Prozac

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 25 Mar 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

funkpuss	25 Mar 2002
I've just started taking Prozac (Fluoxetine) What's your experience? did it help your depression? Funkpuss

fairyhedgehog	25 Mar 2002
Hi funkpuss, I haven't taken Prozac yet myself, but I've heard good things of it. I really hope it works for you :) All the best, FH

Butterfly	25 Mar 2002
As someone who has been both sides of the fence (taken it, and degree in Psych) I have real mixed feelings about it. There's no doubt it can be a big help, but only if you are taking steps in your life to fix the underlying problem. I had mild depression a while ago and i didn't have the "psychological "energy to fix my problems. The drug gave me this energy. I only took it for a week or two, by this stage I was able to solve my problems on my own. To be truthful, I felt very uncomfortable taking it. I knew my problems were to do with my life, and I knew the pills couldn't fix that. So my advice (purely from a personal standpoint) take it. But try counselling at the same time, or take active steps to change your life. Depression isn't a one size fits all kind of thing. Everyone has different reasons for experiencing it- and therefore different solutions are needed. You are the expert on you and why you are experiencing depression.

Kiama	25 Mar 2002
I agree with Butterfly. The Prozac can only mitigate the pain of depression, it can't address the real problem. That's up to you. But I know you'll do just great! You're a wonderful human being, and you deserve all the good stuff life can bring you... So, go for it! Enjoy the challenge of getting out of depression, cuz you're worth it. (Uh oh! Shampoo advert alert!) Meawhile, I reckon the Prozac won't do any harm, and its mitigation of the depression will help you cheer up and get things sorted. Good luck, and best wishes! Kiama

jade	25 Mar 2002
i think that medications can help with the symptoms but the source needs to be cleared too. i wish you all the best on your path. love jade (((hugs)))

amyel	25 Mar 2002
yep. Been there. Don't expect a quick response. It sometimes takes a few weeks to kick in. And it's not like a huge "weight of the world off your shoulders" thing - its gradual and subtle. One day I just realized I didn't feel so depressed anymore. I felt calmer and more peaceful. I felt....good.... So give it time.

Melvis	25 Mar 2002
I take Prozac off and on for panic attacks. I echo what amyel said almost to the letter. It takes a few weeks to kick in, and when it does it isn't like waking up one morning a completely new person. But once I realized that it was affecting me, I started to pay more attention to my behavior. I saw how I was able to react to situations in more positive ways. So gradually I was able to go off of it when I had built up my 'skills' at coping with things that would otherwise have overwhelmed me. Sometimes I temporarily forget all that good stuff I learned, though, and I have to take it again for a while! So, I can't really speak for taking it for depression, but that's my experience with it. Hope it was helpful! Good luck! Peace, Melvis

funkpuss	26 Mar 2002
Thanks all, It’s just My problem was my ex-boyfriend and I had split and I had to come back from France to no home, job etc.in London. I accepted that my ex was the cause of my depression because of his own problems that he was not dealing with, so I done the good thing and left him. I was getting all the medical help in France from the Dr’s and it was no delay as the NHS system over here is HELL!!!! I had Therapy which I still need but I didn’t want to go on to antidepressants because I had a bad reaction to them before which really freaked me out. But it’s mainly talking that I need as I have no friends which make it worse. But all I have to do is take one day at a time and don’t beat up on myself as I am dealing with the problem instead of living in a dream world. I really don't like taking pills but I think in this case I just need that little extra help. As you say if you don't deal with what made you depressed you will never be able to get to the root of the depression. It was all my ex- boyfriends mega problems with porn and prositutes addiction which made me feel like cr*p. As I felt that I made a big sacrifice to give up everything and move to France, only to find out all this. I knew that he was addicted to porn but I didn't know that he was as sick guy. Thank god I didn't get pregant! He is seeking help for his problem but I think he was want to go th have therapy for acceptance of what is in his mind. Thanks again and I’ll keep you posted over the next few weeks Funkpuss

Butterfly	26 Mar 2002
Way to go! No doubt pills will be a huge help, for me they gave me a feeling of solid ground, somewhere stable to put my feet. It was very subtle as the others have said. That definitely helped me to improve my life, and to recognise what was already wonderful about it. Next step, find friends. Should be so easy I know, but last year I relocated interstate and discovered it wasn't! I took yoga classes, meditation classes and most importantly took risks! It's hard, but I don't doubt you can do it! I stopped focussing on negatives and started a nightly gratitude journal (major life changing activity!) Bet if you thought about it, you could already name heaps of things you are great-full for!

