Day 7 of prozac 40 mg. Diagnosed with major depression. and feel no different than when I started the med. Is this all for nothing. Side effects of hot flushes and sweating in bed. Have only eaten crackers and a banana here and there. I am fearful there is no light at the end of the tunnel I am in. 😥
Scared,. Shaky, no appetite - Anxiety and Depre...
Scared,. Shaky, no appetite
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Kathush
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No, your doctor should have informed you that most antidepressants take 4-6 weeks to take full effect. I would be surprised if you were feeling the effects yet, although some people have claimed they did. So, just be patient, and check in with your doctor. Good luck.
Thank you existing. He probably did say it takes that long time, I am just so sad and anxious. I was hoping it would work faster after just coming off sertraline that stopped working.
Oh I feel you. Because they take so long, it can be a really frustrating process trying to find a new med that works. Just hang in there, and remember to be patient with the time it takes. I know how hard that can be when you're in so much pain. You may ask doc for temporary anxiety meds, like klonopin or Ativan. Mine is very strict about prescribing, but its worth a try if the anxiety gets too bad.
Thank you and yes, it is frustrating, the wait for even a small glimmer of hope that this med may help. I do have Ativan 0.5 mg which I usually break in half but got weary to take it when my Dr said it contributes to depression. I am going to take half now, this is so hard to deal with. Thank you so much for answering me.
You know thats funny, because I've gotten prescriptions of 5 (count'em) 0.5mg klonopin, and thats exactly what I do when I really get anxious: take half! Benzos are not meant for regular use, but in urgent situations they help.
Such a small dose too. I'm hoping the prozac will eliminate my need for the benzo, I was taking half of the 0.5 mg. nightly for sleep before all this. Geez.
I take trazodone for sleep for years now and swear by it.
trazodone always had the complete opposite effect on me. It would keep me up for days every time I would take only 1 at bedtime.
in reply to Kathush
The only reason why any drug contributes to depression....is because they deplete magnesium in the body ...serotonin and dopamine takes weeks to rise...if you choose to use...prozac...or any other brain chemistry altering drug...the answer always was...melatonin...get outside n the daylight...and when it gets dark...turn off blue light..increase incandescent or infra red light....Start to increase your vitamin B complex...but choose one with folate...avoid folic acid...look for DMG Versions....i cured my depression by stopping all medications and improving my diet...get off processed food...avoid sugar...watch your mood change for the better... it will...i was taking 12 mg ativan a day and 24 other pills ....each and everyday..i felt dead inside...i stopped all drugs...and began walking therapy...movement works because it raises dopamine....melatonin is better than glutathione....and is the bodies natural rest and repair nutrient...those who stay indoors and bathe in blue light at night...run very low on melatonin...go figure ...be happy.
Kathush in reply to
I believe that actually. I need those nutrients too because of agoraphobia. I don't get much walk or sunlight. Haven't ate much lately but when I did, it was mostly processed foods and sugar. Great info to know Jomico, thank you so much.
in reply to Kathush
Thankyou for replying...maybe consider supplementing melatonin .... try walking outside at night if you have agoraphobia... it’s how I cured mine... get a stepping stool just do five minutes an hour ... build up gradually ... it all helps ... best wishes.... choose a new path... turn things round.
Kathush in reply to
I'm going to try my best to walk outside right now. It is dark and i think I can do this.
Hi Kathush. Please be very careful about taking 5HTP while you are taking Prozac.
"People who are taking antidepressant medications should not take 5-HTP. These medications could combine with 5-HTP to cause serotonin syndrome..."
Thank you Nothing_but-pain. I won't take anything without asking my Dr. First. I will read up on it though just to see what it actually is and what it helps with. 🌷
That's always best. I hope you're having a bit of an easier night.
I took a walk, not a long walk but I actually went outside and walked. I also ate a little tortilla with a small piece of chicken in it. I hope this little bit of feeling a tad good means prozac is getting to work in my system? I pray. 🙏♥️
It isn't likely Prozac is responsible for the improvement you're feeling. Antidepressants take longer than that to begin to help. The good news is that you are feeling enough better to eat a bit and take a walk outside! Yay!
You are 💯 right Nothing_but-pain. I woke up feeling the same lousy fearful feeling this morning. Thank you for the cheer on for last evening. 🌷
A lot of members, me included, find mornings awful. I don't know why. I hope your day keeps improving, just like yesterday.
I do too 🌷 I can barely do anything in the morning, I just want to stay in bed. The evening comes around and I am able to eat a bit and walk around the corner and back and mostly feel almost normal. Mornings scare me lately, it's an ugly situation for sure.
