[sarahbear]

Hi everyone,im new to all this.I'm achr and striational positive. Still waiting for a very inconsiderate doctor to start treating me. My gp can't unless the diagnosing neurologist releases me. Its been a month since my initial diagnosis and can't even get a call back..ugh

Anyways, I've had trouble breathing and my gp thinks its partial anxiety based and wants me to start on Prozac.I'm also diagnosed with pots(automatic dysfunction) and very paranoid of meds since i trend to react poorly to Alot of them. Can't take benzos...etc..

My question is, have any of you taken Prozac for physical anxiety caused by your illness? Does it help? I don't feel anxious but my doctor says he can see it. =/ lol thanks for any feedback.

[4-eyes]

I would not mess with any drug unless it's something to treat the MG. Prozac, while widely taken, is not a benign drug and I also take a bit of offense by thinking that drugging you to blunt your feelings of mistreatment is also mistreatment! Of course you are anxious--who wouldn't be? I am not saying anti-depressants should not be used at all with MG, but to have a doctor just offer them when nothing for MG has even been tried seems premature and inappropriate, especially since Sarah even said she does not feel anxious.

Have you been a real "squeaky wheel" to the neuro? As in calling every 2 hours for your medical records or a call back or anything? If not--start!

As for having someone to treat you, I am assuming you will not be staying with your current neuro? If not, I would suggest you work on finding a new one as unless your primary has loads of experience with MG, he likely isn't the best qualified to treat you.

Hang in there!

[gr8ful]

If you are achr+ they should have offered you mestinon a month ago. I agree with 4-eyes on the 'blunt feeling' treatment. I also know that prozac isn't calming for everyone who takes it. For some, it does just the opposite so please be careful with it. I hope you can get this worked out soon and to a point where you feel better. If being a squeaky wheel is what's needed, this sounds like a good time. Good luck....

[cait24]

I take effexor and I have not experienced any side effects. It does improve my outlook on life without making me sleepy, hyper or moody. i have had so much anxiety with my recent health, they just up the dose from 75 to 150. Maybe when I get off steroids completely, I can go back down.

kathie

[southblues]

I take 40 mg of prozac a day. It helps me not hate life. I think that it would be crazy not to be depressed when you have MG. It helps me because I sleep better, and lack of sleep makes my symptoms worse. I may try to increase to 60 mg a day. I have no side effects at all. When I first started on it, I had headaches. They went away within a week.

[gr8ful]

I don't want to sound like I'm judging use of prozac. I know it's good for some people but I also think the docs tend to over-prescribe SSRI drugs like prozac. I took it for a week and it did not calm me down. It actually caused a lot of excess energy and anxiety in me. For some people who are depressed, that extra energy is a good thing, but it was not good for me. I know of others who had a similar reaction. I also know of people who swear by it (for instance, my GP takes it).

[southblues]

I'm sure it is not for everybody. I think that I would not need it if I could have my normal life back.

[pingpongman]

I just started a "happy pill" about 3 weeks ago. My neuro prescribed it after our last chat. He took one look at me and said I needed something to help me. We discovered my wife has cancer again (breast cancer 15 years ago) this time more serious (brain, lung) then my little dog of 16 years died so I agreed with him. He started me on 1/2 dose and it has helped me.
Mike

[4-eyes]

Mike,

I am so sorry to read of your wife's challenges. Also, so sorry for the loss of your little dog. Those are both tough hits. Please take care of yourself as best you can and feel free to share here as many of us have experienced cancer in our families as well.

Hugs!

[pingpongman]

We are doing ok. My MG has become stable and my Dr doesn't want to mess with my meds during this time but I really need to get off Prednisone. My wife had a special radiation treatment on the brain tumor called Gamma Knife it seem to have worked. She has had 3 massive chemo treatments for the lung tumor. The Chemo really drags her down. It really makes her tired. I spend 90% of my time keeping her happy and occupied. After she recovered from her first treatment I took her to the casino and let her blow a bunch of money but she loved it. Worth every penny.
Mike