You probably have heard about "pH Balance" before, but are still wondering what it really means. The term "pH" is a medical term that describes the balance of your system and it refers to the condition of metabolic changes. pH Balance, simply put, is the balance of acid and alkaline in all fluids and cells in the body. The scale of pH runs from 0 to 14. Zero is totally acidic and 14 totally alkaline. The middle of the scale at 7 is neutral. The pH level indicates the body's acid/alkaline balance.
People wonder why the pH balance of the body is so important to maintain. This is because if body's pH Balance is not in equilibrium, it will create an environment where diseases can attack easily. Therefore, it is critical to maintain pH Balance of the body. Now one might ask: "How to maintain the pH Balance of one's body"?
If you suspect that your pH Balance is out of order, it is important to consider a change in your lifestyle and nutrition. Optimizing your health with a pH balanced diet is the natural way to obtain healthy living for a long time. All foods have an effect on the body's acid/alkaline level. To maintain health, the diet should consist of 60% alkaline forming foods and 40% acid forming foods. However, to restore health, nutritionists suggest that 80% of one's dietary intake should be alkaline and 20% acidic.
Alkaline forming foods include most fruits, green vegetables, peas, beans, lentils, spices herbs and seasonings, seeds and nuts, almonds, apples, avocados, bananas, beans, brazil nuts, broccoli, cantaloupe and carrots and acid forming foods include meat, fish, poultry, eggs, grains, legumes, white flour, refined sugars, dairy products, peanut butter and chocolates.
Our health lies in our hands. Since most illnesses find their roots in an imbalanced body pH, it is obvious that most cures also lie in maintaining the body pH Balance. Maintaining a pH Balance of 7.4 is the answer to all our physical problems. Alkaline supplements help to eliminate acid wastes from the body and restore overall health.
Ante-Natal Depression - Depression During Pregnancy - Sent using Google Toolbar
All pregnant women should expect some mood variation in pregnancy. But for about 10% of pregnant women depression can become a significant problem with Antenatal Depression.
Symptoms of Antenatal Depression
Everyone's experience of pregnancy is different, however just as there are expected physical changes, there are also some common changes in emotion associated with each trimester, such as mood swings, anxiety, sensuality and excitement. So when should a woman be concerned that what she is experiencing falls outside these normal variation in mood?
A woman may be suffering from antenatal depression if she feels some of the following symptoms during her pregnancy:
- Inability to concentrate and difficulty remembering
- Difficulty making decisions
- Anxiety about the pregnancy or becoming parents
- Feeling emotionally numb
- Extreme irritability
- Sleep problems not related to the pregnancy
- Extreme or unending fatigue
- A desire to eat all the time or not wanting to eat at all
- Weight loss or weight gain not related to pregnancy
- Loss of interest in sex
- A sense that nothing feels enjoyable or fun any more, including the pregnancy
- Feeling like a failure, feelings of guilt
- Persistent sadness
- Thoughts of death or suicide
Assessment of Antenatal Depression
It can be very difficult for a pregnant woman to understand or talk about how she feels. This makes it more important for those who are providing her antenatal care and for her partner, friends and family to watch her and support her in seeking help. The first and most important step to managing antenatal depression is accurate assessment of the symptoms and diagnosis as early as possible. To assist this it is important to identify some of the factors that may be contributing to the depression.
Pregnancy hormones may contribute to feelings of depression. While hormonal ups and downs affect all pregnant women, some feel the swings more intensely. However many other factors can contribute to the development of depression during pregnancy. A pregnant woman may be experience some uncertainty about the pregnancy, feeling perhaps that the timing is wrong, that career or long-term goals may need to be delayed or that there might be financial problems. She may also feel uncertain about her new role as mother, fears about carrying the pregnancy, as well how she will cope with labor and delivery. She may also feel guilty about being unhappy because everyone expects her to be content and blooming.
Some of the factors that might contribute to antenatal depression include:
Family or personal history of depression. If depression runs in the woman's family, or if she has had past episodes of depression, she may be more likely to become depressed.
Relationship difficulties. If the woman and her partner or extended family are experiencing difficulties and the woman is afraid of a lack of support when her baby is born, this can have a major impact on her emotional well-being.
Stressful life events. Any major life change, such as a move to a bigger home in anticipation of the baby's arrival, divorce, or job loss, can contribute to depression.
Problems with the pregnancy. A troubled pregnancy such as one that causes severe morning sickness or concerns about the development or viability of the baby can take its emotional toll, especially if it involves high degrees of monitoring or immobility.
Infertility or previous pregnancy loss. If the woman has experienced difficulties trying to get pregnant, or have had a miscarriage in the past, she may find herself worrying about the safety of this pregnancy.
Past history of abuse. Pregnancy can trigger painful memories in women who have survived emotional, sexual, physical, or verbal abuse.
Lack of social support. All people need to feel supported by those around them, and especially when a woman is facing the changes that parenthood will bring. Social isolation can contribute to the possibility of depression.
Financial difficulties. Financial problems can significantly increase the amount of stress during pregnancy.
Treatment of Antenatal Depression
Following diagnosis it is really important for the woman to seek support and treatment for how she has been feeling as early as possible, including:
Talking about how she has been feeling with a trusted person will allow her friends and family the opportunity to be supportive. If the woman has a partner, she might need to try to communicate with him to gain his support, he can only give this if she is open with him. Talking to her doctor or antenatal carers about how she has been feeling is also important for seeking help. Once you start talking you will be surprised at how many people have had similar experiences.
Take it easy. A woman might feel that she needs to set up the nursery, clean the house, or work as much as she can before she goes on maternity leave. It might be more important for her to make some time for herself, read a book, have breakfast in bed, or go for a walk. If she already has children, arranging for family or friends to look after them can allow time to herself. Taking care of herself is an essential part of the woman taking care of her baby.
Consider therapy or counselling. If the woman has tried to work through things on her own but nothing seems to work, seeing a therapist or a counsellor may help. The woman may also benefit from antidepressants – some of which are safe for pregnant women. Talk to her doctor or midwife about this.
When the woman needs to seek help quickly: If she is suicidal or feeling disoriented and unable to handle daily life, or if she is having panic attacks, talk to her doctor or midwife immediately. Seeing a therapist or psychiatrist is not a sign of weakness. It's a sign that she is taking the steps necessary to keep herself and her baby safe and healthy.
What will happen after the baby is born?
Depression during pregnancy does not mean that a woman will have postnatal depression, however about fifty per cent of women suffering from severe depression during pregnancy go on to develop postnatal depression. Therapy during pregnancy can reduce the chances of developing postnatal depression dramatically. Putting in place a support network of family, friends, the doctor, and therapist and support groups before the birth will make the period following birth much easier.
Ante-Natal Depression - Depression During Pregnancy
All pregnant women should expect some mood variation in pregnancy. But for about 10% of pregnant women depression can become a significant problem with Antenatal Depression.
Symptoms of Antenatal Depression
Everyone's experience of pregnancy is different, however just as there are expected physical changes, there are also some common changes in emotion associated with each trimester, such as mood swings, anxiety, sensuality and excitement. So when should a woman be concerned that what she is experiencing falls outside these normal variation in mood?
A woman may be suffering from antenatal depression if she feels some of the following symptoms during her pregnancy:
It can be very difficult for a pregnant woman to understand or talk about how she feels. This makes it more important for those who are providing her antenatal care and for her partner, friends and family to watch her and support her in seeking help. The first and most important step to managing antenatal depression is accurate assessment of the symptoms and diagnosis as early as possible. To assist this it is important to identify some of the factors that may be contributing to the depression.
Pregnancy hormones may contribute to feelings of depression. While hormonal ups and downs affect all pregnant women, some feel the swings more intensely. However many other factors can contribute to the development of depression during pregnancy. A pregnant woman may be experience some uncertainty about the pregnancy, feeling perhaps that the timing is wrong, that career or long-term goals may need to be delayed or that there might be financial problems. She may also feel uncertain about her new role as mother, fears about carrying the pregnancy, as well how she will cope with labor and delivery. She may also feel guilty about being unhappy because everyone expects her to be content and blooming.
Some of the factors that might contribute to antenatal depression include:
Family or personal history of depression. If depression runs in the woman's family, or if she has had past episodes of depression, she may be more likely to become depressed.
Relationship difficulties. If the woman and her partner or extended family are experiencing difficulties and the woman is afraid of a lack of support when her baby is born, this can have a major impact on her emotional well-being.
Stressful life events. Any major life change, such as a move to a bigger home in anticipation of the baby's arrival, divorce, or job loss, can contribute to depression.
Problems with the pregnancy. A troubled pregnancy such as one that causes severe morning sickness or concerns about the development or viability of the baby can take its emotional toll, especially if it involves high degrees of monitoring or immobility.
Infertility or previous pregnancy loss. If the woman has experienced difficulties trying to get pregnant, or have had a miscarriage in the past, she may find herself worrying about the safety of this pregnancy.
Past history of abuse. Pregnancy can trigger painful memories in women who have survived emotional, sexual, physical, or verbal abuse.
Lack of social support. All people need to feel supported by those around them, and especially when a woman is facing the changes that parenthood will bring. Social isolation can contribute to the possibility of depression.
Financial difficulties. Financial problems can significantly increase the amount of stress during pregnancy.
