Panic Attacks Support Group

A panic attack is a period of intense fear or discomfort, typically with an abrupt onset and usually lasting no more than thirty minutes. Symptoms include trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation, and sensations of choking or smothering. Panic attacks can be very sudden, appear to be unprovoked, and are often...

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Anxiety Disorders
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Prozac/Lexapro Advice

kristawolford
kristawolford
Hey Everyone so I was on 30mg of Lexapro for quite a bit. Didn't feel it working from time to time but was able to get on a plane be somewhat independent, have good phases and bad phases. Mostly around my period it is the worst. I was very numb though and felt like I have been on it too long, and for the dosage I was at was still having quite a bit of anxiety. My dr switched me to Prozac because I didn't like how I was feeling. Upped it to 40 6 weeks ago and felt good until 2.5 weeks ago. Right before my period I had severe panic and every day this week have been having anxiety, to the point where I couldn't even drive. I like the Prozac because I have more energy but is this a sign it isn't working or too stimulating?!! I am so frustrated! What scares me is that when I was this anxious on Lexpro I wasn't scared of certain things I am now. My fianc says im doing better on the Prozac and sees a positive change but right now I am in a terrible funk Is this just a bad phase? !! Help!
serenity141
serenity141
i have been on lexapro for a short time, prozac for many years and now i am taking sertaline.. it is generic for zoloft. i found my anxiety to be very debilitating at times while taking prozac and when i expressed concern to my doctor, i told him alot was going on, job stress, having to break up w my bf because he is an alcoholic and moving in with my 87 year old grandma cause i had no where else to go.so i felt like me being hella stressed was appropriate for my life drama at the time.. but he asked "is it debilitating" and i said yes, he told me that zoloft is more for anxiety prevention and wanted to try that instead of prozac.. my prozac dose had been 40mg and my zoloft started at 50 then moved to 100mg (seems like alot but it isnt) im doing much better and have soo much anxiety relief.. i still get anxious, but i can recognize it and usually stay in control, and if i cant i know to remove myself from the sinario that is adding to my stress where as before i would almost say i was paralyzed by my anxiety.. so anxious i couldnt decide anything at all
now i am reinventing my life and myself. i am starting to remember who i am and who i can be
I hope my experience helps with your situation, with anxiety depression its all about finding the right med for you.. its worth searching for
scorox70
scorox70
Hi KristaWolford,

I can only speak for my personal experience,but anytime my doc upped my meds or changed them I always felt "off" for a period of around 2 weeks. My anxiety is also WAY worse around my monthly cycle. It's incredible the role hormones play in anxiety, specifically because we get certain symptoms and that can make us panic sometimes. I would also try alternatives to medication to see if that helps any. Deep breathing, therapy, visualization/concentration techniques. It won't stop the panic attacks but it will help you through them. Also telling yourself that you're just having a panic attack and it will pass. The more panic attacks you survive, and note to yourself that you survive them, the less scarey they become and the less scared of having them you are. You can do this! Good luck!