Posted by MaryZee on February 19, 2003, at 21:42:38
This might be long. I am feeling very disallusioned right now. I have been reading these posts for about 5 or 6 weeks. It's so sad that I didn't find this site sooner. For about 30 years I suffered with horrible panic attacks, eventually they progressed to terrible anxiety and depression. The only thing any doctor did was put me on valium. When I developed migraines a neurologist put me on Prozac - specifically for the headaches. To my total suprise within months I was free of the panic attacks!! I could go on an elevator, drive over a bridge, be comfortable without being within ten minutes of a hospital emergency room!! I was only told that the med was for headaches. That was my into to SSRI's (is that what Prozac is - I am assuming from what I have been reading here - that is how uninformed I was and still am - I am working this out by myself). I will always be grateful for the relief that Prozac gave me. However, until reading posts here I never connected any of the physical problems I began to develop to the Prozac. Over time I developed even worse heart palpitations than I had with the panic attacks. Then vertigo started. For one three month period I could not even drive because of the dizziness.
Then the terrible heartburn. Along came terrible confusion in stores - everything "blurred" and I couldn't concentrate. And the sweating. I would go to a mall and, along with the confusion, started sweating horribly - would be sopping wet when I left the stores. Also, my muscles became so tight that I developed "shakes" to the point that I thought I had parkinsons. And my neck and jaw were always tight. I ground my teeth so bad they are worn down. Whenever I would mention any of these things to a doctor I was just given more medication. More valium for the heart palpitations. Antivert for the vertigo. Skelaxin for the muscle pain. Prevacid for the acid reflux. And then the Premarin from the OBGYN after my hysterectomy. And then Pravacol for the high cholerestoral - I craved sweets and carbs so bad it was unbelievable - and gained 40 lbs. All this over a period of years I want to make clear.
No one ever mentioned any side effects - in retrospect I was stupid for not questionning more. Then a few months ago the good effects of the Prozac stopped - it happened after I was switched from the daily dose to the once a week time released pill. I do believe that made a difference but why a time released capsule would not work as well I do not know. To make this very long story shorter if I can - when I told the doctor that the Prozac was not working he put me on Lexapro (l0 mg) and took me off the Prozac. The Lexapro for me was horrible! I took it for 18 days and could not tolerate the side effects. I have since weaned myself off every pill I possibly can - and hope to get off every pill I can! No more Prozac, Lexapro, Antivert,
Premarin, Skelaxin, Valium. Am still taking the
Prevacid for my acid reflux and the Pravacal for the cholersteral. But will get off of them too!
I cannot believe how naive I was and how the doctors didn't tell me that one pill would cause a problem requiring another pill, and on and on and on. How do I feel today? It's not been three weeks yet since I've been off all that stuff (18 days). I don't feel good. I am "shakey" inside, anxious and having trouble sleeping at night - but am very tired during the day. But the palpitations are better and so is the vertigo - better but not gone. Also the sweating and constant thirst is better. I just hope that everyone out there is paying better attention to side effects than I did!! Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease. Any help or suggestions would be so appreciated. I am feeling scared and disallusioned :( Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read this - I greatly appreciate it.
poster:MaryZee
thread:201988
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030219/msgs/201988.html