Posted by ms. b. on February 17, 2001, at 0:08:47
In reply to Re: Anyone out there on mood stablilizers only?, posted by roo on February 16, 2001, at 14:25:47
Hi again Roo,
I guess the thing I've heard about Prozac is that if you want to switch, it's the best one to get off of quickly, and you can pretty much switch right away, but I only know that from my therapist telling me, I'm not an expert on meds.
I was on Zoloft for about 4 years, initially because my periods were bothering me a lot, spent 3 weeks out of 4 each month being an angry, crazy bitch, yelling at my daughter for no reason, etc. The GYN tried me on progesterone (suppositories, I told him they didn't exactly suit my lifestyle!), then a different oral contraceptive, which I didn't like, and then he tried me on the Zoloft. What a blessing! I felt so much better, pretty much right away. I've heard from other people who were on it that they've tolerated it well. And during that whole time, I never - not ever - had any sexual side effects. I was always interested in having it (sex), never had any anorgasmia, in fact was able to continue as I always had with multiple orgasms, etc. And I know what you mean, sex is very important to me, too! That's *one* of the reasons I'm a little nuts now since Bipolar Boyfriend from Hell called it quits on our relationship... Sex is an important part of life, for god's sake... I do feel for you on that. So I don't think you should have to put up with those kinds of side effects, there are so many meds you could try, Zoloft being one I would personally recommend...
Do you have a relatively stable relationship, & a partner who is supportive of you on this? Does he(she) understand the problems with the meds? It's important that you don't feel to blame for any of this... It must be very frustrating.
You could try just getting off the prozac and only doing the neurontin for a while, and then adding the AD if you and your doc thought it was necessary to keep the depression away.
Let me know how it works out for you,
B.> Hi!
>
> Yeah, I want to quit the prozac b/c of sexual side
> effects (i've tried wellbutrin and serzone and they
> make me really anxious and angry). Cyclical depression
> is basically having a pattern of bad and good days, only
> it's not so drastic like bipolars. I don't get manic,
> or suicidal. I have about half good days and half bad
> days per month. I'm starting to chart my moods and see
> if my menstrual cycle fits in there anywhere. I'm having
> my hormone levels checked too.
> Prozac actually doesn't have a short half life, it
> has a pretty long one. Usually when I go off it, it
> takes about a month or so to get out of my system
> (and to begin having good sex again, which is a long
> wait).
> I'm really hoping that I will eventually be able to
> go off ad's...mainly b/c of sexual side effects. I
> haven't had a sex drive for about 2 years, and sex is
> really important to me.
poster:ms. b.
thread:54150
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010212/msgs/54211.html