hi
just need a little help. my b/f got diagnosed with bipolar/depresion and is currently on lithium and was on advanza. he wanted to get off the advanza as it was making him put on weight and feel drowzie in the morning so doctor told him to go on prozac. bit worried about the prozac as ive heard its very adictive and hard to get off. is that true? anyone take prozac or know about it?? help much appriciated, thanx

hi
just need a little help. my b/f got diagnosed with bipolar/depresion and is currently on lithium and was on advanza. he wanted to get off the advanza as it was making him put on weight and feel drowzie in the morning so doctor told him to go on prozac. bit worried about the prozac as ive heard its very adictive and hard to get off. is that true? anyone take prozac or know about it?? help much appriciated, thanx
Prozac is not addictive.

Perhaps you're thinking of Xanax? That's an anxiety med that is highly addictive.

I'm bipolar and have been on prozac for a dozen years. It changed my life. Keep in mind, though, that he can't stop the Litium.

thanx for that. much apreciated.
what r ur side effects?? is weight gain a problem?

thanx for that. much apreciated.
what r ur side effects?? is weight gain a problem?
Not usually with prozac, but everyone responds differently. Sexual side effects are common; most of the others (like headache, dizziness, blurred vision) are mild and go away after a week or so.

great thanx for ur help. the advanza was bad coz he put on weight and made him more depressed.....not very good. i think its a new drug. so he needs to keep on with the lithuim? i found lithuim is very helpfull for him. why does it say to check with ur doc while taking prozac with lithium??

why does it say to check with ur doc while taking prozac with lithium??
I'm not sure. I'm type II, so I don't take lithium, but I wasn't aware there was an interaction.

Good luck!

Jlo-
I'm Bipo also- Rapid Cycle -or Rapid Recycle as I jokingly call it (0: since I usually exhibit the same moods, daily too, not just in a years setting as most do...
My Doc put me on Prozac once, for about a month..and it backfired on me totally.
That's not to say it won't work for you. It has worked for many, many people !

I'm on a heavy duty med that works extremely well for me now, but I also have severe factors going on with my brain, so I'm not just dealing with Bipo and ADHD.
And Barb is correct, Prozac is not addictive.
Good luck !
Nova

thanx for the reply Nova :)
what do u mean by "totally backfired"?? what happened? (i fu dont mind me asking?)

In laymens terms 'it didn't work for me'
Nova

why does it say to check with ur doc while taking prozac with lithium??
I know why it says that jlo21.

I was taking zoloft and wondered the same thing. Zoloft and Prozac are SSRI antidepressants. SSRI stands for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.
Serotonin is a neuro-transmitter in the brain that's believed to link w/ mood.

One thing that happens when an SSRI is 'mixed' w/ lithium is that the lithium levels will increase due to the SSRI.

Also, I'm sure you know this, a person needs weekly blood tests to monitor the lithium levels in the blood. One thing that may be necessary is that the lithium levels will probably be reduced while he's taking the prozac and than resumed to it's previous level when he stops taking it.

That's the most I know from what I've heard/seen/read.
I'm sure you could find more info if you type prozac AND lithum in google. (be sure to type the AND in all capital letters.)

Hope this helps
Andy

thanx for the reply averty, he tried the prozac but it was giving him suicidal thoughts so he got off it. wasnt very good at all for him, hes gone back to advanza now and i think we gonna go to a different doc too coz one we got isnt that helpfull, he hasnt even given him a blood test for 3 months to check lithium levels so i think we will do that too. has anyone else with bipolar/depression had suicidal thoughts?? if so please write back and tell me what medication suited u..........it would be a great help for us.

has anyone else with bipolar/depression had suicidal thoughts?? if so please write back and tell me what medication suited u..........it would be a great help for us.
Prior to correct diagnosis & meds I was certainly suicidal. Since then, never. I take Prozac, which I understand he can't take, but you might consider asking the doc about switching him from Lithium to a different stabilizer. Lithium is the first choice for classic BiP's, but it's possible he's actually type 2. We respond better to depakote, tegretol, and some of the newer anti-seizures.

Just a thought.

thanx for that thought barb, the thing is im not sure about the different types?? i dont know which one he is? whats the difference with type 1 or 2? we r gonna go to a different doc coz i dont think the one we got is much help.

Type 1 is pretty easy to see. They have classic symptoms; extreme mood swings that last weeks or months.

Type 2 is a little more difficult. There's a lot more variation. Some are rapid cyclers -- going through swings in a matter of days or even hours. Some have little or no mania, but have what's called "hypomania", which is a LOT like ADHD. Constantly changing jobs or moving, lots of unfinished projects, etc. During mania or hypomania, they might sleep a lot less and be a lot more productive, but they don't usually become psychotic. Depressions may or may not be as extreme as type 1.

There are probably a lot more type 2s out there than type 1s, but they aren't as noticable.

Good luck!

I had problems while on Prozac. It made me moody, easily irratated and exhausted. The doc told me that it was rare for me to feel that way on Pro.

I had problems while on Prozac. It made me moody, easily irratated and exhausted. The doc told me that it was rare for me to feel that way on Pro.
It's rare, but not unheard of. My father had a TERRIBLE time. He now takes Paxil, which I couldn't tolerate.

i take prozac along with a plethra of other meds and have found that abilify to be the best mood stabilizer/antipsychotic out there. i am bipolar II along with ad/hd and panic d/o, i have been on so many meds and the cocktail i am on now seems to be working well. being on the prozac has allowed me to cut my effexor xr to 75 since i have severe constipation from it. also the topamax is great. i hope things work out for your boyfriend!
-heather