Prozac (fluoxetine)

[shannon_nicole777]

Has anyone else ever switched from one drug to another without weaning off the first one first? I am currently undergoing a transition between Lexapro (generic form) and Prozac (generic form - fluoxetine) and I have panic disorder and I suspect GAD as well. I've only been diagnosed by a PCP and have never seen a psychiatrist. I was on Prozac in the past for mild anxiety symptoms but then it got worse, I started having recurring panic attacks in Feb 2016 after being on the Prozac for a little over a year. No idea where they came from, but it was an awful experience, that first one. I thought I was dying and called 911 because a I was alone at home with my then 8 year old daughter. I'm a single parent, so I was having all these fears of something happening to me and her being alone with my unconscious or (God forbid) dead body...and not sure what to do. So the 911 dispatcher knew I was having a panic attack and calmed me down, the paramedics still showed up and I was ok by then, and felt like an idiot. But honestly, I had never experienced anything like it before and was terrified! So, what I'm looking to know is... what are everyone's common side effects of Prozac? I am experiencing a lot of bruises all over my legs.. I bruise easily as it is, but it's really bad. I have at least 10 bruises between both my legs right now. I am not taking anything else along with the Prozac. Does anyone else have this problem and what can I do about it?

[shannon_nicole777]

Also, I should have said this too- I went off Prozac for a period of about 9 months, because I was convinced my panic attacks started because of it. So then I wasn't on anything, but my panic attacks continued and they got worse in severity and frequency. This past May I stopped being able to sleep. I did not sleep at all most nights, but sometimes only for a few hrs at a time, for a period of 2 weeks. I was a MESS. I went to my Dr and begged her for something to make me sleep. She said my anxiety was feeding the insomnia and the insomnia was feeding the anxiety so she put me on Zoloft. It was too high of a dose - I had a bad reaction. Burning sensation all over my entire body. even in my throat ...my saliva felt like it was burning me when I swallowed. It was awful. So she put me on Lexapro (for anxiety) and trazodone (for sleep). I was on that combo for a few months. I started sleeping better, but still not like normal really, and my panic attacks were gone for awhile but then after about 2 months they came back. So they switched me to Prozac. So here I am. I've been having a hard time with switching, experienced some agitation and tension in my muscles. I feel ok at the moment, but I've been sleeping kinda poorly again. I wake up a lot in the night. And I feel tense in the morning when I wake up and not very well rested. Please, if anyone has a similar experience, please reply and let me know what you suggest.

[one-love]

I know your pain I have my good days and my bad days a lot of my anxiety attacks I thought were heart attacks in the beginning because of the physical symptoms I was always having (heart pounding, dizzy, impending doom feeling, breathing difficulty) but after years of having them and talking to doctors and therapists I realize now when I have them they are just anxiety attacks but they can be very scary for sure if you don't know what it is in the beginning. I hate taking RX meds too so it's a double edge sword, I feel like I trade one problem for another when I take the pills the doctors give me and all the side effects that come with them. To be honest I have been using medical marijuana for the last few years and I feel it really helps me and doesn't have near as many bad side effects. I know it might sound crazy but look into it and try a sativa strain it really helps with mood, anxiety and depression. But use a low does if you never tried it before

[shannon_nicole777 in reply to one-love]

I have looked into that.... unfortunately I live in a state where it is still illegal, but if I got my medical marijuana card I could get it... Just not sure how to go about getting that. I don't want to ask my PCP about it, because I'm afraid she might just laugh at me. IDK, they won't even give me Xanax or Ativan to help with the panic attacks when they come on... I honestly felt at one point that I really was gonna need that because I can't afford to get worse and become agoraphobic or something. I am a single mom... I need to work to support my daughter and myself. Do you know how I would go about getting a medical marijuana card? I'd love to try it and see if it helps me... I'm at my wit's end with this anxiety crap and would honestly try just about anything at this point.

[one-love in reply to shannon_nicole777]

What state do you live in?

[shannon_nicole777]

AZ

[one-love in reply to shannon_nicole777]

You live in Arizona that's actually one of the more liberal states for medical marijuana and it's 100% legal to use in your state for medical use and is also one of the few states that can't discriminate against employment for having a medical card. Here is a link to a great doctor in your state, you won't be charged any money if your not approved. medicalmarijuanacardarizona...

[shannon_nicole777 in reply to one-love]

thanks for the info .. .I will look into it

[Brighter]

Hi I just got back on fluoxetine after a 2 month break. It's rough at first. I'm going through the same thing. I wake up constantly and around 2 or 3 I can't fall asleep anymore. I wake up anxious and scared. It's been bad. It does get a lot better. I was on it for a year and a half and up after the first two months I was able to sleep normally and my mood improved.

[shannon_nicole777]

I hope it gets better. what you just described is what I've been experiencing.... this morning in fact woke up around 2 or 3 and couldn't fall back asleep and am very tense today