PROZAC POOPOUT AND SSRI'S

[13tiger]

have been reading a thread about prozac poopout.

I took Prozac for 9 years STARTING AT 50, I am now 60.  18 months ago I started having weird things happening.  Inner tremors, some lighheaded dizziness *not severe but unsettling, extreme feeling of being shaking cold *something a menopausal woman only dreams about* I am past that * anxiety, muscle weakness, fear,.  It isn't panic disorder, I don't have the pounding heart, sweatinge etc. 90% of the time it occurs at night.  

I had 6 emergency room visits in 5 months.  Was put on Lorazepam, which I am still on at night (1mg). and hate it! I have had many tests and diagnosis to determine severe Acid reflux,  (which I had anyway) to vertigo.

Eight months ago I started going to mental health.  I was told I could have Prozac poopout.  They tried me on several other SSRI's and it seems, since my menopause (I can't think of another reason) I can't tolerate any of them.  I get severe side effects.  I decided to go off prozac 4 months ago.  Getting off was not as horific as I thought it would be, thank God!  

I am being seen by a Psycholigist who evaluates not councels, a medication specialist who is extrememly knowledgeable and I like but has me terrified about the Lorazepam and it's addictiveness ( I want off) and a Psychiatrist who also doesn't councel, WHO TOLD ME I PROBABLY HAD PROZAC POOPOUT and has had me try the SSRI's and now suggested SAM-e.  I tried it and my head felt like it was pumped up with an air hose and I got severe abdominal pain that lasted for days.  This was on two 100mg. doses of the best standardized brand.  This Psychiatrist did say I could go back on Prozac but we have not discussed how long I would have to be off to go back on and if it would help me like it once did.

I AM IN DESPERATE NEED OF SSRI SUPPORT.  PROZAC WAS A GIFT TO ME WHEN I BEGAN TAKING IT 9 YEARS AGO.  I JUST CANNOT COPE.  My husband is facing open heart surgery soon and I am a basket case.  I need the coping skills Prozac gave me for so many years.  I am so depressed I don't know what to do.  I feel helpless because of the failure of so many of the new SSRI's.  I don't feel I am getting the most out of my Mental health people; I am sure they are just as frustrated as I am; but you would hope they had seen this before in others and offer some hope.  (I am a Kaiser patient and have been since 1968)

Is there hope if I go back to Prozac?  Do you think I will get the results I had before since I have been off for a while?  I never took more than 20mg.  I am reading how smaller doses in liquid form might be more effective and or adding something called Rosperdal could help enhance the effectiveness of Prozac.

Can anyone relate or give me some hope?

Pat

[Try_to_be_social]

I understand that you are in great difficulty and pain. As you are compassionate and caring and understanding to others, you have the absolute right to ask for care and comfort and understanding when hurting from everyone available around you. These are the most basic human emotional rights.
You never know your potentials and limits. This is just one of the setbacks in your lifelong pursuit of the unknown aspects of your capacities. Turnaround and prove your worth and use yourself well. This is true self-discovery.
To accept yourself is not to deny your pain and scar, but to bear with them with compassion for yourself and with recognition that your wounds are shared by everyone in the world. Stand up and accept your self-worth. This is real self-acceptance.
To forgive others is to genuinely to forgive yourself.
Every life has a goal to be fulfilled. Come on, sustain your effort to reach that goal. Be motivated once again. This is true lively enthusiasm.
You are valuable resource in your family, community, society, country and species. Turn on your loving responsibility once more. This is liability and self-respect.
We all have irrational beliefs: we are no good for anything. It is a cruel world. We are destined to fail. Nobody cares so why should I? You are also born creative person and problem solver. You are willing to risk making mistakes to make decisions. This is creativeness and liveliness.
The presence of despair in our lives is not a message to end it all, but to use such energy fueling our disappointment to start setting things right again. First is bereavement. Second is to seek comfort for the loss. Finally, rebirth into joy again.
I hope you see what I mean.
Rebirth like a tiger.

