nostromoI took fluoxetine (prozac) and now its 3 years i stopped but the side effects like sexual dysfuncction are still there, i cant concentrate properly and have dampered feelings. I read that brupropione is the drug of choice to counter these side effects. But will the benefit remain after i quit brupopion or will they fade away and, who knows, leave other side effects behind?
Wellbutrin - After you "heal" from depression, does the benefit fade or does it last?
- Posted:
- 14 Jun 2011 by nostromo
- Topics:
- prozac, wellbutrin, depression, fluoxetine, side effect, sexual dysfunction, ssri induced
Details:
Added 15 Jun 2011:
my main question is: when i stop taking buporpion, will the effects fade? will i have to take it for life? or will it leave other scars behind, instead of what has been sexual dysfunction for fluoxetine?
Added 15 Jun 2011:
I have been diagnosed Dysthymic depression, which was rooted for about 5 years before i started taking fluoxetine (which i did for 7-8months) and which i dropped 3 years ago.So this makes 8 years now.
Another symptom i have is surely hypersomnia and lack of appetite. Also, the classic "not liking to interact with people" thing, but thats a classic i guess.
In the past four months, i have been working out regularly, twice a week, went to work with my bicycle when i could, tried to eat healthy. There has been a bit of improvement, but i really cant do more of what I'm doing ATM, its gonna be hard to maintain this routine. Attention Deficit Disorder might be an option, really, but I'm not over-active or anything, more like losing myself in thoughts staring at stuff or out of the window... I really feel i could almost do it alone, or with A LITTLE help by some medication.. mainly to fix back my sexual dysfunction, which is what troubles me most.
Responses (7)
Anonymous 15 Jun 2011
Nostromo, I was one of the ones who could not take wellbutrin. Im sorry I can't answer your question but hang in there someone will come on and help you out. Sometimes it takes awhile to get an answer, but I just didn't want you to think no one had see your question. Im sorry I can't help you but will find someone who can.
LaurieShay15 Jun 2011
Hey nostromo,
Wellbutrin does counteract the sexual dysfuction for some people while they are taking another antidepressant. You sounds like you maybe suffering symptoms of depression rather than still suffering side effects from the Prozac especially if it has been more than 6 weeks since you took the Prozac. Your symptoms of sexual dysfunction, inability to concentrate and dampered feelings could be corrected by the Wellbutrin. You would probably have to stay on it though to get continued relief if your symptoms are from depression rather than the Prozac.
Best wishes,
Laurie
Anonymous 15 Jun 2011
Hello nostromo, i have a couple of suggestions that may be worth your while checking out. Firstly i had my testosterone level checked and found it was nearly zero. I had a six month injection in the bum program and i only had to think about women and i was solid as a rock. This program also give me back some confidence and that manly feeling that was missing for so long. Another test i had done was for B1 and that also was very low, once i had the treatment it picked up my energy level and made life all that more liveable. When one feels manly again the other problems in life also seem not so bad and more manageable. Good life my friend. Brewstercharli.
nostromo
15 Jun 2011
thank you for your opinion!
Anonymous 15 Jun 2011
Dear Nostromo, I think they may be working on the site tonight doing maintenance and updating it as I true to look up bupropion in drugs a to z and instead of the normal listing of the medication definition And other info, it threw mo a miscellaneous page on meds. The best I could determine is it is the same thing as wellbutrin, but I am not sure on that. If it is, and it is an ssri or ssnri and you just switched from another ssri, the effects may linger for a whil, as to whether it will fade quickly, slowly or not at all is up to your brain WHILE you are on it. Once you come off, that particular side effect should stop, however, sexual side effects are known to occur with depression, and with antidepressants. I urge you not to give up hope, as it could very well improve soon. All antidepressants act differently in different people. I am not sure if you are male or female, but either way, please have a thorough check up with your reg.
nostromo
15 Jun 2011
thank you very much for your answer what you said is exactly what my gen doc already did! my blood is fine and so is my tyroid... im really not sure about taking any other antidepressant to "fix back" the mess that was left by the first so i was hoping someone could tell me if the benefits of wellbutrin are last longer than the ones of fluoxetine after the medication is not taken anymore.
