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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mandmitch on July 7, 2001, at 11:50:42
I have been on antidepressants since I was 17 - I am now 33. I've been on and off prozac for 12 years (intermediately taking temazepam, diazepam, librium, chlorpromazine (for 6 months, ten years ago), various tricyclics, cipramil, lustral etc.,. I suffered anorexia & bulimia from age 11-29 and chronic depression with a psychotic period. At 30 I had my child. I separated from her father and am now remarried. We've been together 3 years and my daughter is now 4. My moods swing dramatically over short or long periods - from elation to total blankness - with over emotional & erratic behaviour predominant. My husband, along with previous partners, hates me on prozac - although I feel great. I know that my behaviour is over the top, but I have no control over it,especially during 'bad'patches or on SSRIs (especially prozac). I want to feel good like I do on it without affecting those around me.
MOVEMENT DISORDER ALERT!...I first experienced this on prozac in 1996 - chorea & distonia like movements lasting up to 3 hours. This carried on for over 5 weeks - I was on prozac at the time. I was not under any undue stress at the time but the hospital (QMC, Nottingham, England) Neurology department put it down to my head - dissotiative disorder. I felt differenlty. I was prescribed diazepam to calm the muscles during a seizure. After a heavy & unusually painful menstruation, the movement disorder ceased. A few months later it started again. 6 weeks later, having been prescibed temazepam as well, I overdosed through severe desparation and discovered I was pregnant. I stopped all the drugs over night and the movement disorder stopped. I have since experienced a handful of similar episodes. I have since had very little faith in the medical profession. But my problems still persist. I am now recovered from eating disorders (prior to getting pregnant, and down to physical chest seizures during purging). I am now coming off prozac again or my marriage will end but I need help.I can't cope with any outside stress, hate being out of my "safe" environment of home and can't cope at all in social situations involving more than 2 (max) people (with or without prozac). I have long standing family issues which I thought I had dealt with, but seem to come out latantly in some sort of "freaky black-out" times - not necessarily linked to alcohol intake - although I admit that I consume more than the RDA, and have previously resorted to it to get me out of this hell. I now only drink wine - enough to calm me but not take over me.
I have heard of the new atypical drugs (clozapine,quetiapine,risperidone) which are not widely prescribed in our country due to the cost. I am dying for an accurate diagnosis and medication as my problem seems to metamorphise. I know I can't take prozac (or,possibly any SSRI) again but they have been the only drugs that make ME feel ok (despite the side effects). I have taken 4 overdoses before and never thought I'd contemplate it again after giving birth to my wonderful child, but I keep on getting the urge now - especially if my husband leaves me (cos of Prozac) and have taken myself off it today but will collect my next prescription in 2 days to store for overdose if I need it. Also thinking about getting a Librium detox (from alchohol)from Dr to store for same purpose - so peaceful - so selfish - I am so tired of listening to what I've done wrong. My daughter is happy, healthy and full of love. If I lose my husband (after losing so many others through my problem) I'm really not sure I can cope. She would have good people to take care of her. I would miss her, but HELP! I don't want to lose him & her to my problem. I desparately need the right help. Any advice please?
Posted by shelliR on July 7, 2001, at 12:00:54
In reply to Please Help!, posted by mandmitch on July 7, 2001, at 11:50:42
What country are you in? Has anyone suggested mood stabilizers for you, e.g. lithium or limictal? Why can't you get a diagnosis?
Shelli
Posted by SalArmy4me on July 7, 2001, at 12:59:53
In reply to Please Help!, posted by mandmitch on July 7, 2001, at 11:50:42
Let's talk on AOL Instant Messenger. My screenname is "SalArmy4me" of course.
Posted by mandmitch on July 7, 2001, at 13:06:16
In reply to Re: Please Help! » mandmitch, posted by shelliR on July 7, 2001, at 12:00:54
I'm under the previously brilliant NHS in the UK -England. My latest 'shrink' (first in 6 years) has recently suggested carbamazepine, although without any definite diagnosis. He seems to be interested, although he may be leaving for better shores in 2 sessions' time.