[13tiger]

THANK YOU I am so frustrated; I cannot get in to see my Psychiatrist unless I am suisidal that is what they told me today.  I am a wreck and I need to talk to someone and there are no appts. until December.  What do I do in the mean time?  This is so terrible I feel so lost and abandoned. I can't eat, I have had a constant headache for 3 day's and cry all the time. I can't take advil anymore and I won't take the vicodin they gave me as a substitute.  I have a feeling I have withdrawal from that!  I had severe abdominal pain last week and my primary care told me to take it for 5 day's; now I am off.  I can't imagine going on like this.  I hate taking the Lorazepam but am afraid not to now; I ended up haveing to take 2mg. total yesterday.  I only use it at nightnormally but needed a 1/2mg to get thru the day and it was tough; why did they put me on this and not tell me how awful it is to get off.  How do I get off?  God I can't believe this is happening to me it just started out of the blue 16 months ago. I am going back on the Prozac.  I have no other choices left.  I pray it works again and I can get my life back.
If you have other advise I would be eternally grateful.

[13tiger]

THANK YOU I am so frustrated; I cannot get in to see my Psychiatrist unless I am suisidal that is what they told me today.  I am a wreck and I need to talk to someone and there are no appts. until December.  What do I do in the mean time?  This is so terrible I feel so lost and abandoned. I can't eat, I have had a constant headache for 3 day's and cry all the time. I can't take advil anymore and I won't take the vicodin they gave me as a substitute.  I have a feeling I have withdrawal from that!  I had severe abdominal pain last week and my primary care told me to take it for 5 day's; now I am off.  I can't imagine going on like this.  I hate taking the Lorazepam but am afraid not to now; I ended up haveing to take 2mg. total yesterday.  I only use it at nightnormally but needed a 1/2mg to get thru the day and it was tough; why did they put me on this and not tell me how awful it is to get off.  How do I get off?  God I can't believe this is happening to me it just started out of the blue 16 months ago. I am going back on the Prozac.  I have no other choices left.  I pray it works again and I can get my life back.
If you have other advise I would be eternally grateful.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

As good as your mental advisers are, and as knowledgeable as they are, there still is a wide gap in our fundamental knowledge of the long range use of ssri's and the effect of menopause and other bodily changes.  I would suggest that you do a trial of Prozac, as suggested by your doctor.  The other more potent medications like risperadal can have side effects also.  You are very sensitive now, and going back to the familiar sounds like a good idea, plus some very important counseling support.

[13tiger]

Thank you!

[StupidMe]

Avoid coffee, strong tea, alcohol, refined sugar. Take complex sugar instead. Take regular meals but not too much at a time. Go to bed early and regularly with adequate sleep and rest. In short, avoid anxiety-producing food and anxiety-sensitive physiological state.
Learn deep diaphragmatic breathing and meditation, which are very basic and simple anxiety management.
Expect anxiety will arise. Recognize symptoms of anxiety, e.g. fear, inner tremor, dizziness, muscle weakness. They are due to increase in adrenaline and hypersensitivity (increased arousal). When anxiety arrives, one usually expects the worst disaster and one

[Try_to_be_social]

I know that you have great faith in and are desperate in search of medication. The fact that Prozac and several other SSRIs did not work on you does not automatically generalize to conclude that the rest of the SSRIs or SNRIs(e.g. Remeron, Effexor) may not be effective. But a better way out is to try an antidepressant of another class, namely, Wellbutrin, trazadone, tetracyclic or even tricyclic. A short course of Lithium may serve to augment all antidepressants. You can try Buspirone too. I firmly believe that by trial and error one can find a suitable medication to unlock one

[13tiger]

I know heart surgery is common it is just really scary.  I have been using Lorazepam for about a year.  My med. specialist say's they are very addicting; but I have not had to go over 1 mg. a day.  Occasionally, rarely I have had to to 1/2mg. during the day.  I just hate being dependant, by dependant I am afraid if I go off I will start having recurrances of more serious anxiety. So I am hoping I can go back to Prozac and get off the Loraz.
Thank you again, so much, for answering my post.  It is good to get feedback from someone, makes it easier to know others have similar situations and problems.
Pat

[13tiger]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[13tiger]

I have tried all of the meds you mentioned with exception to Klonipin which my nephew takes and is trying to get off. I have a severe sensitivity to all of them.

I appreciate your imput and am seeking a councelor who will listen.

[3rdMajor]

I underwent quintuple bypass surgery last december.
No need to worry about your husband.  He will do fine.
I wouldnt be concerned about taking lorezapam in the short run. It helps control anxiety and helps with sleep.  
At least until you find an antidepressant that helps you.
No reason why you shouldnt be able to return to prozac, immediately.
good luck