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Original poster

Prozac/Fluoxetine are they one in the same?

28 replies

Ohbuggerpnd · 23/03/2004 16:35

Have been pescribed Fluoxetine and would appreciate hearing fom anyone else who takes them.

Bit worried as he said may make me tired, and im tired enough already! Also i see alot of people refer to the tablets as Prozac, are they one in the same?

Have posted under a different name

OP posts:
MrsGrump · 23/03/2004 16:37

Oh Good, chance to use my brand new Hales book (breastfeeding & meds)! Yes Fluoxetine is same as Prozac, it says.

harman · 23/03/2004 16:49

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Ohbuggerpnd · 23/03/2004 16:59

Just feel scared to admit it, not even gonna tell Dp, although i think he has guessed as being extra nice to me. Ive always been a very strong, independant person so i guess i feel a little weak and vunerable at moment

OP posts:
harman · 23/03/2004 17:06

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Ohbuggerpnd · 23/03/2004 17:20

Oh thanx Harman, how sweet of you. Wouldnt say i gave out good advice but i try.w One Mumsnetter knows i think and i will come clean, just need a bit of time at moment as on such a downer with myself.

Sorry about your Dh and i know he will be great but it feels like a big step to say 'I HAVE PND'.

I was ok when i thought i had it but to have it confirmed when 4 weeks ago i was told it wasnt is a bit of a shock.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ohbuggerpnd · 23/03/2004 17:20

Meant My dp will be great, cant vouch fot yours

OP posts:
CookieMonster · 24/03/2004 08:23

Hi, I'm a fellow Prozac taker! This is my third spell of taking it - took it for 12 months prior to getting pregnant in 2000, again for about 14 months after dd was born (PND) and started again last month.
When I first took Prozac I couldn't sleep and my appetite disappeared completely, but that only lasted a few weeks and then I felt loads better. I think it will have different side effects on different people but the main thing is that once your body has adjusted you will begin to feel better.
Please don't feel as though you're weak ... this is a proper recognised illness, very common and very treatable. There's certainly going to be plenty of support for you here over the coming weeks while you're still coming terms with what you have. Don't struggle with it alone - even if you can't talk to dp, do come here and write about it, I promise you it will help.
Take care of yourself, big hugs CM xx

Original poster
ohbuggerpnd · 24/03/2004 14:25

Do you know why you couldnt sleep as this is one of my main worries as im exhausted already, so dont want to be more tired. Doc said it should pass but if not to go back. Had my very last breastfeed last night and took tablet like a secret junkie this morning.

Thankyou for everyones help and advice, i know its common and i know not my fault but still hard to admit. Im sure once the tablets kick in ill feel strong enough to admit it

OP posts:
Kayleigh · 24/03/2004 14:47

ohbuggerpnd, so sorry to hear you are feeling down. I take Prozac/Fluoxetine.
I had PND after ds2 and was given something else by my GP but didn't stay on them long enough (or that's what my consultant reckons). I got very depressed again last oct/nov time and got myself referred to a specialist. I have been taking Prozac since dec and feel 100% better. I don't have any "symptoms" that I know of. Yes, I'm tired - but I have two children and I work. So I think that's probably why I'm tired.
I was told to take mine in the evening with my evening meal. Did your GP tell you to take them in the morning ?

susanmt · 24/03/2004 14:50

Are you stopping breastfeeding because of prozac? As far as I am aware there is no need to stop - MrsGrump and her Hale book will tell you (waiting for mine to come).
If its not, there are alternatives - I've been pregnant and breastfed on Sertraline, a similar antidepressant, and it is generally thought to be perfectly safe.
Sorry if you're giving up for another reason, btu I found continuing to breasfeed as a really good thing when I was depressed - something I could do for my children (I had pnd with all 3) that no-one else could.

