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Gottagetthrough posted 4/26/2014 03:32 AM

I started Prozac in 2010 when life handed me multiple lemons. It basically helped take the edge off, and I wasn't so down (although, life DID stink, so I had plenty to be down about)

Fast forward to 2012. I tried going cold turkey off Prozac. I got dizzy spells and was really irritable. Went back on them and all was well. I had just moved with wh at the time, so it probably want the smartest idea to quit Prozac then.

In 2013 I was at a stable point, asked the nurse practitioner, weaned myself off. Felt good. In 2014 I started really packing my kids schedules with activities (maybe to be so busy i dont have to deal with feelings?) , and found myself worrying about stupid stuff (do they have enough friends, will their recital be OK, etc.). I am also feeling very anxious about them growing up, as in dreading driving, dating, etc... (They are preschool and elementary school age???!!!)

I have also been snapping at them a lot.

All signs point to, I need to go back on Prozac.

I just don't want to be Dependant on that forever.

Also, in 2013, I was thinking I'd like to try for another baby in 2014, and I didn't want to be on Prozac then. Baby plans have been shelved indefinitely (I'm just not emotionally where I need to be with me or wh to have a baby now)

Any advice? I'm letting minor things get to me and really getting irritated with little stuff. I just LIKE myself and life in general better on Prozac. Should I try stress relief activities before going back on ADs? Any natural remedies?

To be honest, I think I still need some therapy regarding the fall out from my bad year 2010. Could therapy be what I need not prozac

[This message edited by Gottagetthrough at 3:36 AM, April 26th (Saturday)]

Lucky2HaveMe posted 4/26/2014 07:26 AM

Oh the snapping at the kids thing is what made me join the Prozac camp a few years ago. It was miserable.

I am of the belief that I need it. Just like a diabetic needs insulin. Just like people need to wear glasses. I have a wiring problem that make me need prozac. There is no shame in it. AD's have such a negative stigma attached to them. A small dose can make a huge difference.

Do what you need to feel better!

Gottagetthrough posted 4/26/2014 07:33 AM

Absolutely... All I need is 20 mg (1 pill) of Prozac and like I said, it takes the edge off life. I don't snap at people, I don't worry needlessly, I don't feel the need to check my coffee pot 3x before I leave to make sure I am not going to burn the house down

My only worry is taking it while pregnant. Is that a problem. Im not pregnant now and don't plan to be for atleast 6+ mos, but ive had two surprise pregnancies, and I know surprise pregnancies happen

WHen I was on Prozac before, I was either abstinent (WH and I were separated 3 years) or on The Pill, Im not on The Pill now...

tushnurse posted 4/26/2014 20:15 PM

If you need it take it. Talk to your GYN to be sure that it's ok to be on given that pregnancy seems imminent.
I don't know off te top of my head of that's a safe AD for pregnancy if not there are others.

Good Luck

purplejacket4 posted 4/26/2014 23:10 PM

Prozac is safe in pregnancy so that's fine.

Some people have a genetic predisposition to have low serotonin levels like others have diabetes or heart disease. Two hundred years ago your ancestors were drinking beer, smoking pot or drinking St John's wort for their symptoms. Go easy on yourself.

peacelovetea posted 4/26/2014 23:50 PM

Therapy helps longer-term than ADs, which can help but if you aren't learning other strategies to cope while the ADs are helping you cope with the present circumstances then I am afraid you will find yourself back in this spot. Personally I think no one should take ADs without doing therapy too. Some people have changed neuro from their past histories and may need to be on ADs after therapy has done what it can, but most people benefit most from both, unless they get to therapy before the ADs are necessary.

Pretty good evidence for that relatively minor issues that exercise -- good hard workouts at least 3-4x a week -- is as or more effective than ADs. So that might be something to consider also.

Gottagetthrough posted 4/27/2014 00:10 AM

good hard workouts at least 3-4x a week

I was wondering if perhaps looking at making some lifestyle tweaks would help me. I have jogged regularly in the past and it is a great stress reliever for me. Finding time is hard, but doable.

Some people have a genetic predisposition to have low serotonin levels like others have diabetes or heart disease. Two hundred years ago your ancestors were drinking beer, smoking pot or drinking St John's wort for their symptoms. Go easy on yourself

Thanks for this reminder, Purple. My grandfather was an alcoholic (died at 58 of cirrhosis) and my great grandfather was also an alcoholic (died at 48 of stroke due to alcoholism). So you are probably right, its probably a genetic thing. I don't drink, and recently I've been so stressed I think, "Hell, I need to buy a bottle of wine"
Don't worry--- its only a fleeting thought. My husband is a recovering addict, so none of that stuff is allowed in my house.

tushnurse posted 4/27/2014 19:49 PM

Gotta I know about the drinking in families for self medication. My sister was a serious drinker and had very high anxiety. I suspect she had some kind of wake up call (ie DWI) and she quit cold turkey. She has replaced it with running. Her anxiety level is almost gone and she doesn't even think about drinking so yah there is something to the exercise thing.

But I do agree some people need ADs like other need BP meds

InnerLight posted 4/28/2014 00:07 AM

Your body needs B6 and the amino acid tryptophan or 5HTP in order to make serotonin so you can try taking a B Complex or one that's part of a multivitamin while taking 5HTP. The B's should have 20-50mg each, not 1-2mg which may not be enough even if it is the RDA. A common dose of 5HTP is 50mg at first going up to 200mg a day. These are nutrients we get in food in small amounts, but taken in larger amounts they can really boost our own production of serotonin. Prozac doesn't actually help you make any more serotonin, so this approach can often work even better than ADs without being addictive.

Going through the worst times I took a formula called Neurolink by Designs for Health (amazon has it) that included B6 and 5HTP as well as a few other nutrients that support balanced brain chemistry. I would be a crying basketcase and within 20 minutes of taking 2 capsules I was functional again. I could also stop taking them abruptly with no ill effects. 3 caps twice a day is a normal dose.

I think this is safer than prozac if you are pregnant. They may not find a direct link between ADs during pregnancy and brain chemistry issues in kids, but I think it would be hard to prove the link, and it's not like they can experiment on pregnant women to gain the best clarity.

Everyone may respond differently to nutrients so if you try this, start with a small dosage for the first few days or a week and then build up so you can observe your response.

[This message edited by InnerLight at 12:09 AM, April 28th (Monday)]