New River	26 Mar 2002
sometimes the reasons for depression, manic depression, and anxiety attacks can be a chemical imbalance in the brain. these medications were developed to fix this imbalance. i think it is a gift from the goddess that some of them have been found. i think it is up to us to use them in the way they were intended for our true benefit. if they enable us to find the source of our dysfunction then they have been the miracle we needed. having the strength and courage to heal our selves at the source is a part of our journey. good luck and love to all of us! love, light and hope, New River

jade	26 Mar 2002
i don't know if this has been said yet but depression is a dis-ease. it is not a weakness, it is a dis-ease just as diabetes, and ms are dis-eases. so, it isn't that we are weak and suffering from depression.......it is that there is a chemical lack of ceratonin. i send hugs to all of us (myself included) that have suffered from this illness. in light, jade

Rhiannon	26 Mar 2002
I take a mild form of Prozac, I think it's called sarafem or something similar, to alleviate some of my PMS symptoms. I know that almost sounds silly, but when I get so out of control I want to hit people, then I need to take steps. I'm close enough to being fired without decking my boss for asking me to order him some pens! LOL But seriously. It does help. I'm a nicer person and a better Mom for it. Especially during those 2 weeks a month where I was a raving lunatic before. Good luck with your treatment! Rhiannon :) Incidentally, I did try the herbal route with St. John's Wort before finally speaking with my doctor. But I had to take that 3 times a day and it gave me heartburn! The most serious problem I've had with the Prozac is it makes me a little sleepy.

Diana	27 Mar 2002
Funkpuss: I'm so glad to hear that you're tackling your problems in a concrete way. You've taken a big step towards recovery. I don't know about Prozac, but I have had to take some similar kind of stuff in the past, and I know that without it, I would not have been able to recover. I just want to give you a big big friendship hug. When one is suffering from depression one gets the feeling that one will never be well again. But believe me, you will. Take care and enjoy planning those holidays of yours.

Silence Dogood	27 Mar 2002
I was on Prozac for about 5 months or so until the med program was phased out and I couldn't afford to buy it any longer. I just phased my self out of taking it and never told my doctor or my counsellor that I had stopped. It took about a week to kick in. I remember waking one morning and realizing there was a little buzzing going on in the back of my head. Not painful or annoying, but aware it was there. THAT was the Prozac working. It did help me get through a lot by 'taking the edge off' - not by doing anything I would call fantastic or extraordinary.

fairyhedgehog	27 Mar 2002
Hi funkpuss, You really have had a hard time and I know it isn't easy to make enough friends quickly when you suddenly need to. I'm glad you have managed to get the pills from your doctor - as you say, the NHS system can be dreadful. It sounds like you've really taken charge of your situation, which isn't an easy thing to do at all. Had you thought of asking your doctor about 'talking therapies' as well? Technically, the NHS recognises the usefulness of all talking therapies either instead of, or in addition to, medication for depression. It just seems that having someone to talk to would be a real help at the moment. Please do keep us in touch with what happens. All the very best, FH

