Guest guest Posted July 15, 2001 Report Share Posted July 15, 2001 Judie, Around 8 years ago I went through a really bad break up and I was having a hard time getting through it. One of my friends collected her prozac in jars when she didn't feel like taking it. She gave me a months supply at her dosage. I started taking it. For 30 days I had more energy than I knew what to do with I lost over 30 pounds without even trying. I was in love with this drug. It made me feel fantastic and I was losing weight. I asked my doctor to prescribe Prozac for me. He did but he said that the dose I was taking was far too high for the average person. I continued taking the same dose and enjoying it only sleeping about 5 hours a night but feeling great about myself and my life. Then everything came to a crashing halt. The wonderful prozac that had been my friend became the enemy that I couldn't see. I began sleeping 14-16 hours a day. I woke up long enough to go to work and to eat. The rest of the time I slept in a comatose mode. Everyone around me was worried but I couldn't understand their worry because I was happy and all I wanted to do was sleep. My appetite returned to normal so for the 8 hours a day that I was awake I stuffed my face constantly and I felt so good about myself that my weight did not concern me. My doctor tried reducing the dose to adjust my side effects and that did not help. It took me two months and a lot of work to get away from Prozac. Would I do it again knowing what I know now? I can't say. Because I am not what anyone would call clinically depressed Prozac was more than I could handle. But I do remember that feelling of extreme exuberance. And if that feeling couldbe classified as normal I might consider it. But I would not want to go back to sleeping 16 hours a day. But for that period of time when I just couldn't cope with the break-up the Prozac got me through. I have since learned not to entertwine my identity so much with anothers so that the loss of that person totally devastates me to the point of leaving me feeling as though I couldn't go on. I am in a healthy non-co-dependant relationship now. My finace knows that I love him but he also knows that I won't take any of that mind trip garbage and that anytime he wants to walk the door is open. Yes it would hurt and I would cry but I wouldn't be emotionally destroyed. In short a long answer to a short question. For some people Prozac is the answer and should not be ruled out. But there should be some depression issues there to start out. Oh and my friend was taking Prozac becuase she has always been a severe anorexic. I just don't get that one. > > - NATIONAL > > > > It's official - Prozac is the new weapon in the > > battle against the bulge The antidepressant Prozac > > may have another role: helping obese people to lose > > weight when diet and exercise fail. Evidence for its > > usefulness in weight loss, even in people who are > > not depressed, is included in a new edition of > > Therapeutic Guidelines, in which Australian doctors > > assess world scientific literature to make > > recommendations about treatments. " We're not > > looking to suddenly have every fat person on [an > > antidepressant], " said the chairman of the writing > > group for the guidelines on hormone regulation, > > Associate Professor Moulds. Professor Moulds, > > of the University of Melbourne, said the drug > > promoted weight loss only at relatively high doses, > > which might cause other side effects. But doctors > > could consider it for people who were " morbidly > > obese " . He said it was a possible alternative to > > orlistat (Xenical), a drug that stops people > > absorbing fat from their food. The head of the > > metabolic disorders clinic at the Royal Melbourne > > Hospital, Associate Professor Joe Proietto, said > > there was evidence that the class of drugs to which > > Prozac belongs, the SSRIs, suppressed appetite as > > they improved mood. The chair of a National Health > > and Medical Research Council working party on > > overweight and obesity, Dr O'Callaghan, > > confirmed the group was examining the weight loss > > potential of antidepressants as part of its > > preparation of government-endorsed guide lines to be > > released later this year. Robotham [ > > > > > > > > > > Download Neoplanet at http://www.neoplanet.com > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2001 Report Share Posted July 15, 2001 Judie, Around 8 years ago I went through a really bad break up and I was having a hard time getting through it. One of my friends collected her prozac in jars when she didn't feel like taking it. She gave me a months supply at her dosage. I started taking it. For 30 days I had more energy than I knew what to do with I lost over 30 pounds without even trying. I was in love with this drug. It made me feel fantastic and I was losing weight. I asked my doctor to prescribe Prozac for me. He did but he said that the dose I was taking was far too high for the average person. I continued taking the same dose and enjoying it only