kathy1988: Paxil and Pristiq withdrawal - please help

[kathy1988]

On 10/26/2020 at 6:06 AM, keogh08 said:

Hi Kathy

 

I had these thoughts too after an adverse reaction to citalopram 13 months ago, every horrible thought you could I imagine I think I had! 

 

And to think my original problem was mild anxiety before I took SSRI's!

 

It gets better and they start to fade, I truly feel for you now, because this along with halloucinations was my scariest symptom ever. Especially as I had a 1 year old at the time. 

 

At one point I was so scared of my thoughts I slept downstairs and barricaded the door in because I was so afraid of myself. 

 

Dont get me wrong, I now still have some irrational thoughts but these have changed from being crazy thoughts to nonsense thoughts which I can dismiss quite easily and they dont cause me torment. 

 

Hang in there, it gets easier.

 

I'd say my thoughts started to get better between 6-8 months. 

Thank you! Hanging in there..... I have started Prozac Two weeks ago now... and although my thoughts have gotten better, my Anxiety is bad and my arms and legs are numb. I also keep having these out of body experiences where I just feel numb, and like it isnt me talking or walking around. Is that common? I have a call with my Doctor today.

[kathy1988]

Can someone help me? I have just started Prozac about 3 weeks ago. The last couple of days have been really strange... I feel like things have happened that haven’t. Like I left my house today and was afraid that I had killed my dog. Even though I knew I had left him with treats and a kiss.... I was lying in bed last night and was convinced that I had gone crazy and killed my boyfriend.., and I was lying there living in another world...even though he was lying right beside me. What is happening? Are these intrusive thoughts? Or something else? I feel like I am losing my mind..... like I am in a daze. Is this the medication? Will it go away, and should I keep taking it. I’m very afraid. Thank you for your support in advance. 

[ChessieCat]

I can't see what dose you are taking.  Did you start with one dose and then increase?

 

Please puts the date/s and dose/s in your drug signature and post telling us that you have done this (we get notification of posts, but not of signature)

 

Edited November 7, 2020 by ChessieCat

[Colonial]

 

Oct. 19th:  started 10mgs of Prozac.

Oct 25th:  Reported thoughts be coming worse, but you were also doing alot of  googling symptoms

Today:  "Last few days have been strange".

 

As Chessie said, let us know if and when you may have up dosed the Prozac.

You've had some adverse reactions to other meds in the past.

💖💖💖

 

[kathy1988]

10 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

I can't see what dose you are taking.  Did you start with one dose and then increase?

 

Please puts the date/s and dose/s in your drug signature and post telling us that you have done this (we get notification of posts, but not of signature)

 

Sorry Chessie, I will update my signature. I started on 10mg for one week but upped the dose to 20mg almost two weeks ago.... will this go away? 

[kathy1988]

14 minutes ago, Colonial said:

 

Oct. 19th:  started 10mgs of Prozac.

Oct 25th:  Reported thoughts be coming worse, but you were also doing alot of  googling symptoms

Today:  "Last few days have been strange".

 

As Chessie said, let us know if and when you may have up dosed the Prozac.

You've had some adverse reactions to other meds in the past.

💖💖💖

 

Hi Colonial, thanks so much for your reply. I upped the dose two weeks ago from 10mg to 20mg.... I am still googling but have forced myself to stop. Just feeling so strange... will it go away? Is this psychosis?

[Colonial]

Ok, thanks for the update.

One week in, on the 25th you said You were going to stick with Chessie's advice of staying at 10mg awhile longer, so thanks for that info

It seems that must have been around the time you increased, since today is only day 20.

If the thoughts are getting worse the past 2 days that would be about 11-12 days after the increase to 20mgs.

 

Brassmonkey was concerned about possibly having an adverse reaction like the other 4 drugs, which is why He thought it best to reinstate the Paxil, (Oct. 17th)

Hold tight and maybe they can give an educated guess as if they think and adverse reaction is why your getting worse. 

I don't know if it technically qualifies as psychosis, you still "seem" to know the difference between what you did and what you "think" you did..

but the timing is suspicious for an adverse reaction.

 

Edited November 7, 2020 by Colonial

[ChessieCat]

Have you been keeping daily symptoms notes?  If yes, could you please provide them.  If not it might be helpful to do so.

 

This is what is required:  Keep Notes on Paper

 

I will ask the other mods for their assistance.

 

Q:  Have you taken any other drugs/supplements during the time you've been on Prozac?

 

 

Edited November 7, 2020 by ChessieCat
corrected link

[kathy1988]

Thank you for your response Chessie. I haven’t started a daily diary, but I will start. I started the 20mg early as directed from my doctor after I asked him if I should stay on 10mg. He said to increase so I did.... but now I feel like I am regretting it. I think my thoughts are just taking over..... I was feeling very disconnected 3 days ago, then googled if it was normal and dissociation syndrome came up. Now I am just feeling like nothing is real... is this my anxiety? Should so stay on Prozac and see? Or taper... I appreciate you taking the time for me once again.

