dreams in neon
06-27-2009, 05:24 PM
Hi everyone,
My dose of Prozac was raised from 20mg to 40mg after I experienced some depression due to the fear of me hearing voices (which happens when I'm severely depressed) or having a mixed episode due to lack of sleep.
I've been on this dose for several weeks and have noticed a definite improvement in my mood.
When I started taking 20mg, it took 8 weeks for me to notice a change.
My question is whether or not it's possible for me to continue feeling more improvement even now that I've been taking Prozac for 3-4 weeks?
I'm not hypomanic or manic. I just feel a tremendous sense of being calm, level and peaceful. I no longer feel tired either. I have more motivation and because of that, my thinking is clearer. I've also noticed an improvement in my memory -- something I've had difficulty with ever since I started taking meds for BP 3 years ago.
By the way, if you take an SSRI along with a mood stabilizer, I'd be interested in hearing from you to learn whether or not you've had a similar experience.
Thanks!
My dose of Prozac was raised from 20mg to 40mg after I experienced some depression due to the fear of me hearing voices (which happens when I'm severely depressed) or having a mixed episode due to lack of sleep.
I've been on this dose for several weeks and have noticed a definite improvement in my mood.
When I started taking 20mg, it took 8 weeks for me to notice a change.
My question is whether or not it's possible for me to continue feeling more improvement even now that I've been taking Prozac for 3-4 weeks?
I'm not hypomanic or manic. I just feel a tremendous sense of being calm, level and peaceful. I no longer feel tired either. I have more motivation and because of that, my thinking is clearer. I've also noticed an improvement in my memory -- something I've had difficulty with ever since I started taking meds for BP 3 years ago.
By the way, if you take an SSRI along with a mood stabilizer, I'd be interested in hearing from you to learn whether or not you've had a similar experience.
Thanks!
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CarenR
06-27-2009, 05:32 PM
Good for you for feeling peaceful..... this means you are on the right track...
hugs, Caren
hugs, Caren
Llama
06-27-2009, 06:08 PM
It's great to hear that you are feeling peaceful! I'm going to ask my pdoc about prozac. I was on that once a long, long time ago and don't really remember what it was like.
light the world
06-27-2009, 08:25 PM
The extra 20 mg of prozac is probably working in half the time because you already have your standard dose of 20mg of prozac already in your system. Just a guess.
If your memory is improving and your having more motivation and other things are improving then it sounds like it is a good thing. Maybe its a sign that your moods are levelling out better. Just wondering but when was the last time your had a mood swing.
If your memory is improving and your having more motivation and other things are improving then it sounds like it is a good thing. Maybe its a sign that your moods are levelling out better. Just wondering but when was the last time your had a mood swing.
dreams in neon
06-27-2009, 08:33 PM
Hi everyone,
The last time I rapid cycled was when I had the conversation with my sister on the phone that I posted about not too long ago. Aside from that, I haven't had any irritability, mania or depression. I felt depressed a few days ago after an asthma attack I had, but that wasn't a mood swing -- it had to do with my health. Overall, I think my moods have been steadily leveling out over the past 2-3 months. For the entire month of June, I was manic for one day and depressed for one day. For the remainder of the month I've been level. I don't even feel irritable which is unusual for me because there's always something that sets me off no matter how small. LOL.
The last time I rapid cycled was when I had the conversation with my sister on the phone that I posted about not too long ago. Aside from that, I haven't had any irritability, mania or depression. I felt depressed a few days ago after an asthma attack I had, but that wasn't a mood swing -- it had to do with my health. Overall, I think my moods have been steadily leveling out over the past 2-3 months. For the entire month of June, I was manic for one day and depressed for one day. For the remainder of the month I've been level. I don't even feel irritable which is unusual for me because there's always something that sets me off no matter how small. LOL.
light the world
06-27-2009, 08:35 PM
Sounds like good news. Are you going back to university in the fall. Sorry I think thats what you were planning to do. I forget.
dreams in neon
06-27-2009, 08:40 PM
Sounds like good news. Are you going back to university in the fall. Sorry I think thats what you were planning to do. I forget.
It depends on whether or not I can afford to move to Arizona. I'm currently trying to save money to do that, but I'm on a limited income. I may have to delay my plans until September-October, but we'll see. I do plan on continuing my education regardless. If not this September, definitely sometime next year. I think my moods are stabilized enough where I can try attending campus, but if that proves to be too stressful, I can take online courses.
It depends on whether or not I can afford to move to Arizona. I'm currently trying to save money to do that, but I'm on a limited income. I may have to delay my plans until September-October, but we'll see. I do plan on continuing my education regardless. If not this September, definitely sometime next year. I think my moods are stabilized enough where I can try attending campus, but if that proves to be too stressful, I can take online courses.
dreams in neon
06-27-2009, 08:43 PM
I also feel great about the fact that I'm doing well in therapy with my new tdoc. I'm accomplishing most of my goals. So far, I've come to terms with my BP diagnosis and have started discussing my PTSD/traumas. My tdoc even said he thinks I'm ready to start seeing him bi-weekly which I will probably do the week after next since we already have an appointment scheduled for July 8th.
dreams in neon
06-27-2009, 08:47 PM
It's great to hear that you are feeling peaceful! I'm going to ask my pdoc about prozac. I was on that once a long, long time ago and don't really remember what it was like.
