![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lini on August 29, 2001, at 13:29:15
Been on prazac for about a month - enjoying the change in mood immensely, finally feel like life isn't going to bowl me over, but wanted to know if any one had any suggestions about the constant fatigue.I finally figured out how to eat and prevent heart burn, (thanks Mike) but am constantly tired. Is this normal? I am not used to needing this much sleep (like 10 hours!) and still exhausted by the afternoon. Help!
Posted by SalArmy4me on August 29, 2001, at 14:55:14
In reply to sleepy sleepy on prozac, posted by Lini on August 29, 2001, at 13:29:15
Add Wellbutrin.
Posted by Lini on August 29, 2001, at 15:09:28
In reply to Re: sleepy sleepy on prozac, posted by SalArmy4me on August 29, 2001, at 14:55:14
> Add Wellbutrin.
How much? And is it the Wellbutrin augmenting the prozac or prozac augmenting the Wellbutrin. I don't know anything about Wellbutrin,, but I will check it out. Thanks!
Posted by Cam W. on August 29, 2001, at 17:15:07
In reply to sleepy sleepy on prozac, posted by Lini on August 29, 2001, at 13:29:15
Lini - Talk to your doctor about this. This may be an indication that you Prozac™ (fluoxetine) dose may be too high. Your doc may want to keep you on your same dose, since drowiness on Prozac is a common side effect, and usually does disappear in the first 4 weeks of use. You may be just a little more sensitive to these side effects of the drug. Hang on a week or two more, if you can, to see if the drowsiness will ease.
In pharmacy these days, we (well some of us) are now using something called "pharmaceutical care", and we would rather solve a side effect without using other drugs. The drugs to treat the side effects have side effects of their own, and in some cases, docs then add another drug to treat those side effects. First, try non-pharmaceutical methods of controlling side effects (coffee in the morning, with your Prozac; or taking the Prozac in the evening - eg. suppertime).
I hope that this is of some help. - Cam
Posted by Lini on August 30, 2001, at 10:13:27
In reply to Re: sleepy sleepy on prozac » Lini, posted by Cam W. on August 29, 2001, at 17:15:07
> Lini - Talk to your doctor about this. This may be an indication that you Prozac™ (fluoxetine) dose may be too high. Your doc may want to keep you on your same dose, since drowiness on Prozac is a common side effect, and usually does disappear in the first 4 weeks of use. You may be just a little more sensitive to these side effects of the drug. Hang on a week or two more, if you can, to see if the drowsiness will ease.
>
> In pharmacy these days, we (well some of us) are now using something called "pharmaceutical care", and we would rather solve a side effect without using other drugs. The drugs to treat the side effects have side effects of their own, and in some cases, docs then add another drug to treat those side effects. First, try non-pharmaceutical methods of controlling side effects (coffee in the morning, with your Prozac; or taking the Prozac in the evening - eg. suppertime).
>
> I hope that this is of some help. - CamThanks Cam - I think you caught on to my hesitance to add any more drugs unless I have to. I am only on 20 mg of the prozac, and it took me over a year to even consider meds in the first place. I am going to wait out the drowsiness and see if a morning dose instead of an evening dose helps. Thanks for the advice, right now I am feeling really good, and since it is such a change, I am willing to be a tired happy person for a bit longer to figure this out. If wellbutrin ends up being necessary, well then thats what it is....but thanks for helping me understand the other options. I can see why so many people appreciate your help on this board!
-Lini
Posted by JAMMER on August 30, 2001, at 13:37:13
In reply to sleepy sleepy on prozac, posted by Lini on August 29, 2001, at 13:29:15
>
> Been on prazac for about a month - enjoying the change in mood immensely, finally feel like life isn't going to bowl me over, but wanted to know if any one had any suggestions about the constant fatigue.
>
> I finally figured out how to eat and prevent heart burn, (thanks Mike) but am constantly tired. Is this normal? I am not used to needing this much sleep (like 10 hours!) and still exhausted by the afternoon. Help!
>
Perhaps your body recovering overall from stress. talk to your doc.
