I was on lexapro 20mg for 8 months and my pysc changed me last week(as the lexapro was'nt working for me)so i'm taking 10mg of prozac for 1 week then 20mg the next two weeks,this is the fifth day. I'm just enquiring if i'm suffering withdrawels from coming off the lexapro and straight onto prozac,I know 10mg prozac is'nt very effective but i feel so down today especially and very irritated,i'm snapping the head off everyone and bascially my head is all over the place,is this nornal?I know it takes time for new meds to kick in but just wondered is it wd's or side effects im experiencing and how long will it last?
Can anyone tell me if coming off lexapro and straight onto prozac will give noticable side effects?
- Posted:
- 16 Feb 2011 by puckiemull
- Topics:
- lexapro, prozac, depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, side effect, anxiety and stress
Details:
Responses (5)
LaurieShay16 Feb 2011
Hey puckiemull,
Yes you could be experiencing some "withdrawls" from the lexapro. Did the doctor just stop the lexapro? How much were you on? You will feel better when the prozac has a chance to reach a theraputic level, but that might take a few weeks, so you are gonna have to be strong.
I recommend you keep a written record of how you are feeling so you can share it with the doctor. It will help you and the doctor, honest.
If you get too irritable give the doctor a call and let them know how you are feeling. When do you see the doctor again?
Hope you are feeling better and keep in touch,
Laurie
Aussie Mel16 Feb 2011
My guess would be that it's a combination of both: Lexapro withdrawals and side effects of Prozac. I can only recommend that you just hang in there! I'm pretty much in the same boat the the moment and even though it's not nice, what else can you do??? Mindfulness is a wonderful strategy for when you are feeling highly emotional. I have spent the day perusing the following website: http://www.panicattacks.com.au/index.html Even though it is a site dedicated to Panic and Anxiety, I cannot recommend it enough for it's insight into "Mindfulness Cognitive Therapy". Best of luck, puckiemull!
puckiemull
16 Feb 2011
Thank you Aussie Mel
I'll try that website,I am attending cbt at the moment also but its only once a week so not much good in the days i do not have it.Its a horrible feeling i certainly agree with you there and also a highly emotional time,the sooner it passes the better.Hope you're feeling better soon yourself
Take care
Christina... puckiemull
18 Feb 2011
Thanks for that christina,yes i was surprised my doc didnt do what yours did,but its been a week now and the withdrawls from the lexapro is'nt so bad,i think i'm over the worst now,just need the prozac to start kicking in now,i'm on the 20mg for the next 2 weeks and have to go back to doc then and she'll see if she gonna put me up to 40mg.Are you on prozac now?How do you find it?
jsparrow12 Mar 2011
My doctor just did the exact same thing. I asked the pharmacist and he also said it was okay. I have gone off ssris before so I know there is a withdrawel. I was glad to read this as I have been feeling yucky, achy all over almost like I'm getting sick and not doing well with my personality. I am also bipolar so have to be careful. I do know lexapro is a sedating antidepressent so I also worry about getting manic.
puckiemull
12 Mar 2011
Hi jsparrow
I hear what you're saying.I got through the withdrawls going back a few weeks ago,they lasted afew days and yes they were horrible,but hang in there,it will pass and you will start to get better.Did your doc change you to prozac also?
Notsure3129 Mar 2013
I know this post is 2 years old, but for the sake of helping anyone else in this situation I'll post a response. The problem is lexapro is a potent ssri and 10mg would be equivalent to 20mg Prozac, so you'd need 40mg Prozac to get the same effect as 20mg lexapro. 20mg lex to 10mg Prozac is reducing the ssri action to 25% of what you were use to, so the simple answer is you are/were experiencing withdrawals from the lex and not side effects from the Prozac. Sometimes it amazes me how little some of these Dr's know about the drugs their prescribing. Sounds like you made out ok but that could have been the difference in someone's life who was experiencing severe depression! I know I personally get so tired of having to explain to my Dr why certain meds will or won't work for me and why, then he looks at me like I'm crazy, he still can't comprehend that lexapro causes insomnia for me but vyvanse does not(ADHD). Too many morons make it through med school.
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Hi laurie thanks for your reply.
Yes she just stopped the lexapro20mg,then i started 10mg prozac the day after i was with her,i have to take the 10mg for 1 week(which is up friday)then start on 20mg.I'm just worried because this is horrible feeling and i didnt know if this is what it will be like on the prozac or if its the lexapro leaving my system.My head is like its going to explode... I have to go back to pysciatrist in 3 weeks to see how the prozac is working.I'll start keeping a record like you said.Im on 1mg xanax also but its not helping the withdrawls,do you think the xanax will start working again once i'm over wd's?
Hey puckiemull,
Hang in there, if the yucky feelings get intolerable give the doc a call. The xanax will work especially after you get through this initail phase of changing meds. Keep in touch anytime,
Laurie
Hello I totally agree with Laurie, when I had terrible panic attacks then I did just that I kept a journal and would let the doctor know exactly how I felt from one office visit to another, it allows you to have a look at the picture it answers questions like does this medication seem to be helping? you hang in there and try this it is really helpful, I hope you feel better soon,
Thanks for that both of you,its great to hear positive things when nothing seems good at the mo.Hopefully i'll start feeling some change soon,its a slow process but what can you do!
Chat soon
I was switched to 10mg of Prozac from 20mg of Lexapro. I have been VERY low in the 2 weeks since. Anxious, crying and the nausea won't go away. The dr. didn't step down my Lexapro, just put me straight on Prozac. How is one supposed to function feeling this way? She just keeps telling me to wait it out and let the Prozac work. In the meantime my family is completly fed up with the moodiness and i just wanna be me again! I am so irrational i wouldn't want to be around me either!
Hey s80lady,
Hang in there. It will get better. I think it always best to decrease one while starting the other but not all docs think this way, I guess. When do you see your doctor again? Is she going to increase the prozac or do you know?
I have a phone consultation today with her. She is pretty firm on me toughing it out! I hope she raises the dose but hope it doesn't make my head feel any worse than it already does. I am feeling very discombobulated!
I am so glad to have people that understand! I feel very alone in this. Today is starting on my 3rd week on Prozac.
I suspect your discombobulation will subside soon as it is probably from the lexapro withdrawl. Hang in there and keep on posting. It maybe another couple weeks before you get the full effect the of prozac.
Hi s80lady
yes i would hang in there,i know its tough i've been there,as you read my post my doc did the same,just switched me straight to prozac 10mg for 1week then20mg for the next3.I'm on my 3rd week on the prozac now(2nd week on20mg)and the withdrawls from the lexapro are getting better by the day.I was very moody also and taking everything out on my family(nightmare to live with)buts thats past now and im starting to feel a little better,still dont feel the full effect of prozac yet but guess that will take a while,but do hang in there i know its horrible,i've being like you only few weeks ago but i got past it and so will you.Is your doc upping you to 20mg?Keep us posted
Take care