Using anti-depressants?

As some of you know I have recently come to terms with my eating disorder. I am really struggling to get it under control..still in search of a therapist or support group where I feel welcome.

Someone mentioned that there are studies using Prozac to treat ED's. I've been researching and trying to learn as much as I can about it, and I'm beginning to wonder if this is something that I need to try.

I have always been a very moody person, every since I was a little kid. And by very moody I mean, I would (and still can) go from doing cartwheels and laughing to infuriatingly angry and nasty in a split second for no apparent reason, or for some very tiny ridiculous reason. I'm also pretty sure that I have some mild form of OCD. As I get older I am realizing more and more that my moods are not normal, that it's not normal to get depressed the way I do, or to obsess about ME the way I do. These are things that I realized before my ED came into being, and I KNOW that they are related.

I recently mentioned to my mom that I was suspicious about having a personality disorder of some sort...I was surprised, yet not at all surprised, when her response was "Yeah, you should probably talk to someone about that". She obviously thinks that it's a definite possibility as well.

All that said, I think that medication of some sort might really be helpful, but I'm terrified to try it. I've known people who take antidepressants and are just "out of it" all of the time. I don't want to be that way..I still want to be able to "feel", if that makes sense?

I really hate  the thought of becoming dependant on a pill to live a "normal" life. I want to be able to do it on my own..

So, does anyone have any experiences with these kinds of drugs? Good, bad?

Thanks!

I've been taking Prozac for about a year for depression and I can't say that I ever feel "out of it." Maybe because it's a mild dose (40mg per day), but I still feel like me.

As for how Prozac affects my depression: It doesn't keep me from getting depressed or from falling into a downward mental spiral. It does however, make it easier to pull myself out of those situations and to use the tools my therapist and I have discussed.

I will say one thing about it, though. I was told that it gives you a burst of energy -- about fifteen hours after you take it -- so that I should take it at 3pm. Well, my "energy burst" comes about ten hours after I take it, not fifteen, so I take it about 8 or 9pm.

Good luck to you. I'm not a doctor, but if I can be of any more help (encouragement, support, venting recipient), let me know.

I've been on a very low dose of anti depressants (citalopram) since just before christmas because of my eating disorder, and they have helped me so much.

Before I was a wreck, I was constantly on edge, my fists were always clenched and couldn't stop beating myself up about food. My head was a bit of a mess. After taking anti depressants I feel way more in control of my own thoughts and feelings, and am back to the calm fun person I used to be. They have simply restored what was. Don't be scared to give them a try if you really are struggling. If your doctor is good like mine, I get checked up on every 4 weeks.

I agree with the others, antidepressants have helped with my eating as well as with my general sense of feeling better.  I resisted these meds for over 10 years for just the reasons you mentioned.  I wish I had tried them sooner!! They don't make you feel out of it as all... you are still in control, and just feel more balanced overall.  They help with that moody-ness and with anxiety as well in many cases.

Most people don't need them long-term, and short-term use is helpful enough. For me, I have chronic depression and I am on them long-term (over 4 years) and think of it as just as necessary the way others take drugs for chronic conditions (diabetes meds, heart medicine etc.)  Talk to your doctor about what might help you, they are very used to these questions and that's what they are there for!!! GOOK LUCK!