Posted by Angela5 on June 15, 2000, at 17:33:35
I was on Prozac for 4 years, taking 60 mg/day for the last year. Around Jan. of this year, it seemed to not be working as well (this had happened before and the dosage had been increased, which had helped), but my main complaints were lack of focus and concentration to such a degree that I felt like I couldn't perform job functions because they were too frustrating, and stopped going to work. This feeling wasn't new, but was coming out again after being in a (another)new job for about 3 months.
I began to see a new doctor (I relocated for this job), and he first tried augmenting Prozac with Neurontin, since he thought it may be atypical bipolar as opposed to ADD. This caused some weird side effects, especially with my eyes/vision, so it was stopped quickly.
I then went off Prozac gradually, going to Serzone, eventually up to 450 mg/day with 10 mg/day of Ritalin. I began crying over all kinds of things, and felt like I could only experience calmness and sadness. I only wanted to sleep and my body ached.
I gradually went off serzone, continuing the Ritalin, since it had seemed to help focus a little, although I still couldn't work on any type of reliable basis. My doctor then wanted me to try Celexa, which I did. However, in just the few days that I took it, it seemed to worsen a tightness in my chest that I have been experiencing since a few days after going off the Serzone (but continuing the Ritalin). My crying spells have continued, and I went back on short term disability at work, since I can't be there without extreme anxiety and bursting into tears (only slightly worse than when on Serzone).
I haven't taken anything for a couple days, and now my doctor wants me to try Effexor, since it is known to help improve symptoms in just a few days as opposed to weeks, but the side effects look scary, and I am of course wary of continually trying this stuff, although I guess there is no other choice.
I almost want to go back on Prozac, since at least I didn't feel nearly this bad and non-functional, even if I did still have the inattentional problems, anxiety, and irritability. My doctor thinks there is probably a better drug out there for me, but I don't know how to go on feeling this way and trying things from this state.
I don't know what I'm asking here. I'm not sure if I'm confused about trying to go back on Prozac vs. trying Effexor, or if I'm looking for other options (which I know I can only get from my doctor), or maybe I'm just looking for support? Thanks to anyone who can respond. I don't really know anyone where I live, so I don't really have anyone to talk to about this.
poster:Angela5
thread:37438
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000610/msgs/37438.html