Something besides Prozac for PMS?
October 28, 2014 11:50 PM Subscribe
I have a mild depression for a week out of the month. It doesn't feel like much but I don't get anything done. Now that I'm self-employed, I can't afford to have a useless week plus a week digging myself out of the hole of unfinished work and unreturned phone calls from that useless week. Help?
My Ob/Gyn suggested Prozac (or rather, the generic). I tried it for a bit and it seemed to work by making the entire month more like that one depressed and apathetic week. I wasn't depressed so much as apathetic- I did nothing. And it was all ... fine. If my dog had died I would have said it was fine, and meant it. It was a little like being a mildly stoned zombie. Worse, is that I completely lost my sex drive -I didn't even want my husband to touch me- and I couldn't orgasm even with my trusty Hitachi. Bizarre!
So I quit the Prozac. I told my ob/gyn to look into Wellbutrin since it turns out the rest of my family is on it for depression proper. She researched it and said "no way!" and offered Zoloft, Celexa, and Paroxetine. Google tells me they all have sexual side effects.
Other possibly relevant data. I am 43. I'm 25 pounds overweight. I run regularly but haven't been doing much else. My moods are usually a lot worse in the winter. I have a history of depression but haven't been depressed in about 5 years, especially so long as I don't eat sugar or drink much, which I don't. (Because of moods)
What has worked for you? (or your loved ones? Anecdata works for me.)
Oct272014@yahoo.com for followups.
Thank you!
My Ob/Gyn suggested Prozac (or rather, the generic). I tried it for a bit and it seemed to work by making the entire month more like that one depressed and apathetic week. I wasn't depressed so much as apathetic- I did nothing. And it was all ... fine. If my dog had died I would have said it was fine, and meant it. It was a little like being a mildly stoned zombie. Worse, is that I completely lost my sex drive -I didn't even want my husband to touch me- and I couldn't orgasm even with my trusty Hitachi. Bizarre!
So I quit the Prozac. I told my ob/gyn to look into Wellbutrin since it turns out the rest of my family is on it for depression proper. She researched it and said "no way!" and offered Zoloft, Celexa, and Paroxetine. Google tells me they all have sexual side effects.
Other possibly relevant data. I am 43. I'm 25 pounds overweight. I run regularly but haven't been doing much else. My moods are usually a lot worse in the winter. I have a history of depression but haven't been depressed in about 5 years, especially so long as I don't eat sugar or drink much, which I don't. (Because of moods)
What has worked for you? (or your loved ones? Anecdata works for me.)
Oct272014@yahoo.com for followups.
Thank you!
Depression comes with my PMDD. My doctor prescribed Xanax and that has been a godsend. Even a half dose clears away the fog and helps me stay calm and react reasonably to positive and negative things. Sometimes is does sort of just... Smooth things out a little too much, I guess you could say. But it isn't a zombie feeling. It's more zen. YMMV. I know exactly how you feel and I hope you find something that works with your body chemistry asap. :)
posted by Hermione Granger at 12:32 AM on October 29, 2014
posted by Hermione Granger at 12:32 AM on October 29, 2014
There's some evidence that very low dose Prozac taken only part of the month can help with premenstrual dysphoria. (That's an old article but I link to it because it explains things quite well - the evidence is stronger now). It works in a completely different way to Prozac as an antidepressant - actually changes your hormone levels. Might be worth discussing that option with your doctor?
posted by embrangled at 12:32 AM on October 29, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by embrangled at 12:32 AM on October 29, 2014 [2 favorites]
So, the Mirena IUD will generally help with the periods themselves (lighter, or if you're lucky, gone altogether), and sounds like it's 50/50 on PMS?
There's people online saying it's great, cleared up both, other people who have no periods, but still get PMS, or people who had horrible (worse?) PMS on the Pill still have problems (from anecdata here - I didn't have noticeable PMS, and now I just have no periods, booyah).
It seems dependent on how sensitive you are to hormonal birth control? The Mirena has about 1/10th the effect of most variations of the pill, but it's still in the same category.
posted by Elysum at 2:55 AM on October 29, 2014
There's people online saying it's great, cleared up both, other people who have no periods, but still get PMS, or people who had horrible (worse?) PMS on the Pill still have problems (from anecdata here - I didn't have noticeable PMS, and now I just have no periods, booyah).
