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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
From Paxil to Prozac
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
From Paxil to Prozac
by Billy_24, May 13, 2003 12:00AM
What I was really trying to ask last time was that, since I'm only on 4mg of Paxil, and I feel excessively sleepy during the day, and, thus, sedated; and, in addition, suffer from periods of insomnia if I take a dose less than 4mg; then, if I switch to Prozac will this medication also make me sleepy during the day, or give me insomnia at night? I believe that if I take any Paxil at all now, no matter how small the dose, I will be sedated during the day. And, I'm also wondering if 10mg of Prozac is too much if I've only been on 4mg of Paxil for more than a year now?
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., May 14, 2003 12:00AM
, May 14, 2003 12:00AM
It is very likely that Prozac, which is more of a stimulant than Paxil, will be a good replacement. YOu can start with 10mg and take it every other day, or use 5 mg/day until you are comfortable with the new medication, and then see re increasing if necessary.
If you do switch to prozac.. i would be very interested to know how you go on it. I am also on a low dosage of paxil for anxiety and am interested in switching also due to weight gain. Pls keep us informed on how it goes..
good luck
Peggy
Good Luck! Keep us posted on how you do!
I really think you should talk to your doc. maybe the prozac was too strong for you, and really I would say that you should have taken the prozac in the morning and the paxil at night. until you would be able to get off the Paxil. If that is what you wanted to do.
My question is, when you tried the prozac, why so late at night? Did you try to stop taking the paxil at all during that time? If you did, it wasn't the prozac it was the paxil. And if you still takeing the paxil then maybe prozac is just not for you. Ask your doctor
All I know is that the people that makes paxil, need they really need to take it off the market.
I know that they started treating children with paxil and it's just making things worse, Do your home work before taking any meds, it would be a lot safer!!!
In January of 2003 I went to my family doctor for stress. He prescribed paxil which I thought was odd. I questioned him on the side affects and he said that most people do not have any problems. I also asked him if I decide to go off of paxil is there any withdrawal problems...again he said that most people do not have any problems. He also joked that his collegeauges joke that paxil should be put in the public water supply to calm everyone down. Well guess what folks, I did suffer side affects and I almost lost my mind when I went off paxil cold turkey. In fact I ended up in the ER. I had to go back on paxil for a few weeks and then the doctor tried to wean me off at my demand. After 3 months I am still on 10 mg every three days....if I don't have it I get the shocks and all those other wonderful withdrawl problems. This drug should be taken off the market as it is an addictive drug...I'm afraid to not take it and my body needs it now. These doctors don't have the proper training to put people on the drug. Does anyone have a suggestions for getting off this stuff? And is there a natural supplement that I can take that is just as effective?
Thanks