Saraphem users..please come in I have a? Please:)

[aim in Fla*working]

I was told I should try saraphem(prozac) for PMDD...Pms...is anyone on it and how has it affected your weight?

[fawn]

Hi Aim
I was on Saraphem. I had to quit. It made me dis-engaged. I only took it for 2 weeks out of the month. Apparantly, that was ok per my Doc.....others thought I should be on it consistantly for proper results. It made me sleepy as well. It also affected my libido. I actually found a natural remedy that I prefer to use now.

Daily, I take fish oil, evening primrose and flax/borage oils
2 weeks before my period (without fail and before symptoms start) I take 20 drops daily of Vitex and 5 drops of valerian root in a small shot glass of water. The valerian I take sometimes 3 x's a day for edginess (I'm being conservative with the word)

I work out hard. I run, I play soft ball and do t-tapp. I work out 6 days a week faithfully around two weeks prior to tom. Other weeks it's 4-5 days per week.

A couple of years ago I was a total weirdo. This wol helps a great deal but you just can't explain PMDD to someone who has not experienced it

[BuckeyeLori]

I took it for PMDD, and it did help. However, I did not like the side effects of the weight gain and the loss of my libido. I was not doing LC, though, so I don't know how it'd effect my weight now.

Good luck . . .

[aim in Fla*working]

That is what i heard. I am so tired of missing out on my life for 2 weeks. I hate it. When i am not on the pill it is FAR worse....Seems to be getting worse for me at 38. I cannot take evening prirose oil and flax oil becuase they make me violent becuase they swell me up. THey have a phytoestrogen effect on me.
Thanks Guys...I guess it really is about walking 30 minutes every day 2 weeks before tom and watching sodium intake. Which is hard for the cravings. I appreciate the responses.

[LaDolceVita]

I've taken it as well, I found it helped but it took a very long time to kick in. I eventually decided to try some different route because i felt a little bit dulled on it. Just kind of fuzzy and disinterested...it's hard to explain. The libido was definitely affected. I didn't notice any discernible changes in my weight. I did have alot less PMS eating though because of less mood swings..it's worth a try! Keep close track of what side effects you have and make sure that if you want to stop it, you come off of it slowly, just like anyother anti-depressant. Quitting cold turkey can have terrible effcts! Good Luck!

[nonstickpam107]

Black currant oil.

Psst: Saraphem and Prozac (and Zoloft and Paxil) all have contraindications for thyroid patients....they slow the thyroid and inhibit uptake of thyroid hormones..it's WHY they can cause weight gain.

Just an idea..black currant oil helps, but doesn't have the massive phytoestrogens that other OTC herbs/oils do..many with thyroid disease on hormones use it. I never tried it myself (went right into menopause at your age) but I've heard over and over from patients that it helps immensely. They buy it from health food stores and online vitamin merchants.

Pam

[fawn]

I found this for you.....it's about vitex which has been helping me. You know interesting thing.....A friend who is an herbalist recommended vitex for my teenage son's acne. Worked like a dream!!! He has ADD so I refused to put him on acutane. Now I'm using it.

Vitex agnus castus (also called chasteberry) "

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Natural Factors Vitex (Chasteberry) Extract.

Features:
Vitex agnus castus (also called chasteberry) has been used for 2500 years to help menstrual abnormalities, ranging from PMS to Menopause.
Vitex is not a phytoestrogen, rather it works through the hypothalamus-pituitary axis, (an important chemical pathway) to balance female hormones.
Vitex increases luteinizing hormone production while inhibiting the release of follicle stimulating hormone.
This combination of actions indirectly increases progesterone and normalizes prolactin levels, restoring the estrogen/progesterone balance.
Vitex extract has been extensively studied in Europe, particularly Germany, where it has been used since the 1950s.
Clinical studies show vitex extract reduces headaches, breast tenderness, bloating, fatigue, cravings for sweets, feeling of anxiety, irritability, depression & mood swings, often after only 1 month.
Vitex may also help menopausal symptoms. Physicians in Europe regularly use vitex extract to treat hot flashes.
Well known North American herbalist and author, Christopher Hobbs, recommends vitex for teenage acne.
Vitex may help nursing mothers produce milk.

[aim in Fla*working]

Pam and fawn than you so much for your reply. i will look into these. Everything i read about the saraphem put me off it.
Thank you.
Hey pam can i just drink black current cider?
Used to be my favorite beverage in U.K.
drank it like a bum.

[nonstickpam107]

Oh, I've never heard of that cider...sounds interesting though, lol.

Pam