Posted by dove on July 15, 2000, at 10:20:55
In reply to Re: Prozac, posted by SueG on July 9, 2000, at 19:46:24
Prozac was an experiment in paradoxes for me. The doc added Prozac 20 mgs to a combination of Adderall (CNS Stim-like Ritalin) and Amitriptyline (Elavil) already in place. During that same time period, the doc added Wellbutrin at noon and afternoon. I had a minor meltdown which almost ended with inpatient, but it was during the holiday season (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years) and that may have added to the volatility.
The paradox part: My doc warned me ahead of time about Prozac's tendency to cause weight gain, make sleep difficult or unfruitful, sexual side-effects, lack of motivation, and so on. The first thing I noticed was weight loss, lots of weight loss, and energy. My house was organized and clean for the first time in my life, I was running from dawn till dusk cleaning, cooking, doing.
So, it did the opposite of what my doc expected or wanted. Except for the clean house part, he viewed that as a great bonus and didn't want to remove the Prozac for that exact reason. Instead of feeling flat I felt wired, pulled taut. The Adderall and Wellbutrin really haven't helped me in the mood department unfortunately. Adderall makes me ravenous, 30-45 minutes after taking it my stomach literally screams for food. I feel flat and somewhat numb when the Adderall is working. I cry very easily and zone out into space, no mind at all.
I also found great sexual difficulties while on Prozac. And I definitely fluctuated between insomnia and super sleep (unable to really move out of the lethargic brain-dead all day sleep mode). I was on the full 20mgs for at least 5 weeks (would have to look up old posts and calendars to be sure) but my doc never let me quit a med unless I went the full 4-6 weeks. I also have trouble with tolerance, but only to TCA's and SSRI's as far as I can tell.
Wellbutrin Prozac combo has been said to be very stimulating. My hands shook really bad while I was taking them both (w/ Amitriptyline and Adderall too). Reality was unreal, like my mind was so caught up with its own newly discovered chaotic motion that it couldn't grasp the physical material world around it.
Considering your symptoms, Prozac and Wellbutrin might be a good combo to try, just watch for those pesky sexual side-effects. And a stimulating TCA might be a good option too, unless you've already been down that road? Serzone (Nefazodone) can be added to TCA's and is awesome in regard to sexual difficulties. The first couple weeks on Serzone can be tough, but it really truly improves all those missed orgasms like no other med I'm familiar with.
I do know that increasing Prozac's dosage will probably invigorate the sexual difficulties and other unlovable side-effects. My best wishes and thoughts are with you :-)
dove
poster:dove
thread:39734
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000708/msgs/40517.html