Geenius at Wrok	27 Mar 2002
Quote: Originally posted by jade i don't know if this has been said yet but depression is a dis-ease. it is not a weakness, it is a dis-ease just as diabetes, and ms are dis-eases. so, it isn't that we are weak and suffering from depression.......it is that there is a chemical lack of ceratonin. This is the case much less often than not (the disease/chemical imbalance theory, I mean). More often, depression is simply a natural emotional response to our environment and our experiences. Let's face it, we live in a very imperfect world, and shit happens to good people all the time, and unmitigated cheerfulness in the face of it all is hardly sensible. The important thing is to be able to feel sadness without being crippled by it, to be able to cope with it productively. As a journalist, I've done some research into the medication of depression. One of the things I learned was that extensive studies have shown that the combination of antidepressant meds and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy has a dramatically higher rate of success than meds alone. A psychiatrist explained it to me this way: If you break your leg, you use a crutch to get around; when your leg heals, you throw away the crutch. Depression is the broken leg; drugs are the crutch. They help you get around, but they don't heal you. Ultimately you have to heal your spirit—deal with the underlying causes of your depression, the negative influences in your life and the ways you respond to them—and that's what cognitive-behavioral therapy accomplishes. Unfortunately, here in the United States, HMOs make it very difficult to get the needed therapy; they reward doctors for scheduling indefinite series of medication follow-ups instead. I don't know what the situation is like in the United Kingdom, but you should definitely look into what sorts of alternative resources are available to you. Off on a tangent, did you know that Winston Churchill suffered from depression his entire adult life? He nicknamed it the "Black Dog."

jade	27 Mar 2002
my doctor would disagree with you. (that depression is not a dis-ease) but i do agree that it is like a broken leg........and more is needed than just a crutch to heal it. ;) in light, jade

funkpuss	31 Mar 2002
It's been day 7 and I feel a little bit better but I know I will still have to wait a bit longer for it to kick in. Normally I think it's a 2-3 weeks. I'll be ready to party ......Well I'm ready to pary nowbut I just need to build up a social life!! Keep you posted FP

jade	31 Mar 2002
hey, you are 1/3 to 1/2 the way there!!! (((hugs))) love jade

Kiama	31 Mar 2002
I'm glad you're feeling a little better... Let's look forward to every day after this to be the same: You feeling a little better! And remember, if ever you want a shoulder to cry on, you have plenty of cyber-shoulders here! Kiama

Jimilyn	31 Mar 2002
Hi, funkpuss. I have taken Prozac before for a little over a year. It took about two weeks to kick in. I didn't notice anything dramatic, but one day I was able to look at the world a bit differently. Just like everyone said, the Prozac relieved some symptoms so that I could work on the underlying problem. The pills are not the cure, but they allowed the symptoms to take a back burner so that I could work on the problems. I eventually got off of Prozac. Later a different situation came up that caused me to have symptoms strong enough to seek relief from them once again. This time I saw a different doctor and received Paxil. Although the first month I took Paxil were quite interesting...I laughed uncontrollably at jokes and silly things I did. Life was a blast for me and those around me. But it finally evened out and things have been OK since. I am not happy about still being on the Paxil after several years, but every time I try to go off...and I do it gradually, very gradually...I have terrible panic attacks, vertigo, crying jags. The doctor says that if I can stick it out for about 4-6 weeks all of that should go away. But the withdrawal is so unpleasant and debilitating that I ask to go back on them. I can't sit around the house and do nothing but be dizzy, panic, and cry for 6 or 8 weeks. :( I didn't have that trouble at all with Prozac. The only side effects I had were headaches the first two weeks while I was waiting for it to take effect. A couple of times I didn't have the money to buy the Prozac, so I would go without for a month. No side effects coming off or going back on. The doctor said it was like Prozac was tailor made for me. So if you feel comfortable taking it for the time being so that you have some space to sort things out, I'd say go for it. I had good experiences with it. I'd prefer to not take an antidepressant...gee, I'd prefer not to be depressed. ;) But when I need the help, I'll take it. :) It was worth it to me. I wish you the best. Remember that there are all the others of us here who understand to some degree and will support you. Hugs, Jimilyn