 

i forgot to add, no other supplements... I don’t think... just clonazepam twice a day (.25 mg) and a green powder I put in to my smoothies. Is that considered a supplement?  

 

Edited November 7, 2020 by ChessieCat
removed quote

[ChessieCat]

25 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

This is what is required:  Keep Notes on Paper

 

I gave the wrong link.  This is the correct one.  I have edited the post.

[kathy1988]

3 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

 

I gave the wrong link.  This is the correct one.  I have edited the post.

Thanks Chessie. Will start taking notes today.

[ChessieCat]

12 minutes ago, kathy1988 said:

green powder I put in to my smoothies

 

Q:  What are the ingredients?

 

13 minutes ago, kathy1988 said:

I started the 20mg early as directed from my doctor after I asked him if I should stay on 10mg. He said to increase so I did.... but now I feel like I am regretting it.

 

...

 

Should so stay on Prozac and see? Or taper

 

My suggestion would be to reduce your next dose to 15mg.  Please note that this is my own personal opinion.  The other mods are not currently online.  It's up to you whether you reduce or wait for the other mods' thoughts.  However this is my reasoning for the suggestion:  you reported symptoms at 10mg and it would seem that at 20mg they have worsened.  If this is the case then I think reducing to 15mg would be appropriate.

 

You are going to have to be extremely patient.  Because of Prozac's long half life and the way it builds up in the body (see below) it is going to take a while for any reduction to be felt.  That is why I urged caution and suggested that you not to increase the dose before 3 weeks and to only increase to 15mg not 20mg.

 

On 7/3/2011 at 4:11 AM, Altostrata said:

Prozac has the longest half-life of any SSRI. After you take it for a few days, half-life is about 16 days. Fluoxetine itself has a half-life of 2-4 days, but as it is processed, your body creates an active antidepressant metabolite, norfluoxetine, which has a half-life of 7-15 days. So Prozac keeps on extending its half-life as it is metabolized.

[kathy1988]

Ok, thanks Chessie. Is there a chance this is a side effect of it building in to my system and it will get better? I’m just wondering if I am giving up too quickly. Thank you again.

 

Edited November 7, 2020 by ChessieCat
removed quote

[ChessieCat]

Please read back through all the posts in your topic.  Take note of the cautions which were made.  Also check to see the timing of when your symptoms occurred after starting Prozac.

 

35 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

you reported symptoms at 10mg and it would seem that at 20mg they have worsened.

 

Q:  Is this correct?

 

If yes, combined with:

 

5 hours ago, Colonial said:

Brassmonkey was concerned about possibly having an adverse reaction like the other 4 drugs

 

then I don't think things will improve by staying on Prozac for longer.

 

Not many doctors recognise adverse reactions to drugs and their usual response is to up the dose and/or stay on it for longer, and sometimes they even add in another drug.

 

As I said check out the timing and the change in severity of the symptoms.

[ChessieCat]

Please update your drug signature.  It makes it easier for the mods to see the drugs your are taking.

 

We need the date and the dose for each change of Prozac please.

[Daisygirlsk]

17 hours ago, kathy1988 said:

Can someone help me? I have just started Prozac about 3 weeks ago. The last couple of days have been really strange... I feel like things have happened that haven’t. Like I left my house today and was afraid that I had killed my dog. Even though I knew I had left him with treats and a kiss.... I was lying in bed last night and was convinced that I had gone crazy and killed my boyfriend.., and I was lying there living in another world...even though he was lying right beside me. What is happening? Are these intrusive thoughts? Or something else? I feel like I am losing my mind..... like I am in a daze. Is this the medication? Will it go away, and should I keep taking it. I’m very afraid. Thank you for your support in advance. 

Hi Kathy you are having a lot of OCD based intrusive thoughts. I have struggled with these since I was 20. I am now 38. Mine are 1000 times worse since coming off meds at 36. They are a product of an anxious mind on high alert and nothing else. The book from panic to power by Lucinda Bassett is a good one to read. As well as when panic attacks by Burns. Really good about these topics. You arent crazy. You are in severe fight or flight mode.

[kathy1988]

Thank you sooo much. I am going to pick the books up tomorrow! Really appreciate your help ❤️

[Altostrata]

Hello, kathy.

 

It sounds to me like 20mg Prozac is too much for you. Yes, a dosage increase would build in intensity over 12 days. If I were you, I would go back to 10mg right away.

 

Please keep daily notes after this dosage change.

 

Why did you increase from 10mg to 20mg? What were the symptoms you were trying to stop?

[ChessieCat]

On 11/8/2020 at 10:01 AM, ChessieCat said:

Please update your drug signature.  It makes it easier for the mods to see the drugs your are taking.