Treatment of Antenatal Depression
Following diagnosis it is really important for the woman to seek support and treatment for how she has been feeling as early as possible, including:
Talking about how she has been feeling with a trusted person will allow her friends and family the opportunity to be supportive. If the woman has a partner, she might need to try to communicate with him to gain his support, he can only give this if she is open with him. Talking to her doctor or antenatal carers about how she has been feeling is also important for seeking help. Once you start talking you will be surprised at how many people have had similar experiences.
Take it easy. A woman might feel that she needs to set up the nursery, clean the house, or work as much as she can before she goes on maternity leave. It might be more important for her to make some time for herself, read a book, have breakfast in bed, or go for a walk. If she already has children, arranging for family or friends to look after them can allow time to herself. Taking care of herself is an essential part of the woman taking care of her baby.
Consider therapy or counselling. If the woman has tried to work through things on her own but nothing seems to work, seeing a therapist or a counsellor may help. The woman may also benefit from antidepressants – some of which are safe for pregnant women. Talk to her doctor or midwife about this.
When the woman needs to seek help quickly: If she is suicidal or feeling disoriented and unable to handle daily life, or if she is having panic attacks, talk to her doctor or midwife immediately. Seeing a therapist or psychiatrist is not a sign of weakness. It's a sign that she is taking the steps necessary to keep herself and her baby safe and healthy.
What will happen after the baby is born?
Depression during pregnancy does not mean that a woman will have postnatal depression, however about fifty per cent of women suffering from severe depression during pregnancy go on to develop postnatal depression. Therapy during pregnancy can reduce the chances of developing postnatal depression dramatically. Putting in place a support network of family, friends, the doctor, and therapist and support groups before the birth will make the period following birth much easier.
Symptoms of Antenatal Depression
Everyone's experience of pregnancy is different, however just as there are expected physical changes, there are also some common changes in emotion associated with each trimester, such as mood swings, anxiety, sensuality and excitement. So when should a woman be concerned that what she is experiencing falls outside these normal variation in mood?
A woman may be suffering from antenatal depression if she feels some of the following symptoms during her pregnancy:
- Inability to concentrate and difficulty remembering
- Difficulty making decisions
- Anxiety about the pregnancy or becoming parents
- Feeling emotionally numb
- Extreme irritability
- Sleep problems not related to the pregnancy
- Extreme or unending fatigue
- A desire to eat all the time or not wanting to eat at all
- Weight loss or weight gain not related to pregnancy
- Loss of interest in sex
- A sense that nothing feels enjoyable or fun any more, including the pregnancy
- Feeling like a failure, feelings of guilt
- Persistent sadness
- Thoughts of death or suicide
It can be very difficult for a pregnant woman to understand or talk about how she feels. This makes it more important for those who are providing her antenatal care and for her partner, friends and family to watch her and support her in seeking help. The first and most important step to managing antenatal depression is accurate assessment of the symptoms and diagnosis as early as possible. To assist this it is important to identify some of the factors that may be contributing to the depression.
Pregnancy hormones may contribute to feelings of depression. While hormonal ups and downs affect all pregnant women, some feel the swings more intensely. However many other factors can contribute to the development of depression during pregnancy. A pregnant woman may be experience some uncertainty about the pregnancy, feeling perhaps that the timing is wrong, that career or long-term goals may need to be delayed or that there might be financial problems. She may also feel uncertain about her new role as mother, fears about carrying the pregnancy, as well how she will cope with labor and delivery. She may also feel guilty about being unhappy because everyone expects her to be content and blooming.
Some of the factors that might contribute to antenatal depression include:
Family or personal history of depression. If depression runs in the woman's family, or if she has had past episodes of depression, she may be more likely to become depressed.
Relationship difficulties. If the woman and her partner or extended family are experiencing difficulties and the woman is afraid of a lack of support when her baby is born, this can have a major impact on her emotional well-being.
Stressful life events. Any major life change, such as a move to a bigger home in anticipation of the baby's arrival, divorce, or job loss, can contribute to depression.
Problems with the pregnancy. A troubled pregnancy such as one that causes severe morning sickness or concerns about the development or viability of the baby can take its emotional toll, especially if it involves high degrees of monitoring or immobility.
Infertility or previous pregnancy loss. If the woman has experienced difficulties trying to get pregnant, or have had a miscarriage in the past, she may find herself worrying about the safety of this pregnancy.
Past history of abuse. Pregnancy can trigger painful memories in women who have survived emotional, sexual, physical, or verbal abuse.
Lack of social support. All people need to feel supported by those around them, and especially when a woman is facing the changes that parenthood will bring. Social isolation can contribute to the possibility of depression.
Financial difficulties. Financial problems can significantly increase the amount of stress during pregnancy.
Treatment of Antenatal Depression
Following diagnosis it is really important for the woman to seek support and treatment for how she has been feeling as early as possible, including:
Talking about how she has been feeling with a trusted person will allow her friends and family the opportunity to be supportive. If the woman has a partner, she might need to try to communicate with him to gain his support, he can only give this if she is open with him. Talking to her doctor or antenatal carers about how she has been feeling is also important for seeking help. Once you start talking you will be surprised at how many people have had similar experiences.
Take it easy. A woman might feel that she needs to set up the nursery, clean the house, or work as much as she can before she goes on maternity leave. It might be more important for her to make some time for herself, read a book, have breakfast in bed, or go for a walk. If she already has children, arranging for family or friends to look after them can allow time to herself. Taking care of herself is an essential part of the woman taking care of her baby.
Consider therapy or counselling. If the woman has tried to work through things on her own but nothing seems to work, seeing a therapist or a counsellor may help. The woman may also benefit from antidepressants – some of which are safe for pregnant women. Talk to her doctor or midwife about this.
When the woman needs to seek help quickly: If she is suicidal or feeling disoriented and unable to handle daily life, or if she is having panic attacks, talk to her doctor or midwife immediately. Seeing a therapist or psychiatrist is not a sign of weakness. It's a sign that she is taking the steps necessary to keep herself and her baby safe and healthy.
What will happen after the baby is born?
Depression during pregnancy does not mean that a woman will have postnatal depression, however about fifty per cent of women suffering from severe depression during pregnancy go on to develop postnatal depression. Therapy during pregnancy can reduce the chances of developing postnatal depression dramatically. Putting in place a support network of family, friends, the doctor, and therapist and support groups before the birth will make the period following birth much easier.
Prozac Law Suits
A two-year-old Prozac negligence lawsuit, set for trial Tuesday, has been settled out of court by defendant Eli Lilly and Co. and the Pennsylvania plaintiffs.
The case was brought by Diane and Melvin Cassidy, of Monroeville, who in July 2000 picketed outside Lilly's corporate headquarters in Indianapolis, handing out fliers proclaiming, "Lilly, how many people are maimed or dead on your drug today?"
The Cassidys' lawsuit, filed in federal court in Pittsburgh, charged that Diane Cassidy's doctor prescribed the antidepressant Prozac to her for weight loss and that the drug caused suicidal thoughts that led her to slash her wrists and overdose on a painkiller. She suffered intracranial bleeding from the painkiller, which left her paralyzed on one side and mentally impaired, according to the lawsuit, which sought $4.84 million in tangible damages.
The Cassidys were represented by Houston trial lawyer Andy Vickery, who has negotiated settlements of several Prozac cases against Lilly.
Terms of the settlement, reached this week, were not disclosed.
The Indianapolis drug maker said in a statement that it "made a business decision to settle . . . for factors completely unrelated to the safety and efficacy of Prozac. Such factors included the extensive time demands that litigation would have placed upon our scientists, keeping them away from their primary objective of discovering lifesaving medicines. In no way was our decision to settle in any way motivated by concerns over the safety and efficacy of Prozac."
The settlement comes the same week that a fresh Prozac lawsuit was filed against Lilly, in U.S. District Court in Georgia. It raises a new charge in the more than decade long litigation over Prozac: that Lilly has failed to publicize research showing some people are "poor metabolizers of Prozac" and a test can reveal if a patient might be affected.
The Georgia product-liability and wrongful-death suit, in which Vickery is assisting the plaintiff, was brought by William H. Shell, the widower of LaVerne M. Shell. She shot herself to death at age 63 in November 2000, 11 days after starting on a prescription of Prozac to treat migraine headaches.
The lawsuit charges that a human enzyme dubbed CYP2D6 normally metabolizes or breaks down Prozac and similar drugs in the body, but fails to do so in a minority of people. In their bodies, the active ingredient in Prozac builds up to high levels, putting them at risk of violence and suicide, the lawsuit says.
"Lilly is negligent in failing to make this information public, to convey it to doctors, or otherwise to take reasonable measures to implement appropriate patient screening techniques," the lawsuit says.
Lilly spokesman Blair Austin said that company officials hadn't seen the lawsuit and couldn't comment on the new charge.
The metabolization issue is gaining currency among some activists who publicize side effects from the Prozac class of antidepressants and other drugs.
Self-employed businessman Jim Harper of Glendale, Calif., who runs a Web site called Prozactruth.com, said he hopes to soon offer a DNA test through his site that can tell if a person is a poor metabolizer of Prozac and related drugs.
"I should not have to be the one" to publicize the test, Harper said Friday. "I'd rather be doing other things on my nights and weekends." But drug companies and doctors aren't doing enough to warn users of serious side effects from antidepressants, said Harper, who noted he receives hundreds of e-mails a week from people who read his Web site.
Harper said he hopes to arrange to sell the test for about $245 through Genelex Corp. of Redmond, Wash., a direct-to-consumer DNA testing firm.
