antidepressants: please help me think about this! - Page 2

[lapis]

Just wanted to bump the thread and update a bit about how things have been progressing: so I finally found a psychiatrist who seems great and speaks english and who I'll see this Friday

I'm feeling really relieved and also a bit nervous about the possibility of starting medication..... Friday feels a long ways off.

anyhow, if anyone has any more Prozac or Zoloft specific stories I'd love to hear them... and I'd also like to hear from you ladies who are taking/have taken less tested medications during your pregnancies/while nursing and how that went for you.

thanks again and I really appreciate all your thoughts and stories

[millefleur]

I'm so glad.

PMing you tonight!

[Theia]

lapis - I am happy that you are making progress and getting the help you need. Being on the AD has helped me a lot. I'm still not functioning where I'd like to be, but my depression is coupled with PTSD. I'm still on the super low 15mg fluoxetine dose. I've kinda plateau'd on it. But it's not in a bad way like it quit working or anything. I'm just more stable I guess. Are you in counseling as well? I really think that the AD's are most effective if we are working closely with a counselor to help us understand why we are where we are. Even if we are genetically predisposed to depression, I don't see it as a life sentence that can't be overcome with proper treatment and help.

[lapis]

Theia I"m sort of in counseling...I was part of a peer counseling group in NYC and DC but now that I live in europe I can only do sessions over skype. I think I'm going to see if I can get weekly therapy sessions covered by my insurance here. Before the counseling group I was in therapy off and on for many years.

Thanks for reminding me that meds and/or depression are not a life sentence... its hard to remember!

MF thanks for being my buddy : )

[millefleur]

You're welcome!

[lapis]

Just wanted to update:

so I started on 10mg of fluoxetine yesterday. will be going up to 20mg in a week or so. nothing really to report yet but I do really appreciate all your helpful comments and support in helping me get here.

I also just wanted to ask, in terms of breastfeeding it looks like Prozac isn't really best? that zoloft is preferred. At any rate, i'm far from needing to really think about it, but was just wondering what you ladies know/think/have experience w/.

Thanks again ladies!
and MF this is for you!

[millefleur]

Hope you're feeling great ASAP! I'm concerned about BFing too. Hmm...I'll bet that's because Prozac stays in your system longer. Let's see if we can find some research on that...

[gothnurse3]

Welcome to prozac land!!! I have been on and off of it for more than 15 years. I struggle with anxiety that turns into depression. Have had this since I was a child and I come from a long line of it genetically. I am very highly functional...type A personality to the T. I get bitter, edgy, more negative (naturally a pessimist)...in general a *JOY* to be around. lol Prozac makes me more fun, I engage in fun stuff that I would normally blow off because "I have things to do"

I had my first child taking prozac. She was born with an apgar of 6 then 9. The A$$hole pediatrician pretty much blamed her low initial score on my prozac use. He told me I was an RN and I should have not taken it. Nevermind that she was a THICK meconium stained baby and I was hypertensive. I developed HELLP syndrome and was hospitalized for a week alone after her birth so I missed the breast feeding. I was totally overwhelmed and she was such a cranky baby (she's sunshine now) that I gladly gave her a bottle to try to keep her happy. Quit taking all meds for the rest of my pregnancies and TERRIBLY regret it. I missed a ton of their infancy stuff because I was too busy in my head to engage. They were very well taken care of...OCD well...clean at all times, clothes spotless, over-kill with all the "natural" stuff but I NEVER PLAYED WITH THEM. Because I wasn't on my prozac.

My DH is anti-meds. But, I realized I am doing it again...missing things because "I have things to do" that I restarted my prozac yesterday and I am not coming off. I refuse to miss anymore just so I can say I'm drug free. My body needs this and I am NOT crazy...it is a chemical imbalance I cannot fix.

My kids don't care...all they will remember is that Mama was distant. So, screw what anybody thinks about people who take meds....I'm sure their closets aren't spotless....and remember TONS of folks self medicate with alcohol and street drugs.

