Doctor wants me to take Prozac, I said no, no, no

[fishead]

I suppose what really got me was when I asked if could I have referral to a therapist.

She more or less blew that out of the water. "You know why you're depressed, so that won't help. What you need is something to cheer you up."

Just MHO, but that NP needs to be kicked in her butt, for saying what she did. Depression is not the need for cheering up!!!! It is a chronic problem suffered by many who have been diagnosed with a chronic ILLNESS especially one as formidable as MS

I would love to see "Jan" (she was a therapist and comments here frequently) weigh in on this.

[fishead]

Good example was this last break-through flare. 5,000 mgs of IVSM, but no taper. Bad News!!!! I just spiraled into major depression. I can honestly say it was the worst I ever had. Old Katie would have said, "Got gun...will use right after I drink this bottle of Southern Comfort." But I was able to talk myself down and ride with it until it got better...

I am so glad you were on AD's that kept you from the booze and gun solution

[Tawanda]

"Got gun...will use right after I drink this bottle of Southern Comfort." But I was able to talk myself down and ride with it until it got better.

Thank you for your honesty. So glad you managed to pull yourself together because your intelligence, honesty and strength have inspired me and many others on this Board. You are a treasure!

Oddly enough, just the other day I was thinking no MSer should ever have a loaded gun in their house. I guess dark thoughts like that are the reason I will probably be on an A/D for the rest of MY life, anyway!

[Tawanda]

That said, the side effects I would be worried about relate to sex drive, since I'm trying to protect both my marriage, and the remnants of my sex drive for as long as I can.

Wow! An important consideration that doesn't get near enough airplay! Just because my M.S. may override our sex drives doesn't mean we don't want to at least try to flame the embers from time to time - if not for ourselves than for our spouses. A/Ds can really dampen said embers. We do not discuss this sensitive subject very often. Thanks for putting it out there.

[Tawanda]

My younger brother (who also has MS) is on Prozac - he calls them happy pills.

I chose to get a dog instead. And it has worked out fantastic for me.

I disagree with your bro. I would never describe them as happy pills. If they were happy pills, the entire world would probably be in them. I experience them more as anti-unhappy pills, if that makes sense.

I do agree about animals. I have a dog and two cats...between them and my DD I am usually too busy to be sad (but not always). Caring for others takes my focus off myself as M.S. can really make one self-obsessed in a burry.

What about it, Think, do you like animals, have animals or have access to animals? There has been more research done on the therapeutic benefit of pets than the therapeutic benefit of Prozac.

If you are truly frequently depressed and don't want to go the A/D route, please consider some of the other options discussed here. Some sadness in life us completely normal, and if you were never sad, I would worry about you, BUT you shouldn't be sad 24/7 in this short life, even when you have M.S.

[Thinkimjob]

Love animals, always have had dogs, but they are Labradors and a tad boisterous.

The cat, who wandered in working on the "if you feed a cat, you own a cat" theory, is nice to have around.

The other cat was stolen after being desexed and microchipped, not that I'm bitter, (actually I am, particularly because the cat thief waited until we'd taken the stitches out) and she was very sensible. No running under feet, no killing birds, proud to wear a bell.

[Tawanda]

Love animals, always have had dogs, but they are Labradors and a tad boisterous.

The cat, who wandered in working on the "if you feed a cat, you own a cat" theory, is nice to have around.

The other cat was stolen after being desexed and microchipped, not that I'm bitter, (actually I am, particularly because the cat thief waited until we'd taken the stitches out) and she was very sensible. No running under feet, no killing birds, proud to wear a bell.

I am really sorry to have brought up that sad story...I had forgotten that was your post. The microchip only helps if someone scans it, no? I just hope that even though only a creep would steal a cat (with a bell no less) she is being treated well. I didn't mean to open that wound in a post about depression no less...

[Thinkimjob]

No, no, no, don't worry about that, Tawanda, and I mean it.

I'm not so much miserable, as incapable of making decisions. I know what I should do about all my dilemmas. I just don't have the energy to do it. Dr Feelgood thinks Prozac would clear my mind.

Irrationally, I just want everything to stay the same. Therapy for me, I think.

[andi b]

I understand about the indecision

I too struggle with just wanting to maintain the status quo (blah) or to decide to start an antidepressant because there are so many side effects that are possible and some work for some people and some don't. I don't want to be experimenting with this one and that one until I find one that maybe works and doesn't make me get even fat(ter), or constipated (a big dread of mine) or any number of other things that might affect me.

