[pgrundy]

I had a bad reaction to Prozac last month and was surprised to learn that this is not uncommon. What happened was, after about ten days on it, I started getting panic attacks, hyperactivity, and extreme anxiety. It kept ratcheting up like when a car's accelerator pedal gets stuck and I ended up in the hospital. It was an indescribably bad feeling--like being super-wound and super-suicidal at the same time.

Why does this happen? I read in another thread that it does not necessarily mean you are bipolar. I was diagnosed with recurring major depression and PTSD in 2003 and weaned off my meds when I lost my job (and insurance) in 2008.

I see my shrink tomorrow morning for a post-hospital meds evaluation and adjustment if necessary. I want to be sure he understands what actually happened in case it makes a difference.

Does anyone know why this negative reaction to SSRIs happens sometimes?

Thanks in advance for any info or advice.

[Rohag]

Hello, Pgrundy! No, I don't know why this happens beyond speculating that once you start playing with brain chemistry lots of things can happen.

Here are two searches:

• "SSRI-induced mania"
• "SSRI-induced hypomania"

[turquoisesea]

Well you've come the closest to describing my experience with fluoxetine. I didn't end up in the hospital but maybe I should have been if there wasn't someone to watch me, because I had panic attacks all day long

It does not mean you are bipolar. It just means the medications are not compatible with your specific brain chemistry. Medications for depression are a gamble, because they are still working on them. Those meds work GREAT for a certain number of people, and like this for you and me, and I'm sure many others. I know it's frustrating - keep trying if you have a good med prescriber.

I'm sorry that I don't know the specific WHY, other than the chemicals in your specific brain are different on many levels than say, mine, or random person over there. Humans, all living beings really, are very unique. We have different color hair, different... well you get the idea. So it's not surprising that we have equally different brain chemistry. =)

[ladyjrnlist]

Some meds, like Prozac, can cause these adverse reactions. You may want to try a different medication. Nice avatar, BTW.

[pgrundy]

Thanks everyone. I did see my shrink today and he described it to a tee and said it doesn't mean I'm bipolar--it's a rare side effect that can happen on any SSRI--so turquisesea, it could happen on fluoxetine too--and that the only way to fix it is to stop that med and get on a different one.

No insight as to why it happens to some people and not others, and with some meds but not others, but oh well. I guess it doesn't really matter.

Doing better now. He upped my dosage on both my current meds today.

God, sometimes you wonder, don't you? I mean it's so unpredictable. I won't go to a GP for this again. Not that GPs are bad, but you know what I mean. I didn't realize it could get this weird and distressing.

Thanks for the links rohag!

And ladyjrnlist--I like your avatar too!