![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by KathrynLex on April 16, 2004, at 17:56:48
Hi Guys,
Several years ago I was taking Prozac for depression and loved it. Prozac was energizing and did wonders for my mood. Now I'm on Lexapro and Wellbutrin but find myself tired all the time.
I was wondering, has anyone found an antidepressant as energizing as Prozac? Thanks!
K.
Posted by lexman on April 16, 2004, at 19:14:35
In reply to Prozac...and what else?, posted by KathrynLex on April 16, 2004, at 17:56:48
> Hi Guys,
>
> Several years ago I was taking Prozac for depression and loved it. Prozac was energizing and did wonders for my mood. Now I'm on Lexapro and Wellbutrin but find myself tired all the time.
>
> I was wondering, has anyone found an antidepressant as energizing as Prozac? Thanks!
>
> K.Why not go back to Prozac.I am thinking about switching to Prozac because right now lexapro isnt working.I increased 2 weeks ago to 20 and i am still feeling side effects and i am still depressed.
Posted by collegeguy on April 16, 2004, at 22:46:18
In reply to Re: Prozac...and what else?, posted by lexman on April 16, 2004, at 19:14:35
If Prozac worked for you, why not go back to that? Just because it is an older medication doesn't mean it is any less good than the newer guys.
Another SSRI you might try though is Zoloft (sertraline hcl), because in addition to raising serotonin levels, it also raises to a much smaller degree dopamine levels (through dopamine reuptake inhibition) and is as a result often found to be on the more stimulating end of the SSRI family.
However, Wellbutrin is thought to be the most stimulating of all the antidepressants because it affects norepinephrine primarily, so it is slightly odd that you are tired on it, though everyone reacts differently to each med.
Back to the Prozac though--many people are not even lucky enough to find one drug that is adequate for them; if Prozac was a fantastic thing for you, you should not ignore it. If you had to discontinue due to side effects, that's another thing, but if it interacted well with you, definitely talk to your doctor about switching to it. Switching from Lexapro to prozac usually results in little to no withdrawal because they are both relatively long acting SSRIs and taper naturally from your bloodstream.
Posted by Doug Saving The Team on April 18, 2004, at 9:45:24
In reply to Re: Prozac...and what else?, posted by collegeguy on April 16, 2004, at 22:46:18
I am in a similar situation with the Prozac: I was on it for a couple years, switched to Wellbutrin is December due to apathy and sexual side effects. But I miss the confidence Prozac gave me. Perhaps I am a bit down and need a little of some other medication. Ideas? Non-SSRI meds that are good for confidence, anxiety, depression or a mix of those?
Thank you! :)
Doug
Posted by Doug Saving The Team on April 18, 2004, at 9:47:37
In reply to Re: Prozac...and what else?= switch due to apath?, posted by Doug Saving The Team on April 18, 2004, at 9:45:24
I should also say that while I was experiencing apathy, it was on 60 mg. I'm thinking about adding only 10 mg of Prozac to my 150 mg Wellbutrin XL. I think Prozac had a lot of benefits as far as mood. Ideas? Complex for me.
Best regards,
Doug
Posted by seanwrx on April 18, 2004, at 18:55:05
In reply to Re: Prozac...and what else?= switch due to apath?, posted by Doug Saving The Team on April 18, 2004, at 9:47:37
I had some luck a few years ago with Prozac, exercise and diet and Klonopin occasionally. I dance a fine line between anxiety and depression and they often merge, which is when I am at my worse. I have been taking 10mg of Prozac for a about a week and moved up to 20mg this weekend. I feel light-headed and spacey, but that could just be my anxiety - which either the Prozac isn't helping with or is making worse. Of course, it takes awhile to get working so I am waiting it out.
In what ways did the Prozac help with your mood (confidence, etc)? That's what I really need right now, is a boost of confidence thats sustainable for a few days at a time...its hard to keep climbing out of that black hole.
-s
Posted by KathrynLex on April 18, 2004, at 23:09:54
In reply to Re: Prozac...and what else?, posted by collegeguy on April 16, 2004, at 22:46:18
Hi Guys,
Thanks for the input. A few years ago I tried going back on Prozac and it wasn't nearly as effective. I have no idea why. Maybe I'll try again...because I really liked Prozac or maybe Zoloft will do the trick. I will ask my pdoc about it on my next visit.
Thanks again!
K.