It seems dependent on how sensitive you are to hormonal birth control? The Mirena has about 1/10th the effect of most variations of the pill, but it's still in the same category.
posted by Elysum at 2:55 AM on October 29, 2014
Another route is to supplement with vitamins. Try taking a multivitamin and some extra vit D (since you say moods are usually a lot worse in the winter). I know women who were able to greatly improve their moods and energy levels just by taking regular vitamins. Worth a try.
posted by travelwithcats at 3:31 AM on October 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by travelwithcats at 3:31 AM on October 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
Yeah, why exactly did your ob/gyn say no to Wellbutrin? It's contraindicated for people with seizure disorders, anorexia, or bulimia, but other than that it's reasonably safe. (My OB gave me the go-ahead to use it during pregnancy and breastfeeding, to give you an idea.) And if other members of your family responded well to it, that's as good a predictor as you're going to get.
But if Wellbutrin's a no-go for you, you could try one of the antidepressants known for having sexual side effects, and see if that's worth it. I took Cymbalta for a few years, and it killed my sex drive at first, but only for a couple months. And it cleared up my depression quickly, which made the side effects bearable.
posted by Metroid Baby at 3:55 AM on October 29, 2014
But if Wellbutrin's a no-go for you, you could try one of the antidepressants known for having sexual side effects, and see if that's worth it. I took Cymbalta for a few years, and it killed my sex drive at first, but only for a couple months. And it cleared up my depression quickly, which made the side effects bearable.
posted by Metroid Baby at 3:55 AM on October 29, 2014
I very this depending on the month; I've been diagnosed with PMDD and work closely with my doctor on meds and titration and vary it at my discretion and consult with him every two months. We've spent a ton of time talking about this and it's fantastic to have such a good partner in taking my health care seriously, and this particular problem seriously.
Here's what has worked for me:
1. 2.5 mg(?) of Prozac, a microdose, for two weeks of the month following ovulation. I can still orgasm, but it's a little harder. I can't imagine being able to do it at a higher dose. Anyway, I have a tablet and pill splitter and cut it in fourths. By the time my period is over the sexual affects are gone.
2. Adderall and Xanax combo plate. Adderall clears the brain fog, Xanax deals with the anxiety. (Again, for two weeks following ovulation, sometimes in to the first day or two of my period.)
3. Wellbutrin I take all the time. I suspect it does nothing.
4. This really helps: going vegan after ovulation . I don't know whether it's what I eat or what I don't eat (I suspect the latter) but it is enormously helpful and weirdly fun.
5. Extra vitamins: magnesium, calcium, B complex. Maybe placebo effect.
But then maybe all of it's placebo effect. Which one of these I choose depends on other stressors and practicalities, like if I have to spend four days in a hotel in Cleveland, it's unlikely it's a great month for me to lean on diet as a solution. If what I need is an even keel in order to manage stressers, I'd probably go with the micro-dose of Prozac. If I am under great stress to accomplish something, project deadline, probably Xanax and Adderall.
FWIW I'm 45 and probably twenty pounds overweight and I run 24 miles a week. Feel free to hit me on MeMail if you have any questions. I think the important thing is to experiment -- I also keep a record, on a spreadsheet, of how I feel generally. Like if I have to write 'rage' for ten days in a row, it's safe to say I didn't get the treatment quite right. It's a good historical document.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 4:17 AM on October 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
Here's what has worked for me:
1. 2.5 mg(?) of Prozac, a microdose, for two weeks of the month following ovulation. I can still orgasm, but it's a little harder. I can't imagine being able to do it at a higher dose. Anyway, I have a tablet and pill splitter and cut it in fourths. By the time my period is over the sexual affects are gone.
2. Adderall and Xanax combo plate. Adderall clears the brain fog, Xanax deals with the anxiety. (Again, for two weeks following ovulation, sometimes in to the first day or two of my period.)
3. Wellbutrin I take all the time. I suspect it does nothing.
4. This really helps: going vegan after ovulation . I don't know whether it's what I eat or what I don't eat (I suspect the latter) but it is enormously helpful and weirdly fun.
5. Extra vitamins: magnesium, calcium, B complex. Maybe placebo effect.
But then maybe all of it's placebo effect. Which one of these I choose depends on other stressors and practicalities, like if I have to spend four days in a hotel in Cleveland, it's unlikely it's a great month for me to lean on diet as a solution. If what I need is an even keel in order to manage stressers, I'd probably go with the micro-dose of Prozac. If I am under great stress to accomplish something, project deadline, probably Xanax and Adderall.