August 2004, details and pricing have finally been worked out with Genelex. One drug pathway can now be tested for $250, two pathways for $450 or all three pathways for $600. It is recommended a person receive a test for all three pathways. Many medications actually use two pathways.
The case was brought by Diane and Melvin Cassidy, of Monroeville, who in July 2000 picketed outside Lilly's corporate headquarters in Indianapolis, handing out fliers proclaiming, "Lilly, how many people are maimed or dead on your drug today?"
The Cassidys' lawsuit, filed in federal court in Pittsburgh, charged that Diane Cassidy's doctor prescribed the antidepressant Prozac to her for weight loss and that the drug caused suicidal thoughts that led her to slash her wrists and overdose on a painkiller. She suffered intracranial bleeding from the painkiller, which left her paralyzed on one side and mentally impaired, according to the lawsuit, which sought $4.84 million in tangible damages.
The Cassidys were represented by Houston trial lawyer Andy Vickery, who has negotiated settlements of several Prozac cases against Lilly.
Terms of the settlement, reached this week, were not disclosed.
The Indianapolis drug maker said in a statement that it "made a business decision to settle . . . for factors completely unrelated to the safety and efficacy of Prozac. Such factors included the extensive time demands that litigation would have placed upon our scientists, keeping them away from their primary objective of discovering lifesaving medicines. In no way was our decision to settle in any way motivated by concerns over the safety and efficacy of Prozac."
The settlement comes the same week that a fresh Prozac lawsuit was filed against Lilly, in U.S. District Court in Georgia. It raises a new charge in the more than decade long litigation over Prozac: that Lilly has failed to publicize research showing some people are "poor metabolizers of Prozac" and a test can reveal if a patient might be affected.
The Georgia product-liability and wrongful-death suit, in which Vickery is assisting the plaintiff, was brought by William H. Shell, the widower of LaVerne M. Shell. She shot herself to death at age 63 in November 2000, 11 days after starting on a prescription of Prozac to treat migraine headaches.
The lawsuit charges that a human enzyme dubbed CYP2D6 normally metabolizes or breaks down Prozac and similar drugs in the body, but fails to do so in a minority of people. In their bodies, the active ingredient in Prozac builds up to high levels, putting them at risk of violence and suicide, the lawsuit says.
"Lilly is negligent in failing to make this information public, to convey it to doctors, or otherwise to take reasonable measures to implement appropriate patient screening techniques," the lawsuit says.
Lilly spokesman Blair Austin said that company officials hadn't seen the lawsuit and couldn't comment on the new charge.
The metabolization issue is gaining currency among some activists who publicize side effects from the Prozac class of antidepressants and other drugs.
Self-employed businessman Jim Harper of Glendale, Calif., who runs a Web site called Prozactruth.com, said he hopes to soon offer a DNA test through his site that can tell if a person is a poor metabolizer of Prozac and related drugs.
"I should not have to be the one" to publicize the test, Harper said Friday. "I'd rather be doing other things on my nights and weekends." But drug companies and doctors aren't doing enough to warn users of serious side effects from antidepressants, said Harper, who noted he receives hundreds of e-mails a week from people who read his Web site.
Harper said he hopes to arrange to sell the test for about $245 through Genelex Corp. of Redmond, Wash., a direct-to-consumer DNA testing firm.
=========================
August 2004, details and pricing have finally been worked out with Genelex. One drug pathway can now be tested for $250, two pathways for $450 or all three pathways for $600. It is recommended a person receive a test for all three pathways. Many medications actually use two pathways.
Prozac Facts and Side Effects, Including Deeper Depression Leading to Suicide
By prescription only, Prozac is used to treat depression, anxiety, fatigue, pain, or even obesity. Many people have challenged that the drug causes some people to be more depressed than previously - even to the point of suicide. Although the drug manufacturer makes the claim that Prozac
is relatively safe, lawsuits abound claiming that the drug caused worse health problems than before taking it. As a matter of fact, the drug has already been taken off the market in some countries.
Introduced in the late 80's, Prozac is a Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor. It works by aiding in the sending and receiving of messages to and from the brain. Prozac assists in making more serotonin available in the system.
It's well-known that Prozac can cause nausea, insomnia, drowsiness, anxiety, tremors, sweating, decreased sex drive and even impotence. The side effects are usually mild but can become severe, in some people. But, some people have, while taking the drug, experienced suicidal thoughts, severe depression, unusual behavior, mood swings and anger outbursts.
Although some people have committed suicide while taking Prozac it has not been definitively proven that Prozac was the cause. And, considering how many people take the drug, the suicide numbers are very low.
If you are taking Prozac or you're a relative of someone who is, notify the attending physician immediately upon noticing any thoughts of suicide, hostility, aggression, agitation, panic attacks, or hyperactivity. Rarer side effects include confusion, seizures, quickening of heartbeat, and swollen glands.
Prozac cannot be taken with MAO inhibitors - doing so can prove fatal. Do not take Prozac if you have diabetes, liver disease or recent heart problems. Avoid Prozac if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.
is relatively safe, lawsuits abound claiming that the drug caused worse health problems than before taking it. As a matter of fact, the drug has already been taken off the market in some countries.
Introduced in the late 80's, Prozac is a Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor. It works by aiding in the sending and receiving of messages to and from the brain. Prozac assists in making more serotonin available in the system.
It's well-known that Prozac can cause nausea, insomnia, drowsiness, anxiety, tremors, sweating, decreased sex drive and even impotence. The side effects are usually mild but can become severe, in some people. But, some people have, while taking the drug, experienced suicidal thoughts, severe depression, unusual behavior, mood swings and anger outbursts.
Although some people have committed suicide while taking Prozac it has not been definitively proven that Prozac was the cause. And, considering how many people take the drug, the suicide numbers are very low.
If you are taking Prozac or you're a relative of someone who is, notify the attending physician immediately upon noticing any thoughts of suicide, hostility, aggression, agitation, panic attacks, or hyperactivity. Rarer side effects include confusion, seizures, quickening of heartbeat, and swollen glands.
Prozac cannot be taken with MAO inhibitors - doing so can prove fatal. Do not take Prozac if you have diabetes, liver disease or recent heart problems. Avoid Prozac if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.
Real Side Effects of SSRI's
The side effects listed below are from people that actually use or have used SSRI's.
If you are experiencing any of these side effects and have wondered if it was just you, you are not alone.
Real SSRI Side Effects.
If you are experiencing any of these side effects and have wondered if it was just you, you are not alone.
Real SSRI Side Effects.
- Mind racing and unable to control thoughts and processes of the mind.
- Panic attacks worsening.
- Hot surges running through body.
- Horrible nightmares.
- Obsessive thoughts. (Going to lose it and kill somebody)
- Just can't seem to feel any more.
- Feeling like a zombie. Absolutely emotionless.
- Physically numb. Could not even feel the water hit my body in the shower.
- Lost all taste of food.
- Severe dizziness. Felt like going to pass out or lose control.
- Sleeping with light on because of the fear.
- Feel disconnected. Really drugged out most of the time.
- Heart palpitations and tightness in the head.
- Flashes of memories and images from the past. (Uncontrollable)
- Drugs have taken personal identity away, made feel unable to function like a normal human being.
- Completely lost grip and hate to go out and be around people. Don't even feel comfortable with family.
- Feeling like it will never end.
- Feeling foggy and drugged out.
- Urge to jump out of a fast moving car.
- Feeling like I need to take life to end all of this.
- Extreme head pain.
- More depressed than before starting SSRI's.
- Not sure will ever be your old self again.
- A feeling of unreality.
- Convinced of having some rare and fatal disease.
- Hormones go completely wild during menstruation. (Never happened before SSRI usage)
- fatigue and problem in hands (predominantly left)
- which has become less tremors, more pain and slight stiffness and is
- spreading up (left) arm and into shoulder.
- Head and body seem to feel detached from each other.
- Feeling like "in Hell." Can't go to see doctor or to the hospital because I am afraid they will prescribe more medication or put me in the mental ward.
- Bleeding from the nose, heavily.
- Nausea
- Feeling like electrical current is running up and down spine
- Memory loss with apathy
- In a fog, can't concentrate
- Nipple discharge
- Loss of sex drive
- Manic/depressive episodes
- Weight gain of over 40 pounds
- (List of side effects from one individual since starting SSRI's) Mind racing, nightmares, obsessive thoughts, can't "feel" anymore, zombie, disconnected, memory flashes, hate to be around people, feeling like it will never end, foggy, urge to jump out of fast moving car, more depressed, not sure will ever be old self again, feeling of unreality, numbness in pinky and ring finger on left hand and sever chills.
- Head jerking and muscle spasms
- Numbness in genitals
- Memory loss
- Loss of sexual drive
- Swelled penis
- Sudden and excessive weight gain
- Hating people, do not want to be around people anymore
- Tremors, sudden jerky movements of muscles, extreme sensitivity to sound
- Out of control, divorced husband that was loved and now can't even explain why. Hopeless
- Suicidal
- Inner restlessness
- Can't focus, hard to read words
- Worsening of acne
- Falling asleep at random times and not even remembering it (people telling the person this is happening)
- Can hardly stand to look at anything anymore
- Severe hot flashes while asleep
- Difficult having an orgasm
- Very aggressive dreams, dream of having battles with people from past
- Severe mood changes, tremors in hands more hyperactive
- Heavy sweating and electrical shocks that seem to come from within the side of the head
- Milky discharge from nipples and very hot flashes and sweating while asleep
- Can't seeeee comptur skrenn clearrlyyyy
- Breast are getting larger, nipples harder and sticking out about 1" and swelling
- Awake several nights of the week all night and have gained 30 pounds in less than one year
- Urge to drink excessively, never had this problem before. Feel like in pure hell, manic one moment, deeply depressed the next, severe headaches, sweating, nightmares, panic and fear
- Feet stay cold and can't seem to get them warm
- Have not had sex for over one year since starting Prozac
- Need for increased dose for same symptom, depression and severe cleaning compulsion are back and already at 100 mg daily of Prozac
- I quit, doing crazy things. On the way to work stopped and got a tattoo. Hate tattoos!
