More Prozac? Has depression come back?

[whethergirl]

I have suffered depression on and off for years, and have been taking 20mg Prozac for the last few years (took it many years before that but had a break).

I'm now just wondering if I should up the dose to 40mg (after talking to my doc obviously).

I posted the other day on lone parents, because I said I was dreading summer hols because I have DS all day long, 7 days a week (no contact with father). I got a rather curt reply from a working lone mum saying I should count myself lucky, she would love to spend 6 wks with her kids, and asked if I was depressed. It upset me and I can't stop thinking about it.

I do feel low sometimes, it comes in waves but normally it's short lived and I can cope with it, but it seems a lot worse lately. I do however, have extremely bad PMT which I do find hard to cope with.

Symptoms I have and recognise from previous depression episodes are extreme tiredness, feeling weepy, snapping at ds, having litte enthusiasm and feeling overwhelmed and feeling like I've got no friends/no-one likes me - which I know is not true.

However I am somewhat hesitant about upping my dose, and wonder if I should leave it a while. Or will it get worse? Does anyone have any experience of being on Prozac and having to up the dose?

I just want to point also, that my friends don't seem to have noticed anything and think I'm as happy and lively as always. I think one reason for this is because I do try and make the best of it and really try not to wallow. Also I always feel a bit more uplifted when around friends.

Would really appreciate any help/advice/experience, I really don't want to go down that dark spiral again.

I am on prozac too, I've only been taking it for a week or two though. In your shoes I would definitely talk to your doctor.

Also maybe look at stuff like diet and exercise and vitamins and all that crap stuff.

I've started taking an iron supplement as I am a weak weedy anaemic sort, and I definitely feel less tired and a bit more capable of getting through the day.

Admittedly I have to force myself to exercise but it does make me feel better.

Hope the prozac helps you ManicPanic, it really helped me when I first started taking it. I do excercise regularly - that does make a big difference.

Funny enough, I'm anaemic too, been taking iron pills prescribed by my doctor. A friend of mine told me they had a free consultation done by a Solgar vitamin expert at her local health shop, and she said it was brilliant, he really knew his stuff. I tried at my local health shops but my Holland & Barratt don't do it, and I've been waiting ages to hear back from the other one, so will now make an effort to go to another health shop - or even pay to see a consultant. Thanks for reminding me....I know that certain vitamin B deficiencies can bring on depression.

Can I just say that, althought it's difference for everyone, when I first started taking Prozac, during the 2nd or 3rd week I felt really strange and off balance, and anxious but I just perservered and those feelings settled down. It's normal, just your body adjusting to a new drug, so don't panic! And then...all of a sudden a heavy burden lifts and you feel like your old self again!

I do feel a bit better now than I did earlier, so will keep an eye on myself, might just be a bit of blip I'm experiencing. It's easy to worry that the depression is coming back, which causes anxiety and it's a vicious circle.

Ignore other comment from the other board. 6 weeks, on your own, with little one, is bloody hard work. You have every right to feel worried about coping with it!

Higher doses of prozac usually reserved for eating disorders (where it's given at 60mg) - it's most effective at 20mg for depression, unlike some other antidepressants. If you are dipping again in mood, see GP who may refer you to psychiatrist for a medication assessment, and they can augment the medication with an addition if needed.

Having the fear that the depression will come back can be terrifying in itself. Do you have access to any talking therapies via your GP? May help for mild to moderate depression and anxiety, and they can refer to IAPT quickly and there's usually a very short waiting list?

Just a few thoughts. Hope you're ok today :-)

Thank you InFlames. It's strange, I have felt absoloutely fine since yesterday. Well I say fine, at times I have felt REALLY happy, not sure if that's a mood swing thing or just the relief/contrast of feeling down. All I can say is that when I feel down, it's very real and very scary. I just think, oh please, NO, everything is going fine, PLEASE don't come back to haunt me.

But it's strange (and disconcerting) how I can feel so completely depressed for a day and back to 'normal' the next. Not sure if these waves of depression are a sign that it's coming back though? And only a matter of time til the next wave?

Re the other thread, I feel a bit about that now, wish I'd stuck up for myself rather than hiding the thread and thinking I'm an ungrateful bad mother! The good thing is, I am aware the Summer hols may cause me some stress, so I am going to make a plan of action and think about what I can do to help myself.

I haven't seen any therapists for years, I suppose I feel a bit "been there, done that" and well aware of CBT techniques. But wish I could talk to someone when the episodes occur. If I see my doc about referring me, then I'm kind of stuck with a therapist and sometimes I won't feel the need to go.

Thanks for checking in on me

That's ok :-) Hope it helps a bit.

Re: feeling depressed then ok - that's totally normal, but when you've been through a major depression even 1 day of feeling moderately low is enough tofreak you out totally. Depression is hideous, and it's normal to feel terrified of it coming back full blown and relentless. It sounds easier than it is, but sometimes riding the wave and letting it happen, being very kind to yourself 9as kind as you can be with a lttile one anyway!) and not battering yourself during those times can help a bit - so thinking 'This Too Will Pass' and staying away from anything except self-soothing situations / events.

Asking GP to refer to a CMHT (community mental health team) won't mean being stuck with enforced sessions with a therapist necessarily - more likely, they will see you for an assessment and ak what help you want - having a Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN) can be a flexible arrangement where when you're good, you have minimal 'checking in' contact and when you're low, they can up the input. And they're there not only for CBT but general support and medication monitoring too. Might be helpful to know if things dip persistently again. Also, if things get very very low, your GP can refer you to the local Crisis Team, who can intervene within a few hours to provide short term support and medication management - I know this as I worked with one for years, and we were great for the brief support that people sometimes need before they naturally or chemcially pick up again :-) (I think we were great anyway, sure not everyone saw us that way!!!)

Sounds like you're doing everything right with regards Summer Hols - is there any sort of play scheme you can access locally (not sure if that'd be an option financially but there are sometimes payment support schemes in place, esp with medical reasons). Might help to just have a break even one day a week?

Hope you;re having a peaceful evening :-)

Yes, you really understand, it's obvious you've worked in this field.

You're right, I think that when I'm feeling alright, I'm very capeable, can absorb and enjoy a busy/hectic lifestyle, am proactive and like to make the most of my day.....so I just need to remember that when I start feeling down, I need to slow the pace down and shift gear. It is so important to be aware of this and be extra kind to myself, for example to have a guilt free daytime nap if I want to, eat whatever I want without counting calories, going for a walk, listening to a hynosis cd, and allowing myself not to have to have a 'constructive' day....and helping my mood, instead of trying to ignore it or fight it.

I will definitely see my GP about registering with the CMHT, that would be brilliant support for me, and I wouldn't feel so alone next time which makes it so much worse. I remember now I had this years ago when I became pregnant (and gave up prozac at the same time). It also gives me something to do that I know is a step in the right direction, sometimes it's hard to think straight when you feel depressed and you become unsure of what to do.

Re Summer hols, a couple of my friends are taking their ds (who are in the same class as my ds) to a daytime playscheme which is partially funded, so is incredibly cheap. I think once a week there would help so much....only thing is my ds can get a bit funny about going to places without me! I've tried to take him there before, but he refused to go, claiming he would miss me too much. But thinking about it now, I think I will be more insistent (and start talking about it now to explain this will be part of the summer hols) as it's very important for both of us.

Thank you so much InFlames, you've been very helpful

No prob :-) let me know how you get on x