So I have my yearly appt on Aug 29 and I THINK I'm going to ask about a-d's. One other thing... I do love to have a good beer every now and then and I'm pretty sure that would be out if I were on an a-d... (right?)

So good luck on both of our decisions!

[Jules A]

I too struggle with just wanting to maintain the status quo (blah) or to decide to start an antidepressant because there are so many side effects that are possible and some work for some people and some don't. I don't want to be experimenting with this one and that one until I find one that maybe works and doesn't make me get even fat(ter), or constipated (a big dread of mine) or any number of other things that might affect me.

So I have my yearly appt on Aug 29 and I THINK I'm going to ask about a-d's. One other thing... I do love to have a good beer every now and then and I'm pretty sure that would be out if I were on an a-d... (right?)

So good luck on both of our decisions!

Unfortunately this is science and not math so while you are 100% correct that you might not hit a home run with the first medication you try imo overall the SSRIs produce fairly consistent results with what I would consider minimal side effects. I often liken them to Coca Cola vs. Pepsi. There are definitely some people who taste a huge difference and will only drink Coke however for most people a cola is a cola. Does that make any sense?

Not to take the place of your provider's expertise/advise but do some research. It is my experience that with garden variety SSRIs incidence of weight gain and constipation are not the norm. In fact with Prozac, not that there isn't some person somewhere who will gain weight, it is most often thought to be weight neutral and in fact some people will report modest weight loss upon starting this medication.

As for the beer while it would likely be discouraged mostly because alcohol is a depressant that would have to be something you negotiate with your provider. Don't assume 1 beer every once in a while is going to be a deal breaker before discussing it with your Doc.

[justacowgirl]

Job

While I too was hesitant to take an anti depressant; it saved my life. I had the gun in my hand watching the moments pass. It was a miracle I didn't do myself. I couldn't face having MS and having a mental illness along with it.

After several experiences with nurse practitioners and GP's I searched out a psychiatrist who coupled therapy with the correct AD.

As with any illness I believe you need to seek out the best professional for the particular problem. If you have depression (and why not!!??) it is a mental health issue to be treated by a specialist.

I am bothered by GP's etc who casually throw AD's at anyone and everyone without supporting therapy; as well as continued follow up.

I check in with my shrink 2x a year now. I look forward to it!! The med neither made me gain weight nor made me more suicidal. It was the right med prescribed by a professional good at his job.

Some of us need the help. If you do it's okay. If you have a problem in your brain it's not your fault and just like any other symptom of MS it can be dealt with.

It would be nice if I could deal with this without the drug. But; I can't. I tried. I am grateful to be where I am today because of the help.

J

[pshrink]

... The cat, who wandered in working on the "if you feed a cat, you own a cat" theory, is nice to have around. ...

Totally disagree! If you feed a cat, the cat owns you!
I would love to have another cat in the house - but cats are prone to winding themselves around the feet and legs of the humans they have adopted. Now this is very endearing if you are totally able-bodied; but if you have a dropped foot, a history of falls, and a reduction in motor control of your legs, a cat is an accident waiting to happen.

But it is still great to watch a cat at work. One Christmas dinner a couple of years back we were half way through the turkey and our youngest son-in-law got our attention and pointed to a cat that had wandered in through the open back door. The cat looked in good condition, but was making the noises that any cat lover understands as "Feed Me Now". We put some turkey scraps into a foil dish that some of the vegetables had been roasted in, and put this on the floor. The cat lookked, sniffed, gripped the foil dish in it's teeth, and backed all the way out of the house dragging the dish. When it got outside, it flipped the dish over, so all the turkey was on the ground - and then ate the lot. We have never seen it since.

But, where this started, stroking a furry animal can be very therapeutic for the human - notably as an anti-depressant.There was a study to this effect reported in one of the Psychology journals around 25 years ago. I cannot recall which journal and it was certainly before the digital era.

Geoff

[Tawanda]

Possibly SADs?

Thinkimjob,
Did you ever think you might be experiencing SADs? How short are your days right now? I feel great this time of year (well, for me anyway) with all this daylight, but in December, I definitely feel the effects of the shortened daylight hours BIG TIME. I am guessing you have your shortest days now where you are...(?). If so, this may all pass in a couple months on its own.