Can't cope anymore

[TheGruffalosbitch]

Panic attacks, constant. Don't want to live like this anymore!

Hey

May be a stupid question but have you seen a doctor?

I've had MH issues and my lovely best mate is currently having panic attacks. I feel for you.

Been on paroxetine for yrs. just swapped in to Prozac 11 days ago. I want to crawl into a hole and not come out!

Don't worry! Prozac made me totally mental!!!! If you'll excuse the turn of phrase

In fact many of the blasted ADs made me worse, some suicidal. Hmm not very encouraging for you... But eventually they did find the right one for me and I've been 100% better ever since. Do you have depression as well as panic attacks? I used to know people who took something specific to PAs, I don't think it was Prozac.

One thing that I do remember from the delightful period of trial and error that my doctor put me through was that it takes a few weeks to settle down on each medication, and can be an awful period ifyou're having withdrawal from an old one at the same time.

Make an appointment to go back to the doctor for a few days or a week's time and be really kind to yourself in the meantime. Is there somoen in RL who can keep a close eye on you and help you through this adjustment?

No depression just anxiety and panic attacks. Gp has given me some lorazepam but hate the way they make me feel. He told me to wait 10 days the up my Prozac dosage to 40mg

Hmm I think you need someone to answer who's had panic attacks. Happy to chat but I don't think I'm much practical help!

Remember to be very kind to yourself - try to avoid stressy situations, don't drink adn get loads of sleep while the meds are in transition.

Good luck

10 days isn't enough for the prozac to work. I was told that 60mg a day is needed for anxiety/panic (less for depression). Use distraction and talking to friends and reading chick lit to get you through the next few days, and hopefully it will begin to take positive effect very soon. 2-3 weeks, in my experience.

What other help are you getting for panic attacks? Just pills won't solve things in the long run. CBT can help as can learning mindfulness.

Important to remember about panic attacks: They are annoying and harmless in equal measures. Nothing bad or serious is happening and the best thing to do with a panic attack is to look it squarely in the face and stick your tongue out at it. Ride it out and see that nothing happens.

I've had CBT and just signed up for a mindfullness online course. It's the withdrawal effects of comming off of the paroxetine and onto the Prozac which is making me feel so bad. So hard when I have to be normal for my 3 yr old and 1 yr old

Sorry you are still feeling so bad .

Im cant remember what i said in PM so forgive any repetition.
Basically - the only way i survived the switch from paroxetine to prozac was by using diazepam. I was totally against this at first - thought it was a guaranteed straight route to long term addiction - but GP persuaded me in the end.
I think for me it was the combination of the paroxetine withdrawal (I went through it a number of times - anxiety and terror 100 times worse than any original original symptoms) plus the fact that prozac can be quite a stimulating AD (so again particularly initially it can make anxiety worse.)

I only stuck with it because i was so determined to finally get off paroxetine.

I used as little as i could of the dizaepam but ended up taking it daily for a few months (allowed me to go back to work/ function etc.) And then came off the diazepam without any problems over a few months.

Just one word of warning as I know you are doing this as a way of withdrawing from paroxetine.

When I did slowly come off the prozac I had exactly the same problems. Only difference was that because of the long half life** the probs kicked in later - after a few weeks rather than a week or so.

The same might not happen to you but its worth knowing so you can prepare yourself.

** Hlaf life is length of time medication takes to leave your body. Paroxetine has a very short half life which means that its a quicker and stronger shock to your system when you stop taking it. Prozac has a longer half life.

Ps i n my experience the anxiety etc you get from withdrawal is very different to original panic / anxiety. Its more like a 'chemical' thing and doesnt really respond to the usual CBT etc.
The best thing is to do anything you can to calm down your central nervous system. Only gentle things on tv, nothing frightening, gentle walks (not vigorous exercise) etc etc

Just do everything you can to keep things calm over the next few days to see if things start to ease.

I did stay on the prozac in the end. And did go back to work etc. Things WILL improve.

