Prozac - how quickly does it work ?

[downinthedumps]

I had PND after dd2 and was on anti depressants -liofapramine(sp?)for around 7 months. She is now almost 2 and lately I have been feeling very down again.
I went back to my doctor who says that possibly I didn't take the AD's for long enough last time, or i have a longer than average bout of PND.
Depression does run in my family so thre may be a hereditary connection aswell.

He has put me on Prozac, 1 x 20mg tablet per day and said it would take around 2 weeks for the tablets to kick in. But I have to say after just 5 days I feel a bit better.
I have two questions, firstly do you think they work this quickly and if so will i be as high as a kite by the two week stage ?
and secondly should i be aware of any side effects - I feel ok at the moment - no nausea or anything.

Thanks

anyone ?

Sorry, I don't have any personal experience, but a friend who I supported through something similar was told 3 weeks, but started to notice an effect after a week as far as I remember. I don't think it necessarily means you will be as high as a kite, there must be loads of individual variation in the way people react to drugs. Hope you feel REALLY better very soon!

I was on Prozac for a short time whilst at college. It worked quite quickly for me as well - think after about 1 week. I must say I had no side effects other than when drinking alcohol (which I am not sure you are supposed to do whilst taking them). I found if I drank whilst on them it effected me more - two glasses of wine would make me drunk!!
I also came off them quite easily as well (phased them out) - which is a plus as I know some anti depressants can be very addictive. I know though - your doctor has probably said this as well - you shouldnt just stop taking them at any point - you have to cut them out gradually.
I beleive that the side effects could include headaches, skin rashes and lack of balance! I didnt have any and I think like with all medication these are a minimal risk. But obviously if you start getting any of these see your doctor.
Hope this makes sense as I am typing in a rush! Let me know how you get on. xx

When I went on prozac it was about 3 weeks until I started feeling any better...then about 3 months later went down like a lead ballon, so went up to 40mg...same thing then went up to 60mg...lasted for 3 years then same thing psychiatist crazier that I am wanted to put me on 80mg..so switched.

Never had any side effects with Prozac, if you were going to get them you probably would have begun to notice them by now.

Quite often people feel better after beginning ADs because they feel like they are regaining some sort of control/balance back. But different strokes for different folks, you could be feeling some chemical effect already. You tend to level out at a certain stage, so you may not get ridiculously happy, but stay where you are or get a bit better.

I went on Lofepramine but it made me hear voices.

Sorry not much help huh?

But I hope you continue to feel better. Take care

pie xxx

Possible side effects:

Side-effects of the SSRIs include gastro-intestinal effects (dose?related and fairly common?include nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, constipation), anorexia with weight loss (increased appetite and weight gain also reported) and hypersensitivity reactions including rash (consider discontinuation?may be sign of impending serious systemic reaction, possibly associated with vasculitis), urticaria, angioedema, anaphylaxis, arthralgia, myalgia and photosensitivity; other side-effects include dry mouth, nervousness, anxiety, headache, insomnia, tremor, dizziness, asthenia, hallucinations, drowsiness, convulsions , galactorrhoea, sexual dysfunction, urinary retention, sweating, hypomania or mania , movement disorders and dyskinesias, visual disturbances, hyponatraemia (may be due to inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion), and cutaneous bleeding disorders including ecchymoses and purpura. Suicidal ideation has been linked with SSRIs but causality has not been established.

Side effects of Prozac:

possible changes in blood sugar, fever, neuroleptic malignant syndrome-like event; also reported (no causal relationship established): abnormal bleeding, aplastic anaemia, cerebrovascular accident, ecchymoses, eosinophilic pneumonia, gastro-intestinal haemorrhage, haemolytic anaemia, pancreatitis, pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia, thrombocytopenic purpura, vaginal bleeding on withdrawal, violent behaviour; hair loss also reported

Its should say all this in the leaflet with your medication. BUT companies have to put every side effect reported, most are very very rare. Nausea and dizziness are the most common I think.

Thank you, I really appreciate your help.

MincePie,(love the name change by the way) I did read the blurb in the packet but I know they sort of cover all the bases with the side effects. I mean "anorexia with weight loss (increased appetite and weight gain also reported)" - for goodness sake !! So it helps to hear from "real" people who have taken it.

I am just so relieved that I can already feel a difference. I didn't know how i was going to get through the school holiday and xmas the way I was feeling. I am starting to feel a bit more positive about it all now.

I was put on them in the summer by my GP as I was utterly exhausted and had reached the end of the line.

I was signed of work for 3 weeks to recover and 1 x 20mg per day. I found they kicked in after about 3 weeks. They don't make me high, but make me less stressed and able to cope with screaming children without me screaming at them.

DH says he notices the difference that I shout at them less, argue with him much less and am generally calmer. I don't feel addicted to them and sometimes do forget to take them for a few days without many problems.

Along side this I have changed my diet to improve it and try and cope with the thirdness. I went to see a dietatian, and now am on a no coffee, no alcohol, no refined sugar, wholewheat carbs, eggs 3 times per week, fish 3 times per week, etc and have found this makes a huge difference as well.

In addition the best thing about being on it is that I have manged to shift all post baby weight and am now down to my pre-children size 8.

I felt a difference after only a few days, and lost a bit of wieght, but for me it made a real difference and after about 4 months first tims (after diagnosis of ME) and after 6 months 2nd time (6 years later after 3 miscarriages and an ectopic) I came off with no problems.
Good luck and don't listen to people who are scare mongers (they have never had this sort of problem!!)