funkpuss	01 Apr 2002
Hi all, Thanks for all your advice it's been really good to hear from you! As this forum is the only friend I have. Poor me!! No honestly I woke up in a bad mood this morning and i've been down and crying alot. I think I had a bad dream about the stituation that caused me to be depressed in the first place, but the stituation has not ended, I've just moved away from it and in a couple of weeks time I will see my ex-boyfriend again and that should confirm things for me as I don't know if I want to go back to him or not but I will never go back to him if I'm still depressed. What I need is to meet new people and party!!!!! I still havn't booked my hols which I have to do soon as I have a voucher to use. So I think I should stop beating myself up and be kind and think, feel good things are going to come. God Paxil sounds bit odd for me the first time I took anti-depressant I had the same feeling which really freaked me out, that's why I didn't even want to touch Prozac. but so far so good. Keep you posted + thanks again you STARS!!!

napaisti	01 Apr 2002
I didn't have any problems getting on or off of Paxil. Like others have been saying about Prozac, it put my symptoms on a backburner so that I could deal with the underlying problems. I haven't taken Prozac, but I think with any antidepressant, especially SSRIs, you need to give it time, and just try (and I know that's hard) to take each day as it comes. Good luck and healing thoughts to you! napaisti

funkpuss	05 Apr 2002
Hi I feel very cold and shakey is that normal? it's been 12 days and I was feeling OK before but I couldn't sleep properly last night due to noisy neighbours, could that of up set me? I feel very emotional. FP

Aerin	05 Apr 2002
My brother took Prozac for a while, after his GP prescribed it. However, it turned out that the sort of depression he has (neurotic depression) is actually made worse not better by Prozac. He only found this out when things got really bad and he was referred to a consultant who knew about these things. Once he got on the right medication, it helped him get through until he had resolved some his underlying problems. Like using a sticking plaster until a wound has healed. If you are at all worried about any side effects, then do get some medical help. This link http://www.prozac-side-effects.com/prozac-side-effects.html has a list of some, including chills as a common side effect. Take care Aerin

funkpuss	05 Apr 2002
Big thanks Aerin for the info It's just I feel very cold today and down and I know it's not me. I did take some anti-depressants years ago the same group as Prozac and it made me feel ten times worse and I told myself I will never take them again. but I just have to wait for a little for them to work. But the issues that made me depressed are still open. ie I've split up with my ex-boyfriend but we still love each other very much but we have not contacted eachother for about 2 weeks. I would like to get bak with him but we have both problems which we need to sort out on our own first, as I still feel very hurt and feel betrayed. Untill there is closer to this relationship I will feel like this but I'm just trying to get on with my life which is hard. FP

amyel	05 Apr 2002
Funkpuss, After feeling better for a bit, it can feel bad to think you might be taking a downturn or a step backwards. I do not want to pretend that everything is just fine - only you can tell, and you should continue to be under a GP's care while on Prozac - but I want to gently remind you that we humans are emotional, and we do have ups & downs. Even on Prozac you will have "good days" and "bad days". So I suggest you monitor your feelings/reactions for a few more days yet. Maybe mark them down in a journal? I hate to sound pat, but it could be stress about your neighbors, your social life, your ex - or even PMS. If you mark it down - maybe just a happy or frowny face on your wall calendar - you might be able to recognize some patterns, and this can be helpful to your GP or therapist if you request an adjustment to your dosage or even to go off the meds. Hang in there! You're doing great!

funkpuss	09 Apr 2002
Hi I know it's still early days but I do feel better in some way. I've had some side effect from the prozac like feeling very cold, shakey and I keep having bad dreams about my ex-boyfriend. But I really want to get on with my life and I will get some therapy next starting again next week. I think I would be happy just constantly talking about my problems than taking prozac to be honest but al least a feel a little better also I had a really amazing reading (which I will post ) that gave me a kick up the backside. FP

