Sarafem? (female only thread) Sorry guys ;)

[gothic_amethyst]

I have an anxiety disorder. I was sick today afraid to get my annual. My Obgyn asked me how I felt today (last year I was shaky and crying) today she prescribed Sarafem. [It was odd for her to prescribe it when all I told her is I was on paxil/zoloft for my anxiety problems but that is was too strong(had to quit) and than mainly I have anxiety with new situations.] She said it was for anxiety and also for PMDD a form of PMS. I decided to look it up online first to see if there were any comments by users and guess what...Sarafem is Prozac! It even said it in teeny tiny letters in the leaflet after I read the smaller text. Why did she prescribe that? I told her nothing like paxil or zoloft after what it did to me and she didnt even ask enough to really get enough of a diagnosis to know it was what I needed. I think she atleast should've mentioned it was Prozac.
Well point is:
(1)Do you agree that a obgyn or other non-mental doc should be able to prescribe an antidepressent?
(2)Have you ever taken Sarafem or Prozac? Would it be a bad idea for me to take it? Grandma said it would because she's heard really bad stories about Prozac and if it's in the same family as paxil/zoloft...I dont see how it would be good after the reaction I had to them.

 

[KittenKrazy]

My family doctor prescribed Celexa(close to Zoloft) for me to help with migranes during "that time", it helped immensely, but was too strong. I am currently taking a generic form of Prozac daily, and it seems to take the edge off my anger/depression/anxiety w/out making a zombie out of me.

 

[hissy]

I took prozac long ago and had a really bad reaction to it. But I was told that this type of extreme reaction was actually quite rare.

 

[mom of 10 cats]

Not all of the SSRI's (meds like Prozac, Paxil, etc) are the same. You may have a problem with one and not another, there is no way to tell unless you try.

I take Zoloft without a problem, but was once given Effexor and it gave me intense panic attacks! My Dr. just added Wellbutrin and I must say it is working very well. My only complaint is DRY MOUTH!!!

As far as an Ob/Gyn ordering these meds, some women use them as their main/primary doctor, so I can see it being something they'd have occasion to do fairly often.

Good luck!

 

[gothic_amethyst]

Originally posted by KittenKrazy
I am currently taking a generic form of Prozac daily, and it seems to take the edge off my anger/depression/anxiety w/out making a zombie out of me.

Zoloft was way too strong...I was a zombie! I passed out in the gym at school and luckily my fiancee was there to get me to the nurse.

 

[gothic_amethyst]

Originally posted by hissy
I took prozac long ago and had a really bad reaction to it. But I was told that this type of extreme reaction was actually quite rare.

I have a history of reactions to strong medicines. It's my own fault they tell me because I never take anything except pepto bismol and tylenol. The docs said that my body just isnt used to strong medicine. Ive never smoked or drank either. I'm proud of that, but I dont like not being able to take meds when I do need them.

 

[luvmyfurbabys]

I am a nurse , while they can legally give you this medication , I would strongly advise you to see a more qualified dr to make this sort of determination . Good luck

 

[mom of 10 cats]

I also have a problem with reactions to medicines. I took an Allerest at my nursing school senior banquet and fell asleep at the table! They had to call my mom to come and get me LOL! I am also very allergic to most antibiotics. I almost died from an allergic reaction to the anesthesia when I had my wisdom teeth out.

Maybe ask your doctor what the lowest dose of this medicine is, and if she can start you at that dose. Just a thought.

 

[gothic_amethyst]

Originally posted by Mom of 10 Cats
Not all of the SSRI's (meds like Prozac, Paxil, etc) are the same. You may have a problem with one and not another, there is no way to tell unless you try.

I take Zoloft without a problem, but was once given Effexor and it gave me intense panic attacks! My Dr. just added Wellbutrin and I must say it is working very well. My only complaint is DRY MOUTH!!!

As far as an Ob/Gyn ordering these meds, some women use them as their main/primary doctor, so I can see it being something they'd have occasion to do fairly often.

Good luck!

I had a problem with 2 of them: Zoloft made me pass out multiple times at school and very dizzy. Paxil didnt seem to be as strong, but my personality became so changed...I had always had a/b's in school and that year( my senior)I started to get d's. My fiancee one day got tired of how I Was acting and told me about it. I didnt even notice. You know why? The medicine truly made me not care. I was failing and a totally different person. He said I was like a zombie. Some days I couldnt even function...it was almost like extreme depression. I just wanted to lay down and sleep. If he hadnt finally told me how worried he was and why I might still be on Paxil.

I was prescribed them FOR panic attacks...mine were getting so bad I'd be having more than 2 some days at school. I've never tried Wellbutrin. I'll look it up.

I didnt agree with her doing it because she didnt even ask anything. How does she know what I need without knowing the problem?

 

[gothic_amethyst]

Originally posted by Dana
I am a nurse , while they can legally give you this medication , I would strongly advise you to see a more qualified dr to make this sort of determination . Good luck

That was my thought on it...that's why I thought it was odd...how can it be safe to prescribe that kind of medicine without knowing more about the condition...especially if it's not the field of medicine the doc specializes in.

 

[gothic_amethyst]

Originally posted by Mom of 10 Cats
I also have a problem with reactions to medicines. I almost died from an allergic reaction to the anesthesia when I had my wisdom teeth out.

Maybe ask your doctor what the lowest dose of this medicine is, and if she can start you at that dose. Just a thought.