- Sleepy all of the time
- Dramatic weight loss
- Manic depression, numbness of body, tremors, racing thoughts, hot flashes, hallucinations, voices and echoes
- Excessive or "fake" happiness-not able to feel "normal" sadness or cry at all
- Feeling like an incomplete person without sexual feelings
- Feel like going to stop breathing
- Cold for hours after jogging
- Extremely paranoid, feeling like someone is standing outside of the shower with a knife-ready to kill me, constantly looking over my shoulder all of the time and jumping at every noise
- Muscle and joint pains
- Strange and vivid dreams with erratic sleep patterns
- Nightmares, flashbacks, severe night sweats and feel sense of unrest
- No emotion and brain twitches
- Felt like on a come down from acid for the whole time taking SSRI, saw tracers (shadows when things were moving) could not sleep, felt suicidal and more depressed than before
- Itchy, rashes on inside of legs, knees, under arms and back, hot sweats and flushes, very depressed, being very rude and short tempered
- Severe mood swings, angry most of the time and violent
- Lost everything
- Lost job
- dizziness and low blood sugar
- Just don't care anymore
- Flash anger, verbal aggression and uncontrolled bouts of swearing
- Pain in the lower left hand side of the stomach
- Sleeping A LOT (13 hours a night)
- Self mutilation
- Cutting self
- Tongue pain at night
- Ears ring all the time since I've been on Paxil
- Total inability to have an orgasm (I am female). This never happened to me before I took Prozac
- Breathing Difficulty
- Uncontrollable bouts of anger during which I can't even talk to anyone- totally overreacting to different situations.
- Delayed sleep pattern, 1 hour later each day, turning the clock around during one year
- Craving for sugar or protein or vitamin c
- Changing my mind every minute, completely paranoid
- Completely paralyzed by not knowing what to do or where I was going or what I can do when I feel like this
- Delayed ejaculation and subtle loss of genital sensitivity--still persists 3 years after finishing medication
- Annoying dizzy spells that have intensified the longer I have been off of Paxil
- Alzheimer's Condition dramatically accelerated in my 82 year old mother immediately following Paxil
- Hot flashes and profuse sweating
- Lethargic
- After two days, woke up with left hand and arm numb, feel disconnected, headachy and anxious
- Heard noises that weren't real: electronic humming/buzzing, doorbells, and voices. Would look for source, but find nothing. Sometimes, just moving my head would make the noises change or go away.
- TONGUE FEELS LIKE IT HAS BEEN STUCK IN AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET
- Severe constipation even Metamucil is not working feeling real bloated and starting to get depressed
Recovering Prozac SIDE EFFECTS?
I know they may vary from person to person, but I was just wondering if anyone could tell me what the side effects are if you discontinue Prozac abruptly (cold turkey).
User 1
My boyfriend stopped taking Prozac on January 22, 2008, because of the sexual dysfunction side effect. Now, it's been a month not taking Prozac, and he's telling me that he's "confused" about our relationship, and he's depressed, he can't sleep, and he's a little weepy. He has NEVER acted this way before to me. He used to be cheerful and happy. Do you think this strange depressive state he's going through could be due to abruptly discontinuing Prozac?
User 2
Hey I quit prozac cold turkey about a month ago and my moods are all over the place. I was fine for a few weeks and then it hit me. I am dizzy all the time and it seems like I have a mood swing every 5 minutes. Don't take it personal, wait it out. His brain hasn't had time to recover from the shock of dropping the medication.
genetics
User 3
I know they may vary from person to person, but I was just wondering if anyone could tell me what the side effects are if you discontinue Prozac abruptly (cold turkey).
My boyfriend stopped taking Prozac on January 22, 2008, because of the sexual dysfunction side effect. Now, it's been a month not taking Prozac, and he's telling me that he's "confused" about our relationship, and he's depressed, he can't sleep, and he's a little weepy. He has NEVER acted this way before to me. He used to be cheerful and happy. Do you think this strange depressive state he's going through could be due to abruptly discontinuing Prozac?
the problem is not the withdraw, it is that he needs it to function properly! the sexual side effects might not be fun, but depression is the alternative! some people just need to be on anti depressents! until science comes up with an alternative your boyfriend should stay on his meds and work with a psyctrist M.D. to get were he needs/wants to be!in the meanwhile do not guilt him off of his prozac and or let well meaning but, mis guided family members shame him into staying off either! sadly, society treats mental illness as a mark of shame instead of a health issue which is what it is!
Jennifer
User 4
I stopped taking prozac about a month ago because I didn't get around to refilling my prescription. Over the last few weeks my mood swings have been all over the place, my anxiety has returned, I feel very flaky at times, my sex drive is next to nothing, and I think it is because I stopped taking prozac overnight. It made me a little nervous and I plan to refill the prescription to see if that will make a difference.
User 5
I was on 20mg of Prozac a day for 3 months. They sort of worked but in the end I felt really anxious and sick all the time. I started to wean myself off them by reducing dose but after a few days just gave up taking them. I know my GP would not advise this but I was tired of feeling terrible.
I have since felt fine and have been off them for a month. I have just had a chest infection, which is unrelated, but I have started to experience a dizzy feeling when I move my eyes left and right and feel the need to lie down and close them. I feel this is more than likely related to the chest infection as it started at the same time and I do suffer from sinus problems when I get colds etc.... Could it though be possibly a delayed withdrawal side effect from stopping taking Prozac. If it is how long is it likely to take before this fades away? Any advice?
User 6
Bupropin or Wellbutrin, as it is commercially known, causes far less sexual side-effects, and may even increase libido. It did for me. Tell your boyfriend to give it a try.
I hope this helps somebody out there. Please, please, if you are depressed and therapy doesn't work, take the medication, it will improve your quality of life one-hundred fold!
User 7
I have been on and off prozak for some time now. I recently decided that I was going to "quit"
It's been a bitch! I was watching the movie "The Perfect Storm" and was crying about the damn fish that they caught!
I am afraid about who I am on and off the drugs! There has been no clarity about what in the hell I am supposed to do. I have a refil due but I feel that with the holidays I want to "feel" something this year!
Prozak is a drug and therefore addictive!!!!!!
i just stopped and like some one has said above i have no sex drive and hate being touched at all i dont seem to have any emotions either !!!
User 8
I've been asking myself the same question!And experience the same feeling that u described (i feel i have to cry a lot since i withdrawn!)
So..i am of Prozac for about a month..but only recently started to feel the side effects of it..i feel these "brain zaps" (usually experienced with the withdrawal of Seroxat..).I wonder when my body will feel "normal" again.
I used SSRI'S for 11 years...i decided that i had enough of it..and honestly it really wasn't a miracle drug.
I took it for obsessive thoughts..
Well..my poor body lost his long lost friend (SSRI's) and i can understand that this might take some time to adjust living without it..
User 9
I have been on prozac for 5 months, i recently stopped taking them because i "thought" i felt better, when i would read something my eyes would be fuzzy and i couldn't understand what i was reading. Finally people someone had said to me that i was being very aggressive lately. I felt more as if i wanted to fight, or i would get mad over something so stupid. Now that i have stopped taking them i have been more messes than i was when i had been on them. I had restarted to take them, which when i get back on the i went manic. i didn't know what i was doing... i was lost...
User 10
My Daughter was on a small amount of prozak for about a year. I still found her violent, rude, and just plane mean. Since she is a very loving child it really bothered me. She has been off for about 3 weeks notice a difference but now i think she is going through withdrawls. does any one know how long before this is over, I realize everyone is different but roughly would be great.
User 11
In an effort to find out "who" I really am, I went off Prozac cold-turkey about a month ago. I had been on it since 1999 (10 years) 40 mg. a day. So far, I have felt nothing but BETTER. I feel energetic, happy and very clear headed. This approach probably won't work for everyone, but I feel like myself again, and hope I will never have to be on anti-depressants again. Good luck to everyone who takes Prozac and to everyone trying to get off it.
User 12
I have been on various antidepressants for nearly ten years...effexor was the only one that really worked for me, but for lack of a generic option and tired of spending the $130+/mo on it, I switched to generic prozac... wasn't really happy with it and fed up with taking medications at this point, I stopped when my prescription ran out. I feel so much more energetic and motivated than I have in years, so I'm trying to live with the "brain zaps" and occasional light-headed/dizzy spells. They happen at night usually, but I only feel better laying down. Have no idea how long this could last, it's been over a month and they're still going... I've heard that some medications' side effects can last up to six months or so after you quit. Just checking if this could be what I have to look forward to, but I can't find any definitive answers; I will just continue to suffer through it ;)
User 13
Gaby, I stopped taking Prozac a few months ago (3), after taking it for 3yrs. Lately I cry at the drop of a hat, feel lost, vague, waves of isolation. I never felt that before. It occurred to me all this emotionalism may be from stopping the Prozac. I took on this morning, and a bit later felt like myself.
