Narcolepsy + Cataplexy + Depression = Prozac!

The mystery drug that I mentioned in my last post? Prozac. If you just said to yourself, "Really? Hm..." Then we shared the same reaction.

It was almost some sort of joke:

Prozac can reduce the severity of cataplexy!
Prozac can increase the severity of cataplexy.

Prozac can restore a dampened libido!
Prozac can cause a loss of libido.

Prozac can improve depression!
Prozac can increase depression and lead to suicidal thoughts.

"Are you kidding me?" I yelled. Okay, I didn't really yell, but I was baffled. So basically - as with many "solutions" the world has to offer - it was a crapshoot. Either it would help my husband's symptoms... or it wouldn't.

As we researched Prozac, I was shocked at the stigma still attached to it. It's a running joke now of course - want a permanent smile? Pop some Prozac! But, goodness, it's been out for ages - at least since the 80s.

I can see the humor, though. My favorite Prozac joke is a cartoon that I've saved:

The verdict? Well, he has just been taking Prozac for a few weeks now, but my husband is very impressed with the improvement in his mood. It isn't such a significant lift that I've noticed him walking around with a permanent grin (which would be creepy), but he does seem to feel better. More importantly, he is impressed with the effect it's had on his cataplexy! No more extreme weakness after his naps, no more fumbling to turn a doorknob, no nausea or faint-stomach feelings after trying to stand after a nap. So the results have been positive so far. I'm happy for him, of course, and also relieved that it's covered by our insurance. The cataplexy isn't gone, but it's better.

I have a lot more to say about the symptoms of Prozac, but for now, I'm still focusing on the cataplexy information I've discovered. I didn't know anti-depressants can help with cataplexy, and I'm still trying to articulate (for the purposes of this blog & myself) exactly how that works. For those of you who have contributed so much information about cataplexy - thank you so much! It's quite informative and very interesting.

Just when it seems like I couldn't learn anything else about my husband's disease - I do!

Narcolepsy and Depression - A Natural Combination

Narcolepsy is depressing.

Picture the life: You are intelligent, love to be active, involved, affectionate, and funny. But your illness makes you dull and slow. Mentally lethargic, you'd rather just listen to the conversation rather than participate. You can sometimes make it to the party, but the first thing you need to do is find a place to nap.

Such is the life of my husband, the narcoleptic.

Understandably, he gets down about his condition. A born list-maker, he always has a million things he wants to get done each day. Realistically, he often has to settle with just getting through the day. This frustrates him and sometimes saddens him. Many times he gets very sad. So sad that he feels hopeless. So hopeless that he feels like giving up. He swings from ranting to crying and back again, in an exhausting cycle of emotions that drains us both.

That's depression.

My husband didn't think he was depressed. He thinks that he's just "messed up" sometimes. While I certainly respect his opinion (it is HIS body, after all), I vehemently disagree. See, about 10 years ago, I was clinically depressed. Major depression was a large part of my life for many years. Too many. I spent years seeing psychiatrists and therapists, participated in group therapy, tried several different anti-depressants, and was even hospitalized a few times.

Nothing helped.

Eventually, I decided that if I was going to get well, I'd have to take matters into my own hands. When I did, I slowly got better and now all these years later, I know I made the right choice. But that's another post. My point is that, if nothing else, I recognize the symptoms of depression. I recognize them like I recognize the facial features in a photograph of someone I once hated. Someone who stalked me relentlessly, teased and tortured me, and fought tooth-and-nail when I was finally able to push them away. Yes, I know depression.

So what to do? If you suspect that someone you love suffers from depression, can you force them to get help?

No, but you can show them what healthy looks like.

In describing my experience with depression to my husband, I saw recognition in his eyes. Now I just have to introduce him to something else.

Hope.