I used to take Prozac. I stopped taking it (weaned off of it slowly) but am rethinking starting it again. It's been almost a year since I came off of it and I'm feeling like I need it (or something) again. Granted, July is not the best month of the year for me, but I've been thinking I need something for a while.

I came across this article while researching Prozac and its effectiveness. This is quite interesting and I thought others who take this drug or are thinking about starting an AD might find it interesting:

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/id...d_fake/?page=1

In recent years, scientists have developed a novel theory of what falters in the depressed brain. Instead of seeing the disease as the result of a chemical imbalance, these researchers argue that the brain's cells are shrinking and dying. This theory has gained momentum in the past few months, with the publication of several high profile scientific papers. The effectiveness of Prozac, these scientists say, has little to do with the amount of serotonin in the brain. Rather, the drug works because it helps heal our neurons, allowing them to grow and thrive again.

So Prozac is brain food? Cool!

I read that Prozac was neuro-protective, years ago. That's one of the reasons why I'm still taking it with my LDN...Killer-combo, I think. DD is taking both as well. She stopped the prozac for awhile and now says she will not do that again..

Go for it, Kell...You have my blessing..

I know!! I need all the help I can get, too!!

Kelly, that's one of the reasons, I'm still puffing nicotine, too....because I read that it's also neuro-protective.

I say, POWER to the CNS..

Sally Nicotine is a Neuro-Transmitter. Not Neuro Protective.

Transmitters are what send the signals in our brain back and forth to synapses, and also send signals to other parts of our bodies.

I guess that's why you are so smart. Nicotine helps transmit the nerve impulses across a synapse Snap, snap! Sally's must be thinking.


I hated to quit smoking because of the one positive advantage it had.

Some chew nicotine gum for 5 or so years. I know my big boss and other head honchos did, when smoking was not allowed indoors. They had to set an example. What they did on their free time, I don't know.

Even the caffeine in coffee and tea are neuro transmitters.

Thanks, Lady for clearing that up.. I knew it was Neurosomething..

Kitty,
I forgot to say thank you for sharing that article you found. It is very interesting. I thought most of the AD's work on Serotonin, adding it or making it re-uptake in the brain.

I, too, also thought sadness, depression, lack of emotional wellness was a chemical imbalance in the brain. At least that's what all the ads and information out there stated.

This is good news for many people, if the researchers prove this to be true.

I never used a AD. Well not true. I was given samples of Cymbalta for the burning pain in my legs and feet, but my eyes stayed dilated after about one week on it. They looked pretty to me. Big black pupils, with little green iris around them.

On the phone my Neuro said stop the drug immediately, and that was a tiny dosage. I had a bad reaction to that type of drug they said. So I never tried one again.

It would be great if Prozac protected the brain cells from being destroyed and stop the brain from shrinking, like in Alzheimer's disease also.

That's one of the main reason's I'm going back on it. Both my mother and sister died from Alzheimer's.

am so sorry to hear that Kitty. My Mom had Alzheimer's Disease since she was 59 years old. It was called back then, Pre-Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer's type. I said to her Neuro "What the heck is that?"

It was because she was so young to acquire it. What a shame. She was healthy as a horse (pardon my expression) but her mind was disappearing. Her first MRI showed a shrunken brain.

Her Neuro showed me the films. I still have them. My Dad had just passed away of a heart attack and within six months she got that disease. She was so stressed out. She even forgot their 40 years of marriage.

I took care of her for 10 years at home with some adult day care and help from my DH and children, because I worked. Then I had to put her in a Convalescent Center because she knew no one at all, and needed 24/7 care.

My Neuro said I should have done it years before. She lived to 84 years old. They took excellent care of her. I visited often. It was so sad so I know how it was Kitty. Tragic.