antidepressant sway?

[vanasse2002]

My doc has prescribed zoloft to help with my horrible PMS that I've been suffering with. I am supposed to take it just the week before AF. I will not be taking it the month that we TTC, but if I am taking it before hand, will it sway? If so, which way will it sway?
I never had really bad PMS before, but within the past year, it has become really bad. As soon as I ovulate, my breasts start to kill me (like how they hurt when milk is coming in right after giving birth). I also suffer from bad headaches and my patience is absolutely nothing.
Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions on how to make this better? I am 34 and menopause does run early in our family...my mom went through it in her early 40s. Could this be the beginnings of early perimenopause???

[Tiggerian]

I don't know with Zoloft - but I am surprise at being prescribed it for just one week. It usually takes time for any antidepressant to work? My GP recommended B-vitamins for PMS as I suffer from it too.

I don't know about the swaying bit, but I conceived my DS2 on Citalopram, but I was doing an unintentional boy sway (diet) too.

[LacePrincess]

Hi, I'm not a blue swayer but I do have long experience with depression, anxiety, and all manners of antidepressants.

I echo Tigger. Sorry, but, WTF? I have NEVER heard of an SSRI (Selective Seratonin Re-uptake Inhibitor) such as Zoloft being prescribed for a) PMS and b) short term. Sorry, the mind just boggles.

SSRI's are a long term medication. Depending on your particular affliction, SSRI's take at LEAST a month to 12 weeks to actually have full effect. I take Zoloft for an anxiety condition and OCD, and for anxiety it takes 12 weeks (yeah, that's 3 months!!) to show therapeutic effect. It sucks ass, let me tell you. SSRI's are not short term meds and do not have immediate results. In fact, sometimes they will make the condition WORSE before making it better, something I'm currently struggling with after having to go back on Zoloft (will see my psych doc next week).

Also, SSRI's are a fussy med. Everyone's brain chemistry is different and react differently to different meds. It sometimes takes a trial of many different drugs and many many side effects (often horrid) before finding one that 'clicks'. So antidepressants are not something to be taken lightly and are an aid of last resort after counselling and behavioural therapy.

Frankly, I am shocked that your doc would just write you a bandaid script like that, especially if you have no history with SSRI's and being treated for a mood disorder, AND while you're TTC. It makes no sense. The only anti-anxiety meds with instant effect out there are the benzos, which are tranquilizers. I call them the 'pams' - Clonazapam, Lorazapam are two popular ones, brand names include Xanax and Ativan. They come with an enormous drawback - they are dangerous for pregnancy and they are addictive.

You really, really need to do your research and PLEASE don't take the Zoloft lightly. It is irrelevant how something as serious as an antidepressant sways. What IS important is your longterm health implications and any risk to the pregnancy. Zoloft is to fix brain chemistry - it is NOT for physical PMS symptoms! SSRI's like Zoloft have been linked to a possible risk of heart defects in the fetus in the first tri and dependency in the last. Trust me, I HATE having to go back on the stuff, but my anxiety condition is destroying my life again and I only use it when I have no choice. It's something that is only a good idea if benefits outweigh risks.

I agree with Tigger on the B-vits for helping with PMS (esp since you're a blue swayer and b-vits sway blue anyways). Try a B complex for best absorbancy. Also, Vitex can help immensely with PMS! I'm taking Vitex to help my ovulation and LP but I found it completely erased my PMS. I used to bloat and cramp the week before AF and now I have absolutely zero symptoms. If you take Vitex (be aware it may sway pink but antidepressants may sway pink too) take it CD1-14 only (or to your first +OPK) as if taken continuously Vitex can delay O.

Gosh, I hope I didn't sound too strong in my post, but seriously I cannot believe your doctor. The mind just blows, really. I don't trust 99% of GP's as far as I can throw them anyways when it comes to psych stuff, most of them just don't get it and mental disorders are so incredibly misunderstood in our society. I would always insist on a psych specialist even if you are suffering from a mood disorder as the wrong therapy can be absolutely disastrous.

