A timetable for recovery on Fluoxetine / prozac

[panic_down_under]

I was having the odd beer with dinner but I think I’ll give that away for the time being. Don’t know if it was helping matters!

Probably not.

Anxiety and depression are the symptoms of atrophy of parts of the hippocampal regions of the brain caused by high brain stress hormone levels, particularly of cortisol, killing brain cells and inhibiting the growth of replacements (neurogenesis). ADs work by stimulating the growth of new cells. It is the new neurons and the interconnections they form which produce the therapeutic response, not the meds directly. For a more detailed explanations see: Depression and the Birth and Death of Brain Cells (PDF) and How antidepressant drugs act.

The problem is alcohol is a CNS depressant which has the same affect on hippocampal neurogenesis as cortisol. Even relatively moderate drinking can reduce hippocampus neurogenesis by nearly half (see also: Morris SA, 2010; Crews FT, 2003).

The other thing to be aware of is that the AD+alcohol combo can produce unpredictable results. Some days you may be able to drink a herd of alcoholic elephants under the table without raising a sweat, on another half a pint might turn legs to rubber. Alcohol may also increase fluoxetine side-effects.

[Summerdaze]

Probably not.

Anxiety and depression are the symptoms of atrophy of parts of the hippocampal regions of the brain caused by high brain stress hormone levels, particularly of cortisol, killing brain cells and inhibiting the growth of replacements (neurogenesis). ADs work by stimulating the growth of new cells. It is the new neurons and the interconnections they form which produce the therapeutic response, not the meds directly. For a more detailed explanations see: Depression and the Birth and Death of Brain Cells (PDF) and How antidepressant drugs act.

The problem is alcohol is a CNS depressant which has the same affect on hippocampal neurogenesis as cortisol. Even relatively moderate drinking can reduce hippocampus neurogenesis by nearly half (see also: Morris SA, 2010; Crews FT, 2003).

The other thing to be aware of is that the AD+alcohol combo can produce unpredictable results. Some days you may be able to drink a herd of alcoholic elephants under the table without raising a sweat, on another half a pint might turn legs to rubber. Alcohol may also increase fluoxetine side-effects.

Thanks PDU, makes perfect sense. I have woken up ok this morning (no alcohol last night) Will go & do a yoga class while the weather is abit cooler.