Barb - Steroids always make me feel so horrible. I totally understand your issues with ADs. I've tried 3. Cymbalta was my 1st one and while it worked great on the nerve pain, it made me have aggressive thoughts. I was on it for 3 days and refuse to take it anymore. Then I was on Paxil for about 1 1/2 year until my affect became flat. Then it was Celexa which has worked well until recently. So, we decided on Paxil as it does have a calming effect and right now, that is what I need. This chronic pain is getting to me and I don't want to be in this pain cycle anymore.

Kelly & Sally - Is Prozac fairly mild? I only know of a few people who are on it and don't know much about it.

Tricia, I honestly have no side effects from Prozac. I guess if I quit taking it I might notice a difference in my mood. I was taking two 20mg. capsules a day. It was prescribed to take one in the AM and one at noon. I just took them both in the AM. About a month ago I decided to try just taking one 20 mg. capsule a day. This would make my supply last for 2 months instead of one. I've only taken one 20 mg. capsule each day now for a month and have had no adverse reaction nor can I tell a difference in my mood. So......I just take 20 mg. a day now. Prozac is a cheap med (generic) so even if I had to bump it back up to 40 mg. a day it wouldn't be a big issue.

I would say that, for me, it's a mild med. I was put on it when I was taking Betaseron and just never came off of it. Things are stable for me now and I don't want to rock the boat!

I don't blame you. I'm the same way . . .if things are stable, I don't want to rock the boat. They were stable for years but things have changed. I'm working toward getting that stability back and then, I too, won't rock the boat.

BTW - Now I have this song stuck in my head . . .

"to rock the boat, don't rock the boat baby
rock the boat, don't tip the boat over
rock the boat, don't rock the boat baby
rock the boat-t-t-t-t"

Prozac is the one SSRI that has the least side effects and has the shortest halflife...meaning it doesn't accumulate in your system and therefore, it's easier to go off of it. It does have an energy booster to it, so not so good, if you have heavy anxiety.

Paxil is actually more for anxiety and also depression. It didn't make me a zombie, just normal and at ease. Some people say it has a zombie effect on them. If it does, then it's probably not for you.

Good luck..