Jill28: Prozac severe anxiety

[Altostrata]

How do the 5 Cyproheptadine and .5 klonopin 2x a day affect you?

 

We can't say how long it will take the nervous system to settle down after a reaction like this. It will be gradual and take a lot longer than you want.

 

What did your psychiatrist say about the duration?

[Jill28]

@Altostrata

I’m doing okay with it. Just makes me a tad sleepy but makes the akathisia go away. He wants me to do it twice a day but I’d rather only do it when symptoms appear. What are your thoughts on that? I’m deathly afraid of getting addicted to the klonopin. 😢

[Jill28]

@BB1979

thank you for your response. Do you find that your waves are becoming less and also less in severity?

[Altostrata]

I'd take it only as needed, at the lowest effective dosage, which may be half a tablet.

 

Please keep daily notes on paper about your symptoms, when you take your drugs, and their dosages. Use a simple list format with time of day on the left and notation (symptom, drug and dosage) on the right.

 

This is essential to monitor what the Klonopin is doing.

[Jill28]

@Altostrata

thank you so much. I’m terrified that this won’t go away. The Cyproheptadine seems to work 2x a day at .5

im only taking the klonopin when the anxiety is horrendous. Only took .25 today. 

Is it my nervous system that’s causing the anxiety and akathisia?

[Leo1983]

Jill can you literally not stop still?

 

When i first CT Lexapro i have restless legs for 6 weeks. My anxiety remains worse than before AD medications.

[Leo1983]

Im 13 weeks off.

[Jill28]

@Leo1983

hi Leo- the Cyproheptadine works helps me with the restlessness and allows me to sit still.

[Altostrata]

Yes, your nervous system has had a shock and it's in an uproar. It's trying to fix itself. Treat it gently, don't get in its way.

 

The inner turmoil is called akathisia.

 

Have you tried the magnesium?

[Jill28]

The magnesium citrate made me nauseous. Should I try another type?

Also, My dr called in vistaril to see if that helps.

thoughts on that?

 

they want to admit me to try other meds since I’m so desperate. Thoughts? Not an ssri though 

[Leo1983]

Jill. Is this all from prozac for a few weeks?

[Jill28]

3 days of prozac

[Jill28]

@Altostrata

The magnesium citrate made me nauseous. Should I try another type?

Also, My dr called in vistaril to see if that helps.

thoughts on that?

 

they want to admit me to try other meds since I’m so desperate. Thoughts? Not an ssri though 

 

[Leo1983]

Dear me thats terrible. Feel for you.

[Jill28]

@Altostrata

what are your thoughts on reinstating the original Zoloft? The anxiety is unbearable. I can’t function.

[SkyBlue]

On 9/11/2018 at 7:05 PM, Altostrata said:

Hello, Jill.

 

Please stay as calm as possible. 10mg Prozac was too strong for you. It has a long half-life, much longer than Zoloft or Lexapro, and it's wearing off now. The adverse effects should be slowly getting weaker and weaker.

 

I still haven't heard what you thought of the calming techniques (reread my earlier responses). In order to commit to being off drugs, you'll have to find ways to self-soothe. It is very, very difficult, I know. 

 

Hydroxizine (vistaril) will act directly on your nervous system to suppress its activity. It may indeed be calming, but we don't recommend adding more psychoactive drugs when someone is so very sensitized.

[Rabe]

Hi Jill....Im just going to say please 'no" to being admitted.  I was admitted to a hospital here after my doctor doubled my med dose, I tapered rapidly, then put me on Lexapro cause I was such a mess.  Took it for 3 days only and my system crashed.  Think was serotonin syndrome in hindsight and it took a kong time to feel at all better... and I kept tapering.  Never knew that everything done was so counterproductive.  The hospital put me on the viibryd which is worse than first medication as far as tapering.  

We all want these feelings to cease but please please do not put yourself in a position to get worse.  Even if a med helps initially it may not hold and then you are left trying to get off other meds.  Please try to hang in there and let your body heal.💜  

[Rabe]

I know it seems like a long time and it has been as far as the daily symptoms and I can so empathize, but it has not been as far as allowing your body to heal.  Hoping you will give it more time.  

[Altostrata]

I don't know about the Zoloft, Jill. I guess you could try 0.5mg and see what it does. I wouldn't take any more than that.

 

Does your anxiety come and go? Does it follow any pattern relative to your benzo use? Believe it or not, that could be what's causing the anxiety.

 

What do you see in your daily notes of drug intake and symptoms?

[Jill28]

@Altostrata

@SkyBlue

@Rabe

All- I can’t thank you enough for all these insights and advice. It is priceless to me. 

I will wait on the hospital visit now for sure. 

Started reading all the calming techniques now and am taking notes everyday of dosages, times, symptoms, so I can go back and monitor. 

Also, is vistaril considered a psychoactive drug since it’s basically an antihistamine??

much love. 

[Rabe]

Vistaril - an antihistamine for the treatment of itches and irritations, an antiemetic, as a weak analgesic, an opioid potentiator, and as an anxiolytic.  

 

It is often used before procedures or surgeries to enhance the affects of anesthetics.  It reduces activity in the CNS.  You can find it on lists of psychotropic medications because it is used to treat what are considered to be psychiatric conditions.

 

You sound better, Jill...hope that to be so...even a bit.  Take care!

 

 

[Jill28]

@Rabe

thank you so much, Rabe. 

I appreciate any info provided. 

I’m still struggling, and actually have days where I wanna give up. It’s awful. My waves are much longer than my windows. 

Its so weird that I can’t even cry... as desperate as I am. 😔 guess that’s part of the process. 

[Rabe]

Im sorry this has happened Jill...but run things by the moderators...they are so wise having gone through all this themselves...and continuing to.  