I see a taper-off is in order. I began Prozac for OCD, not depression. I regret having begun it at all, and will respect the 'withdrawal' syndrome.
User 14
During my last stay in the you-know-where, the doctor took me of Prozac cold turkey, after I've been on it non-stop since 1990! I haven't had the electrical shocks and insomnia I did with stopping Paxil, but I am so depressed I feel numb. The only medications that weren't taken away or changed were my Klonopin and Topamax (the latter used mostly to prevent migraines). I hope I feel better soon, because this frickin' Abilify makes me so groggy during the day I've had to give up driving!
User 15
I have been on Fluoxetine for the last couple of years (dosing every two weeks out of the month) for PMS. It is clearly causing weight gain in my stomach. I have the same diet and work out 6 days a week.
If I discontine using the meds, will the weight gain go away in time?
User 1
My boyfriend stopped taking Prozac on January 22, 2008, because of the sexual dysfunction side effect. Now, it's been a month not taking Prozac, and he's telling me that he's "confused" about our relationship, and he's depressed, he can't sleep, and he's a little weepy. He has NEVER acted this way before to me. He used to be cheerful and happy. Do you think this strange depressive state he's going through could be due to abruptly discontinuing Prozac?
User 2
Hey I quit prozac cold turkey about a month ago and my moods are all over the place. I was fine for a few weeks and then it hit me. I am dizzy all the time and it seems like I have a mood swing every 5 minutes. Don't take it personal, wait it out. His brain hasn't had time to recover from the shock of dropping the medication.
genetics
User 3
I know they may vary from person to person, but I was just wondering if anyone could tell me what the side effects are if you discontinue Prozac abruptly (cold turkey).
My boyfriend stopped taking Prozac on January 22, 2008, because of the sexual dysfunction side effect. Now, it's been a month not taking Prozac, and he's telling me that he's "confused" about our relationship, and he's depressed, he can't sleep, and he's a little weepy. He has NEVER acted this way before to me. He used to be cheerful and happy. Do you think this strange depressive state he's going through could be due to abruptly discontinuing Prozac?
the problem is not the withdraw, it is that he needs it to function properly! the sexual side effects might not be fun, but depression is the alternative! some people just need to be on anti depressents! until science comes up with an alternative your boyfriend should stay on his meds and work with a psyctrist M.D. to get were he needs/wants to be!in the meanwhile do not guilt him off of his prozac and or let well meaning but, mis guided family members shame him into staying off either! sadly, society treats mental illness as a mark of shame instead of a health issue which is what it is!
Jennifer
User 4
I stopped taking prozac about a month ago because I didn't get around to refilling my prescription. Over the last few weeks my mood swings have been all over the place, my anxiety has returned, I feel very flaky at times, my sex drive is next to nothing, and I think it is because I stopped taking prozac overnight. It made me a little nervous and I plan to refill the prescription to see if that will make a difference.
User 5
I was on 20mg of Prozac a day for 3 months. They sort of worked but in the end I felt really anxious and sick all the time. I started to wean myself off them by reducing dose but after a few days just gave up taking them. I know my GP would not advise this but I was tired of feeling terrible.
I have since felt fine and have been off them for a month. I have just had a chest infection, which is unrelated, but I have started to experience a dizzy feeling when I move my eyes left and right and feel the need to lie down and close them. I feel this is more than likely related to the chest infection as it started at the same time and I do suffer from sinus problems when I get colds etc.... Could it though be possibly a delayed withdrawal side effect from stopping taking Prozac. If it is how long is it likely to take before this fades away? Any advice?
User 6
Bupropin or Wellbutrin, as it is commercially known, causes far less sexual side-effects, and may even increase libido. It did for me. Tell your boyfriend to give it a try.
I hope this helps somebody out there. Please, please, if you are depressed and therapy doesn't work, take the medication, it will improve your quality of life one-hundred fold!
User 7
I have been on and off prozak for some time now. I recently decided that I was going to "quit"
It's been a bitch! I was watching the movie "The Perfect Storm" and was crying about the damn fish that they caught!
I am afraid about who I am on and off the drugs! There has been no clarity about what in the hell I am supposed to do. I have a refil due but I feel that with the holidays I want to "feel" something this year!
Prozak is a drug and therefore addictive!!!!!!
i just stopped and like some one has said above i have no sex drive and hate being touched at all i dont seem to have any emotions either !!!
User 8
I've been asking myself the same question!And experience the same feeling that u described (i feel i have to cry a lot since i withdrawn!)
So..i am of Prozac for about a month..but only recently started to feel the side effects of it..i feel these "brain zaps" (usually experienced with the withdrawal of Seroxat..).I wonder when my body will feel "normal" again.
I used SSRI'S for 11 years...i decided that i had enough of it..and honestly it really wasn't a miracle drug.
I took it for obsessive thoughts..
Well..my poor body lost his long lost friend (SSRI's) and i can understand that this might take some time to adjust living without it..
User 9
I have been on prozac for 5 months, i recently stopped taking them because i "thought" i felt better, when i would read something my eyes would be fuzzy and i couldn't understand what i was reading. Finally people someone had said to me that i was being very aggressive lately. I felt more as if i wanted to fight, or i would get mad over something so stupid. Now that i have stopped taking them i have been more messes than i was when i had been on them. I had restarted to take them, which when i get back on the i went manic. i didn't know what i was doing... i was lost...
User 10
My Daughter was on a small amount of prozak for about a year. I still found her violent, rude, and just plane mean. Since she is a very loving child it really bothered me. She has been off for about 3 weeks notice a difference but now i think she is going through withdrawls. does any one know how long before this is over, I realize everyone is different but roughly would be great.
User 11
In an effort to find out "who" I really am, I went off Prozac cold-turkey about a month ago. I had been on it since 1999 (10 years) 40 mg. a day. So far, I have felt nothing but BETTER. I feel energetic, happy and very clear headed. This approach probably won't work for everyone, but I feel like myself again, and hope I will never have to be on anti-depressants again. Good luck to everyone who takes Prozac and to everyone trying to get off it.
User 12
I have been on various antidepressants for nearly ten years...effexor was the only one that really worked for me, but for lack of a generic option and tired of spending the $130+/mo on it, I switched to generic prozac... wasn't really happy with it and fed up with taking medications at this point, I stopped when my prescription ran out. I feel so much more energetic and motivated than I have in years, so I'm trying to live with the "brain zaps" and occasional light-headed/dizzy spells. They happen at night usually, but I only feel better laying down. Have no idea how long this could last, it's been over a month and they're still going... I've heard that some medications' side effects can last up to six months or so after you quit. Just checking if this could be what I have to look forward to, but I can't find any definitive answers; I will just continue to suffer through it ;)
User 13
Gaby, I stopped taking Prozac a few months ago (3), after taking it for 3yrs. Lately I cry at the drop of a hat, feel lost, vague, waves of isolation. I never felt that before. It occurred to me all this emotionalism may be from stopping the Prozac. I took on this morning, and a bit later felt like myself.
I see a taper-off is in order. I began Prozac for OCD, not depression. I regret having begun it at all, and will respect the 'withdrawal' syndrome.
User 14
During my last stay in the you-know-where, the doctor took me of Prozac cold turkey, after I've been on it non-stop since 1990! I haven't had the electrical shocks and insomnia I did with stopping Paxil, but I am so depressed I feel numb. The only medications that weren't taken away or changed were my Klonopin and Topamax (the latter used mostly to prevent migraines). I hope I feel better soon, because this frickin' Abilify makes me so groggy during the day I've had to give up driving!
User 15
I have been on Fluoxetine for the last couple of years (dosing every two weeks out of the month) for PMS. It is clearly causing weight gain in my stomach. I have the same diet and work out 6 days a week.
If I discontine using the meds, will the weight gain go away in time?
What people say about Prozac (Fluoxetine)
Prozac review by 17 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 80mg taken trice a day for the period of 3 years
Benefits: I felt better mood, optimism towards life in general, greater control of portion sizes. My recovery from anorexia was not easy, so I had a few months of moderate bulimia. It was then that my dosage grew bigger: 3 pills of 20 mg per day, though some days I would have 4 pills.
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Prozac review by 19 year old female patient
Comments: Took for several months, told my doctor it was NOT making a difference so she doubled the dose to 40 mg. I couldn't stand the thought of putting more chemicals in my body if they weren't doing anything so I never filled the doubled prescription and focused on counseling, which made a difference.
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Prozac review by 20 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 20mg taken daily for the period of four months
Benefits: Less depressed, I could consintrate on daily life better. I was happier, less anxious, stopped worrying so much.
Side effects: I felt manic at times, surreal. I was thirsty a lot, and forgot to eat.
Comments: I was suppose to take 20mg daily for treatment of depression, it helped my depression but i often felt manic and 'not myself'
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Prozac review by 21 year old male patient
Treatment Info
Condition / reason: Depression, A.D.D., Mood Instability
Dosage & duration: 20 mg. capsule taken once a day, in the morning for the period of three weeks
Other conditions: Possible diagnosis of Oppositional Defiant / Conduct Disorder
Other drugs taken: Dextro/Amphetamine XR 20 mg. , Dextro/Amphetamine IR 10 mg., Starterra 25 mg, Trazadone 50 mg.
Benefits: +Easier to get up and get going in the morning. +Increased self esteem. +Increased confidence. +Some mood stabilization. +Significant decrease in skin-picking. +Increased overall energy. +Reduction in feelings of guilt and avoidance. +Enhanced social capacity: less inhibited, more likely to engage in conversation, more interested in others, less sensitive to surroundings, more open and increased assertiveness.