Pedeka	09 Apr 2002
((((((((((funkpuss))))))))))) I was put on prozac when my last fiancee left me at the altar. I was a complete mess. The prozac didnt solve my problems. It didn't make me magically happy. It did do a wonderful thing by taking enough of "the edge off" of my depression and anxiety that I could take the steps needed to get rid of the anxiety and depression myself. It basically kept me from falling apart at every little thing that went wrong in day to day life and kept me clear to focus on fixing the big things. It also helped to keep me from obsessing on the past. You can't move into the future if everything from the past cycles through your head like a movie. It doesnt work miracles, but it didnt change my personality or make me sleepy or hyper. I cant see someone spending their life on it, but for a few months it will help you get through the tough times. Good Luck with everything

funkpuss	10 Apr 2002
Thanks Pedeka & Amyel, It's what I call life eveyone goes through it at some stage in there life. But I only intend to stay on prozac for 1 or 2 months no longer as I feel that I can now cope with things. I remember there was a time in my life when I could cope with anythiing ie my mother dying, my bother being paralized, me having a cancer scare and the man I was with don't love me with all happened in 5 months and I coped really really well but this time it was such a blow. I think that my confidence was down in the first place and I felt lost but I'm that I am a strong person and things will get better. But everyday now I feel that I'm doing some good. As you say Prozac is not a miracle cure but it take the edge off things a bit. I know I have to do the rest of the work myself for one I need a social life! FP

Wishcrafter	15 Apr 2002
I have had to take these at least half my life. If you are truely depressed it is an actual disease like diabetese or high blood pressure. It is also possible to have it maybe only once or twice in your life,I hope this is the case with you.Please stay on the medication at least nine months,you will probably begin to feel better in about two weeks full effects in six,it may make you a little nauseous but that will go away.It is important to stay on it that long,if you stop too soon you may relapse and the more relapes you have the more chance that you deal with it the rest of your life,learned this the hard way.If you have problems later or Prozac doesn't work for you.I have finally found a somewhat natural alternative and I am a hard case,I have to be on them constantly.So this stuff really works my Sis is on it too.I am going to attemt to put a link here. Don't buy anywhere else,there is zillions of fakes and Knockoffs. http:www.realgerovital.co.uk/index.htm

funkpuss	15 Apr 2002
Wishcrafter thanks for the info but my Doctor told me to slowly off of Prozac as it’s not working but I’m not going to take anymore anti-depressants as it’s not worth changing from one to another to find out which one works for me. I had Acupunture for my migraines and depression and that worked wonders but I can’t get it on the NHS where I live now. But the thing that I needed most was therapy as in 1-2-1 + a social life as the friends that I did have was totally unreliable. I’ll also check out the website. Thanks Funky

Wishcrafter	15 Apr 2002
Well, Funkpuss I am so glad that you are feeling better!! I really do hope that you and everyone else on this board, who has ever had a problem with depression will check out this link. I posted earlier in this thread. Read, Read,Read there is so much info here. I don't know about the anti-aging effects,The improvements with certain diseases but I do know that it has worked as good if not better than any antidepressant I have ever taken,at least seven. I don't miss all the side effects from the other drugs I have had to take,it seems my body builds an immunity to each antidepressant after six months and they have to alternate them. I have been on this Gerovital (GH3) for over nine months now.....holding my breath...crossing my fingers...Praying. As to other effects,my sex drive is back and how.I have also had a slight reduction in my Blood Pressure which I take other Meds for, it being high in the beginning.I hope this will help others too. The secret is too good to keep. Sending Love to all.

funkpuss	15 Apr 2002
Oh God tell me about it!!!! It's a joke my sex drive is 0 and I don't care I don't have sex ever ( lier lier) But I was taking Nordaz just to calm me down before and I was like a dog on heat. I have to have a laugh about it as the reason why I was on anti-depressants was because I had split up with my ex-boyfriend due to his sex addiction (more of a metal thing than having sex with loads of people, male and female) Maybe I should give him a good dose or two. I know I'll be just fine in a few months time back to the mad me. All I want to do is go out and enjoy myself, clubbing etc. It will soon come. What other things helped you??? Going to the gym really helps but I can't go anymore due to money, saying that I could always go for a quick jog in the park. Good luck Funky

The Prozac thread was originally posted on 25 Mar 2002 in the Chat board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Chat, or read more archived threads.