Q. Seven years ago I was prescribed Prozac after several other antidepressants had not helped. I was hesitant, as I had heard of a man who committed suicide on Prozac. But I went ahead with the minimum dose. I had side effects immediately–headaches, constipation and loss of sexual feelings.
After about a month, wild thoughts came into my mind, especially while driving. I wanted to ram into other cars, “to show them they shouldn’t drive so rudely.” At work, I would start laughing at random while walking alone down a hall. I wanted to get a gun and kill a coworker who irritated me. My memory became faulty, and I would leave my credit card or my purse behind in stores.
The final side effect was loss of continence. It was unnerving to be at work and feel myself dribbling in a meeting, so I stopped taking Prozac.
It didn’t help me feel better, anyway. I just stopped caring about everything-work and housework. I didn’t care what or how much I ate and gained about 30 pounds during the three months I took it.
The side effects went away gradually and I finally lost those 30 pounds. Everyone who takes Prozac should be monitored closely, not just children.
A. Incontinence is a rare side effect of some antidepressants, but it has been noted. Hostility and violence have also been reported, but are highly controversial. Your experience, though, suggests that some people react badly to serotonin-type antidepressants. Monitoring is essential with all antidepressants.
Q. I know a man who drinks a fifth or more of alcohol a day. He often takes three Tylenol PM at bedtime despite being full of the alcohol.
We are trying to gather facts about the possible interaction so we can talk to him armed with this information. We hope to encourage him to stop the Tylenol PM. (Of course, we’d like him to stop the drinking but he appears beyond our help right now.)
A. That much alcohol is hard on the liver, to say the least. Combined with acetaminophen (Tylenol) the risk of liver damage is greatly increased. Diphenhydramine (the antihistamine in PM pain drugs) could add to his sedation and make him a “zombie.”
Prescription drugs can fight alcohol cravings. Revia and the brand new Camprol might be useful if he ever wants to stop drinking.
Q. All my life, until a few years ago, I was tired, sleepy and listless. Then in 1998 I noticed nodules on my thyroid gland. To shrink the nodules the doctor prescribed Synthroid.
Since that time I have felt much more alive! I have energy now. I was so pleased to read in your column that someone else also got benefit from Synthroid.
A. People who don’t have enough thyroid hormone often complain of low energy. Other symptoms may also be nonspecific-constipation, dry skin, hair loss, depression, weight gain. As a result, a thyroid condition may go undiagnosed.
Most people with this condition feel better and have more energy when they take a replacement such as Synthroid or Levoxyl. Others need different medication such as Armour Thyroid.
We discuss other symptoms of thyroid imbalance, tests to detect it and treatment options in our Guide to Thyroid Hormones. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $3 in check or money order with a long (no. 10) stamped (60 cents), self-addressed envelope: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. T-4, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.