[LacePrincess]

I just did a quick Google for "Zoloft and PMS" and it seems like it is becoming common to prescribe it for short term PMS relief.

It makes me very nervous and I don't like at all how it makes SSRI's seem like an easy fix and a harmless pill. They are so far from that and potentially dangerous. Maybe it's because I'm in the depths of current anxiety disorder hell (and I'm fairly sure my current crop of intrusive thoughts - including thoughts of self harm which I won't do but the thoughts are THERE - are being caused by the Zoloft right now).

I still think that the only doctors who should be prescribing antidepressants are mental disorder medical specialists.

ETA: Found this, and it certainly made me go Hmmmmm:

http://clinpsyc.blogspot.ca/2006/10/zoloft-for-pms-impressive-statistical.html

I haven't looked at all the sources to see if this is an objective article, but it certainly puts up some red flags in my mind. Namely that Pfizer, the makers of Zoloft, was the company that funded the study that recommended Zoloft as treatment for PMS.

Curiously enough, I believe that the time this study came out Zoloft was also out on the market long enough that generic versions of the drug were allowed to be released. Which meant Pfizer would see a big drop in their sales. More things that make you wonder, eh?


Vanasse, I am so so sorry for derailing your thread, but your post just got me curious and I thought this info was interesting enough to share for anyone who came across this thread. :)

I thought of something else you might try - peppermint tea. I found it really calmed my nerves and raging anger.

[vanasse2002]

I was really worried about taking an antidepressant to when she recommended it to me...she said that I could either take the zoloft or prozac. After telling her more about my symptoms, she decided that the zoloft would be a better fit. I have taken it a couple of months, but then other months, I have not. I do see a difference when I take it versus not taking it.
I just feel like I have absolutely no patience at all and that all I do is scream at everyone in the week before AF starts. It really helped to make me less likely to "snap" like that and I felt much calmer.
I think that I will try upping the B-vits and see if that helps with my symptoms. I will also might try the peppermint tea, but I think I remember reading someone on this site that it might sway pink.
I am trying to stay away from anything pink as this is our final baby and we really want it to be a boy!

[LacePrincess]

Hon, your mental health has to take priority. Especially with kids in the picture - you owe it to them to be the best mom you can be. Mothering young kids is aggravating enough without having the challenge of mood disorders in the mix too.

Be very very careful is all I can say. Zoloft was my miracle drug for years so I didn't question it being the only choice to go on again with the my anxiety issues out of control this year. But for some reason it's having some odd effects that's new to me - panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, incredibly intrusive obsessions, and rage incidents unrelated to PMS. These are not normal for me.

It's horrible, sigh. I don't want to be such a downer but I'm really struggling with my issues this week and I've had my anxiety disorders diagnosed and treated for 13 years now so I know my mind and medication issues very, very well. It just goes to show you how even if you think you know your brain things change. And even when you think it's working it can shift, or you can get some serious withdrawal symptoms.

Peppermint tea really helps calm my irritability, so it's really worth trying. If you're only taking a cup here and there as you feel anxious/angry it shouldn't have much of a sway effect anyways. And diet is still the most important part.

I just really want to encourage you to consider the possible ramifications before going down the med path.....it's really scary and a dark road to walk sometimes. I just don't want that for you if you can avoid it. :)

[The Anchor]

Just wanted to say that Vitex helped with my PMS in a tremendous way...my DH even noticed! (I was one cranky you-know-what). I was on it for about 3 months...

[vanasse2002]

Thanks for all the support and I hope that you get to feeling better soon, ladyprincess.
I think that I will go the vitamin route for now and just hold on to the meds...
Anchor, does vitex sway and what exactly is it?

[Wanting-a-girl]

I second that about the peppermint tea... I have anxiety/panic and I started drinking peppermint tea a few times a day and it virtually dissapeared :) wow how great it is to have a normal feeling day! I also noticed that my anxiety tended to crop up into the days leading to Af

[LacePrincess]

Thanks, Vanasse! I sure hope I get sorted out too. It sucks but I've been going through these ups and downs for a long time now, lol, so I'm pretty fatalistic about the whole thing. Thank goodness I can compartmentalize crazy intrusive thoughts now.

