I'm trying to figure out if I can handle Prozac or not. I just increased my mood stabilizer. I find it tends to make me manic more so than other meds, but I can also tolerate it physically and it does help with the depression.

I like some of the energy and focus it is giving me but I am also feeling a little disassociated and manic on it and paranoid and not sure what to expect of reality. However, I am trying to work on harnessing that situation in and giving it a chance. I always know when to throw in the towel, so I'm not too worried about it.

Just be careful. As my psychiatrist said, "you can try it, but not without a mood stabilizer." I just need to suck up and take them both together more often. (I hate pills and the whole idea of them.)

If it did help you and you had to have a mood stabilizer for it, I wonder if a doctor would think Lithium might be an option? I think that is cheap enough as I remember? In some forms?

i can't tolerate any SSRIs, they make me rapid cycle, it was horrible. now i am on an SNRI cymbalta and it works like a dream.

I take Prozac with mood stabilizers lamictal and lithium. My body shakes and i am in minor mania it seems like everyday. Maybe just taking prozac will work. It helps my depression a lot which is why I choose to deal with the side effects. My psydoc warned me it may happen and it does esp. now since I am taking two prozac. But, you may not experience those side effects. Everybody is different. Good luck. Let me know how it's going, k?

without a mood stabilizer it might trigger mania. But you may be lucky. As notes, lithium is chap. Also have a look at this thread.

http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Bipolar_Disorder/advice/8224882-advice-link-free-health/lastpage

I wish the cymbalta would have worked better for me.. It helped with the depression great but I felt so fatigued on it and sick to my stomach so I gave up after 11 days. I wonder if I should have stuck it out. I'm cycling a bit too on Prozac.

Isn't there some type of free mental health clinic that could help you with meds. If not, contact the pharmaceutical company. They have plans that help people with the cost of meds, and sometime they give it to you for free. Your pharmacist or computer can help you find the numbers to call. I am on 6 meds and I get them all free on these plans.

Effexor is a SNRI and Prozac is a SSRI, so I would try to keep the effexor if it works for you.
Wow, I can't believe US drug costs.
When abilify was not available in Canada it was $600 for a 30 day supply. Now that it is here in Canada it is $113 for a 30 day supply.
Susan

Are you close to the border Ann?

I take Remeron (Mirtazapine). It's not an ssri and it's worked really well so far. And it's CHEAP!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirtazapine

Thanks so much for all the replies. I wish I was close to the border sblake! I have been on 50% of my Effexor but will run out soon. The medication I was on when I had insurance was 150 mg of Effexor and 100 mg of Lamitical for mood. Because I am not on the what I need to be I have sad times each day.
They are telling me I have to wait 1 1/2 years for the heaering for my SS disability. It was taken from me in 1997 and shouldn't have been. I didn't fight it but I am now.
I am not under income so don't think medication would be given to me from the company. I am glad the person who replied here is getting it.
Our prices on medication are horrible here!!! They should never be allowed to over price it like they do.
I can get Prozac for $4 which is cheap but almost $400 for Effexor and Lamitical both together.
Ann in Nashville

The only thing about Remeron (Mirtazapine) is increased appetite or hyperphagia and subsequent weight gain, I am already 124 lbs overweight.
Ann

oh, sorry to hear about the remeron. i have gained weight on it. i'm also on lithium which is pretty cheap and has been a good mood stabilizer for me.
hope things get better for you!