Prozac and Bladder Retention

After taking Prozac for 11 days at 10 mgs a day my bladder shut down and I could not urinate.  Had to go to a clinic to take care of the problem.  The Doctor took me off prozac and said don't take it again.  It has been 4 days since I have been off prozac and the bladder has return to normal.  Has anyone experienced a problem like this?  Are all SSRI's going to have this effect?

Thanks

Dan

[cindi]

Hi and welcome to the forum,,,I am not too familiar wth all the ssri's out there but I can tell you this...based on my experience in Nurasing,,,many drugs will cause urinary retention but not all of them and not in everybody...what may cause an unpleasant side effect such as urinary retention in one person may not cause it in the next, same with other side effects...alot of times the physician may have to "play" around with various meds and doseages...to find just the right one for that particular person....Celexa worked for me very well but Paxil was the most annoying drug i had ever tried....yet Paxil wokrs like a miracle for my neighbor....if you would like....tell us a little bit about yourself..and I hope I have helped you in some way...alot of other folks on this board have had more experience with ssri's...good luck      love to  all   cin

[Milo]

Welcome, Dan. When I tried Prozac, it had very different side effects than Paxil & Celexa. I wish I could have stayed w/Prozac, because it seemed to be very helpful for me, but it made my digestive problems much worse...Paxil was fine for me...Celexa, which I'm on now, seems to have the fewest side effects. Like Cindi said, reactions to these meds are highly individual & variable. Wellbutrin is not a SSRI & works differently, so that might be an option. I know how frustrating it can be, trying all these different meds, different dosages, etc., esp. since they take so long to take effect, but hang in there with it. Let me know if you want more info -- I'll be glad to share whatever may help you from my experience. -- Milo

[cindi]

I too had trouble with ultram,  not the urinary retention but trouble getting off of them....one bit of info I feel is necessary to share with you about Ultram.....It caught my eye when you said you had suicidal depression.....according to a few pharmacists I have talked to about ultram and one pharmacist (in a different state) my sister sopke with (she had problems with it also) we were both told that coming off the ultram a person may develop suicidal tendencies....especially if they were pre-existing..please be very careful..professionally if possible...good lcuk   love to all    cindi

[wildcat]

dan,

Yes, I have had serious urinary retention ever since I went on Ultram. Ultram has that listed as a side effect and I have had that problem ever since. It gets so bad that at night after laying down I have to actually catheterize myself at times, very annoying although I have gotten used to it.

At first I thought it was from the historectomy I had six or so months ago but the problem actually can be traced back to when I was in-patient detoxing off of off alcohol and they put on Ultram for chronic pain control.

I don't want to give up the Ultram, but I guess it would be the wiser choice than self catheterization the rest of my life. I even carry my little thing to work with me just in case. It always takes at least five to ten minutes to go now, where before it would start immediately.

It shows the addictive effects of Ultram since I am willing to go to all this trouble to take it even when I now have Codeine to replace it.

I am strange and confused from the med mix I take. I also have tried the SSRI's with bad results. I now take Effexor and it doesn't seem to do anything. I really want to stop it and plan to when my psychiatrist returns from her vacation. I have been suicidally depressed for months even though taking Effexor for over three months. I plan to stop the Ultram as well although I like it's effects and was hoping that stupid urinary side effect would go away but it has been over a year so I don't think it will until I stop the drug!

wildcat

[wildcat]

Cindi,

Thank you for the good advice and kind words. Yes, it is difficult getting off the Ultram which seems weird since you would think the Codiene would negate any withdrawal or craving desires for Ultram, but it doesn't.

Anyway, I have been on thin ice with all my support group on vacation at the same time. This forum is the only support I have right now and for the next few weeks. I feel good communicating with people in the same situation or similar to mine. I know most on this forum understand even if they don't always agree. Reading words of encouragement, even for the others suffering, makes me feel I am not alone. It helps me hang in their one day at a time.

[jule1]

Hi wildcat,  we are going to do this Ultram withdrawl (withdrawal) together I have been ready and have had quite a few days where I have taken a lot less than usual.  I am ready to stop I really do not get the same good feelings I used to get with it.  So if you are ready we could do it with each others help.  I hope  you know you have to be careful when quiting because of seizures.  Let me know how things are and I have a ready ear to llisten blessings to all Jules

[wildcat]

jbear,

I have really cut back on the Ultram as well. I am ready to start stopping when you are so let's go for it!

wildcat

[jule1]

