![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Temmie on June 7, 2003, at 9:10:28
I am still having trouble accessing Pscho-Babble. I'm asking to be notified of "later follow-ups to this thread," however, and hope this will provide the link I need to stay current.
On the subject of quitting SSRIs, is it your experience that withdrawal from Prozac produces the same effects as withdrawal from Paxil ("the zaps," dizziness, disorientation, etc.)?
I wrote a few months ago about fears of becoming dependent on Xanax. This is what some of my prescribing MDs have cautioned against, but wanted to let you know after having an Rx for 60/month for a few months now -- I feel great just knowing I have them, and have not been using them at all, except when needed. How lovely to find a medical provider who understands me -- and understands the benefits of this drug!
I was given some samples of Lexapro during my last meeting with this woman (I don't know what to call her, she's a nurse, but handles all the presciptions for the clinic I use). I'm currently taking Serzone, but only 200 mg. each day. We've added the Lexapro (at 25 mg. daily) to see if this will enhance/lift the benefits of Serzone, as I still struggle with depression. I am not noticing any side-effects, and am not sure if it's working ... although I feel a little better.
Good to be back with the group. Will hope to find current posts on these subjects and more ... soon! Temmie
Posted by Snoozy on June 7, 2003, at 12:26:19
In reply to Quitting SSRIs, the Zaps, Xanax, and Lexapro, posted by Temmie on June 7, 2003, at 9:10:28
Thank goodness Prozac withdrawl is nothing like Paxil or Effexor withdrawl! In fact, small doses of Prozac are sometimes used to help withdraw from the other two. Prozac has a really long half-life.
If you want to stop taking it, talk to your - let's say medical professional, but don't worry about the withdrawl being awful. I'm never given warnings about stopping medication, so I don't know how many times I've just stopped Prozac cold turkey over the years. That may not be the best way to do it, but I never experienced anything bad like the Paxil/Effexor.
It's great to hear the Xanax is helping you without even taking it :) I know what you mean about just knowing that they're there if you really need them.
Posted by Temmie on June 7, 2003, at 13:13:56
In reply to Quitting SSRIs, the Zaps, Xanax, and Lexapro, posted by Temmie on June 7, 2003, at 9:10:28
Oh dear, I wasn't at all clear. I'm not on Prozac now (or going off). Back in '91 I went into rehab to detox off Xanax. Silly me, I thought it was going to be like going to a health spa for a month (daily counseling! swimming! walks in the woods!), but it was more of a snake-pit experience. I went off all meds when in there, which at the time was only Prozac and Xanax. I was soooo miserable. I was going through "the zaps" and other things as described, and staff said that was due to the Xanax. I thought it felt more like coming off Prozac. Hmmmm. I was on Effexor for quite a number of years after this, but finally quit due to not being able to tolerate the flushing, sweating, etc. I don't remember having any difficulty coming off Effexor. Lucky me! Serzone seems to be helping some .... Maybe it's the addition of Lexapro that's making me feel a little better. Thanks for writing, Snoozy! T.
Posted by Dr. Bob on June 9, 2003, at 3:43:25
In reply to Quitting SSRIs, the Zaps, Xanax, and Lexapro, posted by Temmie on June 7, 2003, at 9:10:28
[Posted by Temmie on June 7, 2003, at 8:57:06]
> I don't know what I did, but after days of not being able to access Psycho-Babble, this morning I was able to find the current posts. Thanks for your help in the interim, Dr. Bob.
>
> On the subject of quitting SSRIs, I was not able to access your response to my query about the friend quitting Paxil cold-turkey. I was able to find a resource online, though, and sent this to my friend ... and then another friend. The internet is a wonderful resource. I'm wondering if quitting Prozac produces some of the same effects as quitting Paxil .... Back in 1991 I spent a month in rehab, supposedly detoxing off Xanax, but "the zaps," the dizziness, the disorientation and crazy, muddled thoughts -- I always felt this was stemming from withdrawal from Prozac. Is this your experience?
>
> On the subject of Xanax, after ten years of struggling along with PTSD issues without ... I was finally able to renew my Rx. I wrote about this a few months ago. My primary doc would only prescribe three to five at a time ... then ten. Then she cut me off. Thankfully, I was able to find another medical practitioner (I believe she's a nurse, although she has her Ph.D. in counseling psych) ... who wrote me an Rx for 60 per month. These are .25s, and lately, I haven't used them at all. Yet when going through a recent break-up -- and dealing with stressors at work -- I'm so glad I had them. I'm beginning to truly believe in the wisdom of our own knowing .... You know? There's noone who knows "ourselves," better than we do. We know when we're deceiving ourselves and slipping into the danger zone -- and we know when we're being careful both in describing and seeking treatment (and relief) from painful emotional/psychological disorders.
>
> I hope this makes sense.
>
> My prescribing RN also put me on Lexapro recently. I'm taking only a quarter tab (2.5 mg) a day. Other than dealing with the trouble cutting these pills (and then cutting them again), I'm not noticing any side-effects good or bad. I may be a little less depressed, but I'm not sure ....
>
> Good to be part of the conversation again!
>
> Temmie
Posted by bookgurl99 on June 9, 2003, at 3:53:23
In reply to Quitting SSRIs, the Zaps, Xanax, and Lexapro, posted by Temmie on June 7, 2003, at 9:10:28
> I was given some samples of Lexapro during my last meeting with this woman (I don't know what to call her, she's a nurse, but handles all the presciptions for the clinic I use).
Just being a know-it-all;
this lady is probably a psychiactric nurse. some of them work on us crazy folk all day long. doesn't it make you feel _special_?
books
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.