Bad wave- when will it get better

CMG69 · 12-04-2009, 10:53 AM

I have been having a bad wave for about 2 weeks, I upped my prozac to 15mg and upped my paxil to 3mg where I was stable last. I went from 5mg to 0 in too short of a time and the doc increased the prozac hoping that will help me. It has been 12 days and I don't really feel any better, increased anxiety that seems to be with me constantly and crying spells when it gets too much. I just feel so exhausted from fighting this constantly and dealing with it constantly. I just want some peace of mind so I can be filled back up enough to fight this longer. I am feeling like I want to go back on paxil, is the prozac not going to work or maybe I need to give it more time. I feel like I have tried exercise, diet, supplements, writing down my negative thoughts, doing CBT- so why do I feel so crappy??? I just feel like I can't take it anymore. I have 3 kids who need a mom who isn't crying and falling apart. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

jule1 · 12-04-2009, 11:06 AM

I think with the two meds it is really going to be hard to tell what's doing what. prozac seems to have the reputation of causing anxiety in a lot of people. Is there any way you can just take the paxil and wean down slowly??

nicole55 · 12-04-2009, 11:23 AM

How were you weaning the Paxil? At what pace?

You could be having withdrawal from the Paxil in addtion to start up symptoms from the Prozac and upping the Prozac.

CMG69 · 12-04-2009, 11:33 AM

How would I go back on the Paxil and should I wean the prozac?

scotty · 12-04-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMG69

How would I go back on the Paxil and should I wean the prozac?

This is where it becomes anyone's guess and the reason I hate to see people attempt a switch. It truly muddys the water to making it clear what is causing the problem.

Argggg....I don't know what to tell you, except, if the Prozac hasn't helped, then you need to talk to your prescriber and get their advice on how to get back on paxil alone.

rain · 12-04-2009, 11:46 AM

Hi CM... I don't think 3mg Paxil is going to give you any relief. I would try at least 10mg Paxil and up the Prozac to 20mg. Give yourself a month on that and see how it goes. Once you start feeling better, I would very slowly taper the Paxil and not be concerned about the Prozac for now.

The other alternative is to stop the Paxil altogether and up the Prozac to 20mg or a bit more for now. The idea is to feel better. Once you are at that point, you can consider a very slow taper.

scotslass · 12-04-2009, 12:24 PM

Dont reallly have anything to add CM except to say I am sorry you are feeling so bad.Things will get better though darlin',I am living proof of that, a couple of months ago I was in really bad shape and truly thought I would never get any relief but I upped my dosage and things are starting to turn around.I agree that it is trickier for you as you have the two drugs to contend with.I truly hope you feel better soon. xxx

luvmyboys · 12-04-2009, 12:46 PM

CM, I am so sorry you are feeling so bad. I also wanted to get off of Paxil for weight gain among other things. I had taken Prozac many years earlier and my dr. said I could switch to that with no problem. I experienced MAJOR anxiety, like jump out of your skin when a pin drops anxiety and I too have kids so I really feel for you. I am not a dr. but I would seriously consider trying to stabilize on a dose of Paxil and cut out the Prozac at some point and then wean off the paxil. Hopefully someone else will chime in if they think you need to wean slowly off the prozac or if you can up the Paxil. All I know is that it sounds like me and at that point I became extremely sensitized to anything....I think the Prozac in addition to your fast wean on the Paxil is the culprit. Prayers sent your way.

CMG69 · 12-04-2009, 01:35 PM

Thank you everyone for your support. I just talked to my doc who agreed that I needed to feel better soon. She said she thought I should up my dose of Paxil to at least 5 and to increase the prozac to 20mg. I know it definately muddys the waters to try a switch but I am so far into it that I kind of want to see it through and see if the increase to 20 of prozac will help me, if not I know that prozac is not the right one for me, but I don't want to end up back on 20 of paxil. It is so hard when you get to the point of crying uncontrollably - I don't want my kids to see that and they need me so much and need so much of me that I feel like I need some meds to help me be a functional person. It feels so much like a failure to need meds. My pdoc really thought this is mostly paxil withdrawal. I have a hard time believing that paxil is the only drug that will work for my anxiety/panic/dep, I think my mind thinks that and I just want to throw the towel in and go back on paxil b/c in my mind I have felt better on that. Aargh, the decisions...

scotty · 12-04-2009, 03:46 PM

CMG...have you ever felt decent since starting the Prozac?

CMG69 · 12-04-2009, 03:53 PM

Yes, it has been mostly tolerable and I have been using CBT, exercise, etc to combat the anxiety. I had a good couple of weeks before I went from 5 to 0, then the ++++ hit the fan, so I haven't been this depressed until the last 2 wks. and my anxiety has really increased.