Although in my case i did end up on a small dose of another AD but that doesnt necessarily mean you will - you may find that once you get past this difficult stage you can reduce slowly.

Why is the dr saying to increase to 40mg when you werent on that dose of paroxetine?

Thanks I know what u mean about the chemical thing. My old anxieties panic attacks were mainly caused by intrusive thoughts. I've learnt to control these with CBT. These attacks are very physical with no intrusive thoughts behind them. The dr has convinced me to start using the lorazepam he prescribed me.

I was able to sleep through the side effects of paroxetine but I feel wired with Prozac.

Dr told me to increase Prozac to twice a day if I don't see any improvement in 10 days. I think he is just trying to get me stable

Taken a lorazepam this morning. Mornings are the worst and for the 1st time in 2 weeks I'm not shaking!

I also knowwhat you mean about the chemical anxiety. I had a massive reaction to citalopram and ended up lying on the bed rocking myself sobbing screaming what is happening to me someone tell me what is happening to me. My ds had an ear infection with fevers and then the fever went and I got terrified of it coming back?? It made no sense at all and dh thought i would be sectioned. He came to OOH with me (it was Sunday) as he said no one would believe I was normally sane. OOH gave me quetiapine to calm down! It is horrible, but if it is chemical you know it will end. Agree that diazepam (even in a small dose) is helpful in managing it - my dr. made me do the same.

Kiddie how long did u have to take the diazipam for? I don't want to become addicted to another drug.

Mad mouse. Was this recently? Are u still on citarolpram? Did it get any better?

This was just about a year ago. I stopped citalopram, stopped diazepam, found a good private therapist, she fixed the underlying trauma with EMDR and I'm good now

It's not a normal response to citalopram. GP said I should prob. see a psychiatrist if I eveer need ADs again.

AS madmouse describes - thats exactly how my start up is on ads of any kind. Thats why i've had to see a psychiatrist in past. interesting how at first they all said it wasnt possible for medication to do that . Anyway - thats another story ...

Re prozac - the sleeplessness side effect definately went away after a while so hopefully that will improve for you quite soon.

Im sure they isnt much comfort but good that you werent shaking as much this morning.

I ended up on the diazepam for quite a few months - but that was under the care of a psychiatrist who thought it was the lesser of two evils. (ie at leats i could finction while i was on it.) I was very careful with it and very strict with how much i took - only small doses.

I think lorazepam is stronger ??

ps. i know i always say this but if anyone reads about my start up issues - most people just have a shaky few days and then everything settles down quite quickly. I dont want to scare anyone off from taking medication they need. And I know for many people they dont even really get those shaky few days - going on to ads is really quite smooth.

Lorazepam is stronger yes. But I'm only taking half a tablet do 0.5mg. My mission is to get stable on Prozac for now. I might ask my gp about a psychiatrist referral and your experience are they better than psychologists ( I'm a psych graduate so u think I would know)

I guess the difference is that psychiatrists have more knowledge of medication which might be more suitable for you at the moment.
Hope things stabilise a bit more over next few days. I wont have access to internet whole time but will come back to check how you are doing.
Just hang on to fact that it will improve. Just horrible until you get to that stage.

Thanks kizzie I really appreciate all of your help and advice x and madmouse please reconsider leaving x

Hope things ok today.
Re getting advice on withdrawal from gps, psychiatrists etc ive found it a real mixed bag.
Some have absolutely no idea - goodness knows how considerng the amount of publicity there has been!
But others have been helpful - you just have to keep trying till you find someone who understands.

As long as I take a lorazapam in the morning I'm ok. As its the weekend tomorrow and dh will be here for the kids I'm going to see how I am without it x

Diazepam? Just for a break from the insanity, it's not a long term thing but worked wonders for me.

I'm on lorazapam which is 5 times stronger than diazipam. I've just totally lost my confidence. Before I started mucking around with my medication I was fine and confident to do almost anything. Now I feel scared and withdrawn