Using Xanax with Fluoxetine

Posted , 3 users are following.

Hello-

Long story short.. I am a 28 year old female and have not experienced anxiety/dep since back in 2012 and i was put on citalopram. This year a couple big life stressors happened and I switched to Prozac about 3 weeks ago today (first 20 mg the a week later up to 40 mg). My anxiety is absolutely awful in the morning. I wake up at 4 am with a racing heart and completely restless. I have been taking .5 mg of xanax for the past week in a half for when I wake up. When does the prozac kick in for the morning/daily anxiety? I am risking addiction by using the xanax to get me through my mornings? I do not have an addictive personality but I don't like that I need it.

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Posted

    I took Klonopin (another Benzodiazepine) daily for 6 months to help me deal with the morning and midday anxiety while I was waiting for the Prozac to fully work. As long as you wean yourself off of it (Xanax) gradually, you will be fine. Do not scare yourself with what you read on the Internet. I freaked myself out because I was convinced I would become a drug addict from taking it more than 2 weeks. 
    • Posted

      Thank you for your reply! Did the Prozac finally kick in and you feel like yourself again? I don't like how the xanax makes me so tired and down feeling but I think for the meantime it might be better than the obsessive crazy thoughts.

    • Posted

      Xanax and Klonopin definitely make you tired, but I thought the benefits of taking it outweighed the negatives. When I stopped taking Klonopin/Xanax (I began with Xanax and switched to Klonopin because it lasts longer), I definitely felt less tired, it took about 13 weeks for me to feel like myself again. I started with 10 mg of Prozac and worked my way up to 60mg, which is what I take now. 
    • Posted

      Thank you so much! How long have you been recovered? I wake up with terrible anxiety so i take a xanax but then i am in a depressed mood. Its like pick your poison.
  • Posted

    I have actually been through this whole process twice and both times it took a little over 3 months.  I have been feeling “normal” since May. Please ask if you have any other questions.
    • Posted

      This is my second time as well. I went through this at 22 when I graduated too. Trying to figure out why this has happened twice now...

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.