Prozac.com - Eli Lilly and Company Is Prozac For Me? Prozac Information from RX+ Prozac - HealthyPlace.com Developments In New Antidepressants - NAMI/NYC Zyprexa.com - Eli Lilly and Company Zyprexa - HealthyPlace.com Zyprexa - Virtual Drugstore Lithium - HealthyPlace.com Meds - Bipolar World

EVEN THOUGH I WORK for Eli Lilly and Company, the maker of my medications, I wanted to research the manic depression medications as much as possible. Links that I think are of interest are listed. In my research, there does seem a good number of pages on the web dedicated to not using medications and even specifically not using Prozac in the treatment of mental illness. For the most part, I have not included links to such pages. This is not an attempt to keep access from information, but just that my web is mainly a statement of my own experiences and what has worked for me and those I have come in contact with.

Before I was diagnosed with Manic Depression, I got my doctor to prescribe Prozac on the basis that I was feeling depressed and run down.

I will never forget when I was taking Prozac by itself. After just three days, I felt as if a cloud or weight had been lifted from me. In fact, I felt so good that I decided to work through Friday and Saturday night until early Sunday morning. It was not until later when I was researching my manic depression diagnosis that I would find this hyponmanic reaction is an indication of possible manic depression.

Since starting back on medication again I feel a lot better physically. The long list of physical problems (see Harry's Manic Story) problems I made up for my doctor has greatly been reduced. At this point (17 Dec 99) using Zyprexa is for the treatment of Manic Depression must still be new and I do not think it has been officially approved by the FDA yet. It along with Prozac seem to be working for me. I don't have that lethargic feeling that I got when on lithium.

I still go through cycles, but nearly as severe as without medication. When I do go through a down cycle while on medicine, it does not seem as physically repressive as it has in the past. Now it is more of reduction in my mental capabilities. I still cycle through the hypomanic episodes. I hate to admit it but these periods are a nice change after going through a down cycle. If feels good to feel great and on top of the world for a time.

Another one of my observations since using medications for my manic depression is a reduction in getting sick with things like colds and flu or at least their normal symptoms. Others around me, including my family, will be getting colds or flu symptoms non-stop, but I seem unaffected. I will get symptoms more like one of my down cycles, but no cold or flu symptoms. I started noticing this back when I was on Prozac by itself also. I really think that the drugs are making me less susceptible to getting colds or flu like symptoms.

I have noticed some side-effects since starting on medication. I must attribute them to Zyprexa since I did not notice these when I was on Prozac by itself. One side-effect that I have noticed is sleeping like a log and having a tough time getting out of bed. My current alarm clock does not have a snooze on it. I must hear it go off and turn it off and go back to bed. When I wake up an hour or so later I do not remember turning it off. Very shortly, I am going to buy an alarm clock with a snooze and place it across the room. I also get drowsy at times during the day.

My appetite has also increased and unfortunately I seem to be less motivated to exercise. But I plan to make a concise effort to get back into my normally aggressive exercise routine shortly. I also noticed a rather strange feeling in my lower legs while sitting. This really only happened during my first week of increasing my dosage of Zyprexa from 2.5mg to 5mg per day. It has not really happened since then.

I will try and keep this page updated with links to information or medications use for Manic Depression and my experience with my meds. Please email me with your experience with medication or send my your URL so that I can add it to this page.