what meds to try next

[JE55LEW]

was just asking for sum advice really. if i don't pick up in the next couple of weeks of 20mg prozac that i take every morning and have done for the last 4 weeks and 3 days am i best to try upping the dose or having a change of meds. I was taking effexor venlafaxine 75mg before the switch 4weeks ago and didn't feel it was doing anything for me at all even tho it has done in the past. I started bk on the effexor 75mg in march this yeah and did good for 7/8weeks but then went down hill and ended up in hospital wasn't nice at all because effexor had caused me insomnia. thats why the switch to prozac was done and have been off the effexor 21 days should that be out of my system now after being on it since march and messed about with the dose going up and down from 75mg to 150mg to 225mg then bk down to 150mg then down again to 75mg.thats when id had enough and was put on prozac.I don't have panic and anxiety attacks only ever had 2 of them. my problem is falling asleep and staying asleep.i do sumtimes get a full nights sleep 6//7 and maybe even 8 hours but still feel tired and weak and have no energy what so ever.I did have mirtazipine but stopped them due to feeling worse the day after. My doc has given me diazapam if and when i need it to take the edge of things to see if these prozac kick in over the next few weeks i so hope so coz i'm tired of feeling tired all the time and want to be normal me again out going and have fun with my husband children family and friends. we've got a wedding in cyprus in september and i just want to be well for that and to enjoy the holiday aswell. sorry for the long story anyone had any sucess on prozac after being on effexor????

[RubyWitch]

You say "I don't have panic and anxiety attacks only ever had 2 of them. my problem is falling asleep and staying asleep."

Nowhere in your story did you say you suffered with depression. So I wonder why your doctor keeps putting you on what sounds like a hit and miss roller coaster of antidepressants. While it's true that many antidepressants can help you sleep better, why treat you with a medication you don't need? There are plenty of sleep aids out there that address the ONE problem you do have.

While many, and possibly most, antidepressants have as a side effect "drowsiness," they often have other side effects that are not pleasant and CAN take substantial time to adjust to. Some have as a side effect..........insomnia! For many of us, we have to try several different antideprssants until we find one we can tolerate.
Prozac can take up to four weeks before therapeutic effects are noticed. But during that four week period, it's side effects of drowsiness and sedation should have been evident. Prozac does carry insomnia as one of it's side effects.

I am most certainly not qualified to second guess your doctor, but if insomnia truly IS your only complaint, then in my humble and non-medical opinion, he is over medicating you for something you don't even have. I would, absolutely, get a second opinion. But please do not stop taking any of your medication until a doctor can advise you about tapering off.
I really do wish you the best
Peace
Greenlydia