Side effects: +Night-time energy surge. +Reduction in taste sensitivity / food interest. +Late morning / early afternoon fatigue. +Occasional headaches. +Less organized thoughts / less aware of "details". +Hand tremors. +A.D.D. actually made WORSE.
Comments: I am a recovering alcohol and drug user, and have A.D.D. and severe Depression, as well as possible undiagnosed Oppositional Defiant Disorder. I was taking Imipramine 100 mg. before bed and 20 mg. XR in the morning and 10 mg. in the afternoon before a hospitalization. I was switched to Prozac from the Imipramine, and given Trazadone to help sleep. I am also on an upward increase in dose of Strattera, because my A.D.D. has gotten very bad on the Prozac and off the Imipramine, but have a better mood and increased social ability.
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Prozac review by 27 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 20mg a day taken once daily for the period of 6 months
Other conditions: anxiety, big appetite
Other drugs taken: birth control pills
Benefits: Having had severe TPM symptoms for many years, I asked my doctor for Fluoxetine. The benefits were a total feeling of "well-being". Without the extreme "high" feeling of anfetamines (taken before as part of a supervised diet regimen). High decrease on anxiety. Appetite more controled. Clearness of my thoughts. Decrease on crisis of depression (specially during the days previous to my periods). More "energy" during the day to the daily things.. decrease on obsessive compulsive (mild) disorder
Side effects: The side effects with the intake of Fluoxetine for me included mild insomnia, headaches (specially in the beginning of the treatment). Loss of appetite. Mild change in the sense of taste. Little bit of nausea after a big meal. Or something very different from the usual food. Change in mood (varieting a lot specially in the beginning of treatment).
Comments: Fluoxetine 20mg. Taken once daily (variation: twice daily during week previous to period). For a period of 6 months (at least 3 months; possibly to be discontinued if great increase was noticed). Not to be taken with any other drug before consulting a doctor. Not to be taken with alcoolic drinks. Not to be taken with empty stomache.
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Prozac review by 27 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 40mg/day taken daily for the period of 2 years
Other conditions: Bulimia
Benefits: Lessening of suicidal ideation and an increased ability to complete daily life tasks.
Side effects: There was a decreased ability to have orgasms and a general numbing not quite stupor in which I existed. There was also a major decrese in appetite.
Comments: This drug resulted in an unanticipated weightloss of over 20lbs - I went from 128 to 108 lbs. The weight loss decresed the incidences of bulimia. The drug was effective in that I no longer felt depressed per se, but then I didn't feel much of anything. Any combination with alcohol should be avioded - majorly increases its effects!
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Prozac review by 30 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 20 mg taken once a day for the period of 2003-present day
Other conditions: 0cd, bipolor
Other drugs taken: multi vitamin only
Benefits: checking myself considerably less, calm my mood swings, helped me think alot clearer,
Side effects: when I first started them I had stomach cramp, also insomnia for the first week or so, and also got mood swings! which was strange because they got worse for the first few weeks.
Comments: one tablet once a day administered orally
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Prozac review by care giver of 32 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 20mg taken daily for the period of 2years
Benefits: overal improvment in mood, cognitions and phyiscal symptoms. feelings of helplessness, worthlessness gradually subsided. Negative cognitions e.g. suicidal ideations were dimenshed, although it took a while for it to happen
Side effects: Initially, in the frist two weeks of being of the medication patient complained of drowziness, sleepiness and feeling even more tired. However, the severity of side effects had slowely wore off.
Comments: After being assessed by a psychiaterist using differnt scales for depression, the patient was diagnozed with moderate to severe deprssion. The patient was then commenced on Prozac 20mg daily which was then to go up to 20mg daily. some side effecteds were reported during the firt two weeks, but they gradually wore off to minimum. The patient was on the medication for 2 years. The results were an improved mood, changed( positive outlook to life) and improved motivation and apetite
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Prozac review by 34 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 20 mg daily taken daily for the period of 3 years
Benefits: relief of depression, "floor" under worst moods, increased confidence, less sadness. Allowed patient to function normally in work and social situations
Side effects: Loss of libido, occasional fatigue. Jittery feeling when dosage was temporarily increased to 40mg
Comments: Was originally prescribed medication by psychiatrist, continued prescription from GP after cessation of psychiatric treatment
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Prozac review by 34 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 40 mg taken once daily for the period of 6 years
Other conditions: overweight, chronic back pain
Other drugs taken: buspar, ibuprofen
Benefits: Manageability of depression.
Side effects: Slight weight gain.
Comments: Take one pill daily until no longer needed.
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Prozac review by 35 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 20mg. taken once a day for the period of past 3 years
Other conditions: High cholesterol
Other drugs taken: Lovastatin
Benefits: Within a few days, my mood, self-esteem, attitude and over-all well-being improved tremendously! I went from feeling suicidal and not being able to funtion properly in order to take care of myself or my family, to feeling better than I had since I was in my teens. I began to lose some of the weight I had gained from being depressed. I was in a wonderful mood and I had so much more energy than I had in years. My overall experience with Prozac has been perfect!
Side effects: I have had no known side effects to this date. I do watch out for muscle cramps that last more than a week and I have blood work done once a year to ensure that my kidneys are not being affected.
Comments: I started on 10 mgs. once a day and when that was tolerated well I went up to 40 mgs. This caused some insomnia and nervousness so my Dr. lowered it to 20 mgs. a day. There are still times I get depressed for a few days but that only happens once or twice a year and it is mild. I am looking at being on Prozac as long as my body toleates it, due to once being taken off I went into a fast downward spiral and had to begin again.
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Prozac review by care giver of 40 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: divided dosage (dosage frequency: twice /daily) for the period of 4 years
Benefits: According to her & what I was able to observe there was not much benefits to this treatment
Side effects: There was terrible side effects while on the treatment but even worst when she tried to stop the medication. While on the treatment the worst side effect was the suicidal thoughts . Also constant dry mouth , headaches . when she discontinued the treatment the dizziness & the ringing in the ears were unbearable
Comments: She had to take anti-nauseated pills for the nausea , dizziness plus other pills for the ringing in the ears . She succeeded after two agonizing months & will never take prozac again. I think every doctor should inform patients of the withdrawal side effects of this drug
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Prozac review by 41 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 20mg increased to 30mg taken 1 a day for the period of 10 years
Other conditions: sleepiness - extreme for at least 6 weeks
Other drugs taken: trazadone
Benefits: Reduced depression and feelings of hopelessness within 3 weeks. I like being able to increase dosage when things get a little rough and then back off to the original dosage when things settle down.
Side effects: Extreme sleepiness, feeling "out of it". It was really hard to work and be on this medication. I wanted to give it up as I literally could not stay awake but I made it though the first 6 weeks and things were better after that. I have been on it for 10 years now and do not notice any side effects.
Comments: Took pill once a day and visited therapist once a month. After awile, I didn't go to the therapist anymore and I was extremely even with just the medication.
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Prozac review by 42 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 20 mg taken 1/day for the period of 3 years
Benefits: The drug seemed to effectively treat the symptoms of depression for a year or so. After the first year or so the depression seemed to come back now and then - although it did seem to be cyclical.
Side effects: Nausea if taken on an empty stomach, shakiness, dry mouth.
Comments: There were no other details of the treatment. I changed to another drug that worked more effectively and have been on that one for several years.
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Prozac review by 45 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 20 mg taken 1 per day for the period of 1 1/2 years
Benefits: Definite improvement in mood, particularly at the beginning of treatment. Much better stability with moods and PMS symptoms in particular. I do think that I don't feel it is as effective now as when I started but still feel better than without it and would not stop treatment.
Side effects: At the beginning of treatment, I had a tremendous difficulty sleeping and felt jittery. Passed after a fews weeks. Definite drop in libido since treatment started, rated the side effects as "moderate" above for this reason alone.
Comments: Take 20 mgs once per day. I have to speak with my Dr by phone every third refill and visit in office twice a year to discuss how treatment in working.
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Prozac review by 45 year old male patient
Dosage & duration: 20 mg taken twice a day for the period of 2 years
Other conditions: addh and severe depression
Other drugs taken: ritalin
Benefits: Ritalin made me get up. For the first time I wanted to work. It gave me the good sensation that I could do things. I worked and worked like a bee. Therefore, depression was a thing of the past when I take this medication. It helps my mind to focus and stay sharp. I can concentrate better with this medication.
Side effects: Taking prozac made me more sleepy and I could not get up to do everyday thing. I just kept sleeping or yawning. I wanted my depresion to go away but it did the opposite. Instead of helping me keep me depresed I felted more depresed because I kept sleeping all the time. The medication Prozac with me did not help my depression but rather calm me to the extent that I did not want to do anything. Also I kept going to the bathroom constantly. It takes down my sexual mood and difficulty in getting aroused at all. Ritalin cause my mouth to dry up and kept drinking water like a camel. Jittery effect and when the medication wear off you feel it like large thump.
Comments: Doctor suggested to take Prozac at night time and Ritalin twice a day. So far it has worked for me a patient suffering depression for more than 15 years and it has helped me the Ritalin. Cannot say about Prozac but I notice that I do not get anxiety attack with it.
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Prozac review by 45 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: Not sure (dosage frequency: 1 pill a day) for the period of 6 months
Benefits: There really weren't any - I didn't feel any better as the stressors in my life were still there. I did not feel any relief from the depression, as a matter of fact, I felt worse.
