Today the GP gave me a prescription for Prozac. I asked about
taking something to help with the mood swings while on the prednisone
-- and just adjusting to this disease. I have been so mood
swinging and crazy.
I got a referral to a rheumatologist for this Friday and will hopefully get some more extensive treatment then for my RA.
I read about it, and I am kind of worried about taking it when I see
all the horrible stuff. I want to try it, but I am sort of
nervous.
Please share your stories. I am also worried if mixing too many
meds with this disease is safe. I can ask the rheumatologist
Friday, but I hoped you all might be able to tell me of real
experiences.
AZ, I was taking prozac, but now am on paxil. I like the paxil better myself. The prozac just didn't seem to be doing the job for me.
I have been taking prozac for years (8), and it was the best decision I could have made. I oringally started taking it because my mom was dying of breast cancer and I was so depressed. After she died I continued to take it and I noticed that I felt better mentally than I had in years. I told my doc that and he and i decided to stay the course. I did try to wean off once, but I got pretty depressed fast, meaning with the RA in my life, I retreated to my bed and didn't come out for 3 days. My husband was so worried, he took me to the doc and I went back on the prozac. I take 40mg a day, and I really feel that I am a better person, mom, and co-worker at my job.
AZ,
I staarted prozac several years ago and took it for quite awhile. The only problem I had was I couldn't sleep after taking it for awhile. I tried 2 or 3 different ones and now I'm on celexa which I have had no problems with. What are you afraid of? I work in a pharmacy and we dispence alot of antidepressants. Don't be afraid to take them. I too was afraid and waited a month or more before I would take them but now I will never stop them. I told my husband when I started them I would rather live 10 years without depression and die then be depressed. True clinical depression is terrible. If you read all the info on any drug you would never take any. I believe you should learn all you can about drugs you are taking but you have to weigh the risk and benefits. I can't say I'm not afraid of some drugs but I won't say I will never take them. Hope this has helped you. You have to give these meds a couple months to start helping too. Pat
I started taking Paxil 2 months ago (same type of anti-depressant as Prozac). It was the best thing I could have done and I am coping so much better now. This type of anti-depressant can also have an improving effect on chronic pain. (And can be taken in conjunction with the older anti-depressants like Amiltrip, which are taken at night in low doses, for chronic pain. I take Amiltrip too.)
With me, it was a pride thing, not wanting to feel like I couldn't cope. But as my doctor said, you'd get a broken leg fixed, why not depression?
All the best,
AZ~I don't take antidepressants; thankfully I haven't needed them; but I wanted to say one thing. All medications no matter what they are have some scary things to say when you read up on them. Look how many of our friends here won't take MTX or wait much longer than they need to because of the things they read about it.
These medications are proven to make a dramatic difference in your mental well being. So much of the pain associated with RA is connected to our mental states. I imagine helping control that will also go along way toward controling your RA.
I wish you the best of luck.
Lovie
Arizona, I love my prozac. I would not be coping well at all without it. I just had mine raised from 40 mg. to 60. I am back to my old self and trying harder, feeling more optimistic, the pain gets me down less and no side effects. The only thing is take it early in the day, I can't sleep on it either. I took it for two years when my daughter got sick then I didn't need it anymore. Off of it for four years and now I thank God I have it again. I have had problems with other anti depressants and I have not noticed any side effects from prozac except a more optimistic attitude