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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jms600 on January 27, 2004, at 16:14:57
I'm considering switching from Efexor XR 225mg to Prozac, to help with my low motivation and "depressive boredom", as I've heard that Prozac is more stimulating.
However I suffer from quite severe anxiety and i'm concerned that Prozac will aggravate my anxiety due to its stimulant action.
Has any severe anxiety sufferers here taken Prozac and did it make your anxiety worse?
Posted by KathrynLex on January 27, 2004, at 17:00:27
In reply to Prozac anxiety, posted by jms600 on January 27, 2004, at 16:14:57
Hi JMS600,
I'm a little surprised to hear that your pdoc is putting you on Prozac if you suffer from severe anxiety. Is he/she combining it with something else to help counter the "stimulating" effect? Or are you being given a VERY low dose?
I took Prozac for about 3 years...but that was in the good old days when I didn't suffer from anxiety. It did wonders for my depression and it might really help with your low motivation etc... But the Prozac did give me a little bit more of an anxious edge. See if your pdoc would be willing to prescribe something like Lorazepam or Xanax in addition to Prozac to help with anxiety.
Have you already tried Paxil and Lexapro? Both drugs are anti-depressants, but were also designed to help with anxiety. I'm currently taking Lexapro and it's been great for the anxiety.
Good luck to you!
K.
Posted by flyingdreams on January 27, 2004, at 18:32:41
In reply to Prozac anxiety, posted by jms600 on January 27, 2004, at 16:14:57
please stay away from xanax. I was addicted in one week, kept begging the doctor for more and a higher dose. Needed a higher dose each time to get the same effect. I'm not an addictive personality and this stuff made me crazy. It also causes one to halucinate! Be sure you have someone around you when you are on it! That drug is scary!
Posted by theo on January 27, 2004, at 20:04:50
In reply to Re: xanax highly addictive, posted by flyingdreams on January 27, 2004, at 18:32:41
Posted by Viridis on January 28, 2004, at 3:50:36
In reply to Prozac anxiety, posted by jms600 on January 27, 2004, at 16:14:57
Be cautious with Prozac if you're anxiety-prone -- it has a reputation as the most anxiogenic of SSRIs, and it made me very tense and wired even after months of use. I had an even worse reaction to Zoloft, though -- some people just can't tolerate SSRIs.
If possible, you might see if you can try it with a benzo like Klonopin, at least in the beginning. In any case, I suggest you start with a low dose and see how you react.
Posted by ditzypixy on January 28, 2004, at 16:19:13
In reply to Re: xanax highly addictive, posted by flyingdreams on January 27, 2004, at 18:32:41
ive been taking xanax for 5 years,and im not addicted. but i havent been taking it every day or for sure,i would be! if you take it just when youre really stressed out,if you can manage that,it works well.
Posted by ditzypixy on January 28, 2004, at 16:20:55
In reply to Re: Prozac anxiety, posted by Viridis on January 28, 2004, at 3:50:36
after the first two weeks,if you can manage that,the anxiety fades out. but it ended up just making me totally wired,i was so hyper couldnt sleep or anything,so i had to stop taking it.
Posted by jms600 on January 28, 2004, at 16:55:04
In reply to Re: Prozac anxiety, posted by ditzypixy on January 28, 2004, at 16:20:55
Hi everyone,
Thanks for the posts!
Can anyone recommend anything which will help with my low motivation/lack of interest/depressive boredom, but will not aggravate my severe anxiety?
I've tried Seroxat (Paxil), Lustral (Zoloft), Efexor, and although they have lifted my mood they have done nothing to help the depressive boredom and lack of interest I seem to suffer from.
Any ideas?
Posted by flyingdreams on January 28, 2004, at 18:56:49
In reply to Re: xanax highly addictive, posted by ditzypixy on January 28, 2004, at 16:19:13
OMG - FIVE years! Get off that drug. You are addicted!!!! That is a LONG time to be on a drug that is meant for short term use. Shame on your dr for prescribing it that long. I hope you will see the light that you are addicted and get off that drug! Did you see Oprah today???????????????????????????????? She had a show on the addiction of this drug!
Posted by KathrynLex on January 28, 2004, at 19:54:29
In reply to Re: Prozac anxiety, posted by jms600 on January 28, 2004, at 16:55:04
Hi JMS600,
You might try Lexapro. I've been taking 10 mg for 40 days now for anxiety/depression. So far, it's been a pretty good med.
K.
Posted by KellyD on January 28, 2004, at 20:44:46
In reply to Re: xanax highly addictive, posted by flyingdreams on January 28, 2004, at 18:56:49
Do you believe any long term use of a benzo defines "being addicted" - or just Xanax?
Posted by meds4life on January 28, 2004, at 21:25:17
In reply to Prozac anxiety, posted by jms600 on January 27, 2004, at 16:14:57
I suffer from very high anxiety. I am currently on effexor xr for depression and anxiety and have also found it to make me a little unmotivated. However, I feel a million times better than being depressed and anxious. I became suicidal from the anxiety that both prozac and zoloft caused. I was anxious already and the activating side effect made my anxiety unbearable. When I finally tried effexor, I also used klonopin for a short time. Now I am taking effexor only 150 mg. I do caution you to be careful and mindful of anxiety that becomes unbearable. Good luck!
Posted by Dr. Bob on January 29, 2004, at 17:13:06
In reply to Re: xanax highly addictive, posted by flyingdreams on January 28, 2004, at 18:56:49
> You are addicted!!!!
Please don't jump to conclusions about others.
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Bob
Posted by Chairman_MAO on January 29, 2004, at 21:09:36
In reply to Prozac anxiety, posted by jms600 on January 27, 2004, at 16:14:57
IMHO, switching from Effexor to Prozac would be foolish for an anxiety sufferer. As a first choice, I'd simply raise the effexor dose to 300 or 375mg. However, this has just as much a chance of worsening your comlpaints. If raising the dose didn't work, I'd add a dopamine agonist (Mirapex, Requip, bromocriptine or selegiline). If your shrink isn't "cavalier" enough to do that (and I don't understand why so many are steadfastly against using dopaminergics), I'd try LOWERING the effexor dose to the lowest dose you can tolerate and adding an NE agent such as desipramine, reboxetine, or Strattera. Yes, serotonin reuptake ihibitors have a broad spectrum of efficacy, but in high doses they can make anxiety and apathy much worse.
This is the end of the thread.
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