As my other thread indicates, I sought out some medication recently... finally!

The doctor recommended Prozac, partly based on price - but also it seems to be as effective as most out there.

I've been taking it 3 days so far, and the only real side-effects have been a bit of GI upset - but nothing serious... I've had worse from just having a bad meal!

I think it's helping a bit so far... I seem to be able to concentrate more on "other stuff". I'm less compelled to think about it.

My question would be - is it normal to work this fast, or is it a placebo effect?

It's not dramatic... like I say - just a bit easier to do "normal stuff".

<small>[ September 10, 2002, 07:18 PM: Message edited by: J.R. ]</small>

JR; I don't have specific experience with Prozac, but as I recall a previous thread, and what my Dr. told me when he gave me Wellbutrin, is that these take 1-3 weeks to start working. And that was my experience with it.

Maybe I'm wrong about this as it relates to Prozac...

Prozac is one of the faster starting SSRI's. You may feel "a positive effect" within a few days ... but therapeutic levels are around 3 weeks or so to notice real improvement.

I felt improved after about a week ... and I felt really great after about 2 weeks.

I did experience increased vividness of my dreams (and I am NOT kidding about VIVID like watching an intense movie ... with all sorts of emotional intensity to boot) .... my dreams have returned to normal ... but that took about a month.

My doc says I should stay on Prozac about a year before weaning off. These meds are weird ... if someone discontinues the med too early, then decides to re-start the med ... it can then be less effective after the re-start!

Pepper <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="images/icons/cool.gif" />

I have taken Prozac in 1996. I seem to remember that I felt worse for the first 10 days then got this wonderful "sunshine" feeling in my heart. It did help a lot and my Doctor reduced the dose and I was off them after 5 Months. However by this time the reason for my depression (work related stress) had been addressed.

<small>[ December 18, 2002, 04:37 PM: Message edited by: MurphySLaw ]</small>

Thanks for the info, folks.

As a side note, Pep, I had something of an intense dream last night. I usually don't have them like this one.

It was much clearer, much more "real".

If anyone cares... I was sitting in some kind of conference hall with a lot of people around. There was some kind of duct on the ceiling in the back, with some wires hanging down. Someone got the bright idea to yank on them for some reason. More and more wire started falling out from the duct - like it'd been wound in there somehow.

Suddenly everyone was screaming and running as what started as a few strands of wire became this huge bundle, spewing out. The bottom of the duct fell off, revealing a bunch of computer monitors and controls as the last of the wire fell out.

The noise was intense. There was a bit of fear on my part, but I was far enough away to just be watching in awe.

I wouldn't call it a nightmare, but it makes me wonder what I'm in store for...

J.R.:

Wow, that's an odd one!

I have had a few "intense" dreams since starting prozac, but most are rather amusing <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

One happened the night after I'd gotten back from that job interview out of state. My W and MIL picked me up at the airport. I remember while I was at the airport, wondering if they'd see me where I was waiting for them.

Well, in the dream, there I was, waiting for them and wondering whether they'd see me where I was sitting (very vivid recreation of the details around me). I agonized over this for a time, until it hit me "Duh! I don't have 2 worry about them finding me, because they already picked me up!!" Problem solved. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

J.R.

I took Prozac for a whole year. I personally noticed an improvement after 3 weeks. I also experienced some vivid and extremely strange dreams.

One in particular kept repeating and I'll share it because it is rather funny. Often I think about the dream and occasionally I will share it with someone for a laugh.

I work in as an Engineering Technician in a group of about 20 people. I have always worked in areas where the male presence was dominating. I am female and have found it extremely diffcult to prove myself at times. Well in my dream, I showed up at work without any clothing on. I walked around without even being aware that there was a problem with my wardrobe. All of the "guys" simply stared at me in disbelief, but no one would come out and tell me that I was naked! I wondered why everyone was looking at me funny and for the life of me, I couldn't explain it. Finally I found myself in one of the bathroom stalls in the MEN's room. As I'm sitting on the toilet, I look up and see that someone has thrown clothes over the top of the stall! It is only then that I am aware of my nakedness and I start to feel very humble and embarrased about my nude parade at work. It was then that I woke up and was relieved to find that I was only dreaming. I remember all to well how real it felt to me while I was dreaming.........

I also want to add that there were a few side effects to this drug that you might want to be aware of.

The first was that it caused a delayed reaction when it came to SR. It took much longer, but the outcome was much more intense than normal.
The second was that I gained about 40LBS while taking this med. This is eventually why they took me off of the medication and switched me to Wellbutrin.

