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Scared to start again

Posted , 3 users are following.

carl67287
carl67287

So I’ve been off all drugs for around 2-3 weeks now few ups and definitely downs.

Panick attacks but overall thinking a lot clearer not foggy anymore.

Still have a lot of physical symptoms that I worry about so take a lorazepam to stop the over thinking but my doctor said I should go back on fluoxetine?? Thoughts ?

Today I wound myself up so much that i got all hot tingly and got a red rash sort of on my stomach area is this anxiety ? What do you all think ?

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Guest
    Guest carl67287

    Posted

    Carl - Our stories share some similarities.  How long were you on Prozac before you stopped?  Also did you stop cold-turkey, or slowly wean off?  

    I stopped after years (various ADs), then used lorazepam too.  Then about 9wks ago I went back on Prozac 20mg.  Let me know. 

    • carl67287
      carl67287 Guest

      Posted

      I was on fluoxetine for around 15 years then found it wasn’t helping as much so stopped around November last year to citalapram straight swap 20mg started throwing up in the mornings having sweats it was horrible then straight swap from that after a few weeks to venlafaxine Effexor and man what a horrible ride that was started on 37.5mg and got up to 150mg

      Side effects galore plus I was taking quatiapine at night to sleep and lorazepam in the morning.

      I warned myself completely of over a 8 week period.

      Had horrible head zaps dizzyness etc first day on zero but no actual anxious feeling or shakes.

      Similar now but have bad health anxiety that makes me feel horrible at the moment Jensen why the doctor has told me to go back on fluoxetine..

      At the moment I’m taking a lorazepam in the morning and afternoon and a zopiclone sleep tablet to sleep I’ve only been back on the lorazepam 2 days now.

      Haven’t taken the fluoxetine yet.

    • Guest
      Guest carl67287

      Posted

      Whoa even more similar than I thought.  LoL.   I went on Effexor too and about died from the side effects...  I eventually weaned myself from everything and took lorazepam to help during bad spells (only).  I accepted a stressful job, and found myself taking lorazepam 3x per day, sometimes more.  With that I decided to go back on Prozac as I feel it’s a better long term solution for me.  I still take lorazepam today, however only ,5mg in the morning.  Eventually I hope to stop taking lorazepam altogether after the Prozac bakes in.  
    • carl67287
      carl67287 Guest

      Posted

      5mg is a big dose of lorazepam I’m surprised you don’t fall asleep ??

      I take 1mg pills.

      What have your side effects been while back on fluoxetine??

    • carl67287
      carl67287

      Posted

      I think I misread that .5 I thought you meant 5mg not .5 
    • Guest
      Guest carl67287

      Posted

      Yeah, .5mg.; very small amount.  They work like magic, as you already know.  I’m taking Prozac 20mg today.  It’s been about 9wks. The first 3-4 weeks were pretty bad (side effects) but I fought on.  Right at week 4 I started seeing some improvements.  Today, I’m much better.  Mornings can be a little tight but it usually subsides by mid morning.  I carry lorazepam with me just in case, but haven’t had to take them.  Not perfect but it’s getting there.  
    • carl67287
      carl67287 Guest

      Posted

      Good to hear what we’re the side effects you had for the first 4 weeks 
    • Guest
      Guest carl67287

      Posted

      For me , mainly nausea and heightened anxiety.   Basically, everything your trying to solve-for gets a bit worse before you get better, if that makes sense.  But then, you see the light...  I suggest working with your doctor.  In my case I continued to use the lorazepam to help me through this initial phase.  Then once I felt better I backed off the lorazepam. 
  • Jen12345678
    Jen12345678 carl67287

    Posted

    I'm currently taking lorazepam every day throughout the day. It's the only drug that even begins to help me. For me it seems to work on panic and depression both even though it's not really thought of as an antidepressant. Anyway, it seems doctors don't want ppl on the benzodiazepines for too long, but I've also read some ppl are on them all their lives. If it's the only drug that helps, I don't know why someone can't take it long term. The ssris you mention make my panic worse ,like stimulating to me. I'm already too wired for that!

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