Please Help, Nowhere to Turn to

[IrishAmy]

Hi All,
First off, I am a 19 year old healthy female who was going through some depression because of a really rough childhood so i went to see a therapist and she suggested i see the psychiatrist for some meds that would probly help me. Well she put me on Prozac (20mg) told me to take 1 every- other day for the first week, and then every day thereafter, but i started off taking 1 every day thinking it would work quicker for me :(
   I was taking the pill in the evening because the doc said thats when most poeple take it because it made them drowsy, well it made me have insomnia so i didnt take it after about the 4th or 5th  night so i could switch to taking it in the morning...That night i layed down to go to bed and 5 minutes later i jumped up with a panic attack, which i have Never had before, i sat up all night just breathing and telling myself i was okay i was terrified to go back to sleep because i couldnt breathe right.
   Well ever since then i have difficulty breathing, nausea, lightheadness and so on. (symptoms of anxiety.) At the time, i didnt know because ive never experienced it before so i was very afraid. 3 days later i went to the ER, they did all kinds of tests and everything was fine so they suggested i go to A Psychiatric Crisis Center  its kinda like an ER for Psych patients or whatever so i went there, told my story and the head psychiatrist there  and my therapist all think that this is not realted to me taking the PROZAC which i believe otherwise because I have Never experienced anxiety before taking this med. Also, anxiety is a side effect from Prozac. So what do you all think?  Is this the start of Panic disorder/Anxiety for me? Or is it adverse reaction from the Prozac. It has been about a week and a half since i stopped the prozac and had that panic attack and every second of the day i feel very anxious, i dont know what to do  im scared to go out of my house now, i have 2 young baby girls to take care of and my psychiatrist did give me Ativan to take .5mg but it doesnt work and they dont believe me so now ive been on Celexa (antidepressant) to help with this anxiety for 3 days now and it isnt working yet. Someone please give your opinion and please pray for me because i am very scared i dont know where to turn to. Thanks for your help and opinions greatly appreciated.

[TheDave]

It could very well be the Prozac causing the anxiety.    Some anti-depressants can certainly have anxiety as a side-effect.  The Celexa helped me with my anxiety and depression quite a bit for a couple of years while it worked for me.  Panic attacks can be terifying, but give it some time for the Prozac to clear out and the Celexa to help.  It is possible you have anxiety along with your depression though too.  It will get better and most likely can be controlled.  Hang in there.  Keep seeing your therapist and work through those issues from your childhood and develop some sort of spirituality also.  That will help you more then anything else probably.  I've been where you are, and I still go back there sometimes too, but it does get better.  

[hollygcat]

Prozac gave me insomnia and severe panic attacks.  I had already been experiencing panic disorder and have no idea why the doctor prescribed Prozac since it only increases anxiety.  I found Ativan to be quite helpful for panic.  You may just need a higher dose until your body calms down from the attacks and getting off Prozac.  It's unfortunate that once you have one attack, it's easy to bring another one on because of the fear the first one gives you.  Try to stay calm and if you feel panic coming on, count it.  1 to 10 over and over.  Each time you get to 10, the heightened anxiety should be getting lower.  My mom taught me that and it works.

I know it's hard with little ones, because you feel like you can't take proper care of them.  But you can and it will get better.  You just had the unfortunate meeting with Prozac.  And come on this sight and talk to people.  That is calming too.  When I first started getting panic attacks, I called my mom at all hours and she always talked me down because she has been there herself.

Hang in there.  Don't be scared.  You seem to have your priorities straight, so don't doubt yourself.

[suzi-q]

It will take time for the prozac to work out of your system..give it two weeks.  I know how terrible depression and anxiety  are because I suffer from both.  Mine is controlled with Paxil (anti-depressant) with buspar (anti-anxiety) and klonopin (when needed)..  I would suggest talking to your doctor about getting you on a ANTI-ANXIETY medication for now.  Ask for Klonopin...taken 2 times a day, it will help give you a steady state of calm.  I do not know about Celexa.  The only thing I do know is that anti-depressants CAN cause anxiety...so it is a catch 22....I would suggest posting to RCA in this forum. He is very knowledgeable about medications and will be able to give you some guidelines in which you can ask your doctor...best to you...you are not alone.