... normal? How long ?
Fluoxetine - I've been on Prozac for 8 days and I've noticed and increase in anxiety. Is this?
- Asked
- 31 Jul 2014 by Mjpj
- Updated
- 10 August 2014
- Topics
- prozac, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, fluoxetine
Details:
Responses (3)
kaismama
31 Jul 2014
Yes it is normal, it might last a little bit until the drug kicks in but it will go away.
balbanese
31 Jul 2014
Can take 7-10 days to 2-3 weeks to stabilize. These meds are like that, hang in there, give it a little more time and of course, keep your Dr informed.
radiowave
10 Aug 2014
That is what I have been experiencing, and have also read in a number of other places that many people suffer from increased anxiety during the beginning of treatment with Prozac. So, you are not alone.
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Thanks for the answers. I've now been on it for 12 days and I think the side effect is getting better. Now when I take it I noticed I get kinda zoned and calmer after about 3 hours after dosage. Seeing doc in morning. I have daily chronic anxiety for four months and have to take a Klonopin to try and get thru morns. Doc said to do this until Prozac gets into my system more. She also recommends increasing from 10mg to 20mg. Any thoughts on that?
Well, I'm not a Dr (and I don't play one on TV :).
I wouldn't make any changes until you stabilize on the current dose, doesn't make sense to me to increase it when she already said you (or the meds) needs more time to adjust?
I was wondering about that. I'll ask her today. I'm not sure how to know if I've "stabalized" at the current dose or not
You'll know because there's a feeling of leveling out rather than extremes.
So I feel leveled out after about 3 hours after taking it. But like I said, mornings are extremely hard with anxiety and the zoned feeling hits like about 2 hours after taking it. Then I feel calm and pretty level. Thank you for your support. I feel sometimes like after 4 months of this anxiety nothing will help sometimes.
Don't give up, it will get better. What I meant by leveled was more like a 48-72 hour run where the extremes are not as extreme. It does take time and the adjustments can go on for months, it's just the nature of the beast. Think long term and please give yourself a break, it won't stay like this.
Thank you. I see doc in one hour so I'll ask her too about increase. Do you suffer from anxiety and did you get relief after a couple months?
Doc decided to not increase dose for another week.
Doc said that in a week we will have more info on how I'm doing. I think this makes sense and is in line with what you were saying. She did suggest taking it in the morn to see if it helps kick out the anxiety I experience the worst at that time of day. Thank you for all your advice and support. Waiting is the hardest part.
Yes it is, but look at the waiting as a season, not as an end all. like the idea of switching to mornings, not give this 2-3 weeks to stabilize and go from there. Thanks for the info, keep me in the loop! Billy
Hey Billy
Not sure what you mean by switching to morn or 2-3 weeks. Can you explain what you mean? I didn't fully understand. All I know is that I don't really think what time of day I take it is really gonna matter so much. I think doc just wanted to see if it helped with my morn anxiety, which I did take it at 6 and fell back to sleep until 9 but not really helping with morn stuff so I'm gonna go back to mid day tomorrow. My prayer is that within a few weeks I'll see more improvement.
Just commenting on your comment on the Dr saying to go to mornings, and to give tit time. When you take it can indeed make a difference, that's all I meant.
Hey Billy
Not sure what you mean by switching to morn or 2-3 weeks. Can you explain what you mean? I didn't fully understand. All I know is that I don't really think what time of day I take it is really gonna matter so much. I think doc just wanted to see if it helped with my morn anxiety, which I did take it at 6 and fell back to sleep until 9 but not really helping with morn stuff so I'm gonna go back to mid day tomorrow. My prayer is that within a few weeks I'll see more improvement.
Sorry I double posted. Opps. Can I ask you if you have had success on Prozac for anxiety?? I'm feeling a bit hopeless today
Yes, I did, but it took what you're going through, hence my advice. Time, adjustment, time, adjustment, etc. Once I learned to give it 2-3 weeks each time, I was stable, it took about 9-months, and needs monitoring ongoing.
Well, praise God you got better. I'm praying it won't be 9 months. But I get what you're saying. Be patient and let the meds work and stay positive. Thanks for your support.
I will, and since you mentioned God, I will pray for you as well.
I would love you to pray. I'm a big believer in God. If it wasn't for him I'd not make it. I also don't think I like taking this in the morn. Been two days and I'm anxious most of the day now. Seems like my body was getting use to having it at 1pm so I've got email out to doc regarding. Thank you for praying.
Try giving your anxiety to the Lord, not the circumstance, the struggle. He will give you rest. What is your first name?
Michele. And ya know. That's a good word. Also, I DO think switching the time was a mistake now. I hope when I go back to 1pm tomorrow my body will remember. Does that make sense? I think taking at same time is important
I know you're anxious, but this med is not one to switch so quickly. Every change, no matter what it is, is like dropping a large stone in a pond, it takes time for things to return to calm.
My doc said it didn't matter what time I took it so if I wanted to go back to 1pm that should be fine. I'm very confused now since I sort of agree with you based on how I've felt the last couple days. She said it didn't matter on "therapeutic" action when you take it. I'm not sure now
My doc said it didn't matter what time I took it so if I wanted to go back to 1pm that should be fine. I'm very confused now since I sort of agree with you based on how I've felt the last couple days. She said it didn't matter on "therapeutic" action when you take it. I'm not sure now
Well, the bottom line is your Dr trumps me, I'm only speaking from experience and from that experience I must say I do not agree. That does not make me right, nor does it qualify me to go against what your Dr said, but my experience with this medication and others like it always involved an adjustment time regardless of the type of adjustment, including when to take it. This does not act like Aspirin or any other IR (immediate release) medication. So all I can really do is be a voice and offer some stability through my feedback. I'll continue to pray Michele, as I believe God can fix anything more than any pill ever could.
I agree God can fix anything! Thanks for praying. I've got a call into doc cause I sort of agree with you. I think the time of day and staying constant is so important. She is a PSCHY and said to just go back to 1pm since I only took it two days in am and it should be fine to go back to mid day. Thanks for all your support.
From what I understand 20 mg is considered to be the minimum therapeutic dose of Prozac. 10 mg is given initially to get your system used to the med. My pdoc is following what looks like the identical to yours. I'll be seeing her tomorrow (2 weeks since I started Prozac) and anticipate that she will raise the dose to 20 mg.