Side effects: I couldn't sleep at night and would fall asleep during the day. It sometimes made me agitated too.
Comments: I really wasn't comfortable with taking Prozac in the first place - I had a crappy HMO doctor who thought giving me a pill would solve my problem. I really just needed a change in my life (job, living in DC) to reverse my depression. In other words, I think my depression was situational, not a chemical imbalance. I know that these do work for many people, but I think it's imperative that a person know WHY they are depressed before they hit the pharmacy.
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Prozac review by 45 year old male patient
Dosage & duration: 20mg taken daily for the period of currently
Benefits: Within 3 weeks I noticed a "lifting " of mood and a general sense of being more energized and interested in everyday activities. I was far less concerned about things which had previously worried me and felt more enabled to engage in social activities again.
Side effects: The drug was somewhat over stimulating leading to mild feelings of panic. If not taken with food it caused stomach burning. It dramatically exacerbated my insomnia and suppressed my appetite and libido.
Comments: The dose was prescribed in capsule form at 20 mg to be taken daily, preferably in the morning.
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Prozac review by 45 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 20 MG taken daily for the period of ongoing
Benefits: helped my anxiety, and overall mood. I feel like I am less anxious and more calm. I feel that my moods are more even. I don't know what the long term effects are of taking this medication, though, and worry that I may get a stomach ulcer since I take over the counter pain relievers.
Side effects: none really, but I have noticed an increase in tiredness
Comments: I take one capsule in the morning, as prescribed by the doctor.
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Prozac review by 46 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 10 mg taken one time per day for the period of 6 months
Other conditions: high blood pressure
Other drugs taken: norvasc
Benefits: After 6 weeks of taking 10 mg of Prozac, physical anxiety symptoms dramatically dimished. Now, 6 months after beginning treatment, my blood pressure has also fallen. With BP medication alone, my BP hovered around 135/85. Couple with Prozac, my blood pressure is consistantly in the 110-120 over 80-80 range. I also experience very little panic attacks ( I used to have several a day). When I do experience one, I have been able to self talk myself down from it.
Side effects: mild veryigo for 2-3 weeks
Comments: 10 mg Prozac every morning
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Prozac review by 48 year old female patient
Condition / reason: Anxiety, hopelessness
Dosage & duration: 20mg taken once daily for the period of For over 5 years
Benefits: Anxiety since childhood was relieved. Felt free to enjoy life and explore opportunities that once would have been declined due to over anxiety and fear of failure or rejection. Have a much more stable emotional balance.
Side effects: I think there is some detachement from emotions, even positive ones. There may be no real bottom out lows but there are also no wonderful bright highs. There may be some effects with sexual attachment on the negative side.
Comments: Only the medication is prescribed, no other forms of therapy are being used. Plan is to stay on medication at this time, due to the percieved stresses of life and fear of going back to what was.
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Prozac review by 48 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 10mg daily taken 2x a day for the period of 8 years
Other drugs taken: synthroid
Benefits: Depression was lifted. Anxiety lessened. General feeling of well-being for the first time in my entire life.
Side effects: decreased sexual function, horrific time trying to stop using it. I was told by many doctors there were no withdrawal symptoms so I thought I was crazy, but I was not. THe withdrawal was very hard and it took me several attempts before I could get off it.
Comments: I began taking 10 mg. in the morning and 10 mg. at night. THis was the best dose, but as I began to feel the need to get off the drug I eliminated the 10 mg at night. I felt a slight drop in well-being, but adjusted to it. THe withdrawal rom only 10 mg took several months and required the substitution of wellbutrin on order to get through it. I now take 150mg of wellbutrin which has a mood stabilizing effect, but not the feeling of "well-being" I had from prozac.
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Prozac review by 48 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 20 mg taken 1 x for the period of 12 years
Other drugs taken: Allegra
Benefits: My mood swings decreased, I was less irritable. When I would be blue, I would not go into a deeper depression. It just evened me out. I also had a head injury and it seemed to help in the recovery from that.
Side effects: In the beginning, I had loss of appetite, and become tired. But that ended after about two weeks.
Comments: I had one on one counseling with a therapist. I have taken 20 mg everyday for the past 12 years. I have tried other medications but they have not worked nearly as well for me.
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Prozac review by 50 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 20 mg daily taken daily for the period of 6 years
Other conditions: multiple sclerosis
Benefits: My depression was significantly alleviated. I would still feel bad somtimes, but it never again felt like true depresion. It was like there was some "padding" between me and the bad feelings.
Side effects: There were actually no physical side effects, but I found that I said a lot of things I wouldn't normally say, and which I was embarassed about later. Prozac made me feel like everything was fine, so I didn't take things seriously enough, and didn't take care of things which really needed to be taken care of. I feel like I wasn't a good parent during that time, because my attitude was "eh...who cares?...everything is fine". I also had a very hard time withdrawing from it. I tried several times but fell into severe depression and had to start taking it again. I thought I'd have to be on it for life. However, once I managed to make it through a full week without it, I felt fine, and have never had to use it again.
Comments: I have a long history of depression but had never taken medication for it. I asked my doctor to prescribe Prozac. For the first week I felt the same, but I slept almost 24/7 and barely ate. After that I did get a significant relief from the depression. Unfortunately, as I noted above, I don't like the way I acted during that time, and still cringe with embarassment and/or regret over things I said and did. But at the time everything seemed so rosy, that none of my behavior bothered me. Unfortunately, life is not perfect, and as adults we must take things seriously and deal with them. Prozac kept me from acknowledging that. Looking back, if I had faced my depression head on, and let it inspire me to make real changes in my life I would have been a lot better off in the long run.
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Prozac review by 50 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 40 mg, taken once a dag for the period of 21 years
Other conditions: asthma
Other drugs taken: Qvar, albuterol inhalers, birth control pills, claritin
Benefits: Taking Prozac has helped me to live a normal life. I was having a serious bout of depression when I first started taking Prozac, and the drug lifted the symptoms of extreme hopelessness and racing negative thoughts. I've tried to go off the medication but whenever I do, negative thoughts and the resulting emotions return. When I resume taking Prozac, the symptoms subside. The medicine allows me to challenge thoughts rather than react to them.
Side effects: I have problems sleeping--not falling asleep but staying asleep. I sometimes feel nervous (that is, nervous energy, not anxiety). I'd also say that Prozac can make me feel numb, but it's better than being severely depressed. Overall, the side effects aren't bad enough for me to stop treatment or look for another medication.
Comments: I've been taking 40 mg. of Prozac once a day for about 20 years (I started taking it about the time it first became available.)
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Prozac review by 50 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 60 mg. each morning taken every day for the period of 18 years
Other drugs taken: ativan
Benefits: this anti-depressant has basically saved my life. i have suffered with severe depression and anxiety since childhood. whether these problems were caused by 'nature or nurture' can be difficult to ascertain, but in my particular case, i believe it was both. while i was a victim of severe sexual, physical and verbal abuse from a very young age through my teen years, i also seem to have been born with an unusually 'sensitive' disposition, and can get very emotionally and mentally disturbed at times with very little provocation. everyone who knows me well considers me a very emotional person. at any rate, it has been the prozac that has helped me in dealing with the stresses of even everyday life. i first started feeling suicidal in adolescence, and unfortunately, this is still a constant problem. the prozac, i am convinced, has helped me keep these feelings in check, and although i was just hospitalized for my depression late last year, i am still alive and kicking. i completely believe that it is the prozac that has saved my life. before the advent of these types of antidepressants, all that was available were the tricyclics. those never worked for me the way the ssri's have. although they did achieve in putting me into a stupor-like condition, they never seemed to alleviate my depression. the prozac does. while it doesn't rid me of the problem completely, it has been absolutely invaluable to me, and i believe it is the main reason i am alive to write these words to you today. i am fortunate in that i have never had a single side effect from the prozac. actually, there has been a complete loss of libido, which could be a major problem for alot of people; for me, however, this is not a problem, because i am celibate, and have been for 20 years. trust me, i had enough sex in my younger years to last me for the rest of my life. i feel i should mention that i have known many people who take prozac and who have not had any sexual problems at all.
Side effects: initial dosage was 20 mgs each morning. This dosage was sufficient for about 5 years, at which point it was raised to 40 mgs each day. Ultimately, the dosage was raised again approximately 2-3 years after the first increase to my current dosage of 60 mgs each day. This is apparently the maximum dosage. Only side effect was loss of libido.
Comments: basically you need to see a psychiatrist as often as your condition requires. i also recommend concurrent visits with some type of therapist or counselor, as this will increase the benefits you receive by taking the medication.
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Prozac review by 51 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 20 mg taken once daily for the period of 18 yrs
Other conditions: obesity
Benefits: I felt less anxiety and fewer down moods.
Side effects: none. I had hoped to have the side effect of weight loss but didn't. I didn't notice a reduction in libido as my husband did when he took Paxil.
Comments: I was depressed and had a lot of nightmares and prozac reduced both of these problems. I have been taking the same dosage for nearly 20 years now.
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Prozac review by 51 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 20 mg. per day taken once daily for the period of two years
Other conditions: migraines; rheumatoid arthritis
Other drugs taken: celebrex, enbrel, imitrex
Benefits: My mood was stablized, and I was able to take advantage of cognitive therapy. Without the medication, I was not able to benefit from CT.
Side effects: Mild sexual dysfunction; nothing else.