Vitex is an herb used to boost fertility and rebalance hormones. It's commonly taken to strengthen ovulation (it acts on LH, reducing estrogen dominence and also boosting progesterone production) and it is prescribed by naturopathic docs to help with PMS symptoms. I have had no PMS at all since starting Vitex to lengthen out my LP and help my prog levels.

It does sway pink, however, so you might want to try diet and herbal teas like peppermint first. Also I find simple carbs (and resulting sugar sways) can mess up my moods even more, so since you're swaying boy anyways make sure to get lots of complex slow digesting carbs, proteins, and snack often to keep your blood sugar stable. Crashing blood sugars make mood disorders worse (an unfortunate side effect for me on this LE diet!)

GL!

[luvalittleman]

My doc has prescribed zoloft to help with my horrible PMS that I've been suffering with. I am supposed to take it just the week before AF. I will not be taking it the month that we TTC, but if I am taking it before hand, will it sway? If so, which way will it sway?
I never had really bad PMS before, but within the past year, it has become really bad. As soon as I ovulate, my breasts start to kill me (like how they hurt when milk is coming in right after giving birth). I also suffer from bad headaches and my patience is absolutely nothing.
Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions on how to make this better? I am 34 and menopause does run early in our family...my mom went through it in her early 40s. Could this be the beginnings of early perimenopause???

I would strongly advise you not to take them.
I was on them for 4 years in my 20's for depression and they destroyed my sex drive. I have researched this and apparently it has happened to a lot of other women as well.
I also had dreadful PMS and have experimented with vitamins and diet and now don't suffer it anymore.
I enlisted the help of the naturopath at the local health food store and we worked on building up my calcium and iron stores and taking withania to help with adrenal fatigue (in a nutshell, you need healthy adrenals to make proper hormones) . I also included maca powder and my cycle went from 7 days (dreadfully heavy bleeding for 2 days) and severe PMR (pre-menstrual rage) to 3 days with 1 slightly cranky day. You can do it naturally and there won't be side effects. Please give it a try.
Good luck.

[LacePrincess]

Hah, sex drive? What sex drive?!?

Yeah, this is true. Though mine was dead as a doornail from the depression anyways. When you can't see a reason to exist, sex isn't really on the forefront either.....

But yeah, I haven't really had a libido since my early 20's. Which, not so coincidentally, was when I first had major problems with this crap. I didn't have a choice about taking meds, I ended up in the hospital with major depression so taking this stuff was better than being suicidal, let me tell you!

I hate it with every fiber of my being though. I hate it right now that I don't know if it's my brain gone haywire yet again or the meds going rogue on me and making things even worse. It's a hellhole and you don't want to be in here if you don't have to. Ya just don't mess around in the brain if you haven't exhausted the alternatives.

Gosh this is a depressing post, sorry....

Anyways, the thing is, I still had PMS even on meds. Vitex was a total miracle worker getting rid of my PMS.

[Momofboys]

Ive never heard of n anti-depressant being prescribed for short term. Ive struggled with depression and anxiety for over 10 yrs. I took Paxil after my ds #2 stopped after almost a yr. Then started again after yds n stopped after only 6 months. I stopped taking a daily med and just relied on an as needed Ativan. Then my depression turned into a very severe anxiety issue. In the past year and 4 months they had tried 7 different meds to help balance me out (including paxil,which ended up making me MORE depressed this time around) none of which worked. Either made it worse or made me a zombie. I finally told them no more! I couldn't take all the med changes. As of right now I only have klonopin, which I take on n as needed bases cuz the Ativan stopped working. My midwife has already told me I can continue them if I become pg. I'll prolly refrain as much as possible to not take them if I become pg. Heck I don't even take anything for headaches when im pg lol Im a worrywart. I refuse to take a daily med especially since were ttc now. Any anti-depressant can mess up ur sex drive and fertility.

