Doctor surprised me the other day with the suggestion that I consider taking a very low dose of Prozac for 10 days before my period to help with anxiety/emotions. I'm wondering about side effects of the drug itself and issues with taking it, going off it, taking it, going off, taking, etc. Doctor said there shouldn't be any problems with such a low dose but the thought of such a strong drug scares me.

She also recommended going on the pill for a couple months first to regulate and lessen the severity of my periods and see if that helps emotionally. Then try the Prozac.

I'd really, really appreciate any "real life" insight you may have. Doc made it seem like no big deal, but I'd like all the information I can find before doing anything. Please PM me if you'd like to share but not with the world! :-}

Thank you!

well I don't know about the on and off problems of it. I know it did help me feel better when I was taking it with the pill...might even go back on it..

Prozac is the same as FLUOXETINE hcl 20 mg capsulesc and Sarafem, the two common prescribed meds for PMS. I found this out because my Doc had prescribed me the Sarfafem, and when I went to fill it my insurance wouldn't cover it, but would cover prozac, so we had the script changed. I will admit, when i first found out I was rather ashamed to think I needed Prozac- it did help a bit, but DH was traveling so much and my stress level was high, so I tried it out. When dh got a job that kept him closer to home and not traveling so much, I took myself off of it.
Prozac is one of those meds that has a "reputation", but it is just the same as the other meds. Take it if you need it, and don't be ashamed, do you take tylenol for a headache? I looked at it as, well, I am flipping out on my kids for no real reason, will it make them and me a happier person, yes. It doesn't solve all the problems, it isn't a happy pill , but it does help take the edge off.
Best of luck to you, pm if you want to!
Wendy

Hi,
I took Prozac for a little more than 2 years. I have to say that it really helped me, I can't remember the dosage. The main side effect I had was feeling like my brain was just not clear, it is hard to explain, not dazed or anything just a slight fuzziness. But with how I had been feeling it was an improvement, so I tolerated it. Went off of that I have tried many of the antidepressant drugs, none of which I could tolerate the side effects. My ob/gyn put me on Sarafem, which is the same thing as Prozac only a different name and it is marketed for PMDD. I took that for about a year, and it seems to help but I couldn't afford to keep taking it so I went off. Haven't taken anything in almost two years, and know it is time to go back and see if anything new has come out

There are a lot of reports out there about Prozac being associated with suicidial thoughts, I did not experience anything like that though. Everyone's bodies react differently though.

Good luck with getting relief for your symptoms,

Thank you for all your advice. I think I'll spend some time online today doing research. What medical sites would you recommend?

My doctor prescribed Prozac for me 15+ years ago for PMS/PMP. It really did help. But after about 2 years, it just kinda stopped working (I got resistant to it, I guess).

Just don't stop taking any antidepressant cold-turkey - not fun!

I'll ask MD for other alternative options (and try them first to see if it works) before taking Prozac. M2C.

For those of you who have used this or know someone who has.....are the effects immediate?

Prozac takes weeks to get up to a theraputic dose. Are you sure he was only putting you on it for 10 days a month. Prozac is used for other things then depression. It is used frequently in pain management regimes. I have seen docs put PMS patients on it, but they were on it all the time. Prozac has the least side effects of the antidepressants. You should probably talk to your doctor more if you are uncomfortable with taking it.

HTH

I agree that the on and off thing worries me. I'm currently on Prozac 20mg and have been for a while. I'm bi-polar so of course I take it everyday. It's a hard drug to go on and off from because the side effects are much more pronounced for the first week or two you're on it. After you're on it for a little bit the side effects tend to diminsh. So I can't imagine putting your body through that once a month.

For the first few weeks I had a dizzy/sleepy feeling, lack of appetite, excessive sweating and was less interested in conversations/people. Just kind of took me out of the game. These effects wore off quickly for me.

IDK, it's no wonder drug and your not going to take it today and feel better tomorrow. Seems like there would be better solutions that are more immediate with less side effects.

Yep, 10mg/day for 10 days each month, right before my period. Doc said it was to take the edge off and make me fit to live with!

I take Prozac everyday 20mg. Have been off and on it for a few years. The reason I am on it now is pain management for Fibro/CFS.

A few years ago I took something can't think of the name of it but it was for PMS and I took it a few days before and few days after my period. But I don't think prozac would be a good one to get off and on. I have run out before or missed it for a few days and I could tell I was not taking it.

The site I look up and read alot is webmd.

I took it for a while (and not intermittently). It took about 2 weeks to feel any different. Another side effect I've not seen mentioned is , ahem, "in the bedroom." It can decrease all your senses, if you know what I mean, making it more difficult to achieve a certain something.

My doctor put me on it... I'm also on B.c pill which work wonderfully for lighter, less painful periods. I was the one WIERDO who kind of had a bad experience on it. My fingers started tingling and I kinda freaked out then started vomiting. Dr. had to call in an anti-nauseau mediation. I told him I was sensitive to certain anti depressants but he assured me I'd be fine. I was really sick for a couple of days and then was okay after that but definatly did not take it ever again. PLease remember, I am one of those people who have sensitive stomachs and am sensitive to medications, so it probably won't happen to you. Birth control pills have been a blessing to me. I would try those first..... and then see about the other.
Just remember sometimes Doctors don't know us as well as we'd like. Like I said, I told my doctor how much trouble I had had on anti-depressants before.... but he assured me I'd be fine. And I wasn't..... Just be your own advocate!!!

After I had my ds 15 yrs. ago I was put on Prozac (I don't remember the dose) and after 2 months started hullicanating really bad! Constantly thought someone was trying kill me. It made me crazy. I was working one time at a drive thru window and a customer reached down into his seat to grab his money and I hullucinated that he had a gun. Thats how bad it was. After I was taken off of it I was fine and never needed any type antidepressent ever. I don't believe in it for me. Everyones bodies are different but in my opinion I hate the drug.

Hey honey...

I went thru same!...It really helped..took the edge off some of the pain/tension associated with painful menstruation. I had a hard time wrapping my mind around needing to take it at first....but after over my "shame"....used it to good effect!

It was weird...seemed I had fewer "incidents" at work, less road rage, and generally just mellowed out for that small time period.

Sometimes, we don't know how bad off we are during this time...I used to think I was just fine and everyone else had a major problem(for about one week a month!)
also...I definitely saw an improvement...even only taking it like your dr has prescribed.

as far as having problems in the boudoir dtmnt..it's only for one week...and for MOST people that is the farthest thing from their minds.(cramps, irrtability, and general whiny temporary
insanity are not conducive to "sexy" usually!)

Just remember...you are not crazy...as women sometimes we are at the mercy of our
hormones(especially if they are going awry)...not your fault!

Good luck.....and God Bless!!!

I was on prozac for a few years. I'll tell you, I tried 4 other antidepressants before I got to prozac and I had TONS of side effects with the others...but none with Prozac.

I also should tell you that Prozac is an SSRI (selective seritonin reuptake inhibitor). You're supposed to ween yourself onto and off from these meds and you're supposed to have a consistant level of medication in your body. I agree that I would get a second opinion before I started this but I'll also tell you that I have heard of them prescribing this before for PMS...I'm just not sure how it would work for that.