Just upped my dose, weird side effects, any advice welcome! :)

[Henpen]

Hi all,

I've recently upped by dose from 20mg to 40mg and am getting a whole new range of side effects to the ones i had when i started out at 20mg . I thought there was something seriously wrong with me, but reading through the posts in this forum it looks like I am not a total freak of nature . I was wondering what i can do to fix them, does anyone have any good ideas?

Firstly, and this one is the big problem, I am sleeping for 9-10 hours per night then another 3-4 in the afternoon, and can't keep my eyes open after about 3pm (coming up to sleepy time now ) Can anyone recommend a way around this, I am already trying coffee but too much makes me anxious! I really need to be awake enough to work!

Secondly, I'm endlessly thirsty and have to pee about every half hour to hour, and have to get up at least twice in the night to go to the loo. This is a problem at work as well, I keep having to dash out of meetings and so on.

Thirdly, a bit embarrassingly, I am now really numb in the lady regions and this is affecting my sex life, I read somewhere that Gingko is good for this to boost cirulation and have tried it in the past but thought maybe i didn't get a high enough dose.

I've been to the GP and there is nothing wrong with me - kidneys, bladder, liver all fine, not anaemic, not diabetic, not a thyroid problem, not pregnant (!). So can this all be the Prozac and if so how long did it last for you and is there a way to fix any of it?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts, advice, commiserations, revelations or just general chit chat

Hen xx

[Gordon64]

Hi Henpen

Read your post. Am currently off meds but was a long-term user of Prozac in both highish/lowish doses so this may be helpful.

Sleepinesszzzzz-yeah a definite problem with Prozac and unfortunately every other AD I've tried (not generalising, just my experience). Afternoon naps became the norm for me when not working and when I was found it difficult to maintain/focus concentration etc...

The loo-I've never had the strongest bladder in the world but Prozac had the same effect on me-I seemed to spend my life in the bog!! I'm sure I must have come out sometime, if only to stop people talking-but it is a well known side-effect of the drug.

Sex-now obviously I'm a male but I can confirm (again like most AD's) that this stuff ain't viagra! Numbness down below is common (certainly for males) and seems to be for the fairer sex too from what you are experiencing. It's a pain in the butt frankly but don't think there is a lot you can do-it's that old Catch 22 of easing the depression against having a reduced love life (which can be bloody depressing in itself). Strangely I have been off meds a few days now and while my libido isn't exactly sky high it is improving.

Like you I've had all sorts of medical tests etc... and apart from depression (and slightly high cholesterol) I appear to be in rude health-so I reckon it is the meds and you can relax as to anything else.

Well aware I haven't offered solutions but thought it might help you to know that the effects you are describing seem to be common to many of us, male and female. I guess that's why many people either don't take/come off their meds?!

Please note I am NOT anti-meds-just somebody who has used them for years and is well aware of their cons as well as their pros.

Hope it gets better 4 u

Gordon

[Gordon64]

One other thing Henpen.

Don't know what your diet is like (I don't drink or smoke but like many of us "oop north" my diet could be better.

I mention this 1/ because improving your diet MAY help and

2/ Cos I recently started taking Vitamin B supplements. I did this purely because Vitamin B (espec B12) is supposed to be beneficial in easing depression. But one welcome thing I have noticed (and I have no scientific evidence for this, and am well aware I may be talking myself into this) is that my libido and general demeanour seem to have improved slightly. Worth a try?

Oh and maybe speak to your GP re the frequent peeing? He/she may be able to suggest something to alleviate it. I understand there are herbal/alternative therapies out there for this problem if that is more your bag

Good luck

Gordon

[Henpen]

Hi Gordon ,

Thanks for the reassurance, it's good to know I'm not the only one! I know that all meds have pros and cons, for me I am definitely much better on them. Prozac and Lamotrigine (and CBT) are what's keeping me sane for sure, but like you say the side effects are rubbish and it is tempting to stop taking them. I have pinned a note to the fridge reminding myself to just keep taking the pills in case of moments of weakness

Improving my diet is definitely a good idea just in general, like a lot of people on ADs I have been adding a few extra pounds here and there (Ben & Jerrys has wonderful AD properties I find ) I will also try the B vits, maybe see if I can get a Ginkgo/B vit mix and give it a go.

Thanks again, HP

[Gordon64]

No probs HP

I sympathise re the diet bit-why do all the things that are so bad for us taste so damn good?!

G

[Thumbelina]

Good that you an taste now, I have lost all my senses today,smell, taste even heRs blocked. It happens every time with every episode.