Stress Center Peer Support

I don't really want to talk about this, but i have to because I need help and it's worrying me a lot. I asked my psychiatrist to take me off of prozac 'cause I hated the sexual side effects. Now that I'm on a very low dosage, my libido is back, but my depression and mood swings are coming back. at first, when I was taking prozac, i didn't think it was doing much for me. Now, I see that I feel worse. I wish there was a medicine that would help my brain chemistry to be happy, but wouldn't have sexual side effects or other unwanted side effects.
I want both. I want to feel good and have a libido, but I can't have both and I don't know what to do. I have been crying a lot the past few days. One minute i'm fine, the next I'm crying up a storm and it's for no reason at all. I lost energy, motivation, I don't know what to do. I'm rambling, i know, but I'm just so full of worries. I live with my parents. I didn't tell them that I decided to go off of the prozac. They have noticed a huge change in my mood and keep asking me if I have been taking my meds. I tell them I am, but I left out the part about reducing the prozac. and I don't want to tell them 'cause I don't want them to know that I am sexually active with more than one person. I would rather be writing this privately, but I don't know who to turn to, and maybe although this is embarressing for me to talk about, I have to because I need help. I am torn.
Help!!!!!!!!!
and what should I do if I am having a really hard time? I can't keep calling the suicide hotlines like I did the other day. (I'm not suicidal, but I needed someone to talk to) I didn't want to talk to anyone I know personally 'cause I was afraid of being judged.
I missed my uncle's christmas party and stayed at home alone instead. I managed to keep myself busy though. I cleaned a bit, made a music mix and listened to music, watched back to back episodes of "scrubs" to make me laugh and now, I'm writing on this forum.
Should I go back on prozac? Should I stay off of it and try to deal with the symptoms of depression on my own? Is there an effective medicine that I could take that wouldn't have sexual side effects? I'm also currently on welbutrin SR and lamictal, but I don't feel anything with them. Then again, I can't tell anymore. What's the medicine and what's me and which one is affecting what?
I'm sorry to have written such a long entry, it's just that I'm worrying and right now I don't know what else I can do to keep myself busy rather than staring at my ceiling and thinking nonstop.

Hi Michelle,
It sounds like you have been having a tough time. I have been on 40 mg of Prozac for over ten years. This summer I decided to decrease my dose. I got down to 10 mg in October and felt great. Then I hit a wall. I started having panic attacks and mood swings. I've gradually increased back to 40 mg. But all of this prompted me to find this program so hopefully I can try again.
I'm lucky because I don't feel any sexual side effects but I know everyone responds to medication differently.
Are you seeing a psychiatrist? I would think your concerns and possibly be best addressed by them. I would also be honest to your parents about reducing the dose. If you constantly have to worry about your mood swings around them it probably makes it worse. Your sexual life is your business. So you can tell them another reason for decreasing the medication. I can't imagine decreasing my meds and trying to hide it from my family and husband. It would have been so much worse for me.
Take a deep breath. Give yourself some positive self talk. Then talk to your doctor. I wish you the best!!
Faith

I can relate when you talk about prozac worries. I was up to 100mg a day because I am Bulimic and have OCD. It wasn't even helping me and I lost my sexual interest when they put me on 20mg of it. It's been 8 years since I went on it and I rarely feel attractive. It's like I want to have sex but I feel like crap so who would want me!!! Maybe try a higher dose of the Wellbutrin, that's supposed to have low sexual side effects. Jody

Another thing too is to try not to let the depressed feelings overtake you.. . I mean, mayb just maybe you were thinking that this was going to happen and it did. And you stated in your forum that you didnt go to the party and another statement was that you lye around and think (dwell)on it. You have to fight that! Get up and climb out of the hole! I have been on probaly a dozen different anti's but all have given me adverse reactions so now I have to fight this anxiety,panic, Pure O, and now PMDD (go figure)with just ME! I am the percentage that the medicine makes it worse. Believe me it is not easy and sometimes I get into a hole to, but I climb out. I put on clothes, drag my butt out of the house and go walk. I put on music (positive) and sing. I pray really hard about and let the Lord know that I need help. I tell Satan to leave me alone!!!!! I know that all of this stuff we deal with is not easy and not fair but fight it with the power of goodness! Keep your head up. Christi

Hi Michelle Holly

I dont know if you saw it but I sent you a looonnngggg PM on this post!

Best wishes!