Conference turris::womannotes-v2

     My wife did. I don't remember what it was that she took, but the
    physician described them as mild anti-depressants. She felt vegged out
    on them and subsequently stopped using them after a month or so. She
    said "Of course I didn't feel depressed; I didn't feel anything." They
    also made her tired.
    
     the Doctah

    post-partum depression is also discussed, in various directions, at:
    
    Womannotes-V1
    855 - Postpartum depression
    
    Womannotes-V2
    590 - PPD murder or not
    
    MEDICAL
    448 - post-partum
    
    Parenting
    538 - postpartum depression
    
    -Jody
    

>        <<< Note 995.3 by MILKWY::ZARLENGA "I'm totally serious ;^)" >>>


>	There's a new anti-depressant getting a lot of good press in
>    health magazines in the last 6 months.

	 Prozac??????

>	Its claim to fame is a very specific mood altering effect -
>    depression is eased, yet side effects are almost nil.

	 Just learned yesterday that this particular drug (Prozac) has
	 these characteristics (specifically the side effects part).
	 

         	 kath

    Actually, Prozac's most popular possible side-effect is
    weight-loss in the first 8-10 weeks of use.
    
    Many anti-depressants *cause* weight-gain which for most 
    people is depressing in of itself.
    
    
    Jodi-
    

    Re: .6
    
    Imipramine (or one of its close relatives, desipramine) is one of
    the tri-cyclic medications used for treatment of "clinical" depression.
    
    With these medications, there is usually a waiting-period (so to speak)
    of up to a couple of weeks, before the patient feels any relief from
    the depression. 
    
    Usually, for anxiety alone, the drugs of choice are either Valium or
    Xanax.
    
    As mentioned earlier, Prozac has recently become very popular in the
    treatment for depression, because of its relatively few adverse side-
    effects. 
    
    Prozac has also been shown to be very effective in the treatment for
    people with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorders).

      Alan

    Re: .7
    
>    With these medications, there is usually a waiting-period (so to speak)
>    of up to a couple of weeks, before the patient feels any relief from
>    the depression. 


	 Sometimes up to 6 months.  Depends on the person.


	 kath

    Some of these anti-depression and calming drugs are great when used in
    EXACTLY the way they are intended. But be aware, back when Valium was
    new it's big selling point was the *lack of side effects* and long term
    safety. I've personal experience to the contrary with Valium. When you
    need these drugs they are a blessing. Just remember there is almost
    always a cost. liesl

    re: .9

    Prozac is a trade name for fluoxetine (Lilly).  I wasn't able to
    identify any antidepressants with a name beginning with "cyclo".

    re: .8 (I think)

    The onset of action for tricyclics is usually 2-4 weeks (possibly
    within 1-2 weeks for amoxapine (Asendin)); some patients may require as
    long as 6 weeks if the initial dose is low and the taper up rate is
    slow.  I've never seen any reports of six month latencies; in fact, I'd
    be surprised if a physician continued to administer these drugs for
    that long without effect.  (N.B. the side effects of the tricyclic
    antidepressants may occur before the therapeutic effects are evident.)

    
    During lunch, I was picking up some Poland Springs water (was
    really tempted to get some of that discounted Perrier, but I
    resisted...), and while in the checkout line, glanced at one
    of the newsrags (the Globe....Fun...Fascinating...Factual!).
    
    There on the front page was the headline:
    	AT LAST!  A pill that really reduces weight!
    
    Peering closely at the pile of pills, I made out....hmmmm.....
    could it be?.....Ayup!  DISTA/Prozac 20mg