my mistake its 80 mg

i'm starting prozak again. it made me manic/mixed when i took it in january, so i'm being kind of careful now. mmmm it is tasty though. does any one else take it in liquid form? i'm at 20mg.

Oh...hopefully it works better for you this time tree.

I seem to be a lot more angry and agitated...I'm not sure if it's a side effect or not...but if it is how long would it take for it to go away?

TZ, is the anger and aggitation something new? Did you have these symptoms before you started Prozac? If not, consult with your pdoc as these are not really good side effects to have.
Sheepwoman

I've been known to get irritible and frustrated easily...but usually my anger bouts are few and far between. But it seems to be worse since I went off the last med and started the fluoxetine. I tried to explain it to the Pdoc but I don't think it came across very well. I haven't smapped at anyone or anything...but I spend a lot of time alone. So erg it's mostly internal anger. I'm suppose to go back in in 2 weeks to see where I am at that time. We talked about decreasing the dose...but I don't want to...as I think it's already a pretty low dose.

okay, so after a really long visit at the hospital (~7 hours) i am stopping the prozac, mostly because of my parents concerns but it's probably for the best.

Hello,

I am taking Prozac for anxiety and depression. I took 10mg for 5 days and then upped the dosage to 20mg as per the doctor's instructions. Aside from some nausea for the first few days, I haven't suffered from any side effects. I am now on day 12 at 20mg and I am not having any improvement. My doctor wanted to see me after 3 weeks at 20mg ("or sooner, if need be").

My question is: should I go in sooner and request a higher dosage or should I just try to hold it together and wait it out? I don't want my doctor to think I'm impatient and demanding, but I feel anxious and the days are hard. I am torn between giving this dosage enough time to accurately asess its efficacy, and getting some relief ASAP. I want to do this methodically and be a good patient, but I notice some other posters feel better sooner than this, and that makes me wonder if this dosage will be adequate. Should I be noticing some improvement by now?

I know its different for everyone, but I would appreciate someone else's perspective on this. Your opinions would be appreciated.

I would talk to your doctor only because you have started on such s small dosage. Your doc probably did that to control side effects. Please keep in mind that it can take 6-8 weeks to feel the benefits of these older SSRI's like Prozac. 12 days is not very long for Prozac.

KA

Thanks, KA.

I went ahead and took 30mg today on my own (I have the 10mg capsules) since I haven't been having SEs and my gut feeling is that the 20mg probably won't do for me (I previously required the second tier dosage for zoloft and paxil for efficacy). I will make a dr appointment for this week and hopefully, he won't think I was being premature and impatient for doing that.

-Flaxen

Flaxen, it is unwise to self-medicate by changing the doses. Call your pdoc before you do this. It's very important that you be compliant and follow the dosing instructions set by the pdoc. What if you had a bad reaction to the higher dose? 20mg usually is the therapeutic dose for Prozac.

You have to be patient with ADs. None of them are miracle drugs that work overnight. It takes time and the blood levels have to increase slowly before they are fully effective. Some people get relief right away and it's due to the way they metabolize things.
Sheepwoman

Thank you Sheepwoman - point taken.

Intellectually, I know you are right, but we do things like this when we feel desperate. Fortunately, I am feeling no ill effects from taking the increased dosage since Sunday, and my appointment is for tomorrow. Unfortunately, I am still feeling much anxiety. I am hopeful about this drug because I am so far not suffering from the side effects of others I have been on (however I have not had any positive results yet either). I am concerned about my doctor's opinion about what I have done and I will update you after my appointment.

-Flaxen

Doctor's appointment update: The doctor was very understanding of my dosage-upping and said that now that I have been on 30mg for 5 days with no SE or improvements, I should go up to 40mg and see him in a month. He said he felt that I would need 40, but wanted to ease up to it. He also gave me a prescription for a tranquilizer to be used sparingly at my discression, for anxiety. I will try not to use them unless its absolutely necessary.

I am glad that I am not suffering side effects (especially fatigue and hunger, which were awful on paxil), but it would be such a relief to feel more calm and optimistic. Here's hoping the 40mg dose will do the trick.

-Flaxen

Thanks for the update. Now it's up to you to be patient and let the increased dose work for you.
Sheepwoman

I just wanted to say I'm at a month now and I feel better than I have in forever. I figure I'm at about 60-70ish % of what I think normal would be for me. Though I've had Dysthymia since my last major ep in 2002 so it's hard to know what normal is. But I'm just happy I'm feeling better than I expected.

I see the study doc again in a month and at that time me might increase the dose. Though I think I'd prefer not to. That will also be my last visit with him and than I will need to find a real doctor that I pay...lol.

