I have been taking prozac now for 1 week, 3 days. If you have taken prozac for anxiety or ocd, please help!?

Question

So, as I said, I have been taking prozac for a little over a week. This is the second time, but the first time I was switched from one to prozac so I didn't get off track, but I quit cold-turkey a year ago and now I am starting back up.

Especially in the mornings I wake up with a pounding heart which persists all day. I know I am having constant anxiety, but since I uped the dose three days ago to 20MG I've been feeling very jittery, like I am about to jump outta my skin!

For people who've taken this, does this go away? Is this normal? How long until I start to CALM down instead of get the jitters? I am also taking lorazepam but have been taking it for 5 years as needed, and I feel like its not working as well anymore.

I feel literally like running around and jumping out of my skin and it doens't feel good. My doctor told me that sometimes you feel worse when you start a medication before it feels better. Have you experienced that?

Please let me know. I feel tweaked out. I can't relax enough to sleep!

Thank you.

Answer 1

I am glad to hear that you are keeping in close contact with your doc.  So many people don't.  

You're on Prozac for a short time.  Your system is adjusting to it.  So what your doc says may very well be true.  Anger is also a symptom of depression.    

If you continue to feel the same way however and see no improvement, then I'd tell the doc that the Prozac is not working properly.

There are so many antidepressants out there.  There's one that will work for you.  You just have to hang in there and try them.    

Answer 2

I have taken lorazepam and it worked. I also took prozac about 5 years ago; quit because I didn't want to become addicted.  What has worked for me along with a small (5mg) amount of medication(lorazepam) is therapy and applying the relaxation techniques.  Try reading Feeling Good The Mood Therapy by David D. Burns, M.D. You should also purchase the workbook that accompanies the book. This helped me, I hope it helps you.  Good luck.