sleeping about 5 hours a night but feeling great about myself and my life. Then everything came to a crashing halt. The wonderful prozac that had been my friend became the enemy that I couldn't see. I began sleeping 14-16 hours a day. I woke up long enough to go to work and to eat. The rest of the time I slept in a comatose mode. Everyone around me was worried but I couldn't understand their worry because I was happy and all I wanted to do was sleep. My appetite returned to normal so for the 8 hours a day that I was awake I stuffed my face constantly and I felt so good about myself that my weight did not concern me. My doctor tried reducing the dose to adjust my side effects and that did not help. It took me two months and a lot of work to get away from Prozac. Would I do it again knowing what I know now? I can't say. Because I am not what anyone would call clinically depressed Prozac was more than I could handle. But I do remember that feelling of extreme exuberance. And if that feeling couldbe classified as normal I might consider it. But I would not want to go back to sleeping 16 hours a day. But for that period of time when I just couldn't cope with the break-up the Prozac got me through. I have since learned not to entertwine my identity so much with anothers so that the loss of that person totally devastates me to the point of leaving me feeling as though I couldn't go on. I am in a healthy non-co-dependant relationship now. My finace knows that I love him but he also knows that I won't take any of that mind trip garbage and that anytime he wants to walk the door is open. Yes it would hurt and I would cry but I wouldn't be emotionally destroyed. In short a long answer to a short question. For some people Prozac is the answer and should not be ruled out. But there should be some depression issues there to start out. Oh and my friend was taking Prozac becuase she has always been a severe anorexic. I just don't get that one. > > - NATIONAL > > > > It's official - Prozac is the new weapon in the > > battle against the bulge The antidepressant Prozac > > may have another role: helping obese people to lose > > weight when diet and exercise fail. Evidence for its > > usefulness in weight loss, even in people who are > > not depressed, is included in a new edition of > > Therapeutic Guidelines, in which Australian doctors > > assess world scientific literature to make > > recommendations about treatments. " We're not > > looking to suddenly have every fat person on [an > > antidepressant], " said the chairman of the writing > > group for the guidelines on hormone regulation, > > Associate Professor Moulds. Professor Moulds, > > of the University of Melbourne, said the drug > > promoted weight loss only at relatively high doses, > > which might cause other side effects. But doctors > > could consider it for people who were " morbidly > > obese " . He said it was a possible alternative to > > orlistat (Xenical), a drug that stops people > > absorbing fat from their food. The head of the > > metabolic disorders clinic at the Royal Melbourne > > Hospital, Associate Professor Joe Proietto, said > > there was evidence that the class of drugs to which > > Prozac belongs, the SSRIs, suppressed appetite as > > they improved mood. The chair of a National Health > > and Medical Research Council working party on > > overweight and obesity, Dr O'Callaghan, > > confirmed the group was examining the weight loss > > potential of antidepressants as part of its > > preparation of government-endorsed guide lines to be > > released later this year. Robotham [ > > > > > > > > > > Download Neoplanet at http://www.neoplanet.com > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2001 Report Share Posted July 18, 2001 Judie, I have taken Prozac for over 6 years. I would say that it has had little impact on my weight. When I started I was 250 lbs, today I am 276 lbs. I don't blame prozac for that weight gain. I have been up and down throught that period. Now my wife tried Celexa and Paxil and did gain 20 lbs rather rapidly (she is a Fobi post op). I would aviod those two medications. Hull Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2001 Report Share Posted July 18, 2001 Judie, I have taken Prozac for over 6 years. I would say that it has had little impact on my weight. When I started I was 250 lbs, today I am 276 lbs. I don't blame prozac for that weight gain. I have been up and down throught that period. Now my wife tried Celexa and Paxil and did gain 20 lbs rather rapidly (she is a Fobi post op). I would aviod those two medications. Hull Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2001 Report Share Posted July 18, 2001 Weight gain with Paxil and Celexa is no more frequent than with Prozac. There are many post op DS patients who have taken these without weight gain. Probably it isn't wise to advise people to avoid medications that may help them. in Seattle ----- Original Message ----- > Now my wife tried Celexa and Paxil and did gain 20 lbs rather rapidly > (she is a Fobi post op). I would aviod those