Prozac?

[dreamrawalwz]

I was written a script today for prozac. I wanted one (if i do take it) with the least amount of interaction/side affects. Everyone in the group and doctors, friends, etc. want me to have it. They want me to feel better. I do too. I'll fill the script, but I cannot bring myself to put the stupid pill in my mouth. I don't know what the fear is. I would need people there, support, and I'd be crying my eyes out with fear. Who knows why. Has anyone taken prozac? At least for a short while? They want me to stop the seasonal depression (on top of this) before it starts. Any opinions?

[catdeveer]

Hey, Dream.

I took Prozac once, back in 91 or so for about 6 months. I was a lot happier and my mother saw a huge improvement and was very pleased for me.

However, I went off of it because I didn't feel, well, real. It was more like it was a mask of the depression and not a solution to the underlying problem. The underlying problem was still lurking inside me somewhere and I knew it was there, but not close enough to any of where I was living to be dealt with. I don't know if that makes any sense, but there you have it.

blessings and good luck,

cat

[dreamrawalwz]

Hey, Dream.

I took Prozac once, back in 91 or so for about 6 months. I was a lot happier and my mother saw a huge improvement and was very pleased for me.

However, I went off of it because I didn't feel, well, real. It was more like it was a mask of the depression and not a solution to the underlying problem. The underlying problem was still lurking inside me somewhere and I knew it was there, but not close enough to any of where I was living to be dealt with. I don't know if that makes any sense, but there you have it.

blessings and good luck,

cat

Yea, that's part of my thinking. My depression is biological, but there are many other situational/personal things that trigger it. I can't just go on meds and say "that's it! I'm fine!" beacuse the issues will still be there. I don't know if I can put the damn pill in my body (pardon my language!)

[SuziS]

My husband took it for a couple years after his brain injury. At first for about 6 months it worked well, but then he kept having to up the dosage and toward the end of the time he was taking it he became suicidal. He went off it cold turkey after that. he still struggles with depression, but diet has helped him ALOT.

[Vegan Princess]

I took an antidepressant to help me stop the urges in my eating disorder (bulimia). It helped to take away the cravings while I worked on the mental aspect of healing and understanding what was behind it. Once I was able to stop binging (and purging) for some time, I began decreasing the dose. I am down to 1/4 of my peak dosage - which I attribute to raw as well in keeping me from feeling the need to purge. But I do not think I would have been able to stop completely without the help of the meds. Ultimately, I do not want to be on them and am close to being completely off. However I definitely feel that using them as a tool to stop destructive behaviors can outweigh the negatives of putting a drug in your body sometimes. Perhaps they will drastically help with your recovery. I noticed you mentioned in another thread that you are beginning intensive out patient treatment. You might consider going on them with the ultimate goal of healing and then weaning off. Just my thoughts. I wish you the best and I'm sending you many big hugs!!

Cindy

[dreamrawalwz]

I took an antidepressant to help me stop the urges in my eating disorder (bulimia). It helped to take away the cravings while I worked on the mental aspect of healing and understanding what was behind it. Once I was able to stop binging (and purging) for some time, I began decreasing the dose. I am down to 1/4 of my peak dosage - which I attribute to raw as well in keeping me from feeling the need to purge. But I do not think I would have been able to stop completely without the help of the meds. Ultimately, I do not want to be on them and am close to being completely off. However I definitely feel that using them as a tool to stop destructive behaviors can outweigh the negatives of putting a drug in your body sometimes. Perhaps they will drastically help with your recovery. I noticed you mentioned in another thread that you are beginning intensive out patient treatment. You might consider going on them with the ultimate goal of healing and then weaning off. Just my thoughts. I wish you the best and I'm sending you many big hugs!!

Cindy

Thank you for that perspective. I won't have to be on them forever and I guess if it helps the ED then I can work on the true issues once that coping mechanism is gone. The prozac will help with depression, ED, OCD, anxiety, etc. that I have so maybe it's for the best? At least for the moment? I don't know why I'm having such an issue with this!

[luckitri]

http://www.doitnow.org/pages/185.html

Perhaps in the back of your mind you remember hearing news accounts of problems with Prozac when you were younger and not as conscious of the news?