TZ, happey to hear that you are having good results with Prozac. You may be at the optimal dose for you and an increase may not be necessary. When you have your last appointment with the trial pdoc, see if you can get a referral for a pdoc outside of their office.
Sheepwoman

hello.
first time posting, been dealing with major depression, anxiety, and to boot eating disorder for quite some time. i call it "sinking into the swamp of sadness" . I finally decided to seek help this past week. just can't handle the lows i'm in, the anxiety, inner rage, mood swings, no sex drive and obsessive worrying of weight & food to name a few. The psyciatrist recommended therapy as well as medication.. however I'm greatly terrified of meds. my mom has bi-polar, ocd, major depression among other things (verbal abusive environment), therefore, on a cocktail of meds. i've seen how she over the past few years has changed so much, what happens when dosages are switched, missed, etc..... very very scary. The Dr. suggested Lexapro or Prozac. and suggested that i should look them up, read about the side effects to be familiar before obligating to that direction of healing. i guess, i'm just looking for some advice.. my main concern is weight gain... and will i still be myself while on these types of meds? your thoughts?

Hi Tsunami,

Welcome to the forums,

I am glad you are doing some research before making a decision, however do keep in mind that everybody reacts differently to their meds. As an anorexic myself gaining weight was my biggest concern too and I didn't, have been on 60 mgr/ day for a year now. I also don't feel like it changed my personality, it did give me the energy to see the bright side of things again.

Hope that helps,
SN

thanks for the advice.
still trying to decypher the difference between prozac & lexapro... i've heard good & bad about both.. eeek.

Hi tsunami28,
As with all AD's there are go and bad experiences. I had an unusual SE with Lexapro and was taken off of it in 3 days. It's not to say that you may or may not have SE's with either medication. Both Lexapro and Prozac are very beneficial for most people. It all is a case of how well we metabolize the medication. I took Prozac for 14 years until it finally pooped out. It worked very well for my depression while I was on it.
Sheepwoman

I Guess I can just jump in here. I'm having trouble figuring out how I'm supposed to use the forum. Any help would be appreciated. But to comment on Prozac poop out, I was at 100 mg and had been for about 4 years when it pooped on me. Springing for the brand name instead of the generic helped for a while but it finally pooped out. I switched to Cymbalta, turned into a Zombie and stopped cold turkey while on vacation in Nome Alaska to spite my wife who came up with the Zombie accusation. I had a few crazy days but decided I was not going to take any more Psych meds. That lasted a few weeks. Long story short, I'm back on Prozac after just a few weeks of it pooping out on me. It didn't take me but 5 days to increase from 20 to 40 mgs and two weeks or so I'm back at 60 and it seems to be working again. The suicidal ideation has subsided again and the overlying melancholy has begun to fade. It should be noted that I am also taking Atavan and Provigil too but Prozac seems to be providing a foundation of calm. You think I'm kidding myself? Michael T

This post has been edited by Michael T: May 10 2007, 10:49 PM

Hi Michael,

You posted just right, let me know if you need help getting around, okay
Good luck with the prozac, I sure hope you will start to feel better again soon.

Take care,
SN

Hi there

Do you find that the prozac makes you agressive and numb ? Did it ever make you feel that way ?

Numb: yes
Agressive: no

SN

Are you still numb ??

Somedays I find that my feelings are still more flat then without the meds. But I don't mind, it keeps me from going to these extreme mood swings.

SN

I really like prozac except that it makes me angry and can cause me bad anxiety .... I like that it is activating and that i get stuff done. Zoloft is making me sloth like ... have you tried zoloft ?

Everyone reacts differently to any given antidepressant its just that if you compare a group of people statistically general patterns may emerge in terms of common side effects and how well it works. There are many variables including whether you are drug naive or not (if its you first antidepressant or not). Personal accounts nevertheless are useful but can't be totally relied upon just as the statistics can't totally be relied upon in determining how you will react. They are working on the genetic side of it too to see whether genetics can determine how a person will react but this is some time away for it to be standard clinical practice.

Personally prozac worked well for me as my first antidepressant, worked quite quickly and I lost weight in the first month too but it completely stopped working after 4 months coincedently (or maybe not) during a time when i was very stressed again. It gave me back my emotions as most antidepressants I've been on have rather then make me feel numb, emotional numbness was defenately a part of my depression not medication. I'm currently on a mirtazapine + reboxetine combo to see if that will work for me, mostly if it will give me back my concentration, my main unresloved symptom.

Hi all !

I'm not on Prozac, but my boyfriend is and he is complaining about feeling like a zombie, devoid of emotion. He's on 20 mg, for a few months already.

Is that normal or do you think the dose might not be enough?

I told him to go to the doctor, but I was wondering if any of you has an answer...

TIA !

i think going to the doctors again is the best advise you could give. because they are the ones whod do all the changes if they are needed. could be that this med isnt the right one for him and time to try something different maybe

louie

This post has been edited by louie: Sep 3 2007, 07:23 PM

Thank you Louie!

I already told him to phone the doc. I'm trying to make him go asap.

i hope things turn out ok and that he does go bk to see his doctor
wishing you both the best


louie

ok deep breaths, I have always had major highs and lows and put it down to the ladies cycle, i am 37 never had medication as i have never asked for it, things have got very bad for me my partner has left me to give me space which is not helping but then again i wouldnt live with me, anyway i went to my doctors this week and told him how i was feeling and how bad things are getting i blamed my cycle but in my heart i know its depression and my mother always told me that i was a depressing child and she was right. i have just started on prozac and feel ashmed that i have to take medication firstly as i thought i was always in control....u really hope this works as i cant see no light at the end of the tunnel....

