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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 woolav on September 20, 2005, at 7:24:30
I just saw my pdoc and told him i was extra stressed due to major changes in life, and he asked if i noticed that prozac was helping with anxiety.. He recently upped me to 40mg, and then he said he didnt want to up my klonopin bc he felt that 3 mg a day was enough.
I have bp2 and anxiety disorder and social phobia.
i take lamictal and trileptal as well as the meds listed above. has anyone taken a similar combo or have knowledge of prozac reducing anxiety?????
thanks
s
Posted by Bill LL on September 20, 2005, at 11:01:36
In reply to My pdoc thinks prozac will help anxiety ????, posted by woolav on September 20, 2005, at 7:24:30
Prozac can certainly help to reduce anxiety in many people (not all). The decision to increase the Prozac or increase the Klonopin is a tough one to make because they both have greater side effects at higher doses.
Prozac's worst side effect is usually sexual problems. If you are not having that side effect with 40 mg, then I think that staying on the 40 mg of Prozac is the way to go. A lot of people take more than 40 mg.
But Klonopin can cause daytime tiredness. If the Prozac increase gives you sexual side effects, then maybe you can later discuss with your doctor going back to a lower dose of Prozac and increasing the Klonopin.
Wouldn't increasing the dose of Lamictal be another option? Lamictal has less side effects than both Prozac and Klonopin.
> I just saw my pdoc and told him i was extra stressed due to major changes in life, and he asked if i noticed that prozac was helping with anxiety.. He recently upped me to 40mg, and then he said he didnt want to up my klonopin bc he felt that 3 mg a day was enough.
> I have bp2 and anxiety disorder and social phobia.
> i take lamictal and trileptal as well as the meds listed above. has anyone taken a similar combo or have knowledge of prozac reducing anxiety?????
> thanks
> s
Posted by UgottaHaveHOPE` on September 20, 2005, at 17:50:50
In reply to Re: My pdoc thinks prozac will help anxiety ????, posted by Bill LL on September 20, 2005, at 11:01:36
will it work for you? it's worth a try. however, keep in mind that every med affects everyone differently. it didnt work for me, but paxil did.
Posted by Phillipa on September 20, 2005, at 18:46:07
In reply to Re: prozac is commonly prescribed for anxiety, posted by UgottaHaveHOPE` on September 20, 2005, at 17:50:50
Woolav, aren't you bipolar? I thought the only AD was wellbutrin. But I could be wrong. Prozac usually increses energy or makes your nervous in my experience only. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by blueberry on September 20, 2005, at 20:46:48
In reply to My pdoc thinks prozac will help anxiety ????, posted by woolav on September 20, 2005, at 7:24:30
Clinical trials do show that prozac can work for anxiety. But on the other hand, its creation of anxiety is one of its primary side effects. So it's a toss of the coin. I think an ssri that is approved specifically for anxiety would be better. Prozac isn't.
I was on prozac for almost 6 years with no anxiety. And recently developed what I think is severe akathisia, or what others might experience as that severe anxiety when they first start, or what some would call late onset side effects.
In any case, I don't think prozac is a good choice for anxiety, just based on my own experience, the high incidence of akathisia with it compared to other ssris, and its side effect profile.
Posted by woolav on September 21, 2005, at 6:43:31
In reply to Re: My pdoc thinks prozac will help anxiety ????, posted by blueberry on September 20, 2005, at 20:46:48
Thanks for the advice. I always thought that ssri's were not good for those with bp2, but my pdoc said he doesnt want to change my meds. So, i dont know.
S
Posted by grammy on September 21, 2005, at 22:30:45
In reply to My pdoc thinks prozac will help anxiety ????, posted by woolav on September 20, 2005, at 7:24:30
I had the mother of all anxiety attacks while on 20 mg. Prozac. My pdoc said he would not increase it to 40 mg. because it might push me into mania. He prescribed Cymbalta and I am doing well. Carole
Posted by theo on September 22, 2005, at 10:49:09
In reply to Re: My pdoc thinks prozac will help anxiety ????, posted by grammy on September 21, 2005, at 22:30:45
What dose of Cymbalta are you taking? Are you taking it morning or evening?
Posted by grammy on September 22, 2005, at 22:24:26
In reply to Re: My pdoc thinks prozac will help anxiety ???? » grammy, posted by theo on September 22, 2005, at 10:49:09
I'm taking 60 mg. - I started out with 30 and after two weeks went to 60. Carole
Posted by grammy on September 22, 2005, at 22:28:11
In reply to Re: My pdoc thinks prozac will help anxiety ???? » grammy, posted by theo on September 22, 2005, at 10:49:09
I'm taking my Cymbalta at noon. It not only helps my depression, it curbs my appetite.
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