Prozac for generalized anxiety
Common Questions and Answers about Prozac for generalized anxiety
prozac
Just wondering.... I have had a sudden onset of generalized anxiety disorder. Probably due to a few strange illnesses over the past few years (Vertigo, not pleasant, bacterial infections and Bells Paulsey). I am a 40 yo male. Recently the most routine things have brought on un-nautural anxiety and a few full blown panic attacks (also not pleasant). Things like going to work, grocery shopping or cutting the grass.
I have taken 10-20mg Prozac for 10 yrs now, off and on. It helped a great deal with depression and panic attacks, but not so much with the generalized anxiety or agoraphobia. It also put alot of weight on me. But helped me sleep better at night too. Also helped with PMS, but oddly messed up my cycles. Overall, it was a good drug.
For the past several years, I have been developing anxiety which at first I believed to be a form of GAD (generalized anxiety disorder), but more recently appears to be related to seasonal changes (SAD), since the pattern of anxiety begins in September and gets worse as the days grow shorter. My doctor has prescribed Prozac, 20mg daily for about 6 months and Xanax, .5mg twice a day as needed, 40 total.
My guess is that this is the Effexor withdrawal, not the Prozac, as the Prozac will take about 4-6 weeks usually to start working. I also don't think it will help much with the Effexor withdrawal, as it's in a different class of drugs, no two drugs work the same or target the same neurotransmitter receptors, and you might get new side effects while getting used to the Prozac.
I hope it's ok to post this again in this forum. I've suffered from anxiety for the last year after a close family member was diagnosed with cancer. I've tried antidepressants to no avail. Either I couldn't sleep, or they made my anxiety worse.
I've tried Klonopin and that unfortunately made me feel depressed. Ativan seems to help, but a full mg. makes me very tired while helping the anxiety. The instructions on the bottle say to take 1 mg 3 times a day as needed.
Are you in the US, or somewhere else in the world? What type of therapy are you receiving? I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder and I've seen therapists for years in the field of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and I also received 12 weeks of treatment for PTSD. I'm on Clonopin too, just switched from Xanax. Honestly, I am not impressed with it as far as meds go. Xanax is a nightmare that I had to get away from.
Actually, it was a lifesaver, but there is nothing known about its safety while pregnant. I heard Prozac might be good for anxiety but I have no idea. My doc recommended it because I also was having some anxiety problems at the beginning of my pregnancy and I didn't want to take it. She prescribed Wellbutrin, which certainly is safe during pregnancy, but I also didn't take that because it's HORRIBLE if you have anxiety.
Namaste,
Effexor and Effexor SR are approved to treat depression, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. They have also been used off-label to treat migraines, diabetic neuropathy, and hot flashes.
I have generalized anxiety disorder. I tried Zoloft in 2002. Like you it muted all emotions, caused me to gain weight and I did not like it. Tried Trofinil, that didn't work either. Last July I began taking Wellbutrin SR 150 mg 2x day. For me it is the wonder drug. I feel so much better and until I began to feel better I didn't know how bad I felt. If I am not mistaken Wellbutrin was used to treat anxiety long before it became a drug used for smoking cessation.
I am 5 years into post menopause and I have debilitating anxiety. Im 57 years old, constantly anxious and trembling, trouble sleeping, will sleep for a few hors and then I'll be awake for 3 to 4 hours, maybe totaling 4 to 5 hours of sleep if I'm lucky. I have been like this for 16 months and has ruined my life and all of my relationships. I'm not talking about an anxiety attack, I'm talking about one big anxiety attack that lasts all day every day.
I was diagnosed years ago with generalized anxiety disorder and performance anxiety and at one time had done group therapy as well as seeing someone individually. I believe I started with Lexapro and then after a few years changed to Prozac as I was wanting to become pregnant and it doesnt stay in the system as long. Obviously once I became pregnant, I went off of everything.
Thinking about trying Lexapro for generalized anxiety. Any advice or experiences? I have previously tried Buspar (had no effect) and Zoloft which made me constantly nauseous.
m an 18 year-old girl, I have irregular periods and wacky hormones (PCOS). As well as a generalized anxiety disorder and major depression. I take prozac and I'm supposed to be starting birth control. I don't even know if that was necessary but anyways. Female masturbation, it happens. I happen to dabble in the arts and I just had a scare.
ago along with as needed Clonazepam for breakthrough. I was up to 150 mg. of Zoloft. This worked great for me for all of these yrs. but recently started having more panic attacks. Went to my regular Dr., and she took me off Zoloft immediately and put me on Fluoxetine 20 mg. X 1 week and then bumped me to 40 mg. I experiended severe nausea and no appetite. 6 weeks later, I still have nausea from the Fluoxetine.
Our child was on Prozac for a year when she was six years old - she sufferd from severe anxiety and depression. We had major issues with the Prozac. Her doctor placed her on Effexor for two-three years with moderate success but some side effects as sweating and poor sleep issues. She now takes a very low dose of Celexa and is doing well. If it were me, I think I might choose point (3) with one of the newer SSRI's (they tend to have fewer side effects).
Taking wellbutrin is no substitute for Prozac unless your only problem is depression. If you have anxiety problems, wellbutrin can be very problematic, as it is perhaps the most stimulating of all antidepressants other than taking speed, which is used for depression. For anxiety sufferers this can be a big problem.
I have lived with Panic Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder for 23 years and have taken Prozac, Zoloft and Lexapro. Prozac makes me irritable, Zoloft made me sick and more anxious, and Lexapro made me too tired and took my libido away. I am 3 1/2 years sober from alcohol. Any suggestions on a medication that might help?
However, in my case, I am more Dysthymic (low grade depression), and I have more of an anxiety issue (generalized anxiety disorder) than anything else. If you're coming off of an antidepressant (particularly Paxil or Effexor XR -- which are the WORST as far as withdrawal symptoms), it might be a good idea to ask your medical practitioner about helping you with your withdrawal using Prozac for a short time. Best of luck to all of you who are dealing with life's challenges.
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