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Increased anxiety with Prozac - please help!

Posted , 30 users are following.

violet1975
violet1975

Hi, I started Prozac 12 days ago for OCD and related anxiety etc'. Started gradually at 10mg, increasing every 4 days by another 10mg. Now on 30mg and tomorrow will reach 40mg. In general, my anxiety has increased. Strangely, I feel that each time I increase the dosage I have 1.5 better days and then deteriorate for the other 2.5. I've been prescribed Clonazepam and propanolol to help with the anxiety in the meantime. Last night I took 0.5 mg of Clonazepam and it rarely did anything (in the past that would cool me down very quickly). I also wake up in the middle of the night and immediately need to go to the bathroom as my stomach seems to be working extra fast. Anyone have similar experiences? I understand this is a known side effect but was wondering if and when it will subside? Am in touch with my psychiatrist and hoping it will pass soon and I will feel better. Anyone who can share experience AND encouragement - please do! Should I try to hang in there and ride the side effects? Will it eventually work??

Thank you for your support :-)

3 likes, 81 replies

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  • matthew22087
    matthew22087 violet1975

    Posted

    Hi Violet1975, hope you are doing better. Any update on how you're feeling? I started Prozac (fluoxetine) 4 days ago and MY WORD is it a different experience to when I was first on it a 2-3 years ago. I have this constant feeling of fear/dread in my stomach, like butterflies AND a dark cloud over my head. The sadness got worse on day 1 but today seems a little bit better, so at least my mood is benefitting, as well as my tendency to dwell on how crappy i feel my life is. 

    Why is the second time on fluoxetine so different from the first time!?  😭 😭 😭  

    I am really encouraged by people sharing their experiences on here, thank you guys so much. 

    Hope, love and well-being to us all. 

    • violet1975
      violet1975 matthew22087

      Posted

      Hi Matthew,

      Unfortunately, it's far from being an "exact science". I wouldn't wonder why it is like that too much. It is known that fluoxetine can actually make you feel worse before it makes you feel better, but from my experience, it is way worth the road to the "good point". It took me a while until I started feeling better but for me it has been the best medication I have ever taken.

      Hang in there!

  • meryl62785
    meryl62785 violet1975

    Posted

    please help. my anxiety makes me geel like crawling out of my skin snd crying s lot. i dont eant to do snything. i know u all say b patient but how when i feel like i cant even participate in life or want to? life doesnt wait. thank you. i am on prozac we just increased to 20 mg.
    • amy09781
      amy09781 meryl62785

      Posted

      I know how you feel. I'm so sick of carrying this heavy weight around in my chest. It's exhausting and I feel like I can't move forward with my life- it affects everything. Hope the side affects get better. How are you feeling now? X

    • meryl62785
      meryl62785 amy09781

      Posted

      I struggle. I also feel bad about myself which doesnt help. I go to therapy but i guess i fall back into my old ways. I have no friends and so i feel like i am unlikable.
    • amy09781
      amy09781 meryl62785

      Posted

      I pushed most of my friends away. They just don't understand what it's like living with this. I'm very lucky that I have a supportive husband and family but I struggle when I have episodes as I feel like a burden on them. Have you felt any better? I see your original post was 2 months ago- any improvement with feeling crappy from the medication?

  • carli64081
    carli64081 violet1975

    Posted

    I started prozac generic three weeks ago. I went very slow, week at 5, 4 day at 10 and 4 days at 15 and now lady 4 days at 20. My anxiety is through the roof and I feel awful. So tired. I am taking ativan and klonapin to help with the anxiety but the depression is so bad. Any advice, suggestions, or encouragement would be great. Thanks 
  • spacecatnyc
    spacecatnyc violet1975

    Posted

    Hi Violet thanks for the informative thread.  I started Prozac 3 weeks ago after my anxiety kicked in again.  I was off Zoloft since May but unfortunately, the late fall really hits me hard every year.  My first three weeks of Prozac, my head is swimming and I'm restless and anxious but reading these threads, hoping to see improvement in the next month.  

  • harleyotis0831
    harleyotis0831 violet1975

    Posted

    Violet, 

    I was reviewing your post, and it really hits home, but a slightly different way, let me explain... 

    My sister has been suffering from severe anxiety and depression for the past 3 months, she was on Ativant for the anxiety and initially it helped substantially and almost instantly to be quite honest. But that was temporary, after a couple of hospital visits, she was finally prescribed Flux (aka Prozac) through her psychiatrist. She is on day 1 of Flux, and she tells me that she almost feels worse and out of it. Does this sound about right to you or anyone else that may be reading this? 

    I know I may sound a little desperate, but it has been unbearable hard dealing with this. My initial reaction is well if she feels worse then she does before she took it, why? Psychiatrist says its normal, but I wanted to gather some more information from people who are actually experiencing the same things. Also, were you restless, could you sleep at night. Thats another major issue she is having taking the meds. Her mind just is on overdrive. Any information regarding your thoughts it more then appreciated. I just feel like were in a stand still between allowing the meds to work, or asking the psychiatrist for something new. 

    Side note: does anyone have any information regarding CBD Pills. The most I have heard was on the news, veterans using it to help with PTSD and other related issues. If anyone on this thread has tried them as an alternative to the meds, please let me know your experience. 

    Thank you to everyone!

     

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