Help my anxiety!?

[Anthony Wong]

Hey this is my first post.

Basically I have anxiety that has come and gone (for the last 2 years), but most recently I am very jittery in throughout the day, cannot focus, heart races, I become sweaty (greater sensation in the classroom). I have pretty much felt uncomfortable for the last 2-3 weeks with no real reason apart from the stress of studying. I must note that I do not suffer from depression (I don't think), however I get frustrated that I find it hard to overcome this mental problem.

I saw the doctor and he prescribed me fluoxetine (prozac), however I have not started taking it. I talked to a lady at the pharmacy and I decided to try St John's Wort (Brand: GO healthy stress & well being, hypercium 4000mg one a day formula). I have been on SJW for just over two weeks now and I am tempted to try the prescribed medication.

My questions are: from your knowledge does SJW actually help with anxiety/panic attacks? It said so on the bottle, however after a quick google search I do not find much information. If that is a yes, how long does it take for noticeable effects? Should i discontinue the SJW and try the fluoxetine instead? If so, should i wait a certain amount of time for SJW to leave my system?

Any other information would be valuable thanks :)

[Siegfried]

Hello Anthony!

The herb you're taking is actually the precursor to Prozac, Paxil, and all the other drugs in this category (SSRI). People tend to go for herbs because they think they're natural, less toxic, etc. I do not think this to be particularly wise...

But let me answer your questions directly: the herb takes time to work: I'd say 3-4 weeks until you start noticing any effects, even longer for the fully-fledged therapeutic effects to kick in; ditto for Prozac. It probably helps with anxiety, but studies are scant, and if it does I'd say it helps with mild to moderate cases. Do you want to share with us your reluctance to take Prozac? I remember when I was given Paxil... I put off taking it for weeks, so you'll find a sympathetic listener. ;-)

Now, you cannot take them both simultaneously. Since St. John's wort has a half-life of just over one day, I'd give it 4-5 days after stopping until starting with Prozac. Just to err on the side of safety, really.

Thank you for sharing this with us, I am looking forward to your answer.

Cheers.

[Anthony Wong]

Okay thanks for the response. I did not know it was the precursor to prozac. Well let's say I do not know much about herbs/medicine. I chose to start with an over the counter product rather than go straight into the prescribed medication because I guess I was a little scared. Since I do not suffer from depression I thought that maybe I could be lead onto having depression, I am not sure. I thought that St. John's wort was a healthier mild alternative at the time, so I decided to give it a go. This decision was supported by the lady I was being served by at the pharmacy.

I appreciate your informative comments. Since I have been on St. John's wort for almost 2 and a half weeks should I continue for another week, or should I start using Prozac? I guess that is probably up to me, but I am unsure.

[Siegfried]

I understand that! Many people (myself frequently included) tend to go for the natural because its supposedly less toxic. But remember: the venom of a black spider is "natural"...

Yep, it's up to you. But I can help you by breaking the problem into its constituent parts (ill try to be unbiased):

St. John's wort: couple of weeks more until you're likely to feel any better. The possibility that you will not feel better is not negligible since the herb is not proven to be very effective in combatting severe forms of anxiety. Still, it is an herb that is very frequently prescribed in Europe for young people suffering from mild depression (anxiety I do not know). Also, in case you eventually decide to stop taking the herb, you must give an extra 5 days before starting with Prozac.

Prozac: it will take 3-4 weeks until you notice any improvements. It is unlikely that you will not feel them: it's a powerful, effective drug. There is the possibility of side effects during the first weeks of taking it, but these are usually mild, and disappear with the continuation of treatment. Once you start taking it, there is no simple going back. You will need to taper it off over a period of time under medical supervision. Many people have taken fluoxetine during the past 20 years, so its pharmacological properties are very well studied and known. It is a safe drug.

I hope I have helped!!! Keep us posted!

[alankay]

I like prozac and recommend starting at 10 mg for a 2 -3 weeks the going to 20 mg and holding there. I have been on it since 1992 with a few trials of zoloft, celexa and lexapro but prefer prozac. For ME..it has no side effects at 20 mg and helps with anxiety/social anxiety/panic. It makes time to work like all ssri's so give it a long, fair trial. Plus it's dirt cheap in generic. ALankay.