Posted by Ruuudy on March 8, 2018, at 23:26:41
In reply to Re: low dose prozac more effective AD than high dose?, posted by Ruuudy on June 27, 2016, at 14:52:29
> > > I'll be very interested to follow along with how the Prozac works out for you, especially if you continue at that reduced dosage.
> > >
> > > I have been taking Prozac for 26 years, less a few brief months drug vacation to participate in a double-blind study on paroxetine (Paxil); I believe I recall being told I was indeed on the paroxetine, and a good indicator of that was that I couldn't go poo-poo, #2, dookie for at least a couple of weeks. Eeew,,, I can still taste all the orange Metamucil I had to drink!!!
> > >
> > > The first drug we tried augmenting the Prozac with after having been on it for 3 or 4 years, just to try to get an additional boost, was clomipramine. I remember how that combo really seemed to put a big damper on my OCD symptoms; I think it was the highly sedating effects that forced me to eliminate the clomipramine.
> > >
> > > The only other psychopharmaceutical Ive used to augment my Prozac, and still use to this day, is clonazepam. This was at the suggestion of Dr. Eric Hollander during a 1-time consultation when I flew up to NYC to visit him. It was around 1994 or 1995 when I went up to see him, but probably 10 years later before I asked my PCP to prescribe it for me. That PCP moved on and my new one has gotten sketchy about continuing to prescribe clonazepam, even though he wrote the prescription for a couple of years. I have had to find a new psychiatrist, which I have had one visit with and am very impressed and happy with.
> > >
> > > I have been under a great deal of stress over the past couple of years. My dad was diagnosed with non-Hodgins Leukemia (Sezary Syndrome) a couple of years ago, and I was at his side the whole way thru. We lost him last July, and its been very difficult without him he was my mentor, my hero, my best friend, my business partner, and my father. We had worked in the same office of our family hardware store for the past 25 years. Of course, I miss him very much!
> > > Along with this, I have put a huge burden of trying to double-up my workload by taking on his business tasks, and believe me,,, that 86-year old man worked circles around people half his age he came into the store 7 days a week up until two weeks before his death!
> > >
> > > My top priority and promise to him was that I would look after my 81-year old mom and that my older bi-polar sister would be taken care of. Its been challenging. Very challenging with my sister. I beg of her to seek a different psychiatrist because the one she sees is what my daughter has termed a drive-thru psychiatrist in & out in 15 minutes so she can see 4 patients an hour! I wont go into detail with my sisters treatment & meds just know that my wife & I have had to avoid contact with her as of the past couple of months because she has become very mean & derogatory towards my wife & daughter.
> > > Ok, I teared up while writing those couple of paragraphs.
> > > This stress & emotional turmoil has caused my dysthymic depression & anxiety to flare up. Im beginning to wonder if Im having Prozac poop-out. Im quite fearful of coming off the Prozac because I credit it for not only not having any superimposed MDD, but also for helping me remain strong throughout my dads illness.
> > > Im in research-mode in search of knowledge to help improve myself. Thats how I came across this topic on Dr-Bob.org.
> > > Before I discontinue the fluoxetine (Prozac), I believe it might be worthwhile to try some other various augmentation strategies: Wellbutrin?.
> > > Perhaps it might be that my body needs more help regulating the dopamine or norepinephrine neurotransmitters?.
> > > It was mentioned to me by a friend, that happens to be a pharmaceutical rep, that brintellix is showing promise. Thanks for letting me rant & rave!
> > > Rudy
> >> > My pdr & I agreed to bump my fluoxetine dosage up from 40mg to 60mg - we'll see what that brings.
> > Rudy
> >
> *** UPDATE: I increased my fluoxetine dosage to 60mg daily taken in the am.
> After 2 weeks at the increased dosage, I began to feel the onset of some of the symptoms I originally had occurring when I first began Prozac (fluoxetine) in 1990. I felt the fog beginning to reappear, and my depressive thoughts began to come out of hiding. I just know it wasnt any sign that the increased dosage was beginning to kick in.
> Its just so ironic that a medication you take to relieve your symptoms of a certain disease can end up causing a reoccurance of said disease!
> Should I have toughed it out and continued on the 60mg dose?
> I wasnt willing to risk it.
> Perhaps the Prozac (fluoxetine) truly has finally pooped out after 26 years.?.
> Perhaps I get the optimum benefit of fluoxetine at a very slight dosage.?. (5mg or 10mg daily)
>
> Rudy
>Update 3/9/18:
Currently still taking fluoxetine @ 20mg daily.
Still feel like it isn't doing much, but after reading some horror stories about withdrawl effects beginning months after an SSRI is discontinued, it really gets me nervous!I'm going to speak with my pdoc about lowering dose to 10mg.
Rudy
poster:Ruuudy
thread:1006346
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20180212/msgs/1097235.html