The side effects are less than Lithium but still pretty bad. I can't handle putting on weight amongst the other stuff. I don't want to take it.
I have stopped prozac (again) ,abruptly, without medical help yesterday, and am feeling so tearful, weak and sad, amongst the physical stuff.I can't lose my husband and daughter - I haven't eaten all day because of the adrenalin running through me.
Posted by mandmitch on July 7, 2001, at 13:13:20
In reply to Re: Please Help!, posted by SalArmy4me on July 7, 2001, at 12:59:53
I don't have AOL Instant Messanger. But thank you so much for answering.
Posted by shelliR on July 7, 2001, at 13:20:38
In reply to Re: Please Help!, posted by mandmitch on July 7, 2001, at 13:06:16
> I'm under the previously brilliant NHS in the UK -England. My latest 'shrink' (first in 6 years) has recently suggested carbamazepine, although without any definite diagnosis. He seems to be interested, although he may be leaving for better shores in 2 sessions' time.
> The side effects are less than Lithium but still pretty bad. I can't handle putting on weight amongst the other stuff. I don't want to take it.
> I have stopped prozac (again) ,abruptly, without medical help yesterday, and am feeling so tearful, weak and sad, amongst the physical stuff.I can't lose my husband and daughter - I haven't eaten all day because of the adrenalin running through me.Is lamictal available in the UK? It is also a mood stabilizer with very few side effects. You have to start slowly (because a toxic rash can occur), but then it is pretty smooth sailing. I retained too much fluid with it, but generally folks do not gain weight. Can you ask your doctor why he has you on prozac, when obviously you have a mood disorder other than just depression? Man, we complain about our medical system in the US, but it seems so frustrating for mental health in the UK.
Shelli
Posted by shelliR on July 7, 2001, at 13:29:22
In reply to Re: Please Help!, posted by mandmitch on July 7, 2001, at 13:06:16
Actually, I should explain that lamictal is a drug originally tested for epilepsy, that seems to work really well for mood disorders. But I know, in the UK, it is harder to get a doctor to prescribe off-label, that is to use a drug tested for one disorder, for a disorder not related, even if it proves very helpful.
Shelli
Posted by MM on July 7, 2001, at 13:29:24
In reply to Re: Please Help! » mandmitch, posted by shelliR on July 7, 2001, at 13:20:38
I know you want to get off of the prozac because of all the problems it's causing, but doing it so quickly might cause more. If you have a stash of it, you should taper off of it over like 2 weeks (or longer). I don't know if you can still do this (is this your second day off of prozac?). Anyone who knows more about this should post. You could also check out the tele-psycho-babble part of dr.bob's site which talks about online/telephone psychiatry, and MAYBE you could find someone better? You could also MAYBE find a site where you can get a mood stabilizer without a prescription, but I'm not saying you should do that. YOu have to be careful, and if you do that you have to do a lot of research. I think that Neurontin is a fairly safe mood stabilizer (meaning that it doesn't require blood tests). I'm not a psychiatrist or anything, I'm a complete lay person, so don't take just my word tho.
Posted by mandmitch on July 7, 2001, at 13:51:39
In reply to Re: Please Help!, posted by MM on July 7, 2001, at 13:29:24
Thank you so much for listening. i'm tired and need to fulfill the rest of my demands for the day. My husband is reading my daughter a story - a rare occurrance.
I am off the stuff, but I know i need something.
keep in touch, although I don't have constant access to the internet.
Take care
Posted by jojo on July 7, 2001, at 21:19:46
In reply to Please Help!, posted by mandmitch on July 7, 2001, at 11:50:42
You might look into buprenorphine.
Posted by mandmitch on July 8, 2001, at 7:22:57
In reply to Re: Please Help!, posted by jojo on July 7, 2001, at 21:19:46
I have looked up buprenorphine and it doesn't seem to list the problems I have. Please tell me why you feel it might help. I am in the UK - maybe things are different in your country. Thanks for your response.
This is the end of the thread.
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