[doxology]

hello again...

[I need to know the correct way to wean oneself off of an SSRI...'cause I think I've had enough. And please don't tell me to talk to my doctor, 'cause he doesn't know sh_t...he just writes scripts when it comes to this stuff]:

I'm writing this in the middle of the night, 'cause I can't sleep. For the third day in a row, I'm having a really strange reaction to Prozac.

At night, I have the uncontrollable urge to move my legs around...I have difficulty getting to sleep as a result, I think. It's like I feel restless in the mid section of my body. I sweat somewhat; & toss & turn (& twitch my legs). Around 4 am, I guess I just pass out from exhaustion.

During the day, I'm feeling like I have no hope again, like I'm returning to my same old state of depression...like I don't have any creative impetus or enthusiasm for anything joyful. I'm annoyed & quick to anger.

Some of you may remember that I had a few early side effects from this stuff, but they we're of the normal variety & they went away. I seemed to level off...I began to feel better...then went into a state of limbo, where I just felt blah & flat & emotionless. Then last week, all week, I felt better; & I thought, well...it's finally working. Now this, after 4 weeks.

I'm told it takes 4 to 8 weeks to feel the full effect of Prozac...so I'm hoping this ain't it. But I really don't know if I'm a candidate for anti-depressants at this point...or if this is another SIDE EFFECT that will go away.

BUT...I do know that I do not like feeling like this...so something's gotta change.

My doctor won't know what to do...it's true that I originally told him what my depression symptoms were; & that he recommended Prozac. But he also told me to go on the internet & research what the best kind of anti-depressant would be, for me, and he would change my script accordingly if need be...so this guy is clueless. My pharmacist told me 20 mg. daily was a normal dose.

Sure hope someone can give me some good advice...thanks,

dox

[eskielover]

Dox,

what you are experiencing is called 'Restless Leg Syndrom'. You can google it on the internet & learn a lot more about it as there are many sites that talk about it.

I also have been on meds that seem to cause it & when I stop & get the med out of my system, the restless leg feeling goes away. Much of the restless leg issues can be a lack of iron in your system also. Don't know if the Prozac helps you any & you might add an iron suppliment to see if that can counter the effect.

I googled "Prozac Restless leg' & it sounds like there are many people who seem to experience the restless leg syndrome in relation to their taking of Prozac. I don't know but for me, if the prozac really doesn't seem to be helping any with your mood, I doubt that I would want to start taking something else just to stop the leg issue.

I hate it when I take one med & it causes another problem that causes me to take another med to deal with that.....it just keeps on going which is why so many people in their older age end up on sometimes over a dozen prescriptions a day just to manage the side effects caused by another med which ended up being causes by another entirely different med......then sometimes when the original med is stopped, soo the other meds are forgotten about why they were being taken & one keeps taken them even though the original med may not even be taken any more.....ugh......I have had too many problems with meds, so I am not one that is in favor of them unless they are really making a difference in the quality of life.....that is my determining point....only if my quality of life is being improved will I continue taking a med.

Prozac , then the following Wellbutrin for me caused excessive weight loss & anorexia.....a whole other issue all together

[pgrundy]

Did your GP prescribe the Prozac?

The reason I ask is that I've been coping with Recurrent Major Depressive Disorder and PTSD for years. Twice I have tried to save money by going to a GP for my meds, and both times the GP prescribed the wrong med and I got very sick very fast.

I've learned the hard way that I can't be treated successfully by a GP and that I have to stay on meds and they have to be the right meds. I have to be monitored by a competent psychiatrist if I want to stay well. That's just the way it is for me, no different than if I had diabetes or any other chronic physical illness. I can't just wish my illness away or decide that I don't *believe* in medication and that I'm going to cope with my depression/panic by exercising or taking herbs or whatever--I mean exercise is good, but the right meds, for me, are crucial.

If you've never had a medication evaluation by a good psychiatrist, you might want to try that. It can make a huge difference.

PS--the last time I tried to cut corners by going to a GP was January 2nd of this year. The GP prescribed Prozac and I had SUCH a bad reaction to it that I ended up first in the ER, and then in a psychiatric hospital for a week. My reaction was similar to yours but very intense--back to back panic, no sleep, mania. (Google 'serontin syndrome'.) It felt absolutely horrible and scared me terribly, so again finding the right medication (or combination of medications) is crucial.

Good luck!

[Carole07]

My husband took Prozac about 16 years ago. He had terrible side effects from the drug. So he decided to just quit taking it. He had terrible withdrawal symptoms, including increased anxiety, paranoia, irrational thinking, and insomnia. I do not suggest weaning yourself off this drug until you talk to a professional. If your doctor is telling you to go to the internet to possibly find the right antidepressant, then you need to find another doctor asap. I wish you the best.

Sincerely,
Carole

[mgran]

Prozac gave me restless legs, electric shocks in my head, and turned me majorly manic. In fact, if I hadn't had a devoted husband at the time I would have ended up in the mental last time I was on this stuff... I can't even remember how it ended... I just got so high it got dangerous.

I'm not sure prozac is good for you if you have bipolar type disorders.

[Jerrypharmstudent]

Originally Posted by pgrundy

Did your GP prescribe the Prozac?

The reason I ask is that I've been coping with Recurrent Major Depressive Disorder and PTSD for years. Twice I have tried to save money by going to a GP for my meds, and both times the GP prescribed the wrong med and I got very sick very fast.

I've learned the hard way that I can't be treated successfully by a GP and that I have to stay on meds and they have to be the right meds. I have to be monitored by a competent psychiatrist if I want to stay well. That's just the way it is for me, no different than if I had diabetes or any other chronic physical illness. I can't just wish my illness away or decide that I don't *believe* in medication and that I'm going to cope with my depression/panic by exercising or taking herbs or whatever--I mean exercise is good, but the right meds, for me, are crucial.

If you've never had a medication evaluation by a good psychiatrist, you might want to try that. It can make a huge difference.

PS--the last time I tried to cut corners by going to a GP was January 2nd of this year. The GP prescribed Prozac and I had SUCH a bad reaction to it that I ended up first in the ER, and then in a psychiatric hospital for a week. My reaction was similar to yours but very intense--back to back panic, no sleep, mania. (Google 'serontin syndrome'.) It felt absolutely horrible and scared me terribly, so again finding the right medication (or combination of medications) is crucial.

Good luck!

Hello!

Just wanted to fix your definition of having Serotonin Syndrome: This occurs when there is a sudden, large increase in serotonin being released in the brain. It's usually caused by taking two SSRIs together, SSRI + MAOI (which is never a good idea) or taking OTC cough suppressants (with dextromethorphan) with an SSRI. Symptoms include fever, violent/uncontrollable whole body shaking and sweating profusely (your body is trying to cool itself down). If SS is not treated ASAP, you could end up with kidney failure and even death. Treatment for SS includes Cyproheptadine, an anti-H1 histamine and anti-serotonin antagonist and IV Ativan and a night or two in intensive care monitoring your kidney function.

Sound like your reaction to Prozac was acute hypomania, not really Serotonin Syndrome.

I believe what Dox was experiencing was Extrapyramidal symptoms (also known as EPS) are a set of side effects that are common with antipsychotic medications, as well as with a few other types of medications like Prozac - however it's very rare to experience this with an SSRI.

Extrapyramidal symptoms are usually divided into different categories. Dyskinesias are movement disorders, while dystonias are muscle tension disorders. "Tardive" symptoms are those that appear during long-term treatment (often after several years).

Night sweats are common with many of the SSRIs as is insomnia and restlessness.

Hope this helps!

Jerry