outsidesue
Bsteinbru...15 Jun 2011
This isn't a complete answer, but I just want to bring to your attention a few things:
-First, it is rare to find someone who becomes "healed" from depression and no longer takes any medication. (It's not impossible, but very difficult.) I'm not sure if you took or are still taking any other meds besides the Prozac, but it seems like you may need to consider something more long-term rather than taking something for a few years then stopping. (Just something to keep in mind... )
Anonymous 15 Jun 2011
I agree and also want to point out there is more than one type of depression. I have what is known as situational depression, as opposed to a true chemical imbalance. This means if I am having difficulty in my private day to day life, I tend to feel defeated and depressed. I am super sensitive to antidepressants as even a small dose can send me into mania, and I am not bi-polar. This is how my dr, therapist and I determined what type of depression I have. I see now Nostromo did update and add that he has had bloodwork, good, one source of the problem has been cleared up. Nostromo, please ask your therapist to help identify what type of depression you suffer from. If you are not seeing a therapist, this may help more than you realize. I hope this helps you understand depression just a bit more. There are different types. To me personally, a low dose antidepressant helps me feel better quickly, but the therapy helps better long term, and sometimes a person needs both to get to relieving depression.
nostromo
15 Jun 2011
Hello and thanks for the super feedback!
I have been having Dysthymic depression for about 5 years before i started taking fluoxetine (which i did for 7-8months) and which i dropped 3 years ago.
another symptom i have is surely hypersomnia and lack of appetite.
i have been working out regularly, twice a week, in the past four months, went to work with my bicycle when i could, tried to eat healthy. There has been a bit of improvement, but i really cant do more of what im doing ATM, its gonna be hard to maintain this routine. Attention Deficit Disorder might be an option, really, but im not over-active or anything, more like losing myself in toughts staring at stuff or out of the window...
Bsteinbrueck
mustangsa...16 Jun 2011
Hi Nostromo, You caught my attention by mentioning the staring and ( I call it ) getting lost inside your self. I did not mention it because I didn't see where any one else was bothered by this. I'm sorry to hear you have the same problem as I. including the sexual dysfunction, but at the same time, I feel better knowing I'm not the only one. I am so bad that I havn't dated for 8 yrs. because I know that sooner or later this problem will have to be dealt with if I date. For some reason I've always been attracted to mans men and I've found it to be true, they work hard and play hard and are very sexual. I dont want to fall for a guy just to lose him because he'd have to go celebut. My husband died 8 yrs. ago and I swore I'd never set my self up having to fake it night after nite.
nostromo
16 Jun 2011
Hello mustangsal!
No, my simptoms arent as severe as yours, i still have "a bit" of libido left, afterall im a 26years old boy, but it does not satisfy my partners, as she thinks im not enjoying it, and truly, im not feeling that much.
Is yous absence of libido also caused (im just guessing) by SSRI? ive found an article on the "journal of psychopharmacology" september 2008 that analizes the effects of buporpion (wellbrutin) on SSRI induced side effects. It truly makes it sound like the true panacea. I suggest you look into it.
have a good day and thanks for sharing your thoughts, good to have some encouragement
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yes its been 3 years i stopped taking fluoxetine and i believe im not depressed at the moment, im just feeling the three "side effects" i said but again im not feeling sad or anything.. what im interested in is: if i take wellbutrin, for lets say a year, or whatever months it takes, and then i stop, will i go back to this status of numbness im in right now?
I doubt you are still feeling side effects from the Prozac. You could try the Wellbutrin (bupropion) to see if it alleviates the symptoms, but most likely you would have to continue the medicine for continued relief. You could always try it for a period of time, and then taper off it and see how you do. It really is going to be a trail and error sort of deal. You may want to have blood work done before starting another antidepressant to be certain you are not suffering from a hormonal imbalance or thyroid problem.
oops, I just read your subsequent post about already having the blood work, sorry that I mentioned it again.