithium+prozac+xanax=profound funk. Hmmm.
> Can someone enlighten us on that?
>
> That was until early last year. Now I am taking Stablon (tianeptine - a french AD) and to sleep I take zopiclone. I am cyclothymic and the docs always tell me I can have lithium if I wish to; and I am in the process of making up my mind about lithium. Your post makes the score one more point against lithium. (sorry for that conflated sentence). Regards.
>
> > i need any information that anyone could give on how Prozac and Xanax interact with each other. My doctor has prescribed Prozac..40mg daily and xanax .50 mg twice a day for panic attacks and i seem to be experiencing a profound funk (the only term i could think of) and im having trouble getting out of it. So i troubleshoot and the only thing i can think of is either the prozac or the lithium (450mg twice daily ).. is reacting badly to the prozac
> > Thank you
Vicki and other responder, XANAX is a narcotic. It needs to be minimized. I had svere anxiety and panic in past 6 years, Xanax was supposed to treat that but all it did was create a addiction to a narcotic. I went to a drug rehab center just for XANAX, did detox, and almost lost my life because of insanity of Xanax withdrawl. Xanax is a band-aid it does nothing to correct problem of nervousness, a addiction will manifest. Need to be in support groups. Xanax lead me to be in Narcotics An. For Panic I have been on Paxil- a non-narcotic serotonin reuptaker, and I have benn on since march 3, 1999 and it has been great. But it is still a drug I want to be off that to but I do have severe OCD and it is tricky.

 

Re: Prozac and Xanax interacting with each other

Posted by anna on July 10, 1999, at 11:44:37

In reply to Prozac and Xanax interacting with each other, posted by Vicki on June 28, 1999, at 13:22:45

> i need any information that anyone could give on how Prozac and Xanax interact with each other. My doctor has prescribed Prozac..40mg daily and xanax .50 mg twice a day for panic attacks and i seem to be experiencing a profound funk (the only term i could think of) and im having trouble getting out of it. So i troubleshoot and the only thing i can think of is either the prozac or the lithium (450mg twice daily ).. is reacting badly to the prozac. It is affecting my ability to function on a daily basis..work, and such simple things as bathing and dressing. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
> Thank you
Vicki,
i take xanax and paxil together and paxil is very similar to prozac. I dont have any problems with the combination so maybe something else is causing you your problems. Maybe try taking less xanax for a few days (if possible) to see if it makes any difference. Beware, xanax is supposrdly highly addictive so only take it in the short term if you can. i've had lots of trouble stopping it. Take care and i hope your problems resolve themselves. anna

 

Re: Prozac and Xanax interacting with each other

Posted by JB on July 12, 1999, at 12:04:31

In reply to Re: Prozac and Xanax interacting with each other, posted by anna on July 10, 1999, at 11:44:37

> >I've been taking Xanax off and on since mid 80s. However, I never need to take it daily or all day. Never had one moments trouble. I've had dozens of drugs prescribed from A-Z; first I research the pharmacological properties (what's in the drug; what the side effects may be). Ofen times I recognize side effects I don't want to repeat. Before filling the prescription, ask the pharmacists for a written description of the durg. Keep in mind that prescribed drugs are chemicals or imitations of chemicals that naturally exist in the body. However, they are not meant to be permanent substitutes. Never look for drugs to "cure" you of all ills and anxieties. Be careful of MDs who continually prescribe one medication after another. They are not 'helping' you they are hindering a natural imbalance in your body and only masking what is really wrong. Keep a diary of your symptoms, when they occur, what else was going on at the time. You'd be surprised at how you can alleviate certain environmental factors tthat are aggravating certain situations. When you get a 'gut feeling' that something is wrong with the medicine(s) you are taking,listen to your body....you know what something is extradionarily unusual and it MAY NOT BE IN YOUR HEAD. You may need to change physicians. Take your diary with you when you visit the physician and note whether he/she is interested in what you are telling them. You have every right to one who believes in and abides by the oath taken. Not all do. GOOD LUCK!!

 

Re: Prozac and Xanax interacting with each other

Posted by pandey_m on July 31, 1999, at 17:41:50

In reply to Re: Prozac and Xanax interacting with each other, posted by JB on July 12, 1999, at 12:04:31

All,

I agree with JB, I try to do the same. In particular, for this thread :

1. xanax (and benzos in general,old or new) are for the short term (3 months or so). If anxiety borders on or actually crosses over to panic, then benzos are not the answer. Anafranil (clomipramine) 10mg at bedtime for not more than 3 months is a good antipanic (and anti-agoraphobia). (it was also breakthrough in OCD treatment when it came around). Imipramine is also used as antipanic, but it is less effective. I don't know the antipanic dose of imipramine except that it is much lower than the antidepressant dose. With either of these you are unlikely to get any rebound panic attack when you stop. CAUTION : THESE ARE OLD TRICYCLICS, SO DO'NT MESS WITH THEM. CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR. DONT SELF-MEDICATE ON THESE even though their doses relevant to this thread are low enough so that even in bipolars not on mood-stabilizers they are very unlikely to cause any switch to hypomania.


2. IMHO : in depressive / anxiety / panic disorders medicines help you reach a stage where you have the option to exercise your will-power and get yourself back in shape. But somewhere it is finally you who has to do it. Of course it is (at least for me) a Sisyphean job - you've got to do that over and over again. When you are too low (or too high or too panicky) of course you got to leave it to the medicines, but you got to train yourself to take notice when it is time to put in that will-power.

-------------------------

By the way, I first found this site last year while trying to locate an audio of the Alan Parson's Project song "Psychobabble". Serendipity?

