Posted by crickett on April 25, 2006, at 13:10:48
In reply to Re: Lasting effects after many years on Prozac, posted by KayJay on February 26, 2001, at 22:26:20
> Howdy again, I'm afraid that I'm not coping very well these days. When I go off the antidepressants, the lupus symptoms eventually go away and I become less tired, but the depression is worse. I am taking Zoloft right now in spite of the joint pain, etc. because I thought maybe the stimulants I was taking was what what causing the lupus symptoms. Since I started the Zoloft, I have had a few flare ups, but not very bad ones. However, I'm very tired most of the time, sleep at least 12 hrs. a day, and have not really worked in 4 years. Before the lupus stuff, I was doing quite well on my meds, was working hard, had many projects going in the house, etc.(although, I noticed my memory was poor). Now I'm lucky if I do the dishes.
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> I really don't know if I would be like this anyway either, but I wish I could have found some other way to beat the depression early on. I certainly was not this depressed before I started taking antidepressants, and I definitely never had any arthritis symptoms or muscle pain. But maybe the depression has just gotten worse over the years. I have a lot of trouble thinking and remembering, and my motivation is at an all time low. Before I started with the SSRIs, I had tried many other meds, and couldn't tolerate the side effects.
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> I've done quite a bit of research on the web(not finding much) because the first docs I saw were brushing me off about the medication connection. They kept telling me that it was not possible for the meds to be causing the joint pain, breathing difficulties, and other problems I was having. I know now that the meds were causing those symptoms, because over the last few years I've gone off of them, and back on 4 or 5 times, and the symptoms go away off the meds, and come back when I go back on. I also have had numbness and tingling in hands, feet, and legs when I stopped taking them, but it has been fairly mild, and has gone away for the most part after being off the meds for a few months.
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> To be honest, I'm pretty worried about remaining on the SSRIs. So little seems to be known about long term effects. None of the docs I've seen have even been able to tell me what might be the consequences of staying on them if they are causing a drug induced lupus, or aggravating a pre-existing lupus, yet they recommend that I stay on them, because of the depression.( which by the way, the meds don't seem to work very well for me anymore, anyway). Right now, I guess I'll try the Zoloft for a few more weeks, and see what happens.
> KayJayHi,girls, I've never done this before, but I thought I'd give it a try...I have suffered from pretty heavy depression since I was a teenager and some of it circumstancial and definitely some of it chemical. I have taken a number of anti-depressents since my early 20's. Some worked great for a while and some just made my depression worse. Then about 5 years into the meds., I was diagnosed with fibro...very frusterating, especially since my husband is military and can run and run...very unfair. Anyway, over the past 2 years, I have really sought God about the whole thing. I mean over the last 15-20 years, everyday life has been so difficult and I really wondered why should I even try, I mean, it couldn't possibly be this difficult emotionally and physically for others, could it? Well, over the last month, I have really had my answer from HIM. I have to just fight back. I have never felt this motivated physically...every morning, rain or shine, I put on my headphones with music that really fires me up and leash the dogs and go for a 2 or 3 mile walk....it really hurt at first, I took it slow and looked for God's blessings in nature all around....these things really helped to keep me going. I never wanted to listen to my husband when he told me for years to just get physical in any way, I mean, how could he possibly understand what I was going through, how I felt? But in MY time, when I couldn't take it any more, I pushed through and I feel like I'm finding the girl I lost years ago. It gets a little easier every day, and I don't know how much better I will get if I keep this up, but I'm so thankful to have this glimpse of hope....I still have a hard time staying on task, and my memory is awful, but I'm not on anti-depressents any more and the first 3 weeks or so, I had to go back to bed for a couple of hours each day, but I feel about 75% better and I know if I keep active I will get better and I thank God that he (finally) made me strong enough to break out. Time, Good shoes,Uplifting music and my fast doggie have really been key factors in me doing it, too....it hurts sometimes terribly, but the good feels so good again. I will pray for God you give you two strength, start off with the eensy,weensy bit of strength you have. God bless, Crickett
poster:crickett
thread:54447
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060423/msgs/636922.html