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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Cindylou on July 22, 2001, at 17:21:24
Hello,
I'm wondering if Prozac can cause anxiety -- I have had a horrible week of anxiety attacks -- always expecting the worst to happen, etc. I recently started taking Prozac, and I just increased the dose to 10 mg (which is a lot for me since I am very sensitive to medications) about a week and a half ago. I also take Wellbutrin, and just increased that to 200 mg.I have been on many different ADs in the past, and have had all sorts of trouble with them, but never anxiety like this -- I usually suffer from fatigue and "drugged-out" feelings. I've been on Prozac in the past, and never had anxiety from it before, but it never worked for me for longer than a month or two.
Can Prozac cause anxiety? Can it possibly affect me differently than it has in the past? I am very confused.
It is PMS week, which I'm sure is excacerbating things too.
Grateful for any advice!!
-cindy
Posted by Joy on July 22, 2001, at 19:31:12
In reply to Can Prozac CAUSE anxiety?, posted by Cindylou on July 22, 2001, at 17:21:24
It is probably the Wellbutrin. This combo totally reved up my friend, and she had to drop the Wellbutrin after only a few weeks. If Prozac stopped working for you in a month [happened to me] I increased the dose and was much better. Everybody does not get well on 20 mgs, and some people [with generalized anxiety disorder] don't do well on Prozac unless Buspar is added. I don't know why. It has sure helped my terrible anxiety.
Joy
> Hello,
> I'm wondering if Prozac can cause anxiety -- I have had a horrible week of anxiety attacks -- always expecting the worst to happen, etc. I recently started taking Prozac, and I just increased the dose to 10 mg (which is a lot for me since I am very sensitive to medications) about a week and a half ago. I also take Wellbutrin, and just increased that to 200 mg.
>
> I have been on many different ADs in the past, and have had all sorts of trouble with them, but never anxiety like this -- I usually suffer from fatigue and "drugged-out" feelings. I've been on Prozac in the past, and never had anxiety from it before, but it never worked for me for longer than a month or two.
>
> Can Prozac cause anxiety? Can it possibly affect me differently than it has in the past? I am very confused.
>
> It is PMS week, which I'm sure is excacerbating things too.
>
> Grateful for any advice!!
> -cindy
Posted by Zo on July 22, 2001, at 20:22:55
In reply to Can Prozac CAUSE anxiety?, posted by Cindylou on July 22, 2001, at 17:21:24
> Hello,
> I'm wondering if Prozac can cause anxiety -- I have had a horrible week of anxiety attacks -- always expecting the worst to happen, etc. I recently started taking Prozac, and I just increased the dose to 10 mg (which is a lot for me since I am very sensitive to medications) about a week and a half ago. I also take Wellbutrin, and just increased that to 200 mg.Absolutely, it can. . .tho in this case, it's probably the Wellbutrin, or they are potentiating each other. . .and it may well be a transitory side-effect of Wellbutrin. Back off, and go up more slowly on that. . .as I recall, the blood levels change pretty quick.
But some people are plenty stimulated on Prozac alone. Helps to clarify what one med at a time is doing for you.
Good luck,
Zo
Posted by Jackster on July 23, 2001, at 2:57:08
In reply to Can Prozac CAUSE anxiety?, posted by Cindylou on July 22, 2001, at 17:21:24
> Hello,
> I'm wondering if Prozac can cause anxiety -- I have had a horrible week of anxiety attacks -- always expecting the worst to happen, etc. I recently started taking Prozac, and I just increased the dose to 10 mg (which is a lot for me since I am very sensitive to medications) about a week and a half ago. I also take Wellbutrin, and just increased that to 200 mg.
>
> I have been on many different ADs in the past, and have had all sorts of trouble with them, but never anxiety like this -- I usually suffer from fatigue and "drugged-out" feelings. I've been on Prozac in the past, and never had anxiety from it before, but it never worked for me for longer than a month or two.
>
> Can Prozac cause anxiety? Can it possibly affect me differently than it has in the past? I am very confused.
>
> It is PMS week, which I'm sure is excacerbating things too.
>
> Grateful for any advice!!
> -cindyProzac gave me the worst panic attacks of my life. I didn't stick on it long enough to find out if they were going to abate.
Jackie
Posted by irishcatholic on July 23, 2001, at 10:51:49
In reply to Can Prozac CAUSE anxiety?, posted by Cindylou on July 22, 2001, at 17:21:24
After 5 days on 20 mg Proz I was totally wired - body running 200 mph.
You bet it can cause anxiety.
