Taking Prozac

[lilv]

I suffer from seriously bad PMS and it has taken me years of trying all sorts of things with no success to finally and reluctantly give in to anti depressants. I've been perscribed Prozac on a two weeks on two weeks off basis (two weeks on leading up to period). Someone has just told me that Prozac has to be taken continuosly to have any effect. Does anyone know if this is true? I've made another appointment to discuss this with the doc but that's not for another week and I would like to know asap. Also, anyone out there had any positive experiences with Prozac? All the information I've come accross is so negative and making me very nervous about taking it.

[secretspirit]

Hi, I take prozac (under its other name fluoxetine) for depression and I've had no problems. To be honest I've not heard of being told to take it on a two week on - two week off basis as it can take a couple of weeks to kick in properly but then I'm no doctor!

I felt awful before I went on the tablets, very depressed and low and considering suicide but since I've been on them I just feel "normal", which is amazing in comparison. I think it's a relatively safe drug from what I've experienced and read and the GP is fine with me taking it during pregnancy which is usually a good indication of whether something is harmful or not.

If I were you I'd give it a go. I was very unwilling to go onto medication for my condition but it was the best thing I could have done to improve my quality of life.

[lilv]

Thanks for your advice Secretspirit, I have started taking it and feel okish, a bit dopey and low but at least nothing like I usually am before a period. Let's hope this is the thing that works for me! Not sure if your pregnancy is present or past but congratulations on that! All the best to you.

[Hans_Olo]

Needs be taken continuosly for depression but can be taken for the last 2 weeks of the cycle for PMS - works well!

[Disco_Diva73]

Prozac does get a lot of bad press, but I've been taking it for severe depression for over two years, and have had no side effects, well, no obvious ones anyway! The only thing I would warn you about, is as you will be taking on and off, you may get a 'pins and needles' type feeling in your arms. This happened to me when I forgot to take my tablets for a few days, and was obviously a 'withdrawal sympton' from not taking it. It cam sometimes feel like very small electric shocks inside your arms, but this only lasts for a little while. Good luck with it, and hope it works for you

[lilv]

Discodiva, thanks for your reply, it's good to know it's working for you and others and that I'm not just (possibly) throwing myself down an even slipier slope. Due to start round two on Sunday - fingers crossed it'll go well.