His and Her Health

Hello-new to board here and have question about Serafem. Went to gyn yesterday for help with mood swings/tiredness/loss of libido. He gave me Sarafem-said that it would even out moods/emotions and that everything else should fall into place after a few weeks on this. I came home and did research. Not happy with what I found. It is Prozac, basically. An anti-depressant? Didn't think I was depressed! Has anyone here ever taken these? I don't want to make the libido loss worse-which is one of the side effects. Help!

Heatherannie, I have never taken it but I do have some experence with it. My father-in-law was on it for a short time <BR>(about 6 months) I talked to the pharmisist and found out (my FIN was concerend because it said on the box for use for PMS and other female problems....he is obviously a male) The pharmisist told me that it is the same thing as Prozac and it is made by the same people but it has been tested and proven to help these signs and symptoms, Prozac has not! <BR> My father-in-law said it did absolutely nothing for him. No change in his mood or his outlook on life. However, I have an Aunt who has been on Prozac since early 1996<BR> She saw a cousin (not her child but a very close family member) get shot in the chest and die. It has done wonders for her. <BR> There are ladies on this board who were on Prozac(i think) at a very young age and it did nothing but hinder their ability to orgasm or even become aroused. I think it really depends on the person but I think you should maybe ask or post to "Anon" before making a final decision! Good luck and Godspeed!!<BR>Angela

I was put on Prozac at age 9 or 10, and it killed my libido. I used to have sexual fantasies and masturbate, but after I started Prozac, that budding sexuality just vanished and was no longer a part of me. I didn't understand why, but the interest...the ability to even HAVE fantasies, the desire to masturbate, were just gone (I had been doing this in bed at night before I went to sleep for YEARS). <P>Prozac did nothing good for me. Being on Prozac for the long-term has the same side-effects as the illegal drug Ecstacy...depersonalization, being unable to find the right word for things, et cetera. Prozac changes the structure of the brain, and, in many individuals, it turns off one of the serotonin receptors, the one that causes libido. It doesn't always turn back on after you stop taking it! <P>I was on Prozac much too long (10 years), and because I started taking it at such a young age, I didn't know what side-effects to even watch for. After being on it for about four years, I became severely, suicidally depressed, and remained so for the next six years. At that time, I was switched to Zoloft, and felt a little better for a month or two, but then more of the same. After 9 months on Zoloft, I said, "Enough is enough! This anti-depressant is doing nothing, I'm still depressed!" It was not until later that I learned that being on anti-depressants for too long can MAKE you depressed! <P>A few months after going off Prozac/Zoloft, my depression lifted. It was like it was a whole different world. I was 19 then, and all of a sudden, I discovered the miniscule remains of my libido...there was hardly anything there at all, and at the time I didn't even percieve that I had gained this microscoptic bit of desire after going off Prozac. But I became a little more open at that time. Throughout high school, I had NO libido. I didn't understand why anyone would EVER want to have sex, and I gained a little understanding after going off Prozac. It changed from, "I never want to have sex!" to, "If I were with the right person, maybe...." Still no fantasies, no desire to masturbate or anything, but at least more than I had! <P>If I were you, I would not go on an anti-depressant for depression. Look into the herbal anti-depressants Sam-E and 5-htp. Users on this board have had great sucess with them. But you have to do it right if you do it. These things, from what I hear, are great. There's one dose size, and if it's going to work, it'll work in a few weeks (2 weeks?). If not, try the other one, and only if that doesn't work should you try an anti-depressant. <P>I should also mention, Prozac has been proven "barely more effective than the placebo." Prozac is 18% more effective than a placebo (not significant), and with an effective placebo (one that gives you a side-effect so you think you can't be on the placebo), it is much less effective. I am not sure on the percentage, but I think it was something like 2-5% more effective than an effective placebo. So it helps SOME people, but not the vast quantities they claim! I do hope this helps. <P>Now, for the other parts, are you taking any medications? From what you've described, it sounds like you might be taking a birth control pill or other hormonal BC method that is messing you up. Or, your hormones might just be out of whack. Even a small hormonal imbalance can cause a lot of problems. Loss of libido (particularly accompanied by lack of sexual fantasies) is often a symptom of low testosterone. This can also cause tiredness. I am not sure about mood swings, but I want to say progesterone??? I'd DEFINATELY get these hormones checked out before trying to "fix" it with Prozac! <P>Testosterone<BR>Free Testosterone<BR>SHBG<BR>Progesterone<BR>Estrogens (3 kinds)<P>And let us know about any meds you are taking...many meds can affect libido! <P>Also, I am seeing tiredness and loss of libido and have concern that it might be your thyroid. You may want to look into symptoms of thyroid problems (particularly hypothyroid).

thanks for your quick replies. The more I read/hear about this type of med, the more I do not want it. The dr did test my thyroid level yesterday. Should have the results by Friday. I have read alot about testosterone and testing for it. Your website,btw, is very informative(thank you). But, when I mentioned to the dr that I thought I needed to have my "hormones checked", he ordered the thyroid test and that's it. Guess I should have been more specific? Can they test for testosterone from the blood they took yesterday? Or will I need to go back in? I think I'll call them.He is a nice dr-easy to talk to(only seen him twice)so hopefully this won't be hard to do. Again, thank you.

