NationStates Jolt Archive

Right. Recently, I've been given a 1 month prescription to an antidepressant, prozac. However, since beginning to take it, I've noticed that I can't hold my hands entirely still, my legs tend to shake a lot more, particularly when descending stairs, I've had a complete loss of appetite that I'm finding it difficult to eat through, and sometimes I find it a little bit more difficult to breathe, like I'm choking. I've not noticed any positive effects yet, but apparently they only begin to be noticeable in the third week, and I've only been taking these for a week and a half.

Is this to be expected? Or is there some kind of problem here? Because I don't know.

Right. Recently, I've been given a 1 month prescription to an antidepressant, prozac. However, since beginning to take it, I've noticed that I can't hold my hands entirely still, my legs tend to shake a lot more, particularly when descending stairs, I've had a complete loss of appetite that I'm finding it difficult to eat through, and sometimes I find it a little bit more difficult to breathe, like I'm choking. I've not noticed any positive effects yet, but apparently they only begin to be noticeable in the third week, and I've only been taking these for a week and a half.

Is this to be expected? Or is there some kind of problem here? Because I don't know.
Umm, you should probably talk about that with your psychiatrist. I don't think those are normal symptoms, really, but I'm not sure.

Lemme check...
http://www.crazymeds.org/ is a good website, and it has a forum too.

http://www.crazymeds.org/prozac.html
It doesn't list shaking or difficulty breathing as symptoms to be expected.

thanks, Neo.

hrmm.... maybe it's just me then. I knew I was highly strung recently, didn't think it was that bad though. Since they didn't come up anywhere in those symptoms, and some fairly strange negative reactions were recorded, it doesn't seem to be it. Damn...

EDIT: wait... I'm a moron.... It does say that, after some more careful scanning of information on the packaging, that it can in fact make the depression worse for the first few weeks, which might be causing all my current reactions to it to be amplified to an extent that I can notice them. Maybe, maybe not.

I know Prozac can supress your appetite and it can make you very nervous, perhaps that's what the shaking is. Other than that talk to your shrink.Some side effects with anti-depressants are temporary. Good luck. :)

Prozac (Fluoxetine hydrochloride) causes some major changes in your bodies chemical make-up, and the side effects you listed* are normal. I would strongly suggest that even though the side effects you are experiencing are common you should really talk to your doctor so he/she can figure out the correct dosage for you since it sounds like you're having somewhat of a reaction to the medication.

*Tremors, weakness, loss of appetite and shortness of breath are all side effects related to taking Prozac, but they are still cause for concern.

Anti-dpressants = bad.

Well, I think. My bf had some anti-depressants/anxiety pills for a while and he came damn close to slashing his wrists...

I see, Aerou. at the moment, I'm on what appears to be the smallest dose. 20mg/day, I don't know whether the pills come in smaller doses, but that's just one pill per day. I certainly intend to bring it up, though.

I'd bring it up with my psychologist, but I don't have one for another 6 weeks...

@Dakini. I'd heard very mixed things about anti-depressants, but I was feeling pretty damn terrible, and was fairly willing to take what the doctor gave.

I see, Aerou. at the moment, I'm on what appears to be the smallest dose. 20mg/day, I don't know whether the pills come in smaller doses, but that's just one pill per day. I certainly intend to bring it up, though.

I'd bring it up with my psychologist, but I don't have one for another 6 weeks...

@Dakini. I'd heard very mixed things about anti-depressants, but I was feeling pretty damn terrible, and was fairly willing to take what the doctor gave.

You really shouldn't wait 6 weeks, I would call your doctor and at least alert them to the side effects.

You can actually have it reduced to a 15 mg dose, which might help you in the long run. The less you are able to take the better, since it is hard on your liver (especially in daily doses). Fluoxetine from a single dose of Prozac normally stays in the body for 2 days (its half-life is 2 days), as you take more of it it accumulates and begins to take longer to take effect, and it becomes harder for the liver to break down, so your side effects could subside after a week or so, or they might continue to a lesser extent. Your best bet is to call your doctor.

As with any medication its going to take your body time to adjust, but you don't want to do more damage then you have to. :)

*hugs*

Right. Recently, I've been given a 1 month prescription to an antidepressant, prozac. However, since beginning to take it, I've noticed that I can't hold my hands entirely still, my legs tend to shake a lot more, particularly when descending stairs, I've had a complete loss of appetite that I'm finding it difficult to eat through, and sometimes I find it a little bit more difficult to breathe, like I'm choking. I've not noticed any positive effects yet, but apparently they only begin to be noticeable in the third week, and I've only been taking these for a week and a half.

Is this to be expected? Or is there some kind of problem here? Because I don't know.
I was on Zoloft for a few years, and now my legs shake a lot. Hell, they're shakin' right now! Nothing wrong with my hands or breathing though. Ask the doctor that prescribed the drug.

Anti-dpressants = bad.

Well, I think. My bf had some anti-depressants/anxiety pills for a while and he came damn close to slashing his wrists...

Depends on the person. My wife has to take anti depressants (Clomipramine) as she has a seratonin deficiency. Without it her life would be hell, With it she is like you or me. Don't judge too quickly.

Well, common side effects include anxiety, restlessness, trembling, and weakness. I didn't know it could be an appetite suppressant or induce that feeling of breathlessness, which I'm familiar with, however.

I was put on anti-depressants once, stopped taking them. And to me it sounds like you should to, but I'm no expert

Well, the shaking is possibly related to the utter loss of appetite through the fact that you aren't eating. Your blood sugar is proabably pretty fucking low. I'd talk to the psychiatrist pretty damn soon.

I was put on anti-depressants once, stopped taking them. And to me it sounds like you should to, but I'm no expert

Do not just stop taking anti-depressants without your doctor's supervision. (No offense, I_Hate_Cows.)

Anti-depressants like Prozac take time to build-up in your system before they are effective. Stopping suddenly can cause withdrawl effects that are dangerous.

On the other hand, I would echo the many wise voices here that have told you to consult your doctor immediately, Jordaxia. Your side-effects sound very serious and only your doctor can best respond.

Different anti-depressants have different formula, so you may be able to switch to another anti-depressant that works for you with much less side-effects.

(And if you do not get good help, get a different doctor/psychiatrist. Not all are equal.)

Well, the shaking is possibly related to the utter loss of appetite through the fact that you aren't eating. Your blood sugar is proabably pretty fucking low. I'd talk to the psychiatrist pretty damn soon.
No, it's not that bad. You can tell when you're blood sugar is low. Not a reason to get off them soon unless the psychiatrist is overly concerned. I am slightly anorexic (which literally means lack of hunger, I literally give jack shit about my appearence), so I have experience witht this.

Do not just stop taking anti-depressants without your doctor's supervision. (No offense, I_Hate_Cows.)

Anti-depressants like Prozac take time to build-up in your system before they are effective. Stopping suddenly can cause withdrawl effects that are dangerous.

On the other hand, I would echo the many wise voices here that have told you to consult your doctor immediately, Jordaxia. Your side-effects sound very serious and only your doctor can best respond.

Different anti-depressants have different formula, so you may be able to switch to another anti-depressant that works for you with much less side-effects.

(And if you do not get good help, get a different doctor/psychiatrist. Not all are equal.)

I only took like 5 of them, when I remembered