Comments: I took 20 mg. of Prozac once per day, in one tablet. It took about 6 weeks for the drug to reach its peak effectiveness, which is one of the drawbacks of this anti-depressant therapy. I tried others, but they didn't work nearly as well as Prozac.
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Prozac review by 52 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 40 mg taken once daily for the period of 2 years
Other conditions: thyroid disorder
Other drugs taken: Levothyroxine
Benefits: Before I began taking this, I had experienced a long time, chronic depression. After about one month of taking this I began feeling much better. Although things still are not perfect, and I have very blue periods, it has at least made life tolerable.
Side effects: Reduced sex drive. Had quite a normal sexual appetite before using this, and it has decreased dramatically.
Comments: Began taking 20 mg daily then increased it to 40 after 3 months. Might help more if I were to go to some type of counseling, which I have not.
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Prozac review by 52 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 20-60 (dosage frequency: 1) for the period of 7 yrs
Other conditions: fatigue, disassociation
Other drugs taken: Seroquel
Benefits: Initially uplift in mood and sensory clarity
Side effects: the side effect is noticable when usage is stopped. An under-reaction to situations that needed more intensity. "Too Mellow" even at the least dose 20mg.After being off this med, my children informed me that they liked me better when I was " too easy" and would give in to them. While taking this medication it stopped working, confused, burst into tears, then just "change my mind", hyper ventillation. this was very frightening as I was taking the medication, it was increased and I felt that I was "losing it", not knowing that the medication had failed
Comments: Initial weaning onto medication, then basically tweaking med as observed by practictioner with therapy. I decided to end the medication as it was not doing anything as a life benefit. this medication simply masks symptoms so that the patient "feels" functional.And most importantly, I no longer trusted it. I also now believe that DSM diagnois, as used in the general public (myself included) excuses inept doctors from forming medical diagnosis, doing the investigative work and testing to EXCLUDE biological conditions. Why do I think this? My 14 year old daughter "mentally crashed" and it was her thyroid, which affects among other organs THE BRAIN. My thyroid tests has been flucuating, but, since the medical doctor stated " I don't know if I should treat you for hyper or hypothyroid....I got dumped into DSM and prozac. A travesty.
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Prozac review by medical professional caring for 52 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 20mg taken daily for the period of 1 year
Other conditions: high blood pressure, high cholestero
Other drugs taken: Lisinopril, simvastatin, singulair
Benefits: better able to handle everyday situations without spikes in temper I usually woke up between 3-5 times a night. With the Prozac my sleep was less interrupted. I also had less stretches of times when I felt depressed and just wanted to sleep to get thru another day. All in all the Prozac helped me to rationally look at my life and make decisions. My outlook brightened.
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Prozac review by 54 year old female patient
Condition / reason: PMS
Dosage & duration: 20 mg taken 1 time a day for the period of 2 months
Benefits: none, I felt worse. This is probably a drug that works for some people but didn't work at all for me in fact I felt much much worse. Unfortunately, I didn't review the contraindications.
Side effects: I got a rash on the back of my neck that lasted for 1 year even though I only took Prozac for 2 months. Also, I couldn't sleep as a result of taking Prozac. It seemed like after I stopped taking it I still had it in my body because I couldn't get rid of the rash on my neck and it was very annoying. Thhis is the first time that anything like this has ever happened to me.
Comments: i took it once a day for PMS
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Prozac review by 55 year old male patient
Dosage & duration: 20 mg taken once a day for the period of about 3 years
Benefits: depression was alleviated to a functional degree.I wasn't in lala land but was able to get out of bed and care for my children. I was never suicidal or violent
Side effects: I had some sleep disturbancebut the worst was a 15 lb. weight gain that came off only after switching to another antidepressant
Comments: I took the prozac once daily and got regular exercize.
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Prozac review by 55 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 20 (dosage frequency: daily) for the period of 3 months
Other drugs taken: thyrozine 2mg
Benefits: resolved the depression, but side effects where too troublesome to continue
Side effects: severe restless legs - especially at night. This made sleep difficult and I had to discontinue the drug. My doctor was NOT aware of this as a side effect of Prosac, and sent me to another doctor for an additonal consultation before he would change the medication. Now I believe the side effects are more well-known.
Comments: I suffered from depression after my mother committed suicide, and I sought treatment. I was given prozac, and no other treatment. I did research on treatment for depression and after suffering side effects from Prozac, I began using exercize to treat my depression. It works very well.
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Prozac review by 57 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 20 mg taken 1 x day for the period of 3 years
Benefits: I have taken this drug off and on for 20 years. It is so effective for my depression that I start feeling like I'm "cured" and don't need to take it any more. I have found that when I stop taking it, I'll be fine for a few days or weeks, and then I start feeling symptoms of depression again. For the last 3 years, I have taken it regularly and am not planning on stopping. It doesn't make me feel happy every day, because that's not its purpose, however it does keep me from entering a depressive state.
Side effects: I have not felt any side effects. I know other people feel loss of libido, but I did not suffer this pre-menopause. I have lost some libido since menopause, which is what I attribute it to.
Comments: I take 20 mg every morning with my vitamins. For 2 years I took 40 mg every other day, however I haven't felt the need to do this anymore.
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Prozac review by 57 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 20 mg taken one a day for the period of currently and for over a year
Other conditions: pain
Other drugs taken: vicodin
Benefits: The combination of the two drugs helped me cope with my pain and depression, which seem to be related. I'm able to cope with most of life's difficulties and am not sleeping as much. With the vicodin helping with the pain, when I do sleep I find it's much more restful and satisfying. I still have a long way to go and I believe that I will need to take these two drugs for a while as I tried quitting the prozac and immediately resumed the depression.
Side effects: A little more sleepy and lack energy. Also, it's obvious with the prozac that I'm at a point that I'm not able to go off of it without replacing it with something. The vicodin doesn't seem to be a problem with side effects as long as I don't take more than one tablet at a time (500/5).
Comments: I've had depression and pain for some time. They have both caused serious problems in my life. I found myself isolated and sleeping far too much. I did some research and found that lack of seritonin could cause an increse sensitivity to pain so I was hoping that my pain would subside with this treatment. So far, I can't tell the difference. My doctor seems to be concerned about taking the vicodin but I'm more concerned about the long term effects of the prozac. Only time will tell.
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Prozac review by 57 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 10mg daily taken daily for the period of 2 years
Benefits: Within a week, I felt as if dark cloud of loneliness and unbearable sadness had drifted away.
Side effects: I had some GI issues, some bloating and intestinal gas, but this went away after a few weeks.
Comments: Initially I was a participant in a blind study, which lasted about six weeks. I suspected that I was not in the control group because of my dramatic results. Following the study, we were each given a consultation with the physician who was overseeing the test. He was the head of the Psychopharmacology Department at the University of Pennsylvania. He explained to me how the drug worked and suggested that I stay on it for a while. I remember he remarked how I walked the first few days of the test, and how different my demeanor became after the first week. I stayed on the drug for close to two years, then weaned myself off.
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Prozac review by 57 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 20 mg taken 1 for the period of year
Benefits: relieves depression, helps other things such as sleep, dieting, exercise, relationships, responses to stimulous. The cost is lower than other antidepressants which can be a help to those on a budget.
Side effects: Sleepy and lack of response to problems. Took too long to get started. I think anyone else would think it wasn't effective and stop taking it.
Comments: took a seemingly long period of time to become effective. Once started, however, it did what I expected. It is hard to be without now and think that it will be a problem stopping in the future.
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Prozac review by 58 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 20 mg/day taken once per day for the period of 10 years
Other conditions: lupus
Other drugs taken: imuran, lipitor, avapro
Benefits: Prozac helped in toning donwn my depression. Prozac was effective for the first 5 years then my depression slowly started to become worse. I then had to be placed on Wellbutrin for about 2 years, along with Prozac and yet my side effects from Prozac increassed to the point where I was taken off prozac.
Side effects: The main treatment side effect began as increased depression and slight shaking in my fingers and hands. Over time the shaking turned into tremors which I could not control. Then I was placed on Wellbutrin with Prozac and finally weined off of Prozac and the tremors subsided.
Comments: I took Prozac once a day in the morning with my other medications. At first my depression was under control but after about 5 years the depression began to become more intense. I was then placed on Wellbutrin with Prozac and my depression soon was improving. However, I started noticing hand shakes which progressively got worse. So after 2 years of Prozac and Wellbutrin I was told to stop Prozac. Within 6 months the shaking/tremors subsided and my depression is now fine by taking only Wellbutrin (150 mg/day)
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Prozac review by 59 year old female patient
Dosage & duration: 20 mg taken once a day for the period of 3 years
Other conditions: allergic rhinitis
Other drugs taken: aerius, nasonex spray
Benefits: Maintained a general feeling of well being and being able to cope with life. When I stopped the treatment (gradually) the depression returned after a couple of months. Having suffered from depression periodically over a number of years, I feel my quality of life has increased with Prozac.
Comments: One 20 mg tablet once a day, in the morning.
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Prozac review by 60 year old female patient
Condition / reason: serotonin imbalance, mood swings
Dosage & duration: 20 mg taken every day for the period of 8 years
Benefits: Taking Prozac has enabled me to not erupt emotionally or lash out verbally at others during stressful situations, such as traffic jams, bad customer service, or when people are generally disrespecting me. Most of the time, I have more patience than I did before taking the drug and can articulate my emotions better.
Side effects: Not too interested in sex anymore.
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