FWIW I'm 45 and probably twenty pounds overweight and I run 24 miles a week. Feel free to hit me on MeMail if you have any questions. I think the important thing is to experiment -- I also keep a record, on a spreadsheet, of how I feel generally. Like if I have to write 'rage' for ten days in a row, it's safe to say I didn't get the treatment quite right. It's a good historical document.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 4:17 AM on October 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
I agree with your doctor about the Wellbutrin (generic: bupropion). It was one of the drugs I tried years ago, when I was depressed and tried a bunch of different antidepressants. It didn't work for me (those drugs don't really work for most people, despite all the hype), and it gave me anxiety attacks. The manufacturer even admits that this is a known side effect. The package insert states, "A substantial proportion of patients treated with bupropion hydrochloride tablets experience some degree of increased restlessness, agitation, anxiety, and insomnia". A more-serious side effect are seizures. Wikipedia states, "The most important side effect is an increase in risk for epileptic seizures, which caused the drug to be withdrawn from the market for some time and then caused the recommended dosage to be reduced." Frankly, antidepressant drugs are bad news, and I would stay away from all of them.
What helped me was taking better care of myself, including exercising, going to bed at a reasonable hour, and reducing the amount of junk food I ate. I also benefited from adopting a cat. Somehow, taking care of another creature made me feel better about myself. Also, I'd recommend books on cognitive therapy (or cognitive behavioral therapy). That type of therapy can be done on your own -- you don't need a therapist, and I found it to really change the way I viewed certain stress-inducing situations in my life.
"My moods are usually a lot worse in the winter."
You might try one of the lights that are used to treat seasonal affective disorder (see this, for example). I don't have any experience with them, but lots of people swear by them.
posted by akk2014 at 5:23 AM on October 29, 2014 [2 favorites]
What helped me was taking better care of myself, including exercising, going to bed at a reasonable hour, and reducing the amount of junk food I ate. I also benefited from adopting a cat. Somehow, taking care of another creature made me feel better about myself. Also, I'd recommend books on cognitive therapy (or cognitive behavioral therapy). That type of therapy can be done on your own -- you don't need a therapist, and I found it to really change the way I viewed certain stress-inducing situations in my life.
"My moods are usually a lot worse in the winter."
You might try one of the lights that are used to treat seasonal affective disorder (see this, for example). I don't have any experience with them, but lots of people swear by them.
posted by akk2014 at 5:23 AM on October 29, 2014 [2 favorites]
What you describe is a fairly common reaction to SSRIs. I'm curious why your OB/GYN wasn't comfortable with Wellbutrin as it's safe and widely-prescribed. Maybe get an opinion from a mental health professional?
Another thing to consider is birth control that regulates your periods so that you only have one every three months (or more!). I know Seasonale is one.
posted by arrmatie at 6:29 AM on October 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
Another thing to consider is birth control that regulates your periods so that you only have one every three months (or more!). I know Seasonale is one.
posted by arrmatie at 6:29 AM on October 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
I have had some improvements by
- taking a good B-vitamin including B6 & fish oil all month long
- taking SAMe on an empty stomach, as needed, 100mg works for me but some sources say to take more. You must read all the info about SAMe since for bipolar individuals it runs the risk of inducing mania and it also makes your sleep less deep. It basically increases your serotonin levels. I find it helpful in taking the dark edge off. Do not take it with any SSRIs since it can interfere. Do your research. I find I only need it for 2-3 days and then I'm through the worst of it. But for me it really does take that dark fog away.
- taking Inositol, a B-vitamin, as-needed, may be helpful for PCOS
All this being said I'm currently working with my doctor to sort out my awful PMS issues. From the material she gave me: "Studies show that rising and falling levels of hormones may also influence chemicals in the brain, including a substance called serotonin, which affects mood." So if you don't like SSRIs themselves, you could play health food store guinea pig and look for supplements that influence serotonin, like the SAMe that I mentioned. For example tryptophan, an amino acid that is one of the 'ingredients' of serotonin, may be effective for PPMD. It is said to relax you similar to calcium and magnesium, while also lifting your mood. (I don't use it because it can be pricy - they source it from pumpkin seeds, and to get the concentration levels up means a LOT of pumpkin. But when I did buy it, I found it worked well.) You could try 5-HTP which is also a serotonin 'ingredient' but again do your research, you do not want serotonin syndrome (overdose of serotonin) and personally I tried it myself and thought it was horrible, stopped immediately, it made my stomach feel awful, fizzy and weird. But other people swear by it.