Hello everyone, I'm new to the board and I read your comment about Sarafem. I'm 18 years old and was diagnosed with PMDD, I had atleast 15 or more symptoms. My GYN put me on sarafem and it has worked for me. I've been on it for some time now. I still have my mood swings and many other problems but not as bad so im glad I took the chance to try it. We all have different ways of handling medication, it's just the way our bodies work. With whatever is wrong, I hope you find some type of relief. Just make sure you take the time to read up on medication your Doctors are giving you so you know its going to help the source of your problem and you wont waist time, taking something that isn't helping you. <BR> Since I was 16 I've always had problems. I had an ovarian cyst that was removed along with my ovary and tube. Ever since then problems just kept coming. I was on birth control only for my period to lighten up, and only having one ovary I was told my periods would be lighter anyway. Birth control only messed up my system and I felt sick almost every morning while taking it. I was also told it would help my cramps but, there was no sign of relief. <BR> I wanted to share the info I had on Sarafem because I thought it might help you.

FYI<BR>I too had a ovary removed in my teens, but it does not mean that periods will be lighter from removal of ovary. I have known plenty of women whose periods were heavy or did not become lighter post-ovary removal.May have lighter periods when on the Pill/BCP.

Well, I called my dr yesterday and told him of my reservations. I am very nervous starting any kind of drug therapy-especially one that may or may not alter my perception of life. He was not so understanding.I asked him is this the first place to start? Arent' there any natural remedies I could try first? He said no, there aren't. And I could take it or leave it, basically.It was wierd. When I talked to him in the office he was so nice and understanding. But on the phone, I felt almost bullied. So, I'm off to find another gyn. Perhaps even the female in the same office.Then again, maybe its a guy thing?(sorry guys)My husband(who knew I went to the dr Tuesday but had yet to ask why)finally stopped to listen to what is going on. He looked at the info pack that came with the samples of Sarafew I was given and said hmm, so what's this stuff do? Ugh. How do I find out more on this Same-e? Is there a website? It sounds alot safer. So I need to talk with a dr before starting it? Thanks all

Sam-e and 5HTP ARE NOT HERBS ( I like to be accurate) they are NUTRIENTS. Both Dona and I have posted quite a bit about them and I recently bumped the post so that it would be easier to find. Both of these are safer than PROZAC and don't have the side effects and should be tried before stronger Anti depressants. Low thyroid and LOW estrogen can contribute to Depression so have those looked at again.

HeatherAnnie<BR>I too live in the Cicinnati area. I have struggled to find a good GYN in the area. You may want to try Crescent Womens Center in Blue Ash- all female Gyns. I have been going there for awhile for general gyn care and at least they seem to get it. However, for my female sexual function or dysfunction issues I have had to go to Boston and they are aware of that and are not threatened by my East coast care.<BR>It seems like the Cinn drs are VERY found of Serafem and do not even tell the patient it is Prozac.<BR>I went to one WELL KNOWN guy at UC and told him I was having orgasmic problems post- hyst and night sweats. Could not take estrogen, but told him MY primary concern was my orgasmic issue. He wanted to write a script for Serafem- I looked at him and said that is Prozac and it has sexually side effects, I will die before taking it-I already have orgasmic problems that I want fixed. I thought what is he trying to do, totally kill my ability to have an orgasm. That dr relationship was short lived-off to Boston for better care.

I agree with Siren-have your thyroid checked by a good primary care or internal medicine or endcrinologist dr. Last night National Public Radio did a lenghty interview with dr and he stated so many women are out on antidepressants when it is thyroid. He believed it is often overlooked as the real problem.

I want to say a few things...I found an abstract listing the authors as being listed in Mason, OHIO. I do not know if they all practice there, but they have done research into FSD, so this might help you out a bit. Go to <A HREF="www.isswsh.org/2001Abstracts.htm" TARGET=_blank>www.isswsh.org/2001Abstracts.htm</A> and then down to the article called "A PATIENT-GENERATED, MULTINATIONAL INVENTORY TO MEASURE HYPOACTIVE SEXUAL DESIRE" This is the article by the people in Mason. Then check your phone book or ask your other docs, FIND OUT which one practices and go to them! They're the only ones I've heard of in the Cinci area that can help. I'm a Cinci person myself, born there and raised nearby, but am away from the area for college. If you find contact info for any of these doctors, please let me know! I hope this helps.<P>Also, I want to note that Sam-E and 5htp are NOT the same thing. Try one, and if it doesn't work, try the other. But don't take an anti-depressant until you have tried BOTH and they have BOTH failed. In the world outside North America, these are prescribed before anti-depressants are, and anti-depressants are a drug of last resort. I hope this helps!<P>