My review for Prozac Nation, by Elizabeth Wurtzel.
As someone currently on Prozac for depression, I knew I had to read this book to see how, if at all, I could identify with what the author described herself going through. Even though I know that it was written over 20 years ago. Still it was a thought-provoking read. And I did see some incidents in the book that were nearly the same as (if not identical to) what I had gone through before beginning my Prozac last year. Although it took me this long to realize I suffered from depression and needed to seek help. I felt I was brave to have read this.Yes, it's true. I have been on Prozac since last August. My current dosage is 30 mg. I started at 10 mg for one month, then 20 mg for the next three months. My next appointment with my psychiatrist is this week and I will see what happens then. I've had my ups and downs since starting. Some drowsiness and nervousness, common side effects. Still feel some bouts of depression, but everyone knows that antidepressants won't magically cure your condition, :-) Just decrease it somewhat. And I still tend to have anxiety, one of the reasons I started it begin with. I'd been going to the county behavioral health department for more than a year but only last summer decided to seek medication services. My doctor is really nice and is always very calm. And I think that's a good thing.
Have you been on Prozac or any other antidepressant? What is your story so far?
3 comments:
I didn't realize drowsiness was a side effect. It's an antidepressant, so you'd think it would make you more alert! I've never been on one, but I have loved ones who are. I also have a friend who finds that marijuana is the only thing that helps. He's tried all the meds and they didn't work for him, but one joint a day and he's fine. Weird, huh? It isn't legal medically in his state, so that part is kinda sucky.
It could also be that the drowsiness is caused by the change in the weather (that seems to happen to me a lot) and that it is counteracting with the meds. I started it last August, when it was hot and I had a similar feeling then. And it took some getting used to the new dosage each time my psychiatrist increased it. I see again him this week but I don't know what dosage I'll be on next.
And just curious--where does this friend of yours live?
Luckily I don't get depressed for very long. I get angry. I used to play Ice Hockey. Great for taking your anger out on the world. I used to make human beings fly. They didn't want to fly. I didn't care.
Post a Comment