12-04-2009, 10:53 AM	#1
CMG69 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 175	Bad wave- when will it get better I have been having a bad wave for about 2 weeks, I upped my prozac to 15mg and upped my paxil to 3mg where I was stable last. I went from 5mg to 0 in too short of a time and the doc increased the prozac hoping that will help me. It has been 12 days and I don't really feel any better, increased anxiety that seems to be with me constantly and crying spells when it gets too much. I just feel so exhausted from fighting this constantly and dealing with it constantly. I just want some peace of mind so I can be filled back up enough to fight this longer. I am feeling like I want to go back on paxil, is the prozac not going to work or maybe I need to give it more time. I feel like I have tried exercise, diet, supplements, writing down my negative thoughts, doing CBT- so why do I feel so crappy??? I just feel like I can't take it anymore. I have 3 kids who need a mom who isn't crying and falling apart. Any thoughts would be appreciated. __________________ Started Paxil 20mg in Oct. 2001 for PPD, Panic Disorder 2 failed attempts Attempted switch to lexapro, didn't work Back to paxil 20mg 9/09- 13.5mg Paxil 9/09-10/09- on 5mg prozac and weaning Paxil down 10/17/09- upped prozac to 10mg, paxil 5mg- current 11/09- up prozac to 20, d/c paxil from 5mg to 0 in about 3 wks. end of 11/09- severe anxiety, dep 12/8/09- d/c'd prozac, back on paxil 5 mg 1/10- back to 20mg paxil 3/12- upped to 30mg, klonopin .05 bid

12-04-2009, 11:06 AM	#2
jule1 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1,914	Re: Bad wave- when will it get better I think with the two meds it is really going to be hard to tell what's doing what. prozac seems to have the reputation of causing anxiety in a lot of people. Is there any way you can just take the paxil and wean down slowly?? __________________ Was on Effexor (150mg) @January? of 2006 until January 1, 2008. Weaned off over 3 month period with no instructions of weaning from doctor. 24 months off Effexor January 2010 and still protracted withdrawal Supplements: Tryptophan, Magnesium, Fish Oil, Calcium D, Stress B Complex, Ashwagandha, tapering .5 mg Xanax at bedtime 2/15-.4375mg 3/12-.375 mg 4/5-.3125 mg 4/23-.25 mg 5/21-.1875 mg 6/17-.125 mg 7/13-.0625mg 8/29-0

12-04-2009, 11:23 AM	#3
nicole55 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 573	Re: Bad wave- when will it get better How were you weaning the Paxil? At what pace? You could be having withdrawal from the Paxil in addtion to start up symptoms from the Prozac and upping the Prozac. __________________ status: PAXIL FREE date of Freedom: June 26, 2005 method: 2.5 mg drops reason for taking: anxiety how long taking: 5yrs attempts to stop: 4th attempt worked!! briefly went back to ssri's- 12/07 tried Zoloft in desperation//awful side effects starting up, tapered quickly after only 4 weeks on 01/10 doing good

12-04-2009, 11:33 AM	#4
CMG69 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 175	Re: Bad wave- when will it get better How would I go back on the Paxil and should I wean the prozac? __________________ Started Paxil 20mg in Oct. 2001 for PPD, Panic Disorder 2 failed attempts Attempted switch to lexapro, didn't work Back to paxil 20mg 9/09- 13.5mg Paxil 9/09-10/09- on 5mg prozac and weaning Paxil down 10/17/09- upped prozac to 10mg, paxil 5mg- current 11/09- up prozac to 20, d/c paxil from 5mg to 0 in about 3 wks. end of 11/09- severe anxiety, dep 12/8/09- d/c'd prozac, back on paxil 5 mg 1/10- back to 20mg paxil 3/12- upped to 30mg, klonopin .05 bid

12-04-2009, 11:46 AM	#6
rain Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 5,018	Re: Bad wave- when will it get better Hi CM... I don't think 3mg Paxil is going to give you any relief. I would try at least 10mg Paxil and up the Prozac to 20mg. Give yourself a month on that and see how it goes. Once you start feeling better, I would very slowly taper the Paxil and not be concerned about the Prozac for now. The other alternative is to stop the Paxil altogether and up the Prozac to 20mg or a bit more for now. The idea is to feel better. Once you are at that point, you can consider a very slow taper. __________________ 7/10/10 - Celexa 20mg ...and then the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. Anais Nin

12-04-2009, 12:24 PM	#7
scotslass Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,720	Re: Bad wave- when will it get better Dont reallly have anything to add CM except to say I am sorry you are feeling so bad.Things will get better though darlin',I am living proof of that, a couple of months ago I was in really bad shape and truly thought I would never get any relief but I upped my dosage and things are starting to turn around.I agree that it is trickier for you as you have the two drugs to contend with.I truly hope you feel better soon. xxx __________________ 12yrs of 40mgs paxil July 2008-October 2009 down from 40-6mgs,Crashed big time back up to 8mgs,little relief from anxiety and depression Nov23,up to 10mgs,hoping to stabilise here for a while March 18/10 dropped to 91/2 mgs April 17/10 dropped to 9mgs May 16/10 81/2 june 17/10 8mgs July 8/10 7.5mgs Aug 12/10 7mgs