 

Re: Alan Parson's Project

Posted by Dr. Bob on August 2, 1999, at 1:44:24

In reply to Re: Prozac and Xanax interacting with each other, posted by pandey_m on July 31, 1999, at 17:41:50

> By the way, I first found this site last year while trying to locate an audio of the Alan Parson's Project song "Psychobabble"...

Did you find the song? It might be just the right background music for this site. :-)

Bob

 

Re: Alan Parson's Project

Posted by pandey_m on August 4, 1999, at 3:59:36

In reply to Re: Alan Parson's Project, posted by Dr. Bob on August 2, 1999, at 1:44:24

> > By the way, I first found this site last year while trying to locate an audio of the Alan Parson's Project song "Psychobabble"...
>
> Did you find the song? It might be just the right background music for this site. :-)
>
> Bob

No, Dr Bob - audio links are *usually* extinct very fast - music companies breathing down people's necks I suppose. So one's got to be persistent - which I wasn't about this particular audio - I was searching for a lot of songs that I liked when I
was in college. My own cassette of that album (Pie in the Sky or something) was lost way back in 1989. I remember the lyrics, but they wont read so good without the song ...

Okay I'll try and locate it - internet, music shops, whatever. Give me 2 months. (Because of some other deadline). I'll upload and send it to you and copyright etc is your headache of course (I am just a patient - you are the doc!) :-)

 

Re: Alan Parson's Project

Posted by Dr. Bob on August 5, 1999, at 1:51:49

In reply to Re: Alan Parson's Project, posted by pandey_m on August 4, 1999, at 3:59:36

> Okay I'll try and locate it - internet, music shops, whatever. Give me 2 months. (Because of some other deadline). I'll upload and send it to you and copyright etc is your headache of course (I am just a patient - you are the doc!) :-)

Hey, that would be great, thanks!

Bob

 

Re: Alan Parson's Project

Posted by phoebet on August 9, 1999, at 18:04:47

In reply to Re: Alan Parson's Project, posted by Dr. Bob on August 5, 1999, at 1:51:49

> > Okay I'll try and locate it - internet, music shops, whatever. Give me 2 months. (Because of some other deadline). I'll upload and send it to you and copyright etc is your headache of course (I am just a patient - you are the doc!) :-)
>
> Hey, that would be great, thanks!
>
> Bob

MP3s are my escape...(I've many psych probs; now physical too.) How to find good and caring neuro? A whole nother question!!!
Dr. Bob....I'll find it if it's findable. BTW.....thank you for the best psych site on the net.
Shaa (A Chippewa word for 'My spirit goes with yours'.)
Phoebet

 

Re: Alan Parson's Project

Posted by pandey_m on August 14, 1999, at 22:35:29

In reply to Re: Alan Parson's Project, posted by phoebet on August 9, 1999, at 18:04:47

Phoebet,
One way ... Amazon.com is selling the "Eye in the Sky" CD for $11 (or $14?) - this has the song Psychobabble. "Usually ships within 24 hours".
[I am in Asia with no direct access to convertible currency, so this step is complicated for me!] After that, CD ripper and MP3 encoder .. I found the shareware ripper+encoder CDCOPY reasonably good for the audio quality of the mp3 file it produces even with its built in quick-compression.

Until now I've found only midis of the song ...


> MP3s are my escape...(I've many psych probs; now physical too.) How to find good and caring neuro? A whole nother question!!!
> Dr. Bob....I'll find it if it's findable. BTW.....thank you for the best psych site on the net.
> Shaa (A Chippewa word for 'My spirit goes with yours'.)
> Phoebet

 

Re: Alan Parson's Project

Posted by Dr. Bob on August 15, 1999, at 9:38:47

In reply to Re: Alan Parson's Project, posted by pandey_m on August 14, 1999, at 22:35:29

> Until now I've found only midis of the song ...

Midis don't have words, right? Well, that would be better than nothing. Where did you find them?

Bob

 

Dr Bob , I mailed you the midi

Posted by pandey_m on August 17, 1999, at 21:45:53

In reply to Re: Alan Parson's Project, posted by Dr. Bob on August 15, 1999, at 9:38:47


> Midis don't have words, right? Well, that would be better than nothing. Where did you find them?

I don't remember exactly - but I think I searched for :
audio of the Alan Parsons Project song psychobabble
in Altavista.


Anyway I just sent you an email at dr-bob@uchicago.edu, with lyrics in the letter and the midi as attachment. Pl do check it out.

I don't think there should be any copywrite prob with the midi (in any case if you want to do a copyright check then you might as well get the CD from amazon.com [searchable for music] and contact the recording co. for right to play say a minute of the original song! :))

If it is important where I found it, do tell me and I'll locate that info...


 

Re: received the midi

Posted by Dr. Bob on August 21, 1999, at 0:21:46

In reply to Dr Bob , I mailed you the midi, posted by pandey_m on August 17, 1999, at 21:45:53

> Anyway I just sent you an email at dr-bob@uchicago.edu, with lyrics in the letter and the midi as attachment. Pl do check it out.

Got it, thanks! I can't quite get it to work, the way I'd like to add it to the site, but I'm working on it...

Bob

 

Re: installed the midi

Posted by Dr. Bob on August 24, 1999, at 11:48:08

In reply to Re: received the midi, posted by Dr. Bob on August 21, 1999, at 0:21:46

> I can't quite get it to work, the way I'd like to add it to the site, but I'm working on it...

OK, it should be there (and working) now. :-)

Bob

 

Re: installed the midi

Posted by pandey_m on September 7, 1999, at 12:54:57

In reply to Re: installed the midi, posted by Dr. Bob on August 24, 1999, at 11:48:08

Great. (I could check this out only today - major hard disk crash at home, computers in my institute do'nt have sound cards.)


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