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Anti-depressants for PMS?
Anyone take anti-depressants for PMS or just mood swings in general?
I was talking with my GYN at my annual exam today, trying to figure out if my Mirena is what is causing my recent/occasional "rage" feelings, or if it's just that I'm in my late-30's and apparently many women experience a hormonal shift at that age (which could also explain the horrible "bacne" have on my back). I dont particularly want to have the Mirena removed because right now the pros outweigh the cons and we're not even sure it's the Mirena's "fault" that I've had these mood swings from hell over the last 7-8 months.
She suggested many things, one being a daily, low dose of Prozac. This is the option she offered after I told her that sometimes I feel like putting my fist through a wall, and I'm afraid that someday I'd hit somebody instead of something. She said some women take it ten days before their period to battle PMS. Since my period/CD1 are a moving target (one of the "cons" for me from the Mirena - irregular cycles) I'd have no idea when ten days before I get my period is - so I'd be taking this low dose every day.
She also said regular exercise or therapy are options. Also that it's likely not PPD since DS is 15 months old now - and these rages don't fit PPD symptoms.
Experiences?
I'm not sure there any any downsides to this - she said it'd be a low enough dose that I may not get any side effects, but they include bloating and weight gain (and this after I'm finally back to my target range for WW!) Oh, and insomnia, that one scares me the most - I already don't get enough sleep - I can't imagine getting LESS sleep. And finally low libido - that would be bad too - it's hard enough keeping up the libido with three young kids, if you KWIM.
Wife, Musician, Fed, WW-er, and Mom of three little kids - not necessarily in that order.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Anti-depressants for PMS?
Yes - I should have said - that's exactly what she said I may have. Again, hard to pin down because my cycles are so all over the place, so it's hard to tell if it's the ten days leading up to CD1, but I think that's when the moods are.
Are the drugs helping your sister at all?
Compared to when she wasn't taking anything, she's a new women on them prior to her period. She has been taking them for a few years. I know there are a few different SSRIs that might be an option, all medications have different side-effects, but I imagine that a low dose medication would really have mild side-effects, if any.
I had a similar conversation with my GYN last week, you and I are almost the same age and she said the emotions are normal and asked me if I wanted to treat it; I told her I am not looking for meds (try not to take meds at all), so she suggested taking a B Complex vitamin, which I just started doing. She said you can't overdose on it, your body pees out the excess. I do find myself peeing a lot more (and it's a weird bright yellow, common "side effect") but I don't mind too much.
Yes, exercise came up as well (also b/c she diagnosed me with a hernia).
read up on late onset PPD. it can occur between 8 and 24 months pp. unexplained anger and irritability (which can lead to such rages) is a sign of PPD. you don't have to exhibit any of the stereotypical symptoms, including feelings of inadequacy as a mother, wanting to hurt your baby, etc. even having one of the symptoms is cause for concern. this is also a good resource: www.postpartumva.org.
my bias is always towards therapy before meds, but that's my personal preference. i think understanding the cause behind the rage may allow you to address the reasons instead of just addressing the symptoms. perhaps the two in combination (meds and therapy) become appropriate, but if you are looking for suggestions, that's what i would do.
with therapy, i was able to address my PPD sufficiently without meds.
i'm really sorry you are going through this.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor. But I would really encourage a consistent, low dose if taking Prozac or a SSRI. I'm a therapist and everything I've ever learned about psychotropic meds has focused on consistency and a "ramp up" period for efficacy. Just taking it 10 days before ones period seems weird to me but again, I'm not a MD. Sounds like you're leaning towards every day anyway but that other piece jumped out at me.
So, this is interesting... she suggested I take a low dose daily, especially since I wouldn't be able to pin point the ten day window. So I just had it filled at the pharmacy (to have on hand, and give myself the option) and my insurance will only cover 14 pills in one month. I will obviously call them, but the pharmacist said his best guess was that it was because you're only supposed to take it in the days leading up to your period, not every day, and he was like "oh, your dr. wants you to take it every day? huh."
So I guess Aetna has decided that I should not take it every day.
OK... will investigate more.
And it was $65 copay for 14 pills so frankly, it'd be fine if I didn't have to take it every day - that's $$!
Hmmm, interesting. I assume there's a lot about Prozac I don't know but I've never worked with anyone that wasn't taking it daily. Perhaps that's just how it functions with PMDD. Obviously I would default to your doc and do whatever you feel most comfortable with.
I am all for anti-depressants when needed--no question about it. I have personally benefitted from them when I suffered from major depression as a teen. That said, has there been any talk of natural methods that may help you? (If you feel you are at a place where you can take the time to expirement.) B-complex vitamins and Evening Primrose Oil are two that I have tried. I would take them from my first emotional symptoms or my ovulation date (whichever came first) through the onset of AF. Testing your thyroid and vitamin D levels may also point out anything that could be addressed, as they also play into cycle-related issues.
More Green For Less Green
I'm sure you're doing the research but apparantly it is common to prescribe as-needed Prozac when treating PMDD.
https://pmdd.factsforhealth.org/treatment/meds.asp
Clearly the doc would have known what he/she was talking about. :-) Many of the clients I work with that are taking SSRI meds have depression or anxiety diagnoses so a consistent dosage would make more sense. Anyway, didn't mean to muddy the water!