12-04-2009, 12:46 PM	#8
luvmyboys Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 34	Re: Bad wave- when will it get better CM, I am so sorry you are feeling so bad. I also wanted to get off of Paxil for weight gain among other things. I had taken Prozac many years earlier and my dr. said I could switch to that with no problem. I experienced MAJOR anxiety, like jump out of your skin when a pin drops anxiety and I too have kids so I really feel for you. I am not a dr. but I would seriously consider trying to stabilize on a dose of Paxil and cut out the Prozac at some point and then wean off the paxil. Hopefully someone else will chime in if they think you need to wean slowly off the prozac or if you can up the Paxil. All I know is that it sounds like me and at that point I became extremely sensitized to anything....I think the Prozac in addition to your fast wean on the Paxil is the culprit. Prayers sent your way. __________________ Started 20mg Aug. 2003 Tried to switch straight across to Prozac in Sept. 2006-big mistake Nov. 2006 20mg Paxil Dec. 2006-March 2007 15mg March2007-May 10mg May 2007-Dec. 2007-5mg Dec. 20-Jan.20, 2008-4mg (2ml liquid) Jan. 20-April 10 1.6ml liquid April 10-June7 1.4ml liquid June 7-July 20 1.2ml liquid July 20-Sept. 11 1.0ml Sept. 11,2008-April 26 .8 ml April 26, 2009 -Sept. 20 .6 ml Sept. 20,2009-Oct. 22 .5-.6 Oct.22-present .4

12-04-2009, 01:35 PM	#9
CMG69 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 175	Re: Bad wave- when will it get better Thank you everyone for your support. I just talked to my doc who agreed that I needed to feel better soon. She said she thought I should up my dose of Paxil to at least 5 and to increase the prozac to 20mg. I know it definately muddys the waters to try a switch but I am so far into it that I kind of want to see it through and see if the increase to 20 of prozac will help me, if not I know that prozac is not the right one for me, but I don't want to end up back on 20 of paxil. It is so hard when you get to the point of crying uncontrollably - I don't want my kids to see that and they need me so much and need so much of me that I feel like I need some meds to help me be a functional person. It feels so much like a failure to need meds. My pdoc really thought this is mostly paxil withdrawal. I have a hard time believing that paxil is the only drug that will work for my anxiety/panic/dep, I think my mind thinks that and I just want to throw the towel in and go back on paxil b/c in my mind I have felt better on that. Aargh, the decisions... __________________ Started Paxil 20mg in Oct. 2001 for PPD, Panic Disorder 2 failed attempts Attempted switch to lexapro, didn't work Back to paxil 20mg 9/09- 13.5mg Paxil 9/09-10/09- on 5mg prozac and weaning Paxil down 10/17/09- upped prozac to 10mg, paxil 5mg- current 11/09- up prozac to 20, d/c paxil from 5mg to 0 in about 3 wks. end of 11/09- severe anxiety, dep 12/8/09- d/c'd prozac, back on paxil 5 mg 1/10- back to 20mg paxil 3/12- upped to 30mg, klonopin .05 bid

12-04-2009, 03:46 PM	#10
scotty Administrator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 40,828	Re: Bad wave- when will it get better CMG...have you ever felt decent since starting the Prozac? __________________ AKA Laurie "By ignoring the environmental factors the psychiatric profession gives itself complete job security by diagnosing life as a mental illness. The only people who will not qualify for a disorder are those who are dead." Joseph Arpaia, MD

12-04-2009, 03:53 PM	#11
CMG69 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 175	Re: Bad wave- when will it get better Yes, it has been mostly tolerable and I have been using CBT, exercise, etc to combat the anxiety. I had a good couple of weeks before I went from 5 to 0, then the ++++ hit the fan, so I haven't been this depressed until the last 2 wks. and my anxiety has really increased. __________________ Started Paxil 20mg in Oct. 2001 for PPD, Panic Disorder 2 failed attempts Attempted switch to lexapro, didn't work Back to paxil 20mg 9/09- 13.5mg Paxil 9/09-10/09- on 5mg prozac and weaning Paxil down 10/17/09- upped prozac to 10mg, paxil 5mg- current 11/09- up prozac to 20, d/c paxil from 5mg to 0 in about 3 wks. end of 11/09- severe anxiety, dep 12/8/09- d/c'd prozac, back on paxil 5 mg 1/10- back to 20mg paxil 3/12- upped to 30mg, klonopin .05 bid

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