Finally I have heard that a well-made kombucha can help with serotonin levels, or maybe it's that the fermentation gives it just a liiiitle kick of the alcohols, but any time I've had an active kombucha it has given me a warm fuzzy feeling for a surprisingly small amount. But that could be hippies at the farmer's market trying to sell me on it.
You could try birth control to level out hormones. My doc suggested this one, but I felt gross on HBC so I don't use it. It is likely she will prescribe me an antidepressant which I might use since my PMS is very bad.
I must repeat... my PMS is horrifically bad, so I am throwing all of my resources at it. In general I am not a fan of playing around with serotonin but I just got desperate. For you it it sounds like you just need to take the edge off. Maybe start small - exercise, diet etc. to combat it, maybe try some of the more natural stuff (tryptophan, Bvitamins, fish oil, kombucha) before hitting SAMe or 5HTP. Anyways be careful, read reputable resources, I hope you feel better soon.
posted by serenity soonish at 6:43 AM on October 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
- taking a good B-vitamin including B6 & fish oil all month long
- taking SAMe on an empty stomach, as needed, 100mg works for me but some sources say to take more. You must read all the info about SAMe since for bipolar individuals it runs the risk of inducing mania and it also makes your sleep less deep. It basically increases your serotonin levels. I find it helpful in taking the dark edge off. Do not take it with any SSRIs since it can interfere. Do your research. I find I only need it for 2-3 days and then I'm through the worst of it. But for me it really does take that dark fog away.
- taking Inositol, a B-vitamin, as-needed, may be helpful for PCOS
All this being said I'm currently working with my doctor to sort out my awful PMS issues. From the material she gave me: "Studies show that rising and falling levels of hormones may also influence chemicals in the brain, including a substance called serotonin, which affects mood." So if you don't like SSRIs themselves, you could play health food store guinea pig and look for supplements that influence serotonin, like the SAMe that I mentioned. For example tryptophan, an amino acid that is one of the 'ingredients' of serotonin, may be effective for PPMD. It is said to relax you similar to calcium and magnesium, while also lifting your mood. (I don't use it because it can be pricy - they source it from pumpkin seeds, and to get the concentration levels up means a LOT of pumpkin. But when I did buy it, I found it worked well.) You could try 5-HTP which is also a serotonin 'ingredient' but again do your research, you do not want serotonin syndrome (overdose of serotonin) and personally I tried it myself and thought it was horrible, stopped immediately, it made my stomach feel awful, fizzy and weird. But other people swear by it.
Finally I have heard that a well-made kombucha can help with serotonin levels, or maybe it's that the fermentation gives it just a liiiitle kick of the alcohols, but any time I've had an active kombucha it has given me a warm fuzzy feeling for a surprisingly small amount. But that could be hippies at the farmer's market trying to sell me on it.
You could try birth control to level out hormones. My doc suggested this one, but I felt gross on HBC so I don't use it. It is likely she will prescribe me an antidepressant which I might use since my PMS is very bad.
I must repeat... my PMS is horrifically bad, so I am throwing all of my resources at it. In general I am not a fan of playing around with serotonin but I just got desperate. For you it it sounds like you just need to take the edge off. Maybe start small - exercise, diet etc. to combat it, maybe try some of the more natural stuff (tryptophan, Bvitamins, fish oil, kombucha) before hitting SAMe or 5HTP. Anyways be careful, read reputable resources, I hope you feel better soon.
posted by serenity soonish at 6:43 AM on October 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
I'm about your age, and I'm wondering if there's been any conversation about pre-menopause. Even if everything is carrying on as it always has, subtle shifts can change the game. (And hormone-based birth control may not be as good an option as it was before.)
A psychiatrist could have a better perception of what could work than someone who isn't comfortable offering you an alternative to SSRIs. (That's what the other three are. Wellbutrin is in its own class, more or less.)
Family medical history has helped me far more than anything else in identifying useful meds.
I tried and liked Wellbutrin, but got a mild skin rash from it eventually. If my experience with researching meds on the Internet is any indication, 95% of the people who read that last sentence will see "FESTERING AWFUL SKIN RASH," but not "tried and liked."
posted by gnomeloaf at 8:12 AM on October 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
A psychiatrist could have a better perception of what could work than someone who isn't comfortable offering you an alternative to SSRIs. (That's what the other three are. Wellbutrin is in its own class, more or less.)