Let us know what your pdoc says. It has been a wonderful med for me. It didn't work great when I took it in the early 90s, but today it's working very, very well. I hope you have similar results. :)
Let us know what your pdoc says. It has been a wonderful med for me. It didn't work great when I took it in the early 90s, but today it's working very, very well. I hope you have similar results. :)
dreams in neon
06-27-2009, 09:12 PM
Ben,
I wanted to add that I agree with you about the possibility of Prozac working faster now that I'm already taking 20mg. Since Prozac is fast-acting and remains in the system for quite awhile, it wouldn't take as long to notice a difference in mood going from 20mg to 40mg as it would starting off with 20mg. I just didn't know if it would take 8 weeks like it did before or I was experiencing a placebo effect. I'm continuing to feel great right now. I'm able to think clearly and I can remember why I walked into a different room which is something I haven't been able to do for the past 3 years. It's a nice change for the better.
I wanted to add that I agree with you about the possibility of Prozac working faster now that I'm already taking 20mg. Since Prozac is fast-acting and remains in the system for quite awhile, it wouldn't take as long to notice a difference in mood going from 20mg to 40mg as it would starting off with 20mg. I just didn't know if it would take 8 weeks like it did before or I was experiencing a placebo effect. I'm continuing to feel great right now. I'm able to think clearly and I can remember why I walked into a different room which is something I haven't been able to do for the past 3 years. It's a nice change for the better.
Llama
06-27-2009, 11:18 PM
Hey dreams! I am taking online courses too! I like them a lot. There is no pressure from other students and I can express myself better in writing than verbally. And it really eases my anxiety too. Plus if I'm too depressed or manic to go to do schoolwork for a few days I can get by just fine. If I were in a traditional classroom I would probably miss quite a bit because of missing the lectures. With online courses the lectures are saved online so I can play catch-up if needed.
light the world
06-28-2009, 12:50 AM
I'm currently taking a highschool online course myself. I know its not the same as the university or college ones.
seaturtle
06-28-2009, 12:54 AM
Hi, neondreams,
Definitely possible if not probable. I had the same thing happen with Prozac (though it did not work for me after a few months). Lamictal, however, has worked that way for me.
I am so glad you're feeling the way you are. How long has it been now that you've felt decent?
Hugs,
Seaturtle
Definitely possible if not probable. I had the same thing happen with Prozac (though it did not work for me after a few months). Lamictal, however, has worked that way for me.
I am so glad you're feeling the way you are. How long has it been now that you've felt decent?
Hugs,
Seaturtle
dreams in neon
06-28-2009, 04:29 AM
Hey dreams! I am taking online courses too! I like them a lot. There is no pressure from other students and I can express myself better in writing than verbally. And it really eases my anxiety too. Plus if I'm too depressed or manic to go to do schoolwork for a few days I can get by just fine. If I were in a traditional classroom I would probably miss quite a bit because of missing the lectures. With online courses the lectures are saved online so I can play catch-up if needed.
I feel the same way you do Llama. I'm able to express myself better in writing and I can comprehend much easier when I read something vs. when I hear it. I also don't like sitting in lectures for 3 hours listening to someone's voice drone on and on. Part of my problem last semester was constant rapid cycling, mania, auditory hallucinations and racing thoughts which interfered with my ability to concentrate and think clearly. If I take an online course, I can wait until I get my mania under control (usually a day or two thanks to my new meds) and go from there.
I feel the same way you do Llama. I'm able to express myself better in writing and I can comprehend much easier when I read something vs. when I hear it. I also don't like sitting in lectures for 3 hours listening to someone's voice drone on and on. Part of my problem last semester was constant rapid cycling, mania, auditory hallucinations and racing thoughts which interfered with my ability to concentrate and think clearly. If I take an online course, I can wait until I get my mania under control (usually a day or two thanks to my new meds) and go from there.
dreams in neon
06-28-2009, 04:37 AM
Hi, neondreams,
Definitely possible if not probable. I had the same thing happen with Prozac (though it did not work for me after a few months). Lamictal, however, has worked that way for me.
I am so glad you're feeling the way you are. How long has it been now that you've felt decent?
Hugs,
Seaturtle
Ben: Good for you! I'm glad that you are able to take online courses whether they are for high school or not.
Seaturtle: My moods have been pretty stable over the past 2-3 months. Ever since April, my moods have slowly improved and my mania, rapid cycling, etc. lessened. I've gone from having several manic episodes or incidents of rapid cycling/month to being manic or depressed once/month (June) and rapid cycling only once/day at the most. The Klonopin I take has really done wonders in keeping my rapid cycling under control as well as preventing my mania from lasting a week or more. If I take my higher PRN dose of Klonopin (2 Klonopin 3x/day), my moods stabilize within 2 days.
Definitely possible if not probable. I had the same thing happen with Prozac (though it did not work for me after a few months). Lamictal, however, has worked that way for me.
I am so glad you're feeling the way you are. How long has it been now that you've felt decent?
Hugs,
Seaturtle
Ben: Good for you! I'm glad that you are able to take online courses whether they are for high school or not.
Seaturtle: My moods have been pretty stable over the past 2-3 months. Ever since April, my moods have slowly improved and my mania, rapid cycling, etc. lessened. I've gone from having several manic episodes or incidents of rapid cycling/month to being manic or depressed once/month (June) and rapid cycling only once/day at the most. The Klonopin I take has really done wonders in keeping my rapid cycling under control as well as preventing my mania from lasting a week or more. If I take my higher PRN dose of Klonopin (2 Klonopin 3x/day), my moods stabilize within 2 days.