Prozac

[tb1223]

My doctor recently prescribed me Prozac for my depression. I know that some SSRIs can affect dopamine levels, so I was wondering if anyone on these forums has any experience with the drug. Did it have any effect on your stuttering?

[supergeo]

If you read the literature for many SSRIs, they may indeed cause/ worsen stuttering. Personally though, I haven't experienced this. I've been on zoloft for a few years now, and haven't noticed any difference with my stuttering before or after.

[Vermillion]

I typed "prozac stuttering" into google and got this:


Some antidepressant medications boost dopamine. These medications include the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class, which includes Prozac and Zoloft. These medications have increased stuttering in stutterers. In a few cases, these drugs caused non-stutterers to stutter.

Another stutterer wrote:

I have tried 3 antidepressants: Prozac, Wellbutrin, and Zoloft. All increased my stuttering noticeably. The antidepressants that I have tried make me more able to get out of bed in the morning and restore my "get up and go"; however, they have caused me to go from being a person with a barely noticeable stutter to a more pronounced stutter.

I went into my psychiatrist yesterday and explained that the current antidepressant is making my stutter significantly worse. However, in the 10 minutes we talked I was practically perfectly fluent. He then concludes that obviously "it's not that unmanageable."

He prescribed 10mg Propanolol to take before I have to be in a difficult speaking presentation. It is supposed to "reduce performance anxiety." I don't feel like I have a tremendous amount of performance anxiety; stuttering just isn't very fun. I think he doesn't believe me about the severity of the stuttering.

[tb1223]

Thanks for the info. I've read similar things to what Vermillion posted, but I believe I read that some SSRIs can in fact lower dopamine. Whatever the case, I'll be sure to report back any changes I notice in my stuttering.

[Silent]

Yes, some SSRIs do lower dopamine and, as a result, reduce anxiety and stuttering.

[tb1223]

OK, so I've been on the medication for over three weeks now. I have not noticed any change in my stuttering. However, my attitude towards stuttering and life in general has significantly improved. I no longer stress out over minor situations involving stuttering. I think the medication has helped me view the world in a more positive light, and realize that people are often more compassionate and understanding than we give them credit for. My stuttering certainly had a lot to do with why I was depressed in the first place, and even though the stuttering itself has not improved, my overall disposition has. Basically, if you find yourself constantly overwhelmed by your stuttering and the problems associated with it, and traditional speech therapy has not worked for you, I would strongly recommend talking to your doctor about anti-anxiety or anti-depression medications. It might not help your stuttering, but it can help you live your everday life without worrying about it all the time.

[JDRow]

I had pretty much the same experience as you. I've been taking an SSRI for a couple of years. It didn't improve my stuttering--I may have stuttered a bit more at first, in fact--but it helped with my depression which helped me to deal better with things in general, including stuttering.

[Teri60]

I've been on a variety of anti-depressants and am on Paxil now and have never noticed any difference with my stuttering. The only time it chanages for the better is when I take Xanax, it calms me down and lessens the stuttering but I don't take it often because it's addictive.

[Teri60]

I've been on a variety of anti-depressants and am on Paxil now and have never noticed any difference with my stuttering. The only time it changes for the better is when I take Xanax, it calms me down and lessens the stuttering but I don't take it often because it's addictive.

[stutterfly]

hey guys, with regard to antidepressants and stuttering I think there is a lot of misconception. At different times in my life I've taken zoloft, effexor xr, and cymbalta, and don't think they had any negative effects on my speech. I would recommend 5-htp for any stutterers who also suffer from depression. It has actually lowered the frequency and duration of my blocks and has no side effects. It also has some great anti-depressant properties (5-htp is a precursor for Serotonin).

[aktosone]

Anti-depressants like Cymbalta, Effexor, and Wellbutrin have been the only solution I've found for improving my speech. Speech therapy, regular therapy, and other methods did nothing or made it worse. I think the important thing to understand about stuttering and anti-depressants is that the result is always going to be different from person to person, but that it can be a viable solution.