Resolved question:
Hi,
I suffer from severe GAD. Going back years ago, I was on Paxil for 12 years and it worked great, except I gained a lot of weight. So I went off of it five years ago. Within the past five years I have been on Zoloft (1.5 years), Lexapro (l0 mgs) 1.5 years both worked great and then they lost their efficacy.
Then last year, I had a bad knee injury and could not get my dr, as he was away. I was on Lexapro at the time, but it lost its efficacy. I went to a nurse prac. who prescribed me Effexor XR 112 mgs (yes 75 mg tablet and 37.5 table). She said most people went into remission from it forever. Well, I was fine for 6 months and then had to have knee surgery. Six weeks after the surgery, I got my anxiety back again. Seriously, I never missed a dose of effexor xr. Well I ended up not going back to the nurse but to my regular doctor who upped the dose of effexor xr to 225 mgs. After two weeks I had to go off of Effexor, because my blood pressure skyrocketed. He tapered me off of Effexor to Prozac gradually, which was good.
Now I am off the Effexor totally (tappered off by dr. with Prosac) I have been on Prozac 20 mgs for 3 weeks and still feel horrible. I am so upset. I am just hoping the Prozac will work. I know it has nothing to do with the Effexor. I have to work, have a mortgage, etc. Do you think because I was on Effexor, being such a strong drug, that Prozac, won't work. Also, I am now getting Cog. Behavior Therapy. I am so worried that I will keep getting this. Please any information you could give me I would soooo appreciate. Thank you.
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Psychiatrist
Hello
Thanks for posting your query at DoctorSpring.com
I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.
Among the various antidepressants and anti-anxiety medicines, one of them is superior to any one. Some medicines may act well one some and may fail to act on another. The medicines are decided based on the tolerability and acceptability of side-effects. If you have already tried venlafaxine, even then fluoxetine may work for you. Even if fluoxetine doesnt work for you then there are other medicines like desvenlafaxine, mirtazapine or agomelatine which can still work for you. Resistant anxiety disorders may even benefit with kitamine infusion which is a new therapy for resistant anxiety and depression. Further you are already undergoing CBT and this is very effective for anxiety disorder but will take time. have patience and tings will be better.
Hope this helps,
In case if you have any further query, do let me know.
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy
Hi, Thank you. I cannot take SNRI as they raise my blood pressure so high. How long will it take for the Prozac to work. Would it work quicker if dr upped dose. Are there any other SSRIs that are new or may work? Thank you.
Hello
Not all SNRI raise the blood pressure. Venlafaxine is notorious for the rise in blood pressure. Still other medicines like mirtazapine and desvenlafaxine can help in reducing the anxiety without increasing the blood pressure. Further some old medications like clomipramine or imipramine can also be tried if the modern medicines are not helping you much. As of now until the new medicines start showing their effect, the symptoms can be controlled with propranolol or clonazepam as of now.
Hope this helps,
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD
How long does it take Prozac to kick in. I have been on 20 mgs for 3 weeks. Thank you
Hello
Normally the effects begin by 3-4 weeks. You may wait another one week and look for the effects.
Regards.