That said, I hope that you take it and get some relief. However I also hope that you monitor yourself carefully and/or have people around you that you can trust to keep an eye out for you. I know you are a purist at heart but survival is important.

[catdeveer]

Yea, that's part of my thinking. My depression is biological, but there are many other situational/personal things that trigger it. I can't just go on meds and say "that's it! I'm fine!" beacuse the issues will still be there. I don't know if I can put the damn pill in my body (pardon my language!)

mine is biological, too, and i continue to struggle with it, even now.

however, having said that, there are nutritional supplements that i've taken that make a huge difference in my general outlook while still allowing me to confront issues head on as they rear "their ugly head".

if you like, e-mail me privately and i can give you a list of what i've taken and why. catdeveer@yahoo.com

blessings,

cat

[dreamrawalwz]

well, i got the prescription filled. I was nervous. I can't make myself take one yet. Something (inner voice?) is telling me not to...screaming not to. That something is wrong.

[justinesmith]

Hey Dream ~ I've been on Prozac, Wellbutrin, Paxil, Zoloft and one other that I can't remember. Finding the right pill and dosage was difficult for me as my body is so very sensitive. I had different side effects with all that I took. Prozac made me shake like I had Parkinson's but that was the one that worked the best. While I definately felt better, I also knew that this pill was no "cure" and unless I wanted to be medicated (and it does feel like medication) the rest of my life, I better figure something else out. I had to up the dose a few times because the effects wore off rather quickly. That being said, it got me through some really bad spots. I don't look forward to that detox when it comes (meaning all those old meds) because it will be a bear. As you well know, being raw means cleaning the internal house but the meds did help at the time. Good luck and follow your heart ~ you know the answer to your question better than any of us. Take care and I'll be thinkin' of you. :)

[dreamrawalwz]

Hey Dream ~ I've been on Prozac, Wellbutrin, Paxil, Zoloft and one other that I can't remember. Finding the right pill and dosage was difficult for me as my body is so very sensitive. I had different side effects with all that I took. Prozac made me shake like I had Parkinson's but that was the one that worked the best. While I definately felt better, I also knew that this pill was no "cure" and unless I wanted to be medicated (and it does feel like medication) the rest of my life, I better figure something else out. I had to up the dose a few times because the effects wore off rather quickly. That being said, it got me through some really bad spots. I don't look forward to that detox when it comes (meaning all those old meds) because it will be a bear. As you well know, being raw means cleaning the internal house but the meds did help at the time. Good luck and follow your heart ~ you know the answer to your question better than any of us. Take care and I'll be thinkin' of you. :)

Thanks. I'm once again feel sheer terror when I imagine myself taking this. I'd rather not be vegan and try the natural approach with gelatin capsules. It is absolutely a gut feeling and intuition and something screaming at me not to do it. You know those feelings. "Women's intuition" or "mothers' intuition" type of thing. I looked at a few of the inactive ingredients and blue # 3 (? to which number it's called) is just one of them. That was when a line was drawn once again to if i will take it. It was only $3 so it's not much of a waste if I don't take it. AHhh, i just feel like everyone is against me and that the therapists won't want to continue much further with treatment f I'm not stable emotionally.

[luckitri]

Dream, do you think you would be going through this intuition for any Rx or just this one? People have been permanently damaged by these Rx's so I say follow your intuition. Just wondering if you have truly exhausted all natural options. Working in a HFS I think you might have better access to that info than I. Depression is often a symptom of vitamin - mineral deficiencies and getting our doctors to test us for deficiencies is a bear. They have caught 2 major ones for me in the last 7 months but I don't even know how comprehensive the testing was. The first doc told me that I should feel better after the Vitamin D Rx. I only felt slightly better. That was not his cue to check for further deficiencies and it should have been.

[meancat]

Hi Dream--

Have been going through this for the last 6 years--have taken many different anti-depressants and have to say that they have helped me through some tough times. however, I do not want to have to take them forever! Its just something I can not surrender myself to--I agree with alot of these posts--once they get you over your hump--you can more effectively find and work on underlying problems. Don't get me wrong--some people truley need them for real disorders for the rest of their life but I think we know in our heart if we are one of them.