 

We need the date and the dose for each change of Prozac please.

 

[kathy1988]

1 hour ago, ChessieCat said:

 

Thanks Chessie, I have updated my Signature. Apologies for the delay.

[kathy1988]

5 hours ago, Altostrata said:

Hello, kathy.

 

It sounds to me like 20mg Prozac is too much for you. Yes, a dosage increase would build in intensity over 12 days. If I were you, I would go back to 10mg right away.

 

Please keep daily notes after this dosage change.

 

Why did you increase from 10mg to 20mg? What were the symptoms you were trying to stop?

Hi there, thanks for your reply. Prozac was a new medication I tried to help with my intrusive thoughts and panic disorder coming off of Paxil. My psychiatrist and GP increased my dose after the first week when I started taking it 3 weeks ago.... I started Prozac because I thought I was ok and feeling better after 5 years on Paxil and now my anxiety has morphed in to something terrible. I feel like I am losing my mind. 

[Altostrata]

More is not necessarily better. Please let us know how you feel after reducing to 10mg.

[kathy1988]

Thank you so much.. I was switched to 10mg today. Hoping this all goes away! I bought the books “Brain Lock” and “From Panic to Power” thank you for the recommendations from all of the wonderful people here supporting me. I really appreciate all of the reassurance, and positivity here. When you feel like you are losing yourself, it’s hard to pull yourself out!! I hope I a lm not losing my mind.

[ChessieCat]

44 minutes ago, kathy1988 said:

I was switched to 10mg today.

 

Please remember to update your drug signature with the date and dose whenever you make a change.

[Daisygirlsk]

How are you doing Kathy?

[kathy1988]

Hi Daisygirlsk,

 

Thank you so much for checking in. I am ok, just terrible anxiety. Feeling disoriented at times... but it has gotten a bit better. Still having intrusive irrational thoughts. Just trying to go day by day.... fighting my own voice in my head that is speaking to me negatively. Hopefully it gets better!! Thank you for checking :)

[Daisygirlsk]

4 hours ago, kathy1988 said:

Hi Daisygirlsk,

 

Thank you so much for checking in. I am ok, just terrible anxiety. Feeling disoriented at times... but it has gotten a bit better. Still having intrusive irrational thoughts. Just trying to go day by day.... fighting my own voice in my head that is speaking to me negatively. Hopefully it gets better!! Thank you for checking

Sorry you're struggling so much. I understand completely. I'm glad things have eased for you even if just a little. I have very similar symptoms as you so you are not alone!

[kathy1988]

6 hours ago, Daisygirlsk said:

Sorry you're struggling so much. I understand completely. I'm glad things have eased for you even if just a little. I have very similar symptoms as you so you are not alone!

Thank you so much. I’m so sorry you went through that! I hope you are feeling better. I appreciate you checking in as well.... so nice of you

[kathy1988]

Hi everyone, for some reason I get kicked out when trying to update my signature. I have withdrawn from Prozac the last 2 weeks (10 mg every second day) with my last pill being two days ago. My doctor has advised me to go on Paxil right away without waiting.. is that safe? I get paranoid about serotonin syndrome. Thank you!

 

[Colonial]

You have had 2 move adverse reactions to Pristiq and now Prozac in the very short amount of time since finishing the rapid tapering the Paxil in August.

I'm afraid there is no way of knowing if going back on a med you had been "stable" on up to so recently would still be a good idea now that your destabilized.

However, the reason you were put on the other 2 meds were withdrawal issues from the Paxil, so a small reinstatement might help.

What dose are you thinking of reinstating to? As with the Prozac more could be worse.

Your signature doesn't say what dose of Paxil you were on in May when you started the 3.5 month taper. Let us know.

 

[kathy1988]

6 hours ago, Colonial said:

You have had 2 move adverse reactions to Pristiq and now Prozac in the very short amount of time since finishing the rapid tapering the Paxil in August.

I'm afraid there is no way of knowing if going back on a med you had been "stable" on up to so recently would still be a good idea now that your destabilized.

However, the reason you were put on the other 2 meds were withdrawal issues from the Paxil, so a small reinstatement might help.

What dose are you thinking of reinstating to? As with the Prozac more could be worse.

Your signature doesn't say what dose of Paxil you were on in May when you started the 3.5 month taper. Let us know.

 

Hi there, thanks for your reply. The Prozac made me feel worse for sure... my doctor suggested going back on 20mg of Paxil to start. In May I was on 30mg. What do you mean with the Prozac it could be worse?

[Daisygirlsk]

I personally would not reinstate 20mg. That sounds way too high.

[Colonial]

8 hours ago, kathy1988 said:

my doctor suggested going back on 20mg of Paxil to start. In May I was on 30mg. What do you mean with the Prozac it could be worse?

