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Does Prozac Help Cure Major Depression And Anxiety?
Question: Hello in treatment for Major Depression. I have been on Prozac for 25 years. Recently relapsed due to noncompliance with dosage. Dosage went way down, Just from a busy life style etc.Today she prescribed a low dose of zyprexa, ativan for anxiety, and 50 mgs of Prozac. I had been on 60 mgs of Prozac with 4 mgs of Ativan for the last 5 weeks. Symptoms for the depression still noted as well as a great deal of anxiety.. 5 weeks in.I'm so afraid to take this new drug Zyprexa. I would like to know if I have any cause for alarm . I'm not bipolar and I'm not schizophrenic and until today I wasn't drug resistant Depression. What was her thinking about these drugs. Will zyprexa cause any side effects. Can I take it with ativan.? I totally relapsed this last time with heavy anxiety.as a reminder of why I'm here.? Can you talk to me about zyprexa, and whether I'd be okay with these combination? I'm afraid to begin new psychiatric drugs.
Brief Answer:
Delayed response could be reason for adding new drug
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for reverting back to me.
Zyprexa is antipsychotic group of medication and have antidepressant and anti anxiety properties at low dose. In addition it acts as augmenting agent for antidepressant such as prozac.
The combination of zyprexa and prozac is well researched molecule for depression in particular bipolar depression.
There could be following possible reasons for adding zyprexa to your current regimen.
First probably she may have felt that the response is less than expected with prozac. In this condition low dose zyprexa can be added for limited time to augment the effect of prozac. Once there is complete response zyprexa can be stopped even without giving a second thought.
The second possibility is she may have noticed some signs or symptoms indicative of bipolar depression. In my opinion possibility of bipolar disorder is very low in your case as you responded in past with prozac alone for a prolonged period without any symptoms of mania or hypomania.
Regarding your questions whether it is ok to take zyprexa with prozac and ativan I like to make it clear that it is completely safe to take it.
I hope this helps you.
Feel free to ask any more doubts.
Thanks and regards
Delayed response could be reason for adding new drug
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for reverting back to me.
Zyprexa is antipsychotic group of medication and have antidepressant and anti anxiety properties at low dose. In addition it acts as augmenting agent for antidepressant such as prozac.
The combination of zyprexa and prozac is well researched molecule for depression in particular bipolar depression.
There could be following possible reasons for adding zyprexa to your current regimen.
First probably she may have felt that the response is less than expected with prozac. In this condition low dose zyprexa can be added for limited time to augment the effect of prozac. Once there is complete response zyprexa can be stopped even without giving a second thought.
The second possibility is she may have noticed some signs or symptoms indicative of bipolar depression. In my opinion possibility of bipolar disorder is very low in your case as you responded in past with prozac alone for a prolonged period without any symptoms of mania or hypomania.
Regarding your questions whether it is ok to take zyprexa with prozac and ativan I like to make it clear that it is completely safe to take it.
I hope this helps you.
Feel free to ask any more doubts.
Thanks and regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dr XXXXXXX the dose for Zyprexa Is 2.5 I was told to take it at night before sleep. I was wondering if that dose will be too sedating. I've had a bad anxiety with this depression not eating well etc. will the Zyprexa help the anxiety? So again concerned about it being too sedating, but wonder if it helps the anxiety. Also later in the day if anxiety is back I was wondering if I should physically distance the Ativan and Zyprexa. Also Dr XXXXXXX is Zyprexa safe, at that low dose. Afraid to take it!Would I end up sleeping 30 hours and unable to wake up.....read this stuff in blogs on internet.
Brief Answer:
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for follow up.
Sedation is side effect of zyprexa which may occur or not. As per available data only 60% of individuals with zyprexa report sedation and it is possible that you will have no sedation although possibility is more (60>40).
2.5 mg is the minimum possible effective dose of zyprexa and I think your psychiatrist had given a proper thought before making prescription.
As stated above it acts as mild anti anxiety medication and helps prozac in its anti anxiety properties.
No you do not need to distance ativan and zyprexa as both have different profile and do not interact with each other. Ativan acts as immediate relief while zyprexa will take time to show its effect.
For short term use Zyprexa is largely safe and I do not think you need to worry about it.
I hope this helps you.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for my future patients.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
Thanks and regards.
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for follow up.
Sedation is side effect of zyprexa which may occur or not. As per available data only 60% of individuals with zyprexa report sedation and it is possible that you will have no sedation although possibility is more (60>40).
2.5 mg is the minimum possible effective dose of zyprexa and I think your psychiatrist had given a proper thought before making prescription.
As stated above it acts as mild anti anxiety medication and helps prozac in its anti anxiety properties.
No you do not need to distance ativan and zyprexa as both have different profile and do not interact with each other. Ativan acts as immediate relief while zyprexa will take time to show its effect.
For short term use Zyprexa is largely safe and I do not think you need to worry about it.
I hope this helps you.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for my future patients.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
Thanks and regards.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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