Dream --just take a step back and think about it a little longer if you need to,
sometimes things like this overwhelm us and we just need some space to clarify things. Even if you decide to take them for awhile, you can always wean yourself off down the road.

Good luck and I truley understand your anxiety
meancat

[luckitri]

Dream I have been pretty stressed being sick all this time and financially challenged so I got depressed in a bad way. They put me on some stupid Rx cocktail of theirs and I quit it all since in a short time it seemed that it was making me more depressed - my mood has stabilized since off it. Yesterday the Psych doc told me that I was really lucky I didn't have major seizures - so yeah, it was not the one you have but it can be dangerous.

Personally I have been wondering about tryptophan and if bean sprouts contain it or do we need the mature bean to get it. Do you have access to this info in your store?

"Depression and some mental disorders are the consequence of brain tryptophan imbalance. Prozac used in some mental disorders, particularly in depression, is a drug that stops the enzymes that break down serotonin, a byproduct of tryptophan. When more sertonin is present, all nerves function normally. However, Prozac cannot replace the indispensable role of tryptophan itself. One has to work at replenishing body reserves of tryptophan through a balanced diet and regular water intake."

From "Your Body's Many Cries for Water" by Dr Batmanghelidj

[justinesmith]

It is absolutely a gut feeling and intuition and something screaming at me not to do it. You know those feelings. "Women's intuition" or "mothers' intuition" type of thing. I looked at a few of the inactive ingredients and blue # 3 (? to which number it's called) is just one of them. That was when a line was drawn once again to if i will take it. It was only $3 so it's not much of a waste if I don't take it. AHhh, i just feel like everyone is against me and that the therapists won't want to continue much further with treatment f I'm not stable emotionally.

I've never regretted listening to my "gut". That voice is there for a reason. I don't think they can force you to medicate... or can they? I really don't know. Do you have anyone that will support you?? I'm worried and I want you to be O.k. ~ you really do need to do what is right for you. I just read a book by Sylvia Brown that was so interesting and it was about our "life charts", how they are written by us before we are born into this world and essentially how life is actually school and we are here to learn very specific things. It just makes so much sense to me... I don't know if that interests you at all but it might be worth a read. It has really helped me put things into perspective (my depression, alcoholism, abuse) and I don't feel so "out there alone" anymore. I actually feel like I have something to contribute and learn from it all instead of feeling sad and "why me" or "I must have deserved this". Well, feels like I'm starting to ramble... sorry if this all sounds wacky but hey thats me I guess. :D Take care Dream and let us know how ya do ~ K? ;)

[dreamrawalwz]

They psych. wants me on depakote because I get manic (when that happens I just have racing thoughts, can't sleep, and i'm VERY productive....i'm not "crazy") so that will bring me down, the prozac will bring me up so I'm in the middle. Then add xanax for anxiety. The depakote "we will work up to 6 a day." NO WAY. I'd rather be how I am than drugged up. I did voice my concern and partially why today (not wtih the psych) so that felt a little better. Two others in the program feel the same way. They're on meds, but they don't like this psych. and feel he's pushing pills.

No, I have not tried all natrual methods. I havn't tried any. I'm just a little worried because someone here said I should figure out which transmitter I'm low in, but I have no way of doing that right now. I'm kind of stuck!

[crystalmoon]

Hi Dream I'm in the uk & also suffer from seasonal affective disorder, eating disorder & am a recovering addict/alcoholic & child abuse victim with post traumatic stress disorder. I took prozac for 6 months the first time & it worked ok I suppose in that i was able to get through most winter days without having to stay in bed but I started shop lifting & got in a whole heap of trouble i didnt need!!! Got no idea why, seems it was a side affect of neurotransmitters being out of whack & inhibitions being removed. I came off the meds but then suffered from terrible rebound depression...doctors dont tell us but prozac use often leads to worse depression in the long run (I ended up seriously suicidal). I was put back on the prozac & this time i have been on it for a year & have got myself into £7,000 worth of debt cos i didnt care if I went bankrupt & ended up homeless!!!!! Prozac seems to mess with my impulse control in a wierd way, I experience mega highs & buys lots of stuff i dont even like let alone need & dont care about the consequences. Its like I go into total self destruct. Its like prozac gives me bipolar symptoms or something. I've also gained 4 stone in weight (about 56 lbs). I have come off meds again even though winter is nearly upon England & this is supposedly the worst time for me to stop prozac. I cant stand to be on it anymore. I hate the unreal way it makes me act & the way it gives me new problems while not allowing me to deal with the old ones. I have more problems now than I started with!!! I'm going to try st johns wort, 5htp & a light box to get through this winter while I change to high or 100% raw food lifestyle. My intuition had always told me not to go on prescription meds even when i was using illegal drugs & my intuition was right! I wish i had listened to it. All my years of active addiction didnt cause me as much debt as 1 year of prozac.
Hope you find the right path for you. take good care of yourself. hugs to you