Posted by KathrynLex on April 18, 2004, at 23:13:18
In reply to Re: Prozac...and what else?= switch due to apath?, posted by seanwrx on April 18, 2004, at 18:55:05
Hi Seanwrx,
You're probably a bit light headed because your body hasn't quite adjusted to the med yet. Give it about a week and you'll probably feel fine. In my case, Prozac gave me a boost out of my depression and helped me to become interested in things again. I stopped worrying as much, and just enjoyed things...even getting out of bed!
It helped my confidence because I stopped being afraid to approach people or call attention to myself. It was really, really wonderful and I'd love to get back to that. I hope you have a great experience with Prozac.
K.
Posted by Doug Saving The Team on April 19, 2004, at 22:19:14
In reply to Re: Prozac...and what else?= switch due to apath?, posted by seanwrx on April 18, 2004, at 18:55:05
Hi,
Yes, the confidence I got with Prozac was wonderful. I agree with the other poster: it gave me the ability to express myself in front of others in ways I couldn't have imagined before. Really terrific.
Before I go back to Prozac, I was thinking of giving Lexapro or Zoloft a go. Any users of Prozac tried either of these two and found them comparatively better for social anxiety or confidence?
Sincerely,
Doug
Posted by Joy on April 20, 2004, at 8:37:31
In reply to Re: Prozac...and what else?= switch due to apath? » seanwrx, posted by Doug Saving The Team on April 19, 2004, at 22:19:14
Doug,
I tried Zoloft which helps some people but I had a lot of problems with it. I like Prozac the best. We tried adding Wellbutrin, but I could not take it even after two days. I just went and stayed at 40 mgs Prozac and Im fine, no Wellbutrin, no nothing. I prefer Prozac to Zoloft hands down, but others may have a different opinion. I know others on Prozac and tried Wellbutrin adding and it didn't work for them either; too wound up. I find Prozac helps my confidence.
Joy
Posted by KathrynLex on April 20, 2004, at 11:46:35
In reply to Re: Prozac...and what else?= switch due to apath? » seanwrx, posted by Doug Saving The Team on April 19, 2004, at 22:19:14
Hi Doug,
For some people Lex is both energizing in addition to being a very effective anti-depressant and anti-anxiety med. I've found that it's wonderful as an anti-anxiety med, but it makes me VERY tired...although, adding Wellbutrin has helped with that.
It couldn't hurt to give it a try for a couple of months...if you didn't like it I don't think you'd have any problem switching from Lex right to Prozac.
K.
Posted by TexasChic on April 21, 2004, at 9:49:37
In reply to Re: Prozac...and what else?= switch due to apath? » seanwrx, posted by Doug Saving The Team on April 19, 2004, at 22:19:14
Lexapro didn't help me at all, and Prozac has been by far the best. Zoloft was pretty good to, but the Prozac gave me a lift I haven't gotten from any other SSRI. Of course everyone responds differently, and are looking for different things from the med. As for myself, I have hard to treat depression, and Prozac is what I needed. You'll just have to shop around.
Posted by Doug Saving The Team on April 21, 2004, at 12:16:15
In reply to Re: Prozac...and what else?= switch due to apath?, posted by TexasChic on April 21, 2004, at 9:49:37
Hey everyone,
Yeah, I'm just going to try Lexapro along with my Wellbutrin for a week or two, see how it goes. If it doesn't work, it's back to Prozac.
Now it's just a question of when do I start: right now I have finals for my college classes, etc. Not sure yet.
Best regards,
Doug
Posted by TexasChic on April 21, 2004, at 12:31:18
In reply to Re: Prozac...and what else?= switch due to apath?, posted by TexasChic on April 21, 2004, at 9:49:37
I forgot to say I'm taking 150mg Wellbutrin XR along with my 40mg Prozac. So far so good, except that the Wellbutrin causes me to clench my jaw sometimes, and because of my already existing jaw problems, it can be pretty painful. But I'm trying to mentally control the clenching, and the Wellbutrin does give you a boost, so I'm going to stick with it for now.
Posted by Doug Saving The Team on April 22, 2004, at 20:35:34
In reply to Re: Prozac...and what else?= switch due to apath? » Doug Saving The Team, posted by Joy on April 20, 2004, at 8:37:31
Hi,
People say they get confidence from Prozac -- does anyone think they achieve similar confidence from any other SSRIs? I ask because I just started Lexapro and it is nice, but I'm not sure if it's the same confidence as Prozac. Comments specifically on whether you achieved confidence on other SSRIs are helpful, particularly from people who have been on Prozac and other SSRIs like Lexapro. Thanks! :)
Doug
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.