Original poster
ohbuggerpnd · 24/03/2004 14:59

Kaylieg Gp said morning also he advised me to give up breatsfeeding aswell which i was doing anyway for other reasons and was down to just morning and evening feeds. So not too upset about that alhough will miss it as they were my bonding moments

OP posts:
CookieMonster · 24/03/2004 15:20

the not sleeping side effect lasted for about 2 weeks with me. It was really strange because although I couldn't sleep I wasn't tired at all - it was as if pure adrenaline kept me going. Then after 2 weeks it all caught up on me and I nearly collapsed (I remember it well because dh and I were climbing the Arc de Triomphe at the time!). But my sleeping habits then sorted themselves out and I was fine. I have to add that this was pre children so there was nothing else really to make me tired - wouldn't be keen on having those symptoms now with a lively 3 year old to cope with.

Kayleigh · 24/03/2004 15:33

I'm wondering what the reasoning is behind taking them morning or evening. Anyone know ?

Original poster
ohbuggerpnd · 24/03/2004 19:40

Id like to know this aswell please, anyone?

OP posts:
charlieplus3 · 24/03/2004 19:54

Has Mrs Grump anything in her book regarding this?

CookieMonster · 25/03/2004 08:11

sorry ohbuggerpnd, no idea. My gp has never told me to take them at any particular time of day so I take them last thing at night.

charlieplus3 · 25/03/2004 08:18

Dunno if physcological or not, but i could not get to sleep last night and woke about 4 times.

charlieplus3 · 25/03/2004 08:18

Bugger didnt change name, never mind

tillymint · 25/03/2004 22:12

Hi fellow prozac mums.
Afraid I need the happy pills too. Had them first following ectopic, and again for pnd following birth of dd2 last July. Am 17+weeks pg now and still on them. There are no reported risks. Just chance of a lower birth weight and slightly early. Since both mine were induced 'cos they were late, and dd2 was 9.5ibs - I'm not concerened.

I take it in morning with food. My sil was advised to take hers at night due to tiredness. I'm tired 'cos I'm 41, pregnant and with a baby and child.!!!

Took me 2weeks to settle into them, nausea was biggest side effect. But now they're great. Daft really, 'cos I won't take a headache tablet or lemsip when I'm pregnant - but will pop a happy pill.

Heyho ! Happy days!!

tillymint · 25/03/2004 22:14

Oh forgot to say,
Apparantly depression is more prevalent in intelligent people. So don't be ashamed - some people are too daft to get it!!
Makes me feel better about myself anyway

MrsGrump · 26/03/2004 06:53

Sorry, in the book about breastfeeding or about time of day? Anecdotally, I thought Prozac (unlike most anti-depressents) was a bit of an "upper", so since it could give you more energy or anxiety and keep you awake, you were advised to take it in the morning. Anyway, happy to look it up about breastfeeding, which is better than anecdotal! Hales (the God on these matters) says (juggling 2yo DD on my lap)...

Zoloft=Lustral=Sertraline or Paroxetine=Paxil=Seroxat are a better choice for breastfeeding mothers, with minimal transmission into the milk or other negative effects associated with them. Problems with breastfeeding mothers taking Prozac are not severe, but several poor indicators reported: lower weight gain in the infants, some suggestion of colic & fussiness, seizures. Hales advises that some other problems may occur using Prozac that also can interfere with breastfeeding, like nipple numbness. However, Hales also reckons if you start the Prozac after the infant is 6 months old the risks of any of these problems are much lower, though. HTH.

kizzie · 26/03/2004 12:08

Tillymint - thank goodness for that. i may have needed AD's but at least im obviously highly intelligent

Good luck with the pregnancy.
Kizziex

Kayleigh · 26/03/2004 12:13

Charlieplus3, you should never change your name - it all gets too confusing. Be depressed and be proud I say

And it also proves how intelligent we are

CookieMonster · 26/03/2004 12:44

tillymint ... I must be extra intelligent then :0 thanks for that, it's really cheered me up!

CookieMonster · 26/03/2004 13:03

Charlieplus3, how did you sleep last night? Hope it was better than the one before ...

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