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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Cindylou on August 1, 2001, at 7:26:41
Hello,
I'm wondering if I should increase my dose of Prozac, or try something else ... I have been working my way up on Prozac since I am very sensitive to med reactions -- I started at 2.5, and now I'm at 10 mg. It seemed to help at first, but now the depression seems to be getting worse. Should I keep increasing my dose until I get to the "magical" 20 mg? Is it true that 20 mg. is really the only therapeutic dose?Thanks in advance for your help.
A few other notes: I am taking 200 mg. Wellbutrin daily. I have tried many other SSRIs in the past, all which helped somewhat, but caused great fatigue. I have also tried Prozac in the past, and it worked for two months, then "pooped out." But I didn't try increasing the dosage at that point, just stopped taking it.
Also, I ordered some Adrafinil recently, and am waiting for it to come in -- I'm wondering if the combo of Adrafinil and Prozac might make a difference.
Sorry for all the details! Thanks again,
-cindy
Posted by Collete on August 1, 2001, at 8:31:54
In reply to Should I increase Prozac?, posted by Cindylou on August 1, 2001, at 7:26:41
> Hello,
> I'm wondering if I should increase my dose of Prozac, or try something else ... I have been working my way up on Prozac since I am very sensitive to med reactions -- I started at 2.5, and now I'm at 10 mg. It seemed to help at first, but now the depression seems to be getting worse. Should I keep increasing my dose until I get to the "magical" 20 mg? Is it true that 20 mg. is really the only therapeutic dose?
>
> Thanks in advance for your help.
>
> A few other notes: I am taking 200 mg. Wellbutrin daily. I have tried many other SSRIs in the past, all which helped somewhat, but caused great fatigue. I have also tried Prozac in the past, and it worked for two months, then "pooped out." But I didn't try increasing the dosage at that point, just stopped taking it.
>
> Also, I ordered some Adrafinil recently, and am waiting for it to come in -- I'm wondering if the combo of Adrafinil and Prozac might make a difference.
>
> Sorry for all the details! Thanks again,
> -cindyI don't think you have anything to loose to at least get up to the standard 20mg dose and stay there for a week or so. 10mg didn't work for me, but 20 did the trick for many years.
Collette
Posted by Jocor on August 1, 2001, at 10:08:49
In reply to Should I increase Prozac?, posted by Cindylou on August 1, 2001, at 7:26:41
You can go as high as 80 mg Prozac....I was on 20 mg for the longest time. I stopped when I got pregnant and crashed after delivery. I had to gradually go up to 60 mg Prozac to feel comfortable again. After one year I was able to decrease back down to 20mg.
Don't give up, increasing is OK.
Jocor
Posted by Cindylou on August 1, 2001, at 13:33:39
In reply to Re: Should I increase Prozac?, posted by Jocor on August 1, 2001, at 10:08:49
Thank you both Collete and Jocor so much for your encouragement! It gives me hope.
Jocor, did you ever consider staying on Prozac throughout your pregnancy? (or your next one, if you decide to have another?) I have a 20 month old and I'm considering getting pregnant again, but I too had HORRIBLE depression after delivery (I wasn't on meds through that pregnancy)... my ob/gyn suggested staying on the Prozac through the next pregnancy -- but it makes me nervous that I might hurt the baby.
Thanks again,
cindy> You can go as high as 80 mg Prozac....I was on 20 mg for the longest time. I stopped when I got pregnant and crashed after delivery. I had to gradually go up to 60 mg Prozac to feel comfortable again. After one year I was able to decrease back down to 20mg.
>
> Don't give up, increasing is OK.
>
> Jocor
Posted by Jocor on August 2, 2001, at 7:23:39
In reply to Re: Should I increase Prozac? Collete, Jocor, posted by Cindylou on August 1, 2001, at 13:33:39
I am not planning on having another baby (I'm 40!) but if I was.....I would not stay on Prozac. You can prevent relapse post-delivery if you are treated aggressively as soon as the baby is born. I waited two weeks after delivery hoping that the depression would not return (NOT!).
On the positive side...before making my decision to come off Prozac while I was pregnant I went to "Mother Risk" at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto (they study the effects of drugs on the fetus) and they stated (that was in 1993) that Prozac had no known effect to date. On the other hand, it does pass thru the breast milk so I stopped breastfeeding as soon as I got back on Prozac.My psychiatrist stated that while you are pregnant you depression usually goes in remission (something to do with hormones - go figure!) so I personally would NOT stay on Prozac while pregnant.
Good luck,
Jocor
Posted by Collete on August 2, 2001, at 10:11:25
In reply to Re: Should I increase Prozac? Collete, Jocor, posted by Jocor on August 2, 2001, at 7:23:39
FWIW, I suffered terrible postpartem depression after the birth of my first child. Unfortunatly, it went untreated, since I didn't get diagnosed or treated for depression until MANY years later. However, I did NOT have the same blues after the birth of my second child and I was still not on any drugs. My point is that it may be worth the risk of staying OFF Prozac for your pregnancy and then waiting until you are sure you will need it. Knowing help is available for you may in itself provide some help. Personally, I would try the no medication route with aggressive treatment later, if needed.
Posted by Cindylou on August 2, 2001, at 13:20:23
In reply to Re: Should I increase Prozac? Collete, Jocor, posted by Jocor on August 2, 2001, at 7:23:39
Thanks, Jocor --
That is interesting about depression going into remission while you're pregnant -- I've been treated for depression for years, but when I was pregnant I got off all meds, and I was FINE -- until the last trimester when I started feeling kind of blue. (And then, of course, CRASHING after delivery).One thing my ob/gyn suggested was trying the Prozac in the last trimester ... by then, most of the major organs, brain, etc. are formed ... but it does scare me.
Who knows what will happen! I'm 37, so it's getting late for me too, to be thinking of having more. We may decide to be happy with just our one little girl.
Thanks again,
cindy> I am not planning on having another baby (I'm 40!) but if I was.....I would not stay on Prozac. You can prevent relapse post-delivery if you are treated aggressively as soon as the baby is born. I waited two weeks after delivery hoping that the depression would not return (NOT!).
> On the positive side...before making my decision to come off Prozac while I was pregnant I went to "Mother Risk" at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto (they study the effects of drugs on the fetus) and they stated (that was in 1993) that Prozac had no known effect to date. On the other hand, it does pass thru the breast milk so I stopped breastfeeding as soon as I got back on Prozac.
>
> My psychiatrist stated that while you are pregnant you depression usually goes in remission (something to do with hormones - go figure!) so I personally would NOT stay on Prozac while pregnant.
>
> Good luck,
>
>
> Jocor
This is the end of the thread.
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