[Boatie McBoatface]

Hey, everyone. I'm wondering if people on here suffer from a relapse of their symptoms if they get sick with the flu. I've been on Prozac for 20 years and I've been really stable, but I got a really bad case of the flu (or at least a GI infection) and it totally !@#$ed me up. I was anxious and terrified and jittery and couldn't stop pacing. I spoke to a doctor who said that this type of GI problem (constant liquid diarrhea) prevents one's body from metabolizing the medication, so I'm wondering if I was basically suffering from cold-turkey withdrawal for the three days I was sick. I've only just started feeling like my medicated self again, and I think that's because the drug has had a chance to get reabsorbed into my body.

Has anyone else had this type of problem?

Cheers,

Boatie

[*Laurie*]

Yes. In my experience physical illness can trigger mental illness symptoms. This is especially true if I have a fever.

[Boatie McBoatface]

Thanks, Laura. I've had a hard time explaining to my friends/family that I don't need to be on mood stabilizers, that I'm just sick and exhausted.

[-jimi-]

The anxious pacing is called akathisia. It is a well known side effect both from going on some meds AND withdrawing. Akathisia is horrid. It almost does not exist outside drug treatment. It is not a mental illness in itself.

Gastric upset will indeed make drugs not absorb properly. If you have been on Prozac that long your body will scream bloody murder when it doesn't get it.

[Boatie McBoatface]

Originally Posted by -jimi-

The anxious pacing is called akathisia. It is a well known side effect both from going on some meds AND withdrawing. Akathisia is horrid. It almost does not exist outside drug treatment. It is not a mental illness in itself.

Gastric upset will indeed make drugs not absorb properly. If you have been on Prozac that long your body will scream bloody murder when it doesn't get it.

Holy cow, thanks for posting this for me. I had no idea there was a technical term for it. This is *exactly* what happens to me. And it's not a mental illness in itself. That's great to know.

How do I keep this from happening again if I get the flu? Just take more of the drug?

[-jimi-]

I don't know what type of pills you have, but some come apart really easily and can be absorbed in the mouth itself and bypass the stomach for the days one is too ill. For other types of pills I don't know if it would be OK to up the dosage. Probably best to ask doc.

[Boatie McBoatface]

Originally Posted by -jimi-

The anxious pacing is called akathisia. It is a well known side effect both from going on some meds AND withdrawing. Akathisia is horrid. It almost does not exist outside drug treatment. It is not a mental illness in itself.

Gastric upset will indeed make drugs not absorb properly. If you have been on Prozac that long your body will scream bloody murder when it doesn't get it.

This is going to change my life. Thank you so much for this information.