[vanasse2002]

Thanks again for all the helpful info. I am in the O-AF wait right now and then next cycle we'll be giving it a go. I think that I will just up the B-vitamins to help out this month. Hopefully, we'll get preg first cycle of TTC like we have with our previous 2. I'll remember the vitex for after our next one is born!

[LacePrincess]

Good luck Vanasse!

Momofboys, so sorry to hear about your experience. This sh!t sucks, don't it? I feel like we've kinda derailed Vanasse's thread though, so I've started a new thread on the Chit Chat board. I'm currently struggling a lot right now and could use the company anyways. :)

http://genderdreaming.com/forum/chit-chat-lounge/22914-im-crazypants.html

[Adoptapom]

My dear friend's baby boy has had 3 heart surgeries due to the Zoloft heart defect- he isn't even one yet.

[LacePrincess]

My dear friend's baby boy has had 3 heart surgeries due to the Zoloft heart defect- he isn't even one yet.

That's very sad. :( I'm sorry and I hope he's doing well.

These defects are still very rare, but the risk is there. Which is why I really don't want anyone to take these meds lightly. But if you truly need them they can also be a lifesaver.

Mental disorders are a terrible, terrible illness, but they aren't something to be ashamed about, and they aren't a personality flaw. Of course who wouldn't want to avoid all meds if possible, but sometimes it isn't possible and I don't want anyone to feel guilty about that. When it's serious no matter how much you want to or how strong you are, it's not enough.

You wouldn't tell a pregnant epilepsy patient to stop taking antiseizure meds (which can definitely be risky for the fetus) because everyone can agree that the benefits outweigh the risks. And it's similar in a serious mental illness. At the same time, though, it is a measure of last resort during pregnancy because the risks to the baby, while small, ARE there.

[atomic sagebrush]

Vitex and pep tea can sway pink, but I think less effectively than the Zoloft and also without the risks.

The other thing I would try (which you are prob. doing this already) is discontinuing caffeine and upping intake of essential fatty acids - EPO and fish oil will help with your blue sway.

[atomic sagebrush]

My dear friend's baby boy has had 3 heart surgeries due to the Zoloft heart defect- he isn't even one yet.

That is so sad. :pray: that he's ok.

[Adoptapom]

He is constantly in and out of the hospital, unfortunately. His mom didn't know she was pregnant for 2 months, so he was exposed to the medicine.

I didn't mean to imply that people don't have the need for antidepressants, just that for something like pms the risk seems to outweigh the solution.

[LacePrincess]

He is constantly in and out of the hospital, unfortunately. His mom didn't know she was pregnant for 2 months, so he was exposed to the medicine.

I didn't mean to imply that people don't have the need for antidepressants, just that for something like pms the risk seems to outweigh the solution.


I completely agree. Antidepressants aren't the lightweight 'easy way' despite what the big pharma commercials want you to believe, they really are a measure of last resort. It's a heartrending decision even for those of us who have exhausted all other measures, so no one should take them lightly despite what GSK, Pfizer, Wyeth and the rest want you to believe.

I shudder in horror when I hear of SSRI's being prescribed to little kids.

[aidansmum]

I don't know how old this thread is, but I suffer from pretty bad PMS and my doctor prescribed half a prozac pill 10 days before AF and I love it, it's like a real fixer, it brings down my irritability, helps me being patient, stops me from eating like a cow and all the other annoyances of PMS.

Recently I lost a brother and started having half a dose everyday as it makes me function better without crying every 5 minutes, and it works, but this is temporary.

I do worry though about the swaying aspect of it. I am on LE and plan to TTC in 3 months and I always wonder what does Prozac (Fluoxetine) do to hormones. I heard it raises prolactin but am unsure as to how that would affect a sway.
I would not take it during pregnancy, but then again I only take it because of my PMS and would not need it while pregnant.

Does anyone know if Prozac sways and what?

[atomic sagebrush]

All antidepressants sway pink.

I'm so sorry to hear about your brother. :(

[aidansmum]

Thanks Atomic. :heart:

At least I've been having something I didn't even known to sway pink! Hope it does exactly that for me.