Hi again,  Some days I am so ready to quit and other days I can not imagine life without it.  Ultram does not really help my pain so I know when I take it it is total abuse.  I believe you said you have bad chronic pain is that right?  I had a seizure after taking about 12 pills at one time which is the most I have ever taken that scared me so bad!  I have a beautiful son who is 1 1/2 and I want more children so I know I have to get my act together.  Sometimes I look at my baby and think how could I be doing this to him.  I probally need to write down how many I take a day I know I have cut down and I want to keep doing that.  Anyway thanks for listening I will keep you posted and you do the same I can't tell you how comforting it is to know that you are going through the same thing I am.  Take care and thanks for listening.  Lots of luck and blessings to you.  Jules

[wildcat]

Jbear,

You mentioned taking 12 pills at one time. You are very lucky you did not die. One time, my pharmacist warned me that the toxic level for Ultram is about 8-10 pills in an entire 24 hour period!!!! You must find a narcotic that can give you the effect you need until you are ready to quit the Ultram. The Ultram obviously is not giving you a good feeling like you want or you would not need so much of it. It does give me a good feeling and does kill my pain very well at about 3-4 pills max at one time.

You can ask your doctor for an anti-depressant type of drug. Those give good feelings to people with the kind of situation you are describing. Give it a try. What can it hurt. You know the Ultram can hurt since you already had one seizure. I know what that is like very well although my seizures are not from too many drugs, but brain damage from too much alcohol in the past.

I am 1 1/2 years sober from the booze, but still am on the Codiene and Ultram which is for the pain. I have to admit, I like the calm feeling I get from the mix too however.

Hang in there and let me know how you are doing. Please don't take any more than 8-10 Ultram in one day though or you may seize again. Once you seize, your brain will want to do it again.

Take care,

wildcat

[jule1]

I read your post and just cried and it took me all day to write back.  I can not stand looking at myself I am so disgusted about my addiction.  But I still can't bring myself to do the right things to get off this ****!  I have a wonderful life a beautiful child and husband and I do not understand why I have to mess it up.  What is wrong with me.  I think I am so scared to quit and I am not sure why.  I am sorry to vent I just feel like things need to crash down now. I will write you later take care Jules

[wildcat]

jbear,

I am sorry to hear you are hurting inside so badly. Remember, addiction is a disease just like diabetes. Once your brain, the old ancient pleasure center part sets up for a certain drug, it stays that way. Even if you quit for a long time. That set up is still there just waiting for that chemical to be re-introduced and then you are hooked all over again. That is why I can never drink again.

Just one or two drinks and my body would respond with withdrawal telling me the pleasure center is not happy to be teased and not fullfilled. You are not a bad person for gettig hooked on drugs. So many people are hooked on something. Think about it for a minute.

If it's not drugs, then it's booze or it's cigarettes!!!! They are all equally as bad. Actually many of the drugs are safer than booze or cigarettes for the body and for working and functioning.

I think you are going through some depression and are self medicating to get a better feeling. You may want to see a psychiatrist and get an anti-depressant. They work well for most people and there are many types if one or two types don't work for you, you can try others. Hang in there. I'll be praying for you!

wildcat

[Thomas]

the first time I was given this "non-narcotic" Ultram, which I didn't even bother to fill for a few days because I assumed it was just some new kind of worthless anti-inflamatory, it got me off like the first time I did rx narcotics. I thought I'd found my answer: a non-narcotic that made me feel great. But after just a few doses, that high stopped coming. I can still take it and get pain relief, but no high. Oh well. I had a seizure from Ultram. I believe I had taken four of them. My understanding is that Ultram overdoses cause the seizures as opposed to, say, drugs like Xanax that cause seizures from underdosing after you've been on it for a while.

It's worth checking with a doc about Ultram as far as under what circumstances it causes seizures. If it's strictly from ODing, than why not make up a tapering schedule and slowly get off the stuff? The whole key is sticking to that tapering schedule. You might be surprised. You're body will adjust and you'll find yourself getting relief from far smaller doses than you thought you could. Tapering is tough, though. For every time I've succeeded at tapering, I've failed 100 times (at least). But then I'm a self-confessed drug fiend and not the typical case. I don't use now, but, boy, would I if I could! Good luck to you.

Thomas

[Nikki8]

i have had bladder problems off & on over the years and it always seemed to be when i was taking prozac...my doctor never once mentioned that [prozac could be causing all my problems...i had the tubes of the bladder stretched many times and have had much pain and had taken many antibiotics when urine test show infection...i am thinking about stopping the prozac even though it has helped me so much from aniety/nervousness after having my four children...  any advice would be greatly appreciated ...like what other antidepressant i could try instead of prozac.  thanks so much, Nikki

[GoingToMakeIt]

Nikki, you are posting on an old post and many won't even respond. Try re-posting this in a new one. Post a Question button at the top.