Posted by Joy on July 23, 2001, at 22:10:05
In reply to Re: Can Prozac CAUSE anxiety?, posted by irishcatholic on July 23, 2001, at 10:51:49
It makes a big difference starting at 10 mgs and staying there 7 to 10 days, and if comfortable enough then go to 20 mg. 20 mg Prozac at first definitely can cause anxiety in some people. It's too high to start for most.
Joy
> After 5 days on 20 mg Proz I was totally wired - body running 200 mph.
> You bet it can cause anxiety.
Posted by Cindylou on July 23, 2001, at 22:55:27
In reply to Re: Can Prozac CAUSE anxiety? » irishcatholic, posted by Joy on July 23, 2001, at 22:10:05
Thanks, Joy.
Actually, I started at 2.5 mg., if you can believe that! I am extremely sensitive to medications, and 5 mg. about knocked me over when I first started. I worked up to 5 mg. and stayed there for a couple weeks without much trouble, then went to 7.5 for a week, and then to 10. But at 10 mg the anxiety was crushing. I'm back to 5 now. Can 5 mg. even do any good?Thanks for your help and responses,
-cindy
> It makes a big difference starting at 10 mgs and staying there 7 to 10 days, and if comfortable enough then go to 20 mg. 20 mg Prozac at first definitely can cause anxiety in some people. It's too high to start for most.
> Joy
>
>
Posted by Anna Laura on July 24, 2001, at 5:38:35
In reply to Can Prozac CAUSE anxiety?, posted by Cindylou on July 22, 2001, at 17:21:24
> Hello,
> I'm wondering if Prozac can cause anxiety -- I have had a horrible week of anxiety attacks -- always expecting the worst to happen, etc. I recently started taking Prozac, and I just increased the dose to 10 mg (which is a lot for me since I am very sensitive to medications) about a week and a half ago. I also take Wellbutrin, and just increased that to 200 mg.
>
> I have been on many different ADs in the past, and have had all sorts of trouble with them, but never anxiety like this -- I usually suffer from fatigue and "drugged-out" feelings. I've been on Prozac in the past, and never had anxiety from it before, but it never worked for me for longer than a month or two.
>
> Can Prozac cause anxiety? Can it possibly affect me differently than it has in the past? I am very confused.
>
> It is PMS week, which I'm sure is excacerbating things too.
>
> Grateful for any advice!!
> -cindyI was on prozac months ago and felt anxious.(i had several panic attacks).
This discomfort took place before the drug kicked in though.
Posted by Cindylou on July 24, 2001, at 7:46:47
In reply to Re: Can Prozac CAUSE anxiety?, posted by Anna Laura on July 24, 2001, at 5:38:35
So, the panic attacks went away? Did the Prozac help you?
> I was on prozac months ago and felt anxious.(i had several panic attacks).
> This discomfort took place before the drug kicked in though.
Posted by Joy on July 24, 2001, at 8:10:26
In reply to Re: Can Prozac CAUSE anxiety? » Joy, posted by Cindylou on July 23, 2001, at 22:55:27
Cindylou,
Try alternating 10mg and 5mg which would be 7.5 for a week; then go to 10 mgs once you are comfortable. Your body should adjust this way, and if you are okay with it, you can alternate 10 mgs and 20mgs so you'd be on a 15 mg dose for a while, and then eventually see if you need to go to 20mg. I found 20mgs helpful, but had to go to 40 mgs which worked much better for me. I had some anxiety in my life, left my job, so I went to 60 mgs where I've been a couple of weeks. I see my pdoc in a couple of days. Just take your time to see if this med if for you.
Joy> Thanks, Joy.
> Actually, I started at 2.5 mg., if you can believe that! I am extremely sensitive to medications, and 5 mg. about knocked me over when I first started. I worked up to 5 mg. and stayed there for a couple weeks without much trouble, then went to 7.5 for a week, and then to 10. But at 10 mg the anxiety was crushing. I'm back to 5 now. Can 5 mg. even do any good?
>
> Thanks for your help and responses,
> -cindy
>
>
> > It makes a big difference starting at 10 mgs and staying there 7 to 10 days, and if comfortable enough then go to 20 mg. 20 mg Prozac at first definitely can cause anxiety in some people. It's too high to start for most.
> > Joy
> >
> >
Posted by Anna Laura on July 25, 2001, at 2:07:10
In reply to Re: Can Prozac CAUSE anxiety? » Anna Laura, posted by Cindylou on July 24, 2001, at 7:46:47
> So, the panic attacks went away? Did the Prozac help you?
>
>
> > I was on prozac months ago and felt anxious.(i had several panic attacks).
> > This discomfort took place before the drug kicked in though.Anxiety eventually subsided but Prozac didn't help much in the long run (my major problem was anhedonia). I'm currently switching to Effexor.
This is the end of the thread.
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