![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Partlycloudy on August 26, 2008, at 11:20:33
...there's always a BUT. Sigh. My anxiety is soaring. I'm currently taking xanax, .5mg twice a day, to cope with it. I've taken note of the tolerance and I'm dealing with it - and I guess the increased anxiety is not only situational, which I'm doing my best to deal with, but also due to the activating effects of the generic Prozac (which is augmenting the 45mg of Remeron I'm already on). Darn it all. So now I'm going to dose up with a touch of Passionflower extract and see if that calms me down somewhat. And I've started some twitchiness in my legs here and there.
Argh! These tradeoffs are endless, it seems. I'm just frustrated. I think that what I'm hoping for is normalcy, but it's been so very long since I even knew what that was that I don't know if I would recognize it if it tapped me on the shoulder. Hello, I don't think we've met before?
I should count my blessings and be thankful I don't have to take anything at this point to help me sleep beyond putting on a soothing meditative CD.
pc
Posted by Phillipa on August 26, 2008, at 12:18:13
In reply to 20mg Prozac helped with depression BUT, posted by Partlycloudy on August 26, 2008, at 11:20:33
PC are you taking all the 20mg in the am? I know it's long acting so maybe a lower dose of prozac would work. I do remember when it first came out that there was only one strength the 20mg and my pdoc that was in Virginia I wasn't depressed wanted to see what it would do for anxiety so instead of just taking .25 then of xanax Bid he gave me the 20 of prozac. Day l wallpapered a foyer had the paper three years, day two felt some anxiety where I hadn't had any in years, day three full panic so I went off it it took me three days to calm down to base line which for me was normal. yes I was normal not anxious and working two jobs. When saw pdoc again he begged me to take it every three days he thought I'd responded incredibly well and in a short time. I said no. I wonder today what would be my status if I'd taken it every three days. At that time I needed no xanax at all lots of days. So I do know the feelings of anxiety that accompany it. I can't see how how higher doses could be less stimulating than lower ones. I think SLS said that not sure. Valerian is also supposed to be good. Maybe go back to the sedating dose of remeron for a while. Hey what do I know it's been l4 years since I worked with psych meds. Good luck and I'm sure you've talked to your pdoc. If not call him. Love Phillipa
Posted by Partlycloudy on August 26, 2008, at 12:57:38
In reply to Re: 20mg Prozac helped with depression BUT » Partlycloudy, posted by Phillipa on August 26, 2008, at 12:18:13
He did say I could alternate days if I found it too much - I didn't even remember that until now!
(dope slap to my head)Think I will try that out and see if I calm down some. It works so well otherwise.
Thanks for reminding me!
Posted by seldomseen on August 26, 2008, at 16:49:39
In reply to 20mg Prozac helped with depression BUT, posted by Partlycloudy on August 26, 2008, at 11:20:33
How long have you been on the Prozac. It was a wonder drug for me too, but I was very anxious at first.
For me, that side effect went away.
Hope you feel even better soon.
Seldom
Posted by bleauberry on August 26, 2008, at 17:13:23
In reply to 20mg Prozac helped with depression BUT, posted by Partlycloudy on August 26, 2008, at 11:20:33
When I had soaring anxiety on prozac, the meds that worked amazing for me were Zyprexa, or Klonopin. Xanax, as good as it was in other situations, didn't seem to cut it with prozac. Zyprexa or Klonopin did. I imagine a Seroquel or Abilify might also.
Klonopin had the disadvantage of reducing the antidepressant effect of prozac. Zyprexa didn't have any disadvantages. It improved sleep and helped block the sexual side effects of prozac.
Just my personal experience.
I like the herbs. So Passionflower is certainly worth a try. It has saved me in a number of emergencies. Another one that worked well for me was Valerian.
While Prozac boosts serotonin levels primarily, it also boosts norepinephrine significantly. As does Remeron. It is one of the things that makes Prozac an atypical ssri compared to the others. It could be it is just too much. Might consider reducing the remeron?
Posted by Partlycloudy on August 26, 2008, at 17:32:11
In reply to Re: 20mg Prozac helped with depression BUT, posted by seldomseen on August 26, 2008, at 16:49:39
> How long have you been on the Prozac. It was a wonder drug for me too, but I was very anxious at first.
>I've been on it about 10 weeks so I figured if the anxiety was going to lessen, it would have by now. I'm going to try taking the 20mg dosage every other day and see if it helps.
> For me, that side effect went away.
>
> Hope you feel even better soon.
>
> Seldomthx
Posted by Partlycloudy on August 26, 2008, at 17:36:18
In reply to Re: 20mg Prozac helped with depression BUT, posted by bleauberry on August 26, 2008, at 17:13:23
> When I had soaring anxiety on prozac, the meds that worked amazing for me were Zyprexa, or Klonopin. Xanax, as good as it was in other situations, didn't seem to cut it with prozac. Zyprexa or Klonopin did. I imagine a Seroquel or Abilify might also.
>
> Klonopin had the disadvantage of reducing the antidepressant effect of prozac. Zyprexa didn't have any disadvantages. It improved sleep and helped block the sexual side effects of prozac.
>
> Just my personal experience.Interesting, thanks!
>
> I like the herbs. So Passionflower is certainly worth a try. It has saved me in a number of emergencies. Another one that worked well for me was Valerian.
>I liked Valerian but it made my migraines worse. I remembered an herbal supplement today called Maxsed that helped me before, so I just reordered it online - it had catnip in it and skullcap, amongst other things. Worked a treat. Today the passionflower did tide me over.
> While Prozac boosts serotonin levels primarily, it also boosts norepinephrine significantly. As does Remeron. It is one of the things that makes Prozac an atypical ssri compared to the others. It could be it is just too much. Might consider reducing the remeron?
I have another appointment with my pdoc in 2 weeks - I'm going to reduce the frequency of the Prozac and see how I respond with the herbs.
I appreciate your input.
Posted by BearFan on August 28, 2008, at 0:11:11
In reply to Re: 20mg Prozac helped with depression BUT » bleauberry, posted by Partlycloudy on August 26, 2008, at 17:36:18
For me, 20mg was more effective with OCD and anxiety when it fully kicked in, compared to a lower dose. Buspar worked pretty well for every day anxiety, while xanax prn when I needed something stronger.
Posted by Partlycloudy on August 28, 2008, at 10:20:37
In reply to Re: 20mg Prozac helped with depression BUT, posted by BearFan on August 28, 2008, at 0:11:11
> For me, 20mg was more effective with OCD and anxiety when it fully kicked in, compared to a lower dose. Buspar worked pretty well for every day anxiety, while xanax prn when I needed something stronger.
I skipped a day as my doctor suggested I try if I found the 20mg too activating, and it seems to have been the right thing to do. I'm continuing my rx of Xanax, .5mg twice a day because that's been working all along (thank goodness, without having to increase it). Buspar I tried a few years ago with no effect at all :-(
At least I have found a work-around with the Prozac - it really has helped the increased depression that I'd been feeling.pc
Posted by Phillipa on August 28, 2008, at 21:24:50
In reply to Re: 20mg Prozac helped with depression BUT » BearFan, posted by Partlycloudy on August 28, 2008, at 10:20:37
Congrats it worked yeah!!!!! Love Phillipa
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.