Added Prozac to Concerta for PMDD

[Scattered]

Well it appears I have PMDD (premenstral dysmorphic disorder) in addition to ADD, since my ADD meds work great until a week before my period and then I'm irritable, aggressive and generally foggy and ineffective. I tried St John's Wort, but broke out in a rash the next day. I tried Sarafem (same thing as prozac) at 20 mg for three days and I couldn't sleep for half the night and felt totally drugged, heavy limbed, and generally slow -- by the third day I was also moody and irritable. I didn't feel anything like myself and things were going down hill quickly. It took about a week off the stuff to feel normal again. My doctor has prescribed a lower dose to try, but I'm a bit afraid to try it since my last experience was so bad. I've also been researching 5-HTP which is a precursor to serotonin. Anybody got any experience with any of this stuff?

Scattered

[barbyma]

I don't know anyone who's had that reaction to prozac, but I know a few that have not tolerated it -- jitters & paranoia mostly.

There are a bunch of SSRIs to try now. Most people who don't do well on one respond entirely differently to another.

Hope you find one!

[caglialoro]

I totally understand what you are going through.

My DS just started prozac with concerta for his anxiety and adhd. It has been about a week. Well, he was suppose to take 1/4 tablet for 3 days then a 1/2 tablet once a day. I have noticed that he has been more hyperactive and not able to focus. Very jittery, restless all the time. It's really hard to see him like that.

I called his doctor and they want me to lower the dosage to a 1/4 tablet every day. I hope this helps. It has really affected his schooling. He just can seem to settledown to do his work.

I am hoping and praying that the lower dosage will help him. But I am like you, I am scared to even give it to him.

[Scattered]

Thanks for the replies. I decided to try the 5-HTP and have felt great! More relaxed, better able to switch gears, and so forth. this is the third day on it and so far so good, so I'm hoping this is a go.

Barbyma, Leave it to me to have an atypical reaction!

Cagliolora, It's difficult enough to experment on yourself with this stuff (although I unfortunately don't know a better way) but going through this for your kid must be even harder. I have an ADHD daughter, but my husband's unwilling to try meds although I'm sure she needs and would benefit from them.

Scattered

[barbyma]

Originally Posted by caglialoro

My DS just started prozac with concerta for his anxiety and adhd. It has been about a week. Well, he was suppose to take 1/4 tablet for 3 days then a 1/2 tablet once a day. I have noticed that he has been more hyperactive and not able to focus. Very jittery, restless all the time. It's really hard to see him like that.....

I am hoping and praying that the lower dosage will help him. But I am like you, I am scared to even give it to him.

Caglialoro,

During the last 20 years, I've known dozens of adults that have taken SSRIs for depression and/or OCD. Of those that have taken Prozac, I know at least 6 people (that I can think of immediately) that have had similar reactions.

These were all adults and all were so disturbed by these feelings that none chose to continue the med past a week. My father didn't last 3 days .

But, every one of these 6 (that I can think of ) did very well on the very next SSRI they tried. 4 of them tried Paxil next and 2 Zoloft. 3 of the Paxil users and one of the Zoloft are on them for the "long-haul".

My own experience with Paxil was pretty similar and very unpleasant. (I think it's interesting that my father and I had opposite reactions -- he didn't tolerate Prozac, I didn't tolerate Paxil, but he's done well on Paxil, while I love Prozac....)

Sorry for the long message to make a short point. I just wanted to encourage you to try a different SSRI and let you know that you're not alone. The prognosis is good!

Good luck!

[Scattered]

Well, I'm about a week out now on the 5-HTP and thing are going better than they have in a long time. I'm actually getting tons done and feel good. I seem to be able to tackle the scary organizational tasks with less anxiety which not only helps me stop avoiding them, but allows my executive funcitions not to be overrun by my emotional responses. I'm also finding I'm daydreaming less and don't feel I have to be locked in to some high stimulus thought, activity or whatever every second of the day to avoid feeling anxious. It's a very nice way to be!