Family medical history has helped me far more than anything else in identifying useful meds.
I tried and liked Wellbutrin, but got a mild skin rash from it eventually. If my experience with researching meds on the Internet is any indication, 95% of the people who read that last sentence will see "FESTERING AWFUL SKIN RASH," but not "tried and liked."
posted by gnomeloaf at 8:12 AM on October 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
It's a good start that you know it's tied to your cycle. Wellbutrin works for an immediate family member (and several extended) but it spun me into intense, non-functional anxiety... It was prescribed after Prozac left me exactly how your post describes. Would that my Dr. was knowledgeable enough to have seen that coming because it was quite damaging. Zoloft made me that happy little lump you see in ads and was easy to scale off when I had things covered. Focusing on self care on your hardest days might save you 2 weeks of slump. I'll nth vitamin D and working meds/combos out with your doctor.
posted by lawliet at 8:25 AM on October 29, 2014
posted by lawliet at 8:25 AM on October 29, 2014
My list sounds a lot like serenity soonish's - I supplement with liquid vitamins D, B-complex, and extra iron. I take St. John's wort (or did, before I started back on hormonal birth control recently where it was contraindicated) and milk thistle daily. I take 5-HTP and one other serotonin-boosting supplement pretty much as needed, and at half the recommended dose (I'm afraid of some of the side effects I've heard people report from 5-HTP but truthfully, it just makes me feel mildly capable and focused). I drink tea instead of coffee, but I do need the extra caffeine during my slump week. A fast, hour-long walk outside does help me enormously, as well as the old 20-10 task split (20 minutes of work, 10 minutes of break or different work).
I do all this stuff to basically end up feeling mildly miserable before my period instead of outright suicidal. I also do it so I can get things crossed off my task list instead of sitting frozen and angsty in one place wasting my childcare hours. It helps. Also like serenity soonish, I was afraid of jacking around with serotonin but I was also really desperate to not waste my kids' swift childhoods feeling desperate for an escape from my life one to two weeks every month; I love being with them and PMS masks my ability to enjoy it.
posted by annathea at 10:41 AM on October 29, 2014
I do all this stuff to basically end up feeling mildly miserable before my period instead of outright suicidal. I also do it so I can get things crossed off my task list instead of sitting frozen and angsty in one place wasting my childcare hours. It helps. Also like serenity soonish, I was afraid of jacking around with serotonin but I was also really desperate to not waste my kids' swift childhoods feeling desperate for an escape from my life one to two weeks every month; I love being with them and PMS masks my ability to enjoy it.
posted by annathea at 10:41 AM on October 29, 2014
Mod note: This is a followup from the asker.
Here is the email I got from my Ob/Gyn: "Thanks for your patience - I did do some research, and Wellbutrin is not a medication that is recommended for PMS - would you like to try some of the other ones that have been shown to work for PMS? They are: Zoloft, Paroxetine, Celexa"posted by cortex (staff) at 11:41 AM on October 29, 2014
I have a phone appointment with the psychiatrist on Friday afternoon. I am not sure what to tell her that won't make my medical record look terrible. I work in the insurance industry and I know damn well that having "depression" or something like that can really screw up a person's chances of getting life insurance (which I'm about to buy), disability insurance, or long term care insurance, so I want to make it sound serious enough to get something done for it, but not so serious that I can't get life insurance.
I take 5-HTP when I remember, which is about one 100mg pill per day. I take a vitamin D gummy most evenings (that's my refined sugar for the day) and one calcium pill, though I should be taking three- one with each meal, it says.
The prozac I took WAS the low dose (10mg I think) and I only lasted 2 weeks on it. There is no way I'm going on that again.
I am very reluctant to go on birth control but I will if it seems like that's the only way.
I eat quite a bit of meat and dairy so maybe I will try out some vegan meals. I am not sure how to go about that but I will work on it. Since my diet is meat, dairy, and fruit that would be a big change. (And pasta, when I'm having sugar cravings- it's my methadone.)
In the meantime, I'll try to be more diligent about my calcium and 5-HTP. It's hard for me to remember to take pills. I am fortunate enough to be incredibly healthy otherwise.
I will look into SAMe. My parents both like it.