Good Luck!

Prozac, like the rest of the SSRIs, usually take at least three weeks to reach their full effect. With some people it can be as long as six weeks. If you are feeling some relief after three days, I would be thankful and not worry about the placebo effect. When I started Prozac 10 years ago, I felt nothing for a week...and then on the eighth day it really kicked in and I awoke to a brighter world...literally and figuratively.

Hi...my questions are about Zoloft, just picked it up from the drug store, havent taken any yet, i am kinda scared, dont like takeing med's, could any answer some questions about it. I know it wont start to work for some weeks yet, but how exactly is it going to make me feel. Right now cause of the situation here, i feel sad, hurt lonely, dont want to do anything fun with kids, will it help with any of that. I realize its not going to make me feel like i am on cloud nine, and my problems are gone, just dont want to take it until i know it will help me in some way deal with this mess. A/C0810

WH...46
BS.. me.. 45
married....17 yrs, togetrher for 19
H at home with us, contact with OW through computer, doesnt love me anymore, says nothing left to work on
OW coming for visit to our town in Dec. which H says he will be seeing her then, for now its just through computer

A/C, like any other SSRI, Zoloft takes some time to work. I *highly* recommend that you begin taking them immediately. You will be ready by December to handle the OW's visit.

You would not believe how much easier it is to do a Plan A on Anti-Ds. You will relax, and the little stuff won't bother you as much. The emotional roller-coaster smooths out into more of a rolling country road. Your feelings won't change, you won't lose yourself, you will just have more control over your feelings and yourself.

Your husband will notice the difference as well. You will be more attractive to him. Believe me, Anti-Ds are a BS's best friend!

ST

Hi J.R.,
I am not on Prozak, but i really feel better now that I've started taking Zoloft. From what I understand it is a bit like Prozak. If you feel better after 3 days, then you are going to feel TONS better in 3-4 weeks. You will be SO glad that you've started them. It allowed me to not be so teary-eyed and anxious all the time. It doesn't fix the situation, but it makes you feel a lot better about it. Also, it has helped me in my decision-making.
KK

Hi Sad Tiger and kk2002...thanks for your replys. I just took my first Zoloft. What about side effects, has anyone encountered any and also i have heard if you do feel any side effects, dont stop the med.s and they should dissapear. I also heard that you could experience some irritabilty, gosh thats sounds like a breeding ground for LB'S.
Wouldnt that be a disaster. thanks again..A/C0810

A/C0810 -

Irritability? Not me. I am on Celexa. Before the Celexa, I was a basket case. Upset and LBing like crazy. Drove WW out of the house. Once on the Celexa, I got alot better, and WW moved back in.

I am now on Wellbutrin as well as the Celexa. I am about one happy camper now. Let me tell you! I got on the Wellbutrin to try to control my ADHD symptoms. It didn't help the ADHD at all, but man am I ever in a good mood! My WW can cry on my shoulder about how much she loves and misses the OM and it does not phase me at all. It hurts, but it is like I am above it all and can take whatever comes my way. Nothing really bothers me anymore.

ST

I take Zoloft and I have had no side effects I have been on it since about maybe I wanna say May - and before that I would cry when anyone would ask me what was going on or anything - Now I don't cry very often - sometimes but few and far between - I still have good days and bad days - but the bad days do not seem so bad - you know - You don't really feel like you are taking anything it just sort of helps you process thoughts better - that is how my therapist described it to me - the funny thing I did find out was once people knew I was taking it because of my disastorous life I found out - everyone is the world takes them - so don't worry - they will help you get through what you need to get through - Good Luck

to maw and sad tiger...thanks for your replys, actually i just took the first one and i already feel somewhat different, is that possible, or i am just imagining it. i know its supposed to take weeks to notice a differenc. A/C0810

After I took my first Celexa, I felt funny, kind of like I had taken an antihistamine. I felt 'happier,' but that was probably the placebo effect. You probably will feel some effects early, but it doesn't stabilize for a few weeks. I started with 10mg per day for one week, and upped it 10mgs per week until I was at 40mg per day.

I did my worst LB on May 25th, when I was only on 20mg per day (end of the 2nd week), so I think it really does take a few weeks to kick in fully.

You will notice your ability to let stuff roll off your back building every day.

ST

<small>[ September 11, 2002, 12:55 PM: Message edited by: Sad Tiger ]</small>