Scattered

[Scattered]

Well, my anxiety level has been over the top and the depression is creeping up a bit too, plus I'm having menstral migrianes. I've decided to give the 10 mg of Sarafem (prozac) a try, since I already have the prescription sitting on my shelf. I did some reading and discovered I should be taking it in the AM not at bedtime -- so hopefully I'll be sleeping better than the last try with 20 mg. Reading back over what I wrote back then, it seems that most of the symptoms could be a result of lack of sleep -- something that always really throws my system off. We'll see. Wish me well.

I guess if this doesn't work, I'm going back to the doctor to see if he'll try something else.

Scattered

[Crazy~Feet]

Are you able to take birth control pills without bad side effects? I remember reading an article about using the pill to intentionally skip periods. I believe the regimen resulted in only 4 periods per year.
Just tossing the idea out there and hoping you find what you need soon.

[Scattered]

Thanks for the suggestion but birth control pills are pretty rough on me, plus the fact that breast cancer runs in my family.


Scattered

[sloppitty-sue]

Good luck to you, Scattered! And - YES - I am glad you are going to try the Serafem in the A.M. this time! I know that Prozac can be "energizing" for some when first ingesting. I took Prozac for 8 years, but it eventually pooped out on me.

Now I take Zoloft, along with Adderall, and that has been helpful as was the Prozac. I know that they say that Prozac can take up to (4?) weeks to take effect whereas Zoloft, I believe, is said to only take 7 - 10 days.

My daughter did NOT feel helped with her anxiety and depression when trying Prozac - she just got side effects. However - Zoloft really "cured" her. She had such a positive response from it that it was just like an advertisement. (No antidepressants ever had THAT profound of an effect on me.)

I'd be interested in hearing how it goes for you, Scattered.

Sincerely,
Sue

[barbyma]

Originally Posted by Scattered

I've decided to give the 10 mg of Sarafem (prozac) a try, since I already have the prescription sitting on my shelf. I did some reading and discovered I should be taking it in the AM not at bedtime --

Everybody is different (I'm better taking it at bedtime), but I understand the majority of people do better taking it in the morning.

I hope it works for you! If not, you might try Zoloft or Paxil.

good luck!

[Scattered]

Well, day five and life is looking up! I know it's not suppose to work this fast, but I tend to be very medication sensitive and I'm definately seeing an effect. For one thing my house is somehow magically straightening itself up and it is requiring no more effort than usual! It's probably too soon to tell but this dosage seems to be agreeing with me. My anxiety has definately backed way off, I'm not irritable or hyper, and I'm tolerating frustrations better while also setting better limits. I'm also sleeping much better which is a relief and some of my obsessive thoughts have also back off.

I'll try this for a month solid like the doctor wanted me to and then see if I need it all month or only the two weeks before my period next month. I'm definately thrilled and hoping this lasts -- I feel so much better and more at home in my own skin and haven't had any more migraines. I really wasn't expecting to get more done, just hoping to calm my anxiety down, but I'm so much more efficient. It really surprised me.

Scattered

[Scattered]

I've had a sore throat and now my nose is all stuffy. The information on Sarafem (prozac) said those could be side effects. Does anyone know if they are tempoary side effects -- I definately think breathing is something I'd like to be able to do a little easier?


Scattered

[~boots~]

Originally Posted by Scattered

I definately think breathing is something I'd like to be able to do a little easier?


Scattered

yep, breathing is good LOL

[Scattered]

Originally Posted by tracyhaddb

yep, breathing is good LOL

Definately -- it was so bad last night that I woke up two hours early and could get back to sleep. That is not a good thing -- I get very squirely with too little sleep. So now I'm trying to decide if I'm taking my little lavender pill along with my Concerta this morning. Maybe I just caught a cold -- wish I knew.

Scattered