The days can be very long .... we are all with you and know you are strong!!  Thing will get better!!

[Jill28]

@Altostrata

Hi asltostrata- the only pattern I have so far is the anxiety is usually gone in the evenings. 

It starts in morning anywhere from 10:00 to 1:00 and lasts all day until I finally give in and take the klonopin bc it’s unbearable.😢

i don’t really see a pattern yet with the meds.

what are your thoughts on trying the vistaril in place of the Cyproheptadine?

[Jill28]

@Altostrata

also, .5 of Zoloft? My smallest dose was 25 mg. 

Did you mea 5 mg?

[Altostrata]

19 hours ago, Jill28 said:

@Altostrata

Hi asltostrata- the only pattern I have so far is the anxiety is usually gone in the evenings. 

It starts in morning anywhere from 10:00 to 1:00 and lasts all day until I finally give in and take the klonopin bc it’s unbearable.😢

i don’t really see a pattern yet with the meds.

what are your thoughts on trying the vistaril in place of the Cyproheptadine?

 

Do you take anything in the morning before 10:00 a.m.? Any vitamins or supplements?

 

Cyproheptadine is already an antihistamine. If it seems to be working for you, why do you want to try another drug?

 

18 hours ago, Jill28 said:

@Altostrata

also, .5 of Zoloft? My smallest dose was 25 mg. 

Did you mea 5 mg?

 

No, I meant 0.5mg Zoloft. Your nervous system may be sensitized to a "normal" dose. That's what happened with Prozac.

 

It's typical of withdrawal syndrome to come in waves with windows that are all too short and too infrequent. As time goes on and your nervous system settles, the windows get longer and the waves get shorter.

 

It is unlikely you'll find a drug that will immediately reverse withdrawal syndrome. The more drugs you dump on your poor nervous system, the more irritated it will get.

 

You will need to be patient and settle for very gradual, frustratingly halting recovery. Looking for a silver bullet has gotten a lot of people in trouble.

[ChessieCat]

7 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

No, I meant 0.5mg Zoloft. Your nervous system may be sensitized to a "normal" dose.

 

This topic explains how to get a small dose:  Tips for tapering off Zoloft (sertraline)

[Jill28]

@Rabe

thank you for your encouraging words. 

Some days are so difficult that I feel like giving up. I’m down to 110 lbs and desperate for relief....I feel like my body is giving out. 

[Jill28]

@Altostrata

thank you so much. 

Regarding vitamins, I tried both fish oil and magnesium. The magnesium made me so nauseous (even at a tiny dose) and the fish oil made me super jittery. Is it just too soon for these two vitamins? Any other suggestions?

Youve been wonderful and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[Jill28]

@BB1979

Than you for you encouraging post. It means so much. 

Have you noticed that your windows have gotten longer than your waves? Also, did you start a benzo or anything for the anxiety?

[Altostrata]

7 hours ago, Jill28 said:

Regarding vitamins, I tried both fish oil and magnesium. The magnesium made me so nauseous (even at a tiny dose) and the fish oil made me super jittery. Is it just too soon for these two vitamins? Any other suggestions?

 

It's not time for you to take these yet.

[Jill28]

@Altostrata

ive developed severe insomnia due to this awful issue.... consequently, hard to heal. 

Many suggestions?😔

[Altostrata]

Are you taking 0.5mg Zoloft?

[Jill28]

@Altostrata

No, I’m terrified. 

Ive had good windows and AWFUL waves. 

I am now super nauseous and the insomnia is horrific. 

My dr gave me Zofran to help with nausea. What do you think?

also, with all your experience, since my nervous system was shot from the Zoloft issue (stopping way too soon), do you think this is why I reacted so fiercely to the Prozac?

[Altostrata]

On 9/11/2018 at 5:05 PM, Altostrata said:

Hello, Jill.

 

Please stay as calm as possible. 10mg Prozac was too strong for you. It has a long half-life, much longer than Zoloft or Lexapro, and it's wearing off now. The adverse effects should be slowly getting weaker and weaker.

 

You might try the magnesium first, it can be calming. Try the fish oil in a few weeks.

 

As I explained, 10mg Prozac was too strong for you, and you had a bad reaction to that. We often see people overdoing dosing like this, because their doctors don't understand hypersensitivity to drugs brought on by withdrawal syndrome, and insist on prescribing them "normal" dosages.

 

You can take Zofran if you want. It probably won't do anything for withdrawal insomnia. It is also possible the clonazepam is causing a paradoxical reaction and keeping you awake.

 

What times of day do you take your drugs, and what times of day do you get nausea or waves? Please keep daily notes on paper about your symptoms, when you take your drugs, and their dosages. Use a simple list format with time of day on the left and notation (symptom, drug and dosage) on the right.

 

This is essential for any further discussion.

 

The strength of 0.5mg Zoloft is roughly equivalent to 0.2mg Prozac. That's a big difference from 10mg Prozac. Zoloft comes in a prescription liquid for easy titration. Please read Tips for tapering off Zoloft (sertraline) and any other links we give you.

 

[Jill28]

@Altostrata

your knowledge and advice is invaluable to me right now as I’m in so much agony and so scared. 

i take the klonopin (.5) and Cyproheptadine (2mg) at 11:00am and 6:00pm. 

The anxiety is now in the morning and as of yesterday, the nausea started in morn when I wake up as well (past two days). After taking the meds, I usually calm down about 3 hrs later. And have a window in the evening usually. I’m  tracking everything in detailed notes. Is the nausea now from the Prozac withdrawal? Even if only 3 days? 

Also, I’ve been off zoloft for 2 1/2 mo. Reinstating it is still a feasible option?

i thank you from the bottom of my heart.y days are very dark.