[britaniefaith]

I loved prozac but I had to go off of it because it gave me insomnia and heartburn sooo bad. I also had major headaches from it but besides that it helped me depression a TON. now i'm on paxil and I feel its not doing much for me at all.

[dreamrawalwz]

Hi Dream I'm in the uk & also suffer from seasonal affective disorder, eating disorder & am a recovering addict/alcoholic & child abuse victim with post traumatic stress disorder. I took prozac for 6 months the first time & it worked ok I suppose in that i was able to get through most winter days without having to stay in bed but I started shop lifting & got in a whole heap of trouble i didnt need!!! Got no idea why, seems it was a side affect of neurotransmitters being out of whack & inhibitions being removed. I came off the meds but then suffered from terrible rebound depression...doctors dont tell us but prozac use often leads to worse depression in the long run (I ended up seriously suicidal). I was put back on the prozac & this time i have been on it for a year & have got myself into £7,000 worth of debt cos i didnt care if I went bankrupt & ended up homeless!!!!! Prozac seems to mess with my impulse control in a wierd way, I experience mega highs & buys lots of stuff i dont even like let alone need & dont care about the consequences. Its like I go into total self destruct. Its like prozac gives me bipolar symptoms or something. I've also gained 4 stone in weight (about 56 lbs). I have come off meds again even though winter is nearly upon England & this is supposedly the worst time for me to stop prozac. I cant stand to be on it anymore. I hate the unreal way it makes me act & the way it gives me new problems while not allowing me to deal with the old ones. I have more problems now than I started with!!! I'm going to try st johns wort, 5htp & a light box to get through this winter while I change to high or 100% raw food lifestyle. My intuition had always told me not to go on prescription meds even when i was using illegal drugs & my intuition was right! I wish i had listened to it. All my years of active addiction didnt cause me as much debt as 1 year of prozac.
Hope you find the right path for you. take good care of yourself. hugs to you

My psych. was saying if you're bi-polar tha antidepressants can make you manic. That's why he wanted to add in the other meds for me too. Maybe you could ask that to your doctor? It doesn't seem like it's working for you. I'd either titrate down (with the doc. help) and either try another one or see what hapens without it. I'm not a doctor though, but it's just a thought.

[luckitri]

Depakote can cause seizures - especially if you quit it cold turkey.

It also causes osteomalacia - soft bones. You need to take care of your bones now because you appear to be a petite Caucasian female and that is a high risk category right there, for osteoporosis. (It starts in your 20's and 30's).

[cherries]

Ok, I haven't tried any of these, I just found them in a search:

Chinese Herbal Prozac: Depression and Traditional Chinese Medicine
http://www.acupuncture.com/herbs/herbprozac.htm
In clinical setting we frequently see patients who are taking antidepressants like Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Effexor, and Wellbutrin. Chinese herbs like Albizzia may be an alternative to psychiatric drugs.

I did a search and Albizzia can be obtained for less than $10, I might get some of this "herb of happiness" for myself:
http://shopping.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0oGkxkTbP5GzQoBxU9XNyoA?cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&p=Albizzia&fr2=tab-web&fr=

These people will do phone consultations and have a book about using homeopathy instead of Prozac:
http://www.healthyhomeopathy.com/pr_default.htm

Here is a homeopathy symptoms checker. I guess you would check "mind" on the first page but I didn't see anything about depression on the second page. Anyway I hope this helps!
http://abchomeopathy.com/go.php