hi Cali,

Sorry for the confusion .. I should've made it clear that Lovan isn't "just like" prozac .. it IS prozac. Lovan, Prozac, and Sarafem are brand names for the specific drug fluoxetine. Lovan just happens to be the brand name of it in Australia.

Fluoxetine was the first of the class of SRI's, there have been many others developed since then, with fewer side effects and/or that treat more specific depressive problems. Fluoxetine is still the most commonly prescribed, and it is still a very helpful and useful drug. You just have to weigh the benefit of improved mood and energy vs. any side effect.

Your pharmacist would be a good, non-judgemental person to ask about other options with fewer side effects, which you can then take to your dr. for discussion and a prescription change. Taking an antidepressant won't make the problems go away, but if it can improve your mood and help you to feel better, then you'll feel more able to deal with the real issues ... and make those pro-active changes.

Doreen