![[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 m3 on March 19, 2002, at 23:59:30
Hello, I've posted mostly on the Social board before but now I'm doing the serial-trial-of-several-meds thing and looking for advice.The main question I have, before I get into the exact cocktail I'm currently taking, is whether to keep taking Prozac & Xanax since I'm sleeping 16 hours a day. This might seem like a no-brainer, but I'm in the middle of the med dance, so I can't tell what's withdrawal and what's just not working yet...
Anyway, the things I started taking 5 days ago:
Xanax .5 mg 2-3x daily
Prozac 20 mg 1x dailySince starting these I've been doing the ridiculous-sleeping thing.
BUT I am also still taking:
Buspar 30mg 2x day (has never caused problems)
Serzone 100mg a day, gradually coming down from 400mgThe Serzone also made me very sleepy while I was ramping up to the 400mg and didn't get any better after a week or two at full dose. It also didn't do anything at all for my mood.
The thing is, besides the sleeping I'm also completely miserable and totally lacking energy. Before I started all this I was on Effexor 300mg/day, and I was stable and functional, just sort of anhedonic (is that a word?). So the misery could be the new drugs, the effects of the Effexor finally being totally gone from my system (>3 weeks), or just what I'm like untreated b/c the Prozac hasn't had long enough to kick in.
Anyway. I know most people here aren't pharmacists or pdocs, but I wonder if anyone has some words of wisdom because I'm really feeling bad. Please share if you feel you've gone through something like this in a med switch or otherwise...
m3
Posted by Janelle on March 20, 2002, at 0:13:47
In reply to a few days on Prozac, Xanax = miserable, posted by m3 on March 19, 2002, at 23:59:30
This is just my very humble opinion, but 5 days doesn't sound *long enough* to be sure if the Prozac and/or Xanax are causing the 16-hour sleep thing for you. One of the things I hate about the med trials is waiting to see if what seem to be side effects (like your needing so much sleep) wear off and also waiting to see if the darn meds are even going to kick in and work.
Interesting to hear your experience with Serzone, which I was contemplating taking but I hear it is quite sedating and does little for depression. I think it's mainly a sleeping pill.
For what it's worth, I can relate to your feeling
miserable and totally lacking energy. Same here.I'm on several meds (aren't we all?!) including EffexorXR 150 mg (the most I seem to be able to tolerate) and I'm wondering why did you STOP the Effexor since you said that while you were o it you were "stable and functional"?
What bothered you about the Effexor to the point that you stopped it? Was it the "anhedonic" effect (I've never heard that word, I'm guessing it means feeling kind of numbed out, not enjoying anything)?
I wish I could give you an answer to what is causing your troubling symptoms, but you've got several variables going on at the same time so it's impossible to tell.
However, at this point I'd give the Prozac and Xanax a little more time, esp. the Prozac since you stopped the other SSRI (Effexor).
Best wishes
-Janelle
Posted by chiaratara on March 20, 2002, at 1:56:20
In reply to a few days on Prozac, Xanax = miserable, posted by m3 on March 19, 2002, at 23:59:30
i think that you need to give it a bit more time. getting off of drugs and starting new ones can be torture. i have been there. i have been on every ssri combination and some on their own. i think the sleeping this is totally normal at this stage. i found that when i got off of effexor, i totally broke down. that was a tough one to get off of. i remember sleeping for a whole weekend... not being able to keep my head up for more than 15 minutes at a time. just remember that this is all taxing for your system, and until you can get on a a combo that really works for you, you are going to be out of sorts. also, you really have to be on that combo for a couple of weeks to really stabilize... maybe even more time. i finally settled on wellbutrin and paxil combo. neither one worked on their own and i have tried each with a couple of other meds and finally about a month ago i found this combo and it was nice to stop the drug dance. don't worry, something will click eventually. you just have to give it time and lots of naps.
Posted by Cmatt on March 21, 2002, at 3:28:07
In reply to a few days on Prozac, Xanax = miserable, posted by m3 on March 19, 2002, at 23:59:30
Speak to the doctor about the Serzone/Xanax interaction as Serzone may significatly prolong the life span of Xanax.
I believe Prozac may also slightly prolong the Xanax.
Prozac has the potential to promote sleep.
It sounds as if Effexor worked with your chemistry, and you were somewhat satisfied with the results.Perhaps Effexor should be the building block to work from, rather than start a whole new process.
If you have a preference for the Effexor as the foundation to work from rather than being on Xanax and Prozac, let the doctor know before being on Xanax too long. Xanax is a useful drug, but can produce physical dependence, and due to Xanax's short life span, Xanax can be difficult to deal with for some people when used chronically for longer than a few weeks.
Perhaps adding a Tricyclic Antidepressant to Effexor which targets some of the same neurotransmittets as Effexor would be a better option. Tricylics such as Elavil can also be useful in combating anxiety due to sedative properties which often requires starting with a dosage as a low as 5mg for a few days and work the dosage up as tolorated(Sedation tends to decrease over a week or two)
Cmatt
Posted by hildi on September 6, 2002, at 14:58:20
In reply to a few days on Prozac, Xanax = miserable, posted by m3 on March 19, 2002, at 23:59:30
>
> Hello, I've posted mostly on the Social board before but now I'm doing the serial-trial-of-several-meds thing and looking for advice.
>
> The main question I have, before I get into the exact cocktail I'm currently taking, is whether to keep taking Prozac & Xanax since I'm sleeping 16 hours a day. This might seem like a no-brainer, but I'm in the middle of the med dance, so I can't tell what's withdrawal and what's just not working yet...
>
> Anyway, the things I started taking 5 days ago:
> Xanax .5 mg 2-3x daily
> Prozac 20 mg 1x daily
>
> Since starting these I've been doing the ridiculous-sleeping thing.
>
> BUT I am also still taking:
> Buspar 30mg 2x day (has never caused problems)
> Serzone 100mg a day, gradually coming down from 400mg
>
> The Serzone also made me very sleepy while I was ramping up to the 400mg and didn't get any better after a week or two at full dose. It also didn't do anything at all for my mood.
>
> The thing is, besides the sleeping I'm also completely miserable and totally lacking energy. Before I started all this I was on Effexor 300mg/day, and I was stable and functional, just sort of anhedonic (is that a word?). So the misery could be the new drugs, the effects of the Effexor finally being totally gone from my system (>3 weeks), or just what I'm like untreated b/c the Prozac hasn't had long enough to kick in.
>
> Anyway. I know most people here aren't pharmacists or pdocs, but I wonder if anyone has some words of wisdom because I'm really feeling bad. Please share if you feel you've gone through something like this in a med switch or otherwise...
>
> m3I know this is an old post, and hopefully things have improved for you-
but I wanted to mention that there is a definate negative interaction (for many) between buspar and prozac. I had very negative feelings from this combo and my dr. didn't believe me. Well, I stopped the buspar on my own and did feel better.
Also I read recently in a med book that they are finally addressing this issue of buspar-prozac interactions.
Hildi
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.