Life after Prozac........has anyone experienced this?

[BernieBear]

Hi, I was on Prozac to combat pnd for about 9 months coming off them around last September and having counselling. However I am so very tired all the time. My parents are worried because they say it is not "normal" to be so exhausted all the time. But I do feel that as a single mother, working part time and caring for a VERY active ds (nearly 3yrs) that it is understandable. I am free of the depression (I think) still see a counsellor but that is now about once a month because there doesn't seem a lot to sort out anymore (just nice to talk about something other than ds for a change) and am coping quite well (as humanly possible ).

My question is, is there evidence to suggest that it can take longer than expected to recover i.e. is the exhaustion still the after effects of depression/prozac, or understandable considering my circumstances, or somthing more sinister? (I had pnd for about 2 years and my counsellor thinks I was depressed well before that)

Basically about 3-4 nights a week I am in bed at about 7.30 - 8.00 reading a book and the other nights I am either catching up on something i have videoed or washing up etc and going to bed at 9pm. Usually asleep on both counts about 9.30. Get up at about 6.30 with ds. But am exhausted most of the day, although mornings I am pretty bouncy. Ds has never been a good sleeper and still has me up once a night (occasionally more). He goes to bed in his bed, and now comes across the landing to get into my bed in middle of night. I don't mind this as it means my sleep isn't that disturbed as it used to be.

Any thoughts, experiences. Can I tell my parents to "back off"?????

It's hardly surprising that you're tired as a single, working mother with a child who doesn't sleep very well!

I don't know of any link between Prozac and fatigue, although depression can make you tired all the time. But you say you feel you're clear of depression, and having suffered with it for so long I think you need to trust your gut feeling on that.

I think the first thing to do is see the GP to make sure there isn't a physical reason for the tiredness. Underactive thyroid, anaemia and diabetes are among the conditions which can make you tired all the time, and it would be as well to get yourself checked out for those. Thyroid in particular is worth considering as in women it commonly starts after the birth of a baby, can cause depression, and is all too often misdiagnosed as PND.