Maybe you can plan something nice for this evening. Enjoy the moments. Share something fun if you like: a song, a bit of verse...
One thing I do have planned is my next feel better moment is to toss stuff from fridge. A few spoiled food in there and ugh. Thank you so much for keep caring about me. 🌷🌸🥀
This is a wonderful forum with lots of kind members. We share a lot of the same problems so it isn't book learning you'll get here, just life.
You're welcome. I do care about your ups and downs. I love hearing your little messages, sharing how you're doing. I hope we'll be hearing the Prozac kicks in one of these days and helps a lot too. 🦜
That really made me smile reading that and I thank you so much. 🏖️ I don't think I will get to cleaning the fridge out but I am going for that little walk again in a few as it has finally gotten dark outside. 🌠 I use to have some energy but that sure went bye bye with this dang depression. I sure am hoping that the prozac works soon but I am also trying to be patient, somewhat. 😊 I hope you are feeling good and am so glad you enjoy my messages too. 🌷
I'm glad you found your smile. The fridge can keep another day. Who knows, maybe you'll win the science fair if you hang on and really let it go. Maybe something'll start to glow in the dark. If you're really lucky, tiny white polka dots may begin to grow.
Take care of your new-found fridge friend and -- who knows? A small bottle may appear, stating "Taste me!"
Disclaimer: If you encounter any rabbits chasing off stage, stating "Oh my paws and whiskers, I'm terribly late"... Well, you'll know where you are.
Lol. I know for a fact at least one container in there has fuzz growing upon it. Beans? Most likely. That's when I just toss the entire thing, lid enclosed, in the trash. 😆
But what if they're magic beans: Fee-fi-foe-fum! Are you going to throw away a chance at a pot of gold, all because of a few fuzzy beans? I say plant 'em! Climb that bean-stalk! (I'll take pictures from over here where it's safe.)
Well,lol, maybe if they were green beans but pinto beans tend to stink pretty darn bad when they're no good. I know for a fact the dirt would not appreciate me at all. 🤣
Good for you. You got this. Ignore the crazy lady and get dem beans outta dere.
Thank you so much for the fun, it calmed me a lot tonight as this evening hasn't been good as the last few. Ate a bit of a baked potato with margarine and a sprinkle of black pepper earlier,. Have a lovely sleep Nbp. Hugs. ☀️
I'm glad to know I cheered you.
Hi, I also go through loss of appetite from Effexor and then get anxious due to not eating. I think the fact that you at least are trying crackers and bananas good. I also do the boost drinks to help. I know it sucks, hang in there...... they say the side effects will pass. Try pudding, your favorite flavor of yogurt, cottage cheese and mandarin oranges helps me, also.
Thank you Love coloring. I had tried and loved the strawberry yogurt I purchased and it went right through me. I will definitely try the pudding, chocolate. I also forgot to add I take a teaspoon of peanut butter for my dinner...oh how I wish us to be better soon.
♥️😊
Pudding
If the not eating goes on long enough to be concerning, please speak to your doctor about it. I have to supplement with Ensure (nutritional drink) to avoid losing a dangerous amount of weight. The chocolate flavor is easy to get down when you can't eat.
Kathush I am struggling too. Antidepressants do take time...I've been on them for many years. It's so hard to push through when you're in a lot of pain. Just keep reaching out. Thank God for online support groups.
You are so right Spiritanimal. I have been on sertraline many years but it stopped working and I asked for something light on side effects but I guess I get what I get. The mental pain is scary. ( Feeling like I will never get better but I still have hope).
I have been on Prozac for quite a long time now and it really helped me. Recently my anxiety got worse due to changes and added stressors and I started taking more of my Klonopin. I used to only take it very few times and basically just kept it in my purse. I am down to using very little, but it seems that my Prozac is not enough. I tried taking more but no change. I’m going to ask my dr if I can try adding Buspar. I have days where I feel well and anxiety free but I still seem to not be able stay in those good days for too long before I fall into the crippling anxiety again. My good days are so relaxed and wonderful and I can enjoy my life. I just wish it could stay like that. I wish the best for you. We must all support one another and know we are not alone on this and always have hope for a better future.😊❤️
Hi Kathush ...so sorry you are suffering. 7th day on Prozac wayyyyy too soon to expect to see a change. In that time you'll be seeing and feeling the side effects. The brain stabilization benefits usually take up to 1 month to fully kick in. My mother suffered from MDD all her life and finally was greatly helped by Prozac. I wish you relief ASAP. 💫👏💫🌻🦋🌈
Thank you Moonira. I am glad your mom was helped through this med. I hope and pray the same for me. I know now it is too early to see any positive results, I kept hoping each day to wake up feeling much better, but no. 🌸🌷🏠
I hope and pray for you also. In the meantime keep writing here. Let your feelings out. No one will judge you. I have been to hell and back mentally in the last 1.5 years. My recovery has been much slower than when I was young. You see I was on Effexor for 20 years and it "pooped out". It's taken close to a year to fimd the right antidepressant plus meds to treat my GAD, PTSD but sports ALWAYS helps. A walk, I love the water so aquafitness and laps. Journaling and talking also helped.