You do what is right for you. We all deserve to be happy without people judging us. Remember it takes 2-3 weeks to reach affect but when it does you should be pleased. Take care

[lapis]

thanks gothnurse... since you've been through a few pregnancies both on and off prozac, I thought you might be able to answer a question I've been having: I was wondering, what do you know about the third trimester and prozac? I hear that w/ all ssri's actually the third trimester is really the only "risky" time. I know some women are really encouraged to ween off but what have you heard about just going to a super low dose? I'm sorry to hear the doctors gave you such a hard time... makes me angry and I guess my other question is, what was it like to ween off in the middle of pregnancy? I feel like if all is going well I'll be very reluctant to get off completely but am certainly open to it so am trying to gather many different experiences just to be able to think about it better.

and what do you know about breastfeeding and prozac? I've heard its not the best ssri but I don't really know if, again, a low dose is considered fine or if its best to switch?

anyhow, not sure if you know this info (or if someone else does i'd love to hear) but I appreciate you sharing your story.

also, my dh is totally supportive of me being on or off meds so I wont be up against him, but I'm sure once I'm pregnant being on prozac will come up with some doctors. my psychiatrists is fine with it but I haven't told my OB yet and here in Austria there is a bit of a stigma for sure... more than in the states.

anyhow, I'm not even pregnant at the moment but I'm really hoping my new found relaxed state (btw this is day five on 10mg and I'm feeling really quite good) makes it possible for me to get pregnant in the next couple/few months.

[gothnurse3]

THe reason why prozac is discouraged is it has a real long half life. Which means it stays in you and the baby's system a while. I was switched to wellbutrin after the birth of my first child and it caused me to hallucinate. I suffered PPD and quit attempting to breast feed ( we were separated for a week, her latch was HORRIBLE, and I was SOOOOOO nervous about everything...it was dommed from jump street.) Got back on the prozac but weaned off during my 2nd pregnancy. I got pregnant for #3 when #2 was 4 months old. So, I just stayed off. I find that prozac works best for me. But I bet one of the newer SSRI's would be better. My BF swears by her lexapro....and she pays major $$$$ for it but she would sell body parts if she needed to for it.

[lapis]

Thanks again gothnurse... its really helpful to have people's personal stories along w/ the research. I don't know what I'll do if I do get pregnant but my main concern was trying to get on something that I would feel comfortable staying on if i felt like I needed to.

[lapis]

and I posted a new link w/ some follow up prozac questions if anyone has anything to share...

[Been there]

Hi Lapis,

I'm new to this forum but my search brought up your details.  I was wondering whether you had been fortunate enough to fulfil your dreams or are you still waiting?

As far as anti depressants/ anti anxiety medication is concerned I can only tell you that after years of on and off suffering with stress and depression I was eventually prescribed with Coproxamol. 

And dear God what a transformation it has made to my  life!  I feel rational and "normal" and HAPPY!  It is considered one of the "older drugs" and therefore all the side effects are well known and documented.  I don't suffer with any of them and I have been taking it for the last 3 years.

At the end of the day you have to think about quality of life.

I hope you are in a happier place right now x

[Mom31]

I take zoloft and abilify but I am done having babies... I was on a tricyclic and I really liked it.  I took cymbalta for awhile but when I did not take it I could really tell... so make sure if you go with that one you are regular taking it.  Wellbutrin had bad side effects for me- but I know lots of people like it.  I have two choces- take meds and live good or not and well... live bad.

Hugs.

Emilie

[M Anna]

I'm bumping this up a bit.

I have had depression my whole life and was treated for it off and on (not the best). I was on Prozac in college for a few months before I had to leave after a suicide attempt - I wasn't given counseling, just the script and a pat on the hand. :( After that bad experience it was many, many years before I tried something again. I was on Effexor and it just made me feel flat and killed my libido. After about a year I couldn't take it anymore and took myself off of it. Several years later my depression was getting so bad that DH called himself and made an appt for me. I was started on Wellbutrin and it worked. I've been on it now for about four years (I'm on 450mg now - maxed out) but I have some concerns:

1. It doesn't seem to be as effective as it once was

2. Although before I had taken Wellbutrin I had never had any pregnancy problems, last year I had two 13 week miscarriages with no explanation. I feel like the likelihood that Wellbutrin caused them is small, but I really don't know.

3. Given the fact that we are ttc I am very worried about taking anything right now - especially after losing my two sons last year. After a visit to my GP yesterday I'm actually trying to wean down from 450 a day to 300 a day. Rather counter-intuitive and I'm worried that my depression won't be controlled at all.

I'm taking Fish Oil and extra B vitamins as part of my whole regimen and I had hoped they would have some effect on the depression as well, but I haven't noticed any. I've been taking them for about 2 months now.

Does anyone have any suggestions? SSRIs and SNRIs seem to have a high risk for miscarriage and birth defects. I just really don't want to lose another baby this year if I can at all help it, plus, I hate living like this all the time.

Thanks.

ETA: Not a very active thread...

ETA: Does this belong somewhere else? I really would appreciate any insight anyone has but if this is the wrong place I'd be happy to move it.

Edited by M Anna - 2/21/12 at 6:10pm