-James
Posted by John O on August 30, 2001, at 23:22:55
In reply to Re: sleepy sleepy on prozac, posted by JAMMER on August 30, 2001, at 13:37:13
I have been on Prozac for 5 years. I started at 20 mg and worked up to 80 mg over time in order to maintain the same effects. Since tiredness has been a constant side effect, the high dosage left me nearly comatose!
To combat this, my doctor had me drop the dosage of Prozac and add Wellbutrin to the mix. This seemed to work for a while, but the depression returned. We then tried a Prozac/Alertec combo. Alertec is a drug used for narcolepsy, and the combination has been pretty good. Certainly my moods have been incredibly stable!
The fatigue is still there though. I can fall asleep in a matter of minutes and find myself nodding off at very inappropriate times! I'd like to know if anyone with similar symptoms has successfully switched completely from Prozac to something else.
Posted by SalArmy4me on August 30, 2001, at 23:47:27
In reply to Re: sleepy sleepy on prozac, posted by John O on August 30, 2001, at 23:22:55
Look into Modafinil.
Posted by John O on August 31, 2001, at 0:14:04
In reply to Re: sleepy sleepy on prozac » John O, posted by SalArmy4me on August 30, 2001, at 23:47:27
Thanks for the speedy reply!
Unfortunately, Alertec (the one I'm currently taking)is the same as Modafinil! I've tried the maximum daily dosage as well.
Posted by SalArmy4me on August 31, 2001, at 1:19:15
In reply to Re: sleepy sleepy on prozac, posted by John O on August 30, 2001, at 23:22:55
How about Adrafinil (olmifon) (http://www.smart-drugs.net/product-info/info-adrafinil.htm)?
Other stimulating drugs: (((((Reboxetine)))))
Meridia? Lamictal? Pindolol?What I would rank those are in terms of working most effectively for medication-induced drowsiness:
1) Methylphenidate (Ritalin)/Pemoline/Dextroamphetamine: (dopaminergic)
3) Adrafinil - Alpha1 NErgic
4) Reboxetine (noradrenergic)
5) Pindolol - 5HT1A
6) Meridia - norepinephrinergic like Effexor
7) Lamictal - ?
8) Bromocriptine (dopaminergic)
Posted by Zo on August 31, 2001, at 15:52:29
In reply to Re: sleepy sleepy on prozac » John O, posted by SalArmy4me on August 31, 2001, at 1:19:15
> What I would rank those are in terms of working most effectively for medication-induced drowsiness:
>
> 1) Methylphenidate (Ritalin)/Pemoline/Dextroamphetamine: (dopaminergic)If you're going to list the stimulants, wouldn't it make sense to include Adderall?
And perhaps omit Ritalin, which isn't much used for adults -- and with good reason.
Zo
Posted by SalArmy4me on August 31, 2001, at 16:05:02
In reply to Re: sleepy sleepy on prozac » SalArmy4me, posted by Zo on August 31, 2001, at 15:52:29
I think you mispoke when you said that Ritalin isn't used much in adults-- it is the most popular ADHD stimulant-type drug on the market.
"Prescriptions for the major product, methylphenidate (brand name Ritalin) had an average compound growth rate of 11% from 1995 to 1999." http://www.imshealthcanada.com/htmen/3_2_0.htm
Posted by Terlo on September 1, 2001, at 17:43:35
In reply to Re: sleepy sleepy on prozac » Zo, posted by SalArmy4me on August 31, 2001, at 16:05:02
> I think you mispoke when you said that Ritalin isn't used much in adults-- it is the most popular ADHD stimulant-type drug on the market.
>
> "Prescriptions for the major product, methylphenidate (brand name Ritalin) had an average compound growth rate of 11% from 1995 to 1999." http://www.imshealthcanada.com/htmen/3_2_0.htmI had been taking Ritalin for several years and just recently quit. It had become no more effective for me than caffeine. I'd feel better for a little while but eventually felt worse after a few hours. It didn't keep me from sleeping all afternoon either. Last month I switched from Zoloft (which was losing effectiveness after 5 years) to Prozac but now I am sleeping more than ever. I have also been taking Wellbutrin, which I stopped a few nights ago to see if that was contributing to the tiredness. I haven't noticed any difference at all. After reading numerous posts I am going to order Adrafinil and give it a try. I'm tired of sleeping my life away.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.