I love the water as well. I was taking walks around here but then I got worse depression and now only look out window. Yearning to get back out there. I am so happy to hear of things that helped you, it also gives me hope. I also bought a journal but few words to put in it yet, only the time and amount of med to take and the time I take it. Thank you so much for taking the time to post to me, I appreciate you. 🥀🌷🌸
Please dont give up. The light is often closest when we are in our darkest hour. Hang in there. Have you tried colouring...I even bought a children's connect dots book...anything to get me out of my head....💫👏💫🌈🦋🌈🌻
Yes, I have the books with colored pencils. I found them enjoyable before. I am glad you like those. They are fun.
I am sorry you’re experiencing this but I promise you, you’re not alone. I am in the exact situation. Just got off setraline and switched to Prozac. It’s been two weeks but it will take a while to feel a real difference. I wake up most mornings wishing I was gone from this world. I wake up too with pajamas that are damp from sweating. I know how it feels but please hang in there.
Yes, that is same as me. Just woke up feeling fearful, panicky and crying now. I miss myself, this is horrifying feeling.
I know that too well and I'm so sorry. I wake up crying and feeling just hopeless. Maybe talk to your doctor about this. Maybe they can supplement your medication or adjust it. Something to help ease the panic and fearful feelings. I don't know you but please know that I care and want you to feel better soon.
All I can tell you is what I know from my own past experiences. Prozac made me feel more crazy. It does that to bipolar and some diagnosed with MDD. Good luck!
Hello
You are going to be ok. Do you have some support eg family and therapist?
Seven days isn’t very long so you do need to give some time for the tablets to work. There are side effects with most antidepressants. Usually they get better as your body gets used to the drug.
My advice to you is to keep your GP informed of how you feel both mentally and with the side effects. Don’t just put up with it if you feel things aren’t improving.
My husband took this drug for quite a while and he wasn’t honest about how he was really feeling. In the end it wasn’t the right drug for him. When you are taking the right antidepressant you shouldn’t feel depressed, so if you continue to feel depressed after a few weeks the dose may need to be increased or this may not be the solution for you.
A good therapist is essential in my opinion. They will help you sort things out in your head but also I found my husbands helped push us to go back to the doctor when he could see things weren’t working.
Sadly, recovery takes patience, but there is real hope that you can get significant better. It takes time to find the right med. It then takes time to find the right dosage. And sometimes you need a combination of meds.
Support is important. Therapy can help so can talking with peers who have traveled this road. I know for myself that I found hope from others who have experienced severe depression and told me that recovery was possible and were living in recovery.
Tell your prescriber about your side effects. If you’re seeing a regular doctor, request a referral to a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner. Get help from someone who knows how to help.
Have hope! Treatment can be successful and recovery is possible!
Thank you Braveheart.
Trazadone is great at night. Ask your doc about it. Scared/shakey/no appetite sure reminds me of me back in 1994. Feeling you right now, God be with you!
Thank you Zhangliqun. I also had my first major depression episode in 1994. I been on Sertraline but now on prozac for week. I don't remember sertraline taking this long to work but maybe it did.God be with you as well. I'm glad you're doing good.
'94 was not my first. I had a tendency toward melancholy states from as far back as I can remember. There were episodes in '82 and '88 and it wasn't til late '93 that it settled in to stay. With meds and coping skills I have a pretty good lid on it so life is still very much worthwhile, but I'm still far from "cured".
I am so glad that you do have it controlled. Must be a beautiful feeling. 🌷
Have you tried what I call thought replacement therapy?
No, I haven't. How is it done?
I just looked it up. I will definitely try it.
I have my own version of it for what it's worth. It's something I put together from my experience for another poster and I've saved it as a cut-and-paste to save time to call up for others in dire straits. I call it the Depressive Manifesto:
***
Some pretty solid advice I've seen in here so far (referring to other responses). The most critical thing is to never, ever give in to the idea that your mental illness is anything like a reliable indicator of the truth about the world outside your head. Once you understand that it's a lie, it becomes far less powerful because you become much less afraid of it. Fear that it will come again will often make it come again.
