General Chat

hi nyneve you still get your low days with them and pmt but not as bad 20mg is ususally the rda they can increase them but they kike you to wait a few months for it to take real affect they say agout six months for full affect lorraine xx

The main reason i have always said no to my docs has been after watching other mums struggle without them after being on them for pnd. Most of the time i feel fine but there is the odd occassion when every thing is on top of me and all the health team involved keep pushing prozac at me. should i give them a go or just keep on coping. thanks for putting up this thread

IM on fluoxetine but till I read some of your replies I didnt realise they are prozac lol! Dx

If you need them they are very useful. BUT remember there are loads of different ones available, so if the one you are on doesn't agree with you get your doc to review them and try something else. I recently had a few months course of paroxetine following some very stressful events at work(I'm a nurse) and home, they worked fine for me and I would use them again if I needed too. There's no stigma attached these days, and anyone who scoffs or thinks you are weak for needing help is extremely narrow minded and old fashioned , that's my personal opinion! A lot of good people are prevented from getting appropriate and good treatment, for various things, because of the 'good advice' or narrow-minded opinions of those around them!! Sorry, about the rant, but I feel very strongly about this issue! Carol

Thanks for replies! I've taken citalopram for 3 weeks now and havent had any side effects I felt they were taking the edge of me worrying and feeling low but feel worse again now am in my PMS stage of the month. Does the doc sometimes increase the doseage? I have many friends on them. I'm not afraid of taking them but more afraid of them not working. My husband tried lots but always gave up as they wrecked sex life. My Dad has had mental health issues all his life and tried prozac and seroxat which never worked but since being on venlafaxine for past 18 months at 73 hes the most happy and content hes ever been bless him. I too have had PND and dont think I ever really recovered from it. Now with Graeme in Iraq and difficulties with kids, money etc its compounded it all. But you people are so lovely. Love to hear more experiences! Carolxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

From personal experience - never again - but thats personal dont let that stop you in your journey to become well. From reading the literature etc these ideas may help you:- Exercise - daily if possible even if its just a walk to the bottom of the road today.Increases the feel good factor. Get outside - 1/2 hr of exposure to outside daylight a minimum - more in winter if possible. Eat - fruit - bananas increase serotonin levels - veg etc and oily fish for omega 3 - some books say omega 3, 6xtablets per day but thats up to the individual. Give up - fags and caffeine & alcohol (noooooo!) as increase anxiety levels and fags deplete goodies from your bod. Get a hobby - GRU!!!! or look after a pet or grow something that you need to nurture - its good for the soul. Look after your relationships - sometimes hard but if possible build a supportive network of people around you let & them know how you feel. Feeling low is part of the human condition NOT a failing there are lots and lots of people who will appreciate you opening up as it means that they can too and your burdens can both be eased. Be kind to yourself today is today tomorrow will be a different day so forget that until tomorrow and be good to yourself today - you are worth it!!! And NEVER underestimate yourself - you have lots to offer - even just a smile to a stranger. That stranger may take your smile as a gift and have a good day because of it. Good Luck :0))))))))))))) - a smile for you!! Jenx ps if you do take them let your nearest & dearest know how you feel so that they can help and support you. Oh and make sure that your gp refers you to a counsellor - i know the lists are long but get on that list.

Last year, I found Prozac pretty useless sweets, but then had Citalopram and they were perfect..... I just used them for a short while (2 months) and felt HUMAN again..... was actually thinking of asking docs for some now!!

Some years ago I took Seroxat for about 6 months. Apart from restless legs I didn't feel they were doing ANYTHING at all. I also had about 6 months of Prozac, and the effect was very worrying. By nature I am a very fussy, pernicketty sort of person (part of the problem LOL) and they made me feel totally careLESS - to the point where I started thinking I could do something stupid without worrying about the consequences. Like speeding - don't bother, its only a few points on your licence, ...never mind having an accident... This coincided with my doing my finals at Uni (mature student) and I remember thinking that it wasn't worthwhile flogging my guts out to get a First Class degree, which was definitely possible up till then. OK it helped the depression but I felt I wasn't ME any more, and when I was thinking more rationally I reckoned this total lack of concern about anything & everything was just not acceptable. I do still suffer from depression but I would never have Prozac again no matter how bad I get. I have had cognitive therapy and in the medium-long term that helps much more than drugs.