two medications. > Hull Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2001 Report Share Posted July 19, 2001 , Good point. What I meant to say is: If you are starting on an anti- depressent medication, my anecdotal experience (not scientific) suggests avioding Paxil and prefering Proazac. My sample size is 2 people (myself and my wife), so I cannot make any real claims. My wife finally lost those 20 pounds (just in the last few months). We are not sure why it took so long. She now wont take any antidepresents at all. I wish she would try others. I don't advise anyone to aviod getting the help they need and nobody should drop their medication if it is working for them. My appologies, Hull > Weight gain with Paxil and Celexa is no more frequent than with Prozac. > There are many post op DS patients who have taken these without weight gain. > > Probably it isn't wise to advise people to avoid medications that may help > them. > > in Seattle > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <chull1@s...> > > Now my wife tried Celexa and Paxil and did gain 20 lbs rather rapidly > > (she is a Fobi post op). I would aviod those two medications. > > Hull Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2001 Report Share Posted July 19, 2001 I appreciate your view from personal experience. In the process of making decisions about which antidepressant to prescribe, many many factors are taken into consideration. No doubt the person who prescribes only psychiatric meds has a different view than a PCP who does this as only a small portion of their practice. Relative activation, sedation, weight loss or gain, duration of symptoms, to target, health of the person, drug interactions, blood pressure, sexual side effects, seizure risk, and family history are just a few of the things I must ponder when prescribing. I don't agree with the notion of avoiding Paxil in favor of Prozac. But I definitely support your discovery about what works and doesn't work for you and your wife. in Seattle ----- Original Message ----- > , > > Good point. What I meant to say is: If you are starting on an anti- > depressent medication, my anecdotal experience (not scientific) > suggests avioding Paxil and prefering Proazac. My sample size is 2 > people (myself and my wife), so I cannot make any real claims. > > My wife finally lost those 20 pounds (just in the last few months). > We are not sure why it took so long. She now wont take any > antidepresents at all. I wish she would try others. I don't advise > anyone to aviod getting the help they need and nobody should drop > their medication if it is working for them. > > > > Hull > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2001 Report Share Posted July 19, 2001 I appreciate your view from personal experience. In the process of making decisions about which antidepressant to prescribe, many many factors are taken into consideration. No doubt the person who prescribes only psychiatric meds has a different view than a PCP who does this as only a small portion of their practice. Relative activation, sedation, weight loss or gain, duration of symptoms, to target, health of the person, drug interactions, blood pressure, sexual side effects, seizure risk, and family history are just a few of the things I must ponder when prescribing. I don't agree with the notion of avoiding Paxil in favor of Prozac. But I definitely support your discovery about what works and doesn't work for you and your wife. in Seattle ----- Original Message ----- > , > > Good point. What I meant to say is: If you are starting on an anti- > depressent medication, my anecdotal experience (not scientific) > suggests avioding Paxil and prefering Proazac. My sample size is 2 > people (myself and my wife), so I cannot make any real claims. > > My wife finally lost those 20 pounds (just in the last few months). > We are not sure why it took so long. She now wont take any > antidepresents at all. I wish she would try others. I don't advise > anyone to aviod getting the help they need and nobody should drop > their medication if it is working for them. > > > > Hull > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2001 Report Share Posted July 21, 2001 Chris- I was taken off of Prozac due to concerns about weight gain with long term use.. I was switched to Paxil, & have taken it since.. including postop, & I'm losing ok.. and don't recall gaining on paxil preop.. after my wedding, my weight was steady.. it was prewedding stress that caused my last gains.. not the Paxil. Hugs, Liane 7 weeks postop -43 lbs =) > Judie, > > I have taken Prozac for over 6 years. I would say that it has had > little impact on my weight. When I started I was 250 lbs, today I am > 276 lbs. I don't blame prozac for that weight gain. I have been up > and down throught that period. > > Now my wife tried Celexa and Paxil and did gain 20 lbs rather rapidly > (she is a Fobi post op). I would aviod those two medications. > > Hull Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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