That didnt sound good! atleast you had someone who could come get you and you werent driving! I'm glad u didnt die

Oh the irony! Everytime I have discussed this with one it's been the same thing! I say: I never take medicine's except tylenol or pepto bismol. I dont smoke. I dont drink. I would like to have the weakest loswest dose medicine you have to be safe so I'd have less of a reaction. Well I got Zoloft(passed out) paxil (didnt care about anything at ALL!) and so I dont think I got the lowest dose!

Maybe I did. Maybe there's nothing that is weak enough for me?

 

[tamme]

I was put on Paxil too for panic attacks and all I did was sleep for 16 hours a day. I went off them really quickly. I try not to take pills all that often. Tylenol 3 at the most, like after surgury.

I really think that if your gut is telling you something is wrong, then it's probably right. Get a secong opinion and even a third or a fourth until somebody stops and really listens to your situation and seems like they are really trying to find something good for YOU.

Many Dr.'s are no better than drug pushers. My mom is all off her presription drug addiction, except Prozac. One day her sponsor said to her "what was your drug of choice" and my mom said "Ativan, clonezapam, Diazepam, Valium, almost any Benzodiazepine." Her sponsor was shocked and wanted to know how she got such strong drugs. Mom said with a grimace "My Doctor. He'll prescribe me anything I want in any amount." That was of course her old doctor.

 

[jeeperscat]

I understand your problem, I used to get panic attacks all the time after my brother died. I refused to take prescriptions for all the anti depressants the doctor kept pushing on me. I'd see him for less than five minutes and he would decide anti depressants were the way to go.

I finally got around to talking to my mum (nurse since she was 16) about it and she asked a couple of doctors at work about panic attacks and anti depressants and they suggested I try 'Stressless' or St. Johns Wort instead. I'm not saying you should go the herbal route, that's for you and your doctor to decide, but it goes to show that getting a second opinion is worth it.

If you really are worried go check with your regular doctor. It's better to be safe and he/she may give you an alternative.

 

[krazy kat2]

I have been having great success with Serzone for depression. I was given Prozac years ago, and it made me feel like I had been poisoned.
I agree that maybe an ob/gyn is not the right doctor to be prescribing this kind of med, unless she has been treating you for depression also, as I have they do, but not just out of the blue.
I hope you get this straightened out soon.

 

[gothic_amethyst]

Originally posted by Tamme
I was put on Paxil too for panic attacks and all I did was sleep for 16 hours a day. I try not to take pills all that often.

....Get a second opinion and even a third or a fourth until somebody stops and really listens....

Many Dr.'s are no better than drug pushers.

Odd...that's all I did too..maily from not caring about anything. I'm glad to meet someone else who doesnt like to take medicine

I've been through so many doctors that I've run out of patience and money. I mainly need to find something now to calm me that I can take only when I need it...not daily.

I've noticed that about most of the ones I've gone to... I mean look even my obgyn!

 

[gothic_amethyst]

Originally posted by jeeperscat
I understand your problem, I used to get panic attacks all the time after my brother died. I refused to take prescriptions for all the anti depressants the doctor kept pushing on me.

.....St. Johns Wort instead....

If you really are worried go check with your regular doctor. It's better to be safe and he/she may give you an alternative.

Sorry about your brother. I hated taking medicine...at the time I knew though that I didnt have much of an option. People at school were avoiding me and thinking I was nuts and I was having over 3 attacks some days...for no reason that I knew of.

I've heard that mentioned before...but I dont know anything about it..I heard herbal remidies can be just as dangerous...

Um...I dont have a regular. I'm not very trusting of doctors. Everytime I've been to one what they prescribed me has caused a bad reaction or they rush around and make too quick a diagnosis.

 

[gothic_amethyst]

Originally posted by krazy kat2
I have been having great success with Serzone for depression. I was given Prozac years ago, and it made me feel like I had been poisoned.
I agree that maybe an ob/gyn is not the right doctor to be prescribing this kind of med, unless she has been treating you for depression also, as I have they do, but not just out of the blue.
I hope you get this straightened out soon.

I've never heard of Serzone. Prozac was that bad! I'm glad I didnt try those pills then!

I think it was odd...she is susposed to specialize in females' bodies...not minds. I didnt like how this was so out of the blue. I hope so too...I cant even go on a date with my Fiancee sometimes without being really anxious. That's something that shouldnt bother me at all!

 

[creepyowl]

I've been taking Prozac for about 18 months. Its made me a lot happier, and less overly emotional. On the downside was the weight gain. Other then that I really like the stuff but thinking of going off it to see how I do without it.

 

[talon]

Originally posted by krazy kat2
I have been having great success with Serzone for depression.

I have been taken Prozac since 1987 - close to 17 years. At first I started out at 20mg, that worked wonders! After 6 months they weaned me off. After 2-3 months of bacward progress I was put back on the 20mg for another year. They tried another course of a few months off to see how I would do.... I've been on it for the remainder of those 17 years. About 5 years ago, I was going through quite a bit of stress and life changes, the doctor upped me to 40mg a day for a bit, then did the weaning off back to 20mg. At this time and my life I need the 40mg.

I could be the poster child for prozac.

I am still me, just a whole lot better!

On the other hand, my husband took it for a short bit, and he did NOT react well at all. His anexieties got much worse. He's tried a few more that didn't work well either (not as bad as Prozac). Right now he is on Serzone and loving it!

My husband is the anti-prozac poster child!

Morale of the story: you need to find out what is right for you and stick with it.

 

[Anne]

Talon, I can join you on that prozac poster

Been on it for 5 glorious years, including 2 pregnancing and double breast-feeding. I tried going off it for a few months - hated the feeling and went back. I don't want to quit ever! I have heard that the newer SSRI's are better for some people, but quite honestly as it's not broken right now - why fix it?