Sarafem... PmDD

[AnnMorin]

Ok I went for my annual OB checkup and told the doctor how my PMS has gotten worse- he put me on Sarafem for half a month each month.. Now this stuff is the same thing as Prozac except a smaller dose and new name.. has anyone else used it? I don't want to be *****y but I also don't want to be a loon....

 

[SuiteDisney]

I take 40 mg of Prozac every day and I don't consider myself a loon.

 

[DVC-Don]

My wife has been on them for some time. They made LARGE difference.

 

[SonjaB]

I have been on Zoloft for PMDD for nearly a year and a half now and I don't consider myself looney. I was looney BEFORE, it made a huge difference.

 

[AnnMorin]

When I said loon I was not trying to insult anyone (poor choice of words on my part and I appogize) I guess I was feeling awkward about being put on a medicine that is for depression-etc. when I am not depressed and did not consider myself having a chemical imbalance. But if you were to ask my husband and son they would attest that two weeks before my period I do become quite unstable. sorry again for my careless choice of words I truely did not intend to hurt anyone's feelings, that is what happens when you speak without thinking. Sorry

 

[missymouse3367]

This is truly a chemical imbalance. The real problem is getting people who need it to realize this. The Doctors that I work for frequently prescribe it. I get a few pts. that will ask me about taking it. My answer is, it is like having Diabetes, your body is not producing something it needs to make it run properly.

I hope this helped

 

[goofy4tink]

I had my last child at 43. My system never went back to normal. The reason....menopause!! Went on HRT. Worked like a charm. I was no longer a 'loon'. Well. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Seems it's a real family trait. So, I stop HRT. That's when the hot flashes, sleeplessness, etc. started. My obgyn put me on Sarafem. Said he wasn't sure if I was depressed due to lack of sleep or not sleeping due to depression!! I had to stop the Sarafem. I just couldn't function the next day. He says it evidently works for quite a lot of women tho. It also upset my stomach something awful. Felt nausous all day. It was just like having morning sickness. Now I take Ambien for sleeping. It's a miracle drug in my opinion. If the Sarafem works for you, then stick with it. It's too bad there seems to be a stigma attached to these drugs. If you have hight blood pressure you take meds, right? It's an imbalance in your system. So fix it!

 

[dtuleya]

I took Sarafem for about 9 months and gained 25 pounds. I ended up losing the weight (with some medicinal help from my Dr.), but I switched to Prozac. My Dr. looked in some medical book and thought that I wouldn't gain as much weight on Prozac. It had made such a difference in my life! I wish I had started taking it 14 years ago when I started suffering symptoms.

 

[AnnMorin]

I thought Sarafem and Prozac were the exact same medicine but with a different name? I hope I don't gain weight. I just lost 40 pounds after a year of hard work, if I start to gain it back I will stop the med! I start it next friday, on two weeks off two weeks.

 

[dtuleya]

That's what I thought too, but my doctor said that I shouldn't gain weight on it. Maybe it's the dosage?????? Maybe it's because I was depressed anyway???? It definitely helped me so don't let that scare you away. Just be aware of it and don't let yourself fall into bad habits. I wasn't aware of the potential weight gain side effect and the weight gain crept up on me.

 

[JESW]

I was on Prozac for a while amd gained 40 POUNDS in just a couple of months - without changing my eating or exercising habits. Switched off of that and now on Wellbutrin - much better. I also have BAD PMS.

Hope things work out for you!

Jill

 

[Beauty]

This is truly a chemical imbalance. The real problem is getting people who need it to realize this.

That is so true!! I've been on Paxil for almost 10 years now. Started it after I started having severe Panic Attacks. I have gained weight but I can't honestly blame alot of it on the meds because I know how I ate until about a month ago. I've been dieting and I'm still on the Paxil and I'm not having a problem loosing weight.

Good luck! I think you will see a huge difference!

 

[AnnMorin]

wow forty pounds that is what I lost, maybe I just won't bother to take it, i would rather be *****y than have to go through all that struggle again to loose the weight.

 

[Boo'sMom]

Originally posted by AnnMorin
wow forty pounds that is what I lost, maybe I just won't bother to take it, i would rather be *****y than have to go th
rough all that struggle again to loose the weight.

It's not about being *****y....it's about correcting an imbalance in your system, and taking care of your health. If you are concerned about the weight gain (and who isn't) speak to your doctor. But by all means, please don't not take a medicine because of a side effect that can be avoided or modified.

I've taken Zoloft since the birth of my first, 11 years, and I know it makes a huge difference. I'm current not taking it because I have such a hard time actually taking pills, I am hoping next week my Dr. switches me to once a week Prozac.

Good luck.

 

[allicat]

Im guessing this is strictly to help the mood swings associated with PMS.
Aside from being moody, I have physical symptoms like having no energy, cramps etc. I dont think the meds. you are discussing would help with that, right?

 

[JasonLyons]

theres no such thing as PMS just an excuse for you women to be mean. if any of you knew where I lived, I would not write this

 

[browneyes]

Same as Prozac? I wouldn't take it.

LOL! Jason, I don't get PMS, I just get in a VERY bad mood sometimes. Then I get all the pain and discomforts that must be some man's fault. My SO just agrees with me (he gets scared when my head spins around sometimes. ).