 

Meaning the staff suggested you stay on 10mgs of Prozac for a longer period of time than you did, and "more was worse" for you in the end.

You doubled it as per your doctor's recommendations and it provoked the very reaction there was a concern may happen, considering you just had one adverse to the Pristiq and 3 more in the past.  So because of the fact that you are still suffering the effects of those 2 reactions and Paxil WD,, reinstating on what your doctor would consider a "therapeutic dose" is a guessing game.

 

You have multiple issues going on, WD event from what was basically a Paxil Cold Turkey, and now 2 adverse reactions in attempting to rectify that WD.

Because of your history of the 3 adverse reactions in the past, Brassmonkey was concerned about possibly having a 5th adverse reaction on tip of the Pristiq, which is why the suggestion was it may be best to reinstate the Paxil, (Oct. 17th).

 

So because of all the destabilization, one can NOT assume a medication that was fine a few months ago would still be a safe bet.

Even if you did not have those 2 reactions, reinstatement should always be done at a lesser dose.

If you want to try to reinstate the Paxil to see if it helps with the WD part of the equation I would suggest no more than 2 mgs.

Others might suggest less.

 

I can not understand why any doctor would suggest reinstating double the amount of Paxil necessary (10mgs) for what even medical test conclude as near SERT capacity to treat WD. Also, reinstating Paxil is not going to fix the issues from the adverse reaction, that will only resolve with time.

 

I am sure your Doctor means well, but it might be best to see if you can find another doctor who understands the potency and serious issues and complications surrounding their use.  Liquid Paxil is available in Canada if you do not want to go the route of weighing pills or if you do not have a compounding pharmacy close.

Considering you have been off it so long, a change in absorption method should not be an issue if You wish to go with the liquid.

[kathy1988]

11 minutes ago, Colonial said:

 

Meaning the staff suggested you stay on 10mgs of Prozac for a longer period of time than you did, and "more was worse" for you in the end.

You doubled it as per your doctor's recommendations and it provoked the very reaction there was a concern may happen, considering you just had one adverse to the Pristiq and 3 more in the past.  So because of the fact that you are still suffering the effects of those 2 reactions and Paxil WD,, reinstating on what your doctor would consider a "therapeutic dose" is a guessing game.

 

You have multiple issues going on, WD event from what was basically a Paxil Cold Turkey, and now 2 adverse reactions in attempting to rectify that WD.

Because of your history of the 3 adverse reactions in the past, Brassmonkey was concerned about possibly having a 5th adverse reaction on tip of the Pristiq, which is why the suggestion was it may be best to reinstate the Paxil, (Oct. 17th).

 

So because of all the destabilization, one can NOT assume a medication that was fine a few months ago would still be a safe bet.

Even if you did not have those 2 reactions, reinstatement should always be done at a lesser dose.

If you want to try to reinstate the Paxil to see if it helps with the WD part of the equation I would suggest no more than 2 mgs.

Others might suggest less.

 

I can not understand why any doctor would suggest reinstating double the amount of Paxil necessary (10mgs) for what even medical test conclude as near SERT capacity to treat WD. Also, reinstating Paxil is not going to fix the issues from the adverse reaction, that will only resolve with time.

 

I am sure your Doctor means well, but it might be best to see if you can find another doctor who understands the potency and serious issues and complications surrounding their use.  Liquid Paxil is available in Canada if you do not want to go the route of weighing pills or if you do not have a compounding pharmacy close.

Considering you have been off it so long, a change in absorption method should not be an issue if You wish to go with the liquid.

Thank you so much Colonial, do you think I should stay off all medications for now? I know my doctor means well, he is following the recommendations of the psychiatrist who prescribed the Prozac. And if Prozac did not work, to return me to Paxil. I am kind of at a loss. I don’t know what to do. Thanks for your help.

[Colonial]

If this was ONLY an issue of PAWS due to a Paxil CT, I think a small reinstatement between 0.5mg - 2mgs to test the waters would be reasonable.

 

However, due to the 3 past adverse reactions and the 2 recent ones in an attempt to "treat" PAWS, it is not unreasonable to believe  even a small reinstatement of 0.5mgs of Paxil might not also continue to be problematic.

 

There is simply no way of knowing now that you are so destabilized what is the best route to go.

[kathy1988]

1 hour ago, Colonial said:

If this was ONLY an issue of PAWS due to a Paxil CT, I think a small reinstatement between 0.5mg - 2mgs to test the waters would be reasonable.

 

However, due to the 3 past adverse reactions and the 2 recent ones in an attempt to "treat" PAWS, it is not unreasonable to believe  even a small reinstatement of 0.5mgs of Paxil might not also continue to be problematic.

 

There is simply no way of knowing now that you are so destabilized what is the best route to go.

Oh dear. Ok. Thank you! Unsure what to do... but appreciate your input! Thanks again.