Just been prescribed fluoxetine

[BoingBoingBumpOw]

Hi

Have been prescribed fluoxetine this morning for depression. Really nervous about it and I am really worried about any potential side effects and reading that the first couple of weeks taking ad's can be really difficult. Doctor was quite reassuring but I really would appreciate anyone's input on what they are like in rl (although I know people react differently to an extent) and what coping strategies are good etc. I work full time and am a single mum with a 2.4 yo DS and taking time off/ being signed off sick for a couple of weeks aren't really options for me at the moment.

Am starting counselling in a couple of weeks time which should also help but I'm just really dreading the next couple of weeks in case I react really badly to them.

Thanks!

[GetDownYouWillFall]

Try to think positive. Not everyone reacts badly. In fact, bad reactions are the minority.

Go into it with an open mind. This is the start of you getting better. If they don't agree with you, you can always stop them and try a different AD.

Hope it goes well.
x

[TotalChaos]

Have started fluoxetine twice. First time, I felt a bit agitated and lacked appetite for a few days, the second time I had mildly dodgy guts on and off for a fortnight. Both times I was absolutely OK for work and all day to day activities. SO hopefully you won't feel too bad.

[BoingBoingBumpOw]

thank you getdown and totalchaos, that's really reassuring. Will try to think of the loss of appetite if i get that as a bonus as could do with losing a few pounds. I know that sounds flippant but just trying to look for some upsides as still trying to get my head round the fact that this really is the best option for me having tried everything else. Glad about the work aspect as I'm already on very shaky ground with them so can't afford to make any cock ups in the next week or so.

Are there any good support threads on here that I could join in? Could probably do with it at the moment to try and understand everything better.

Thank you again.

[smudgedred]

ive been on it 3 times now (on them at the moment), and was really lucky and didnt get any side effects, they just took a while to work each time

[PersonalClown]

I've been on it for years.
will take a while before you realise they;ve started working but I can't say I've had any major problems.

How much are you taking?

[BoingBoingBumpOw]

It's 20mg once a day - is that a fairly standard dose to start off with?

Really encouraged to hear that noone has had any major side effects. The doctor did say that it would be a couple of weeks before I noticed any difference and It sounds wierd but I am so used to feeling the way I do now that it is going to be strange when they do start to take effect. I can function ok day to day at the moment and am good at presenting a strong front but inside I am a complete muddle. I think the counselling is going to help at untangling everything. I have gotten so used to just blaming myself rather than thinking there might be a medical reason contributing to it that it is going to be hard to shift my mindset. It almost feels as if I am going to have to rediscover the reall me and get to like that person again. Is that how others have found it when first being diagnosed?

Sorry for all the questions and rambling just trying together my head round everything! Thanks

[PersonalClown]

20mg is a good starting dose.
The change in attitude and behaviour is so gradual, one day I was going about my usual day and suddenly thought I don't feel the urge to crawl in bed and hide from the world!

[TheBreastmilksOnMe]

I took it once for about 6 months and had quite a few side effects, and I think they were:

Dry mouth
Yawning and eyes watering all of the time
Headaches which were chronic
Loss of appetite
Loss of libido
Anxiety (but that could have been the depression anyway)
Shivery
Vivid dreams
Tiredness

I came off them without the advice of a Gp, I was pretty much on my own anyway as I wasn't offered counselling or any follow up treatment and this is when I experienced the worse side-effects.

I had to reduce the dose really slowly as I kept on getting electric shock type sensations in my head and became hyper sensitive to any sudden noise, movement or even graphic image on the telly. It would set off these sensations in my head. I also felt anxious too.

I think they helped but the side-effects made the decision to come off them for me and I have never looked back but maybe counselling would have been better, I just don't know?

Good luck and I hope they work for you XX

[BoingBoingBumpOw]

Thanks personalclown and TBIOM. It's good to know the side effects as well just in case I experience them too. Loss of appetite not a problem, that would be an upside and loss of libido not too much of an issue seeing as I am firmly single at the moment!

I'm really glad that the Dr has put the counselling into motion as I think knowing that I have that as well really makes it into a more positive thing rather than a negative and I will actually start to be able to get to the root of it all and make long term changes to the way I think.

Thank you everyone for all your input. Reading the other threads on this topic have really proven helpful and made me feel less isolated.

[Mummalish]

BoingBoing, is there any way I can contact you? x

[iamkirsty]

I've just started on these too, fingers crossed for both of us :) and anyone else taking them.

[BoingBoingBumpOw]

hi sorry haven't been back on here for a while although lurked around other threads. so far so good for the past 10 days or so. felt very strange the first few days - almost like i'd had too much caffeine or something. Am feeling very tired but not sure if that is down to waking up at 5.30 for some reason every day regardless of when I go to sleep or not! Seem to have had a bit of insomnia/ difficulty in going to sleep but that may be more down to circumstances rather than the fluoxetine. overall all though I feel a bit more calm about things/ less prone to crying and actually thinking about things rationally (well most of the time) so hopefully they are starting to help.

good luck iamkirsty hope it hasn't been too bad so far.

mummalish is there a way to message through MN - am still a complete numpty to how a lot of it works!

[Mummalish]

BoingBoing, will attempt to send you a PM through mumsnet today, so check later. Of course, I need to figure out how it works first!

[rainbowstar72]

Hi..i have been on these tabs for a while, they are 150mg...and they are the best thing...ever...just give them a try...if you dont like them, go back to your gp..but you do have to give them about 6 weeks to start to feel better...take care

[phoneyjoanie]

rainbow - i think you're on different tabs to boingboing given the strength you've quoted