I was offered these and beta blockers by my doctor, instead I opted for the herbal St. John's Wort-I find them good-I have been told you can become dependant on them, but rather be dependant on a herbal concotion then the real thing.

I was on Fluoxetine (Prozac) one a day It took about 2 weeks to kick in and the affect was subtle. I felt no different but more in control,and worried far less, I was also able to sit back and put things into perspective. When I felt the time was right, with the doctors blessing, I withdrew from them over a month. (Taking them every other day for a week, then every few days etc.) I had no withdrawal symptoms Many people are afraid that they will be addicted to the antidepressants because older types did this. Truth is many times are not addictive and fairly easy to come off. I see no point in riding through things at the stage where your mental health is deteriorating. Especially if you have young children or a family Elaine x

i take citalopram for pain management and depression i have a much better quality of life on them than off people should never feel they are weak by taking them a lot of the time depression is caused through a chemical inbalance i take 8 lots of medication and hate doing it because im young it makes me better and im alive so im gratefull x

I am taking Citalopram whichi s fairly new. It is like Prozac (fluoxetine) in that it is a seretonin ('happy' hormone) re-uptaker inhibitor. it stops the brain from reabsorbing any of the hormone that is released, enabling you to feel better for longer! I found that for a couple of weeks I had some side effects which are perfectly normal if a little annoying. Mainly crawly skin and hot flushes. After a couple of weeks, these effects lessened and by four weeks I was really starting to notice that I was feeling more positive. I also have panick attacks which is another thing that this drug is used for and I noticed after a few days that I felt less edgy. I would say that adnit-depressants are very useful as a boost. I felt that I was in a fog and didn't know where to go. The AD's helped lift me above the fog. I was still in it, but at least I could see where I was going. It gives you the boost you need to help yourself. Don't be afraid to take them if your doctor thinks that they will help. You will not get addicted to them these days. There is not the stigma attached to depression that there once was. I work in a chemist and 1 in four of the population are on them at some point in their lives. Cognitive behaviour therapy is proven to work really well alongside AD's too. I feel much more in control of my panic attacks these days, and really have a more positive attitude which I am sure is due to a combination of the drugs and CBT. Claire xx

There are lots of different types of anti-depressants, some specific for the type of depression, some more general. I took some YEARS ago - can't remember what they were but they helped short-term. I was prescribed Seroxat about 8 years ago but I found they made me feel like a zombie (not good, not bad, just nothing) and I hated it - only took them for a few months. Luckily have not needed medication since.

When anyone ever says diazapan to me, I always think or marzipan.

i was on lophepramine. they were brilliant. i took them alongside,half inderal(beta blockers) and diazepam. i still take diazepam occasionally when i have a panic attack. susie

They have given me a quality of life that I wouldn't have had without them. I have an excellent GP, and he tried several different ones before hitting on the one that was best for me. I've got ME so depression is a symptom (borne more out of frustration at my limitations though) and my medication also helps with the disrupted sleep pattern. I think taking them - or not - is very much down to the individual and whether or not you trust your GP. Mandy :)

I was prescribed prozac 10 yrs ago after the death of my mum, and I'd just had my first child, 2 days after mum died. I remember looking at the packet and thought, I don't need theses, I have to get through this myself and be strong, I have a baby daughter to care for. So I chucked em in the bin. catherine xx

Im on Fluoxetine but think my Doctor will try to wean me off them soon Davex

What kind has he given you? I found Prozac completly useless, and now I am on Venlafaxine.

been offered them all the time by doc for pnd but dont fancy it so i too would be interested in other peeps experiences of them lorraine