Welcome to DF, deliverme,
Prozac is not a cure all, but it does help with depression (and PMS, too). Give it some time to work-up to 8 weeks, before you give up on it.
Sheepwoman

many thanks ... well i will se how i go over the next couple of weeks ...

Hi everyone,

New to these forums...
Been up and down with depression and such like for many years. Now I have started having problems and the CBT isn't working as well for me. In many respects although I am feeling very down and hopeless I have the reverse going on in my head....things are getting faster and my sleep is reducing....first it was starting to wake early and now its getting to sleep - very tired but just can't sleep....

I was started back on Prozac yesterday. It had previously worked for me (out of about 3 or 4 SSRI's). Last one that worked for me was Effexor but it made me have so many withdrawl effects that I really really did not want to go back onto it.

So, prozac 20mg for me. I feel awful though.....I don;t kno if I should be sleeping or scrubbing the floor and hoovering...and concentration is just all going out-the-window.....AAAAARRRRGGGHHHHH

Hi anyway! :/

Hi Jboi,

20mg is a good starter dose for Prozac. If you remember, it does take awhile before it begins to work. I hope it helps you again this time around. My doc told me to take it in the morning when I got up so it wouldn't interfere with sleep. That worked well and gave me energy through the day.
Sheepwoman

hi Sheepwoman and thanks,

Yea I recall it'll take a while and I too ake it in the morning. I feel a bit manic these last couple of days and I know it can happen but I'm not too bad I guess. Fingers crossed it does help like before....

I am going through a lot of adjustment (wife left me a couple months back, selling house, moving, new job in last 5 months etc!) so I am hoping it will help even things out a little. There has been some talk that i maybe a little BP or something so will have to see if that is what the pdoc says but I need to be on the meds for a while to see how it goes it seems...

Thanks :)
Jxx

hey jboi, just wondering how its going, hope everythings ok


louie

Hey louie,

Well thanks for asking :)

I'm really feeling quite 'speedy' at times on the Prozac - thats almost a week now of starting. Its been quite hellish in that I have been waking up early and now, albeit very tired, I have had trouble getting to sleep. I have noticed my mind racing a bit, not being able to concentrate and feeling quite 'trippy'.....:/ I hope all this calms down...I don't recall feeling like this when I was last on prozac about 3.5 years ago! (I do worry that all this is a bit of a mixed BP disorder or is it just the drugs taking effect...??)

As far as life goes, the divorce is slowly making progress in the courts (I am the petitioner) and the house looks like its on the way to being sold so thats something. On the house front I have been a bit panicky and useless - I am supposed to be packing things and cleaning in order to move out when the house sale is complete but I keep looking around and thinking its all too much and in the end get nothing done, which makes me feel bad and fed-up and of course into that downward spiral :(

To make matters worse I have not felt confdent about being with my new GF. A combination of house, divorce, other stresses and anxiety have made me feel very confused. She says she loves me, I know she cares very deeply but she has many problems herself. I love her company for the most part (sometimes I need to be on my own) and there's many things about her that I really like but I am worried for example : its been pointed out that she has some physical similarities to my ex-wife, she is quite 'needy' herself and sometimes I feel she has an odd way of thinking (I recognise many signs of depression in her). I have told her its very hard for me to 'feel' properly right now but that I do care for her....I just cannot say if I love her....:( :( She is holding on to the hope. I get told by people that she's this,that and the next thing and I get torn between what they say and what she says and I just cannot seem to make my own decision/mind :(

To add to my stress I have been looking at renting a house/flat somewhere closer to work for when the ex-marital home is sold and I could not believe how expensive things are. I'm going from a three bed semi to a pokey wee flat by the looks of things and the lack of space is going to be difficult for me...:/

All stuff I am worried about, I know there are worse things but it difficult to see past some of these and to know where I am going. I see my CPN on Thursday morning so will go through how I've been in the last two weeks or so...

Sorry for rambling on. I'm likely to post in a few forums and repeat myself or just ramble on about things - sorry about that I hope that people will be understanding and help me understand better what is going on....

Jxx

hey jboi,
theres no need to applogise, it helps to get everything out sometimes. and atm it sounds like you've got alot going on.
i hope the appointment goes well and the house hunting.

with your girlfriend, have you spoken to her at all about what people have been saying to you, because i think its only fair you consider her opinion etc. also do these people really know her or???
its understandable that you feel worried and stressed by everything ((((hugs)))) maybe talking everything through with her might help.

i had a simlar side effect to you while taking prozac, is it ok to ask wheather youve felt the same before taking prozac. if so it might be an idea to bring this up with your cpn or doctor.

i hope things calm down for you soon, and tht the prozac does work. it is possibly just the start up side effects that should calm down after awhile.


louie