Possibly relevant, my depression is actually the week AFTER my period, so it's more Post-Menstrual Syndrome, if such a thing exists.
Please keep your experiences coming, and if you have suggestions about how to talk to the psychiatrist, please share those, too.
It feels awkward to talk to her because a friend works in the same department in the same role. This is anon but I don't actually think of this as a terrible, shameful secret or anything, but it still feels like a private matter, and knowing that a social acquaintance could easily see it going across her desk is a little inhibiting.
It's hard for me to remember to take pills.
If you can't remember to take pills, taking antidepressant pills isn't going to work well for you.
My moods are usually a lot worse in the winter.
Read about seasonal affective disorder. Buy some lights meant for that, or try some bright "full spectrum" bulbs in parts of your home or office where you spend most of your time. They are very helpful.
posted by yohko at 12:27 PM on October 29, 2014
If you can't remember to take pills, taking antidepressant pills isn't going to work well for you.
My moods are usually a lot worse in the winter.
Read about seasonal affective disorder. Buy some lights meant for that, or try some bright "full spectrum" bulbs in parts of your home or office where you spend most of your time. They are very helpful.
posted by yohko at 12:27 PM on October 29, 2014
Possibly relevant, my depression is actually the week AFTER my period, so it's more Post-Menstrual Syndrome, if such a thing exists.
As I mentioned above, my doctor is a really good guy, but by and large I've done my own research on this. One thing that helped is really going full nerd on spreadsheets. It happening after your period is unusual--maybe you ovulate early? I do--it really adds to the fun.
I can pretty much promise you that you'll find the tone of this website annoying, but I have found it to be a source of incredibly good well-documented information and research. It's written like someone wrote it for Cosmo, but if you can stomach it, there is a lot of really important content that might help you understand which hormones are working you over and how.
(Also fwiw, I was taking 2.5 mg of Prozac, which is micro as it gets I think. )
posted by A Terrible Llama at 2:13 PM on October 29, 2014
As I mentioned above, my doctor is a really good guy, but by and large I've done my own research on this. One thing that helped is really going full nerd on spreadsheets. It happening after your period is unusual--maybe you ovulate early? I do--it really adds to the fun.
I can pretty much promise you that you'll find the tone of this website annoying, but I have found it to be a source of incredibly good well-documented information and research. It's written like someone wrote it for Cosmo, but if you can stomach it, there is a lot of really important content that might help you understand which hormones are working you over and how.
(Also fwiw, I was taking 2.5 mg of Prozac, which is micro as it gets I think. )
posted by A Terrible Llama at 2:13 PM on October 29, 2014
Celexa has helped tremendously with my PMDD.
posted by Jacqueline at 2:38 PM on October 29, 2014
posted by Jacqueline at 2:38 PM on October 29, 2014
Celexa didn't do jack for my depression when I originally took it. Years later after getting on a medication that helped the depression (lamictal, an antipsychotic) celexa got added back to help with hormonal mood wackiness and it did wonders.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 6:26 PM on October 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 6:26 PM on October 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
The prozac I took WAS the low dose (10mg I think) and I only lasted 2 weeks on it. There is no way I'm going on that again.
That's a low dose as an anti-depressant - the regimen for PMS involves micro-doses as low as 2mg. You'd be cutting pills, and only taking it part of the month. The drug acts in a completely different way at that low dose, so your experience of it might not be the same. Ask your OBGYN to look it up in the literature, or consider seeing a psychiatrist instead.
posted by embrangled at 7:47 PM on October 29, 2014
That's a low dose as an anti-depressant - the regimen for PMS involves micro-doses as low as 2mg. You'd be cutting pills, and only taking it part of the month. The drug acts in a completely different way at that low dose, so your experience of it might not be the same. Ask your OBGYN to look it up in the literature, or consider seeing a psychiatrist instead.
posted by embrangled at 7:47 PM on October 29, 2014
« Older Need help with Emotional Regulation | FInding a good adviser for life insurance / long... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
Well, did she say why? Wellbutrin would seem like the obvious thing to try unless it's contraindicated for some reason. I was on it for years; no sexual side effects, weight loss, and it's more energizing than most antidepressants. (It did zilch for my mood, though, but nothing ever has, so don't let that stop you.)
Also, I'm sure there are some GYN's who are great with antidepressants, but since yours seems to be striking out, I think you might have better luck with a psychiatrist.
posted by Violet Hour at 12:31 AM on October 29, 2014