In my view, the people at greatest risk of suicide are the ones who start to believe that the whole world is hopeless and pointless, not just their own situation, meaning that in their minds, there is nowhere for them to escape the rising floodwaters even if they can get out of their heads for a moment. At that point, you're in a tailspin that's hard to pull out of. I almost ate a pistol in '94 because of it.
Something that really helps me is remembering that the moods do come -- and go. Just remembering that largely de-claws the lacerating despair that may be slicing and dicing me at the moment because I know from long experience that it will go. Yes, in the moment it feels like I have been in this nightmarish mood from eternity past and will be in it forever, but it will go. In remembering that I immediately feel significantly better. But again it is absolutely critical that you believe that there is goodness and worthwhile-ness in the world outside your head. Because it really is there.
Another thing that may sound stupid but really works for me is that just scrunching up my shoulders or allowing my face to sink into a grimace is a trigger. I start to get anxious and my stomach starts to boil. (Your physical posture really does make a big difference in your mental state.) But if I force myself to relax my face and shoulders, the anxiety will go away almost every time. Subconsciously I'll start to scrunch and grimace again and the anxiety returns, but again I force my face and shoulders to relax.
You may have to repeat this process about 50 or 100 times until it goes away for an extended period, so DO NOT be discouraged if it doesn't work right away. After a while this and other 'tricks' become second nature and you're able to judo this thing almost absently, like flipping a light switch or flushing the can. There will still be bad days but there will be fewer of them and on average, they will be less severe.
Some have said to focus on things that produce good feelings in you to push out the bad. You have probably heard this a lot but again, this is solid advice. Different things work for different people but I love looking at pictures of fall foliage, just hypnotizes me. In person is ideal but you can do that any time of year on line, lots of great fall picture sites. Maybe a favorite restaurant or some happy memories. Or going to the hardware store and feeling the constructive atmosphere -- positive things you can do with tools and parts and nails etc to fix something at the house or maybe a hobby or project -- that runs so contrary to the sense of futility this illness stuffs down your throat. Anything that gives you even 5 minutes away from the bad thought patterns is a point gained; it's 5 minutes you weren't feeding this snake. That matters because mood disorders rarely if ever stand still; they are either getting better or worse, depending on your behavior and attitude. Once again, it will be difficult at first, but once again it will become second nature after a while.
Last but not least, these things and all the other solid advice I've seen in here are coping skills -- or more to my point, weapons. DO NOT be passive and hope this illness will go away on its own, it won't. You must stomp the head of this snake day in and day out, because you are in World War (original poster's screen name), a war for your soul -- and the souls of others (more on that below).
This means you must be willing to fight and fight hard, which means you must believe you have something to fight for. You do. Friends and family and -- get this -- others who are as sick or sicker than you and me, who you don't know yet but who will die by their own hand if you give up now because they will never get encouragement and advice from the voice of experience -- you. God will put you in the path of people new to this illness for this reason, as he has done with me. He will make this illness, yes, worthwhile...
If I sound like Patton in front of that big flag, so be it. When you're up against an enemy as cunning and deadly as mental illness, you need to be a rabid rottweiler with stars on its shoulders. FIGHT!!!
Wow. Thank you for your post. I'm going to read it fully a few times as my mind is somewhat forgetting. This sounds like some real good advice for what is ailing me, I will fight. Also the relaxing the shoulders I just did a few times, tensing then relax, 5 times so far. 🌷
And here I thought it might be rejected as facile and silly...
No way. What you posted is going to help me, as well as others I am sure of that. I am actually waiting for my printer ink to be delivered, hopefully by Tuesday, and am going to print what you posted. Nothing silly about it. Thank you again for taking the time to post it.
Thank you so much for sharing that , its really powerful, and it just makes me feel less alone to read how you took the time to write and post that here for all of us. Wisdom and experience.
Check with your MD. I started with prozac and it had the opposite effects, so they switched me to lexapro. Then I started to feel better.
Kathush in reply to
Thank you. I was reading up on that med too. I just don't want to stop the prozac if it's still too early but I don't know. I do want faster results but that looks like it not going to happen. When did you start feeling better on Lexapro?
in reply to Kathush
After a couple of weeks, I think? I later was switched to cymbalta because I received a migraine diagnosis. In the interim, I took low doses of xanax while the lex built up in my system.
Kathush in reply to
I have to be patient then. I am going to have to ride this ugly feeling out for whatever the Dr tells me.
Thank you all for being here for me, it helps me to know I'm not alone in this. ♥️
in reply to Kathush
You have alot here who understand and want to support you....keep your focus and you will succeed...ignore the bad days...they get less and less...some good days are coming.
Kathush in reply to
Thank you Jomico, there are great caring beautiful people here and it does help know that. 🌷
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