Fluoxetine/prozac - will it help?

[cantgoonlikethis]

I've been prescribed 20mg fluoxetine to help with my anxiety/depression which has been brought on again as im trying to decide whether to leave dh. I've suffered from depressiona nd anxiety in the past and it is often brought on in response to stressful events. I took seroxat about 10 yeara ago and whilst it levelled my mood (probaly too much) it also made me put on over 2 stone and was hellish to get off. tried citalopram which helpted my mood but agian made me put on weight - abput a pound a month for the 10 months i took it - not good. Doc has now given me prozac as she said less likely to cuase weight gain and fairly easy to come off, but question is will it help me? Will it "clear" my head of all the "clutter" and help me make a decison?

[mrstimlovejoy]

hi i've just gone back onto fluoxetine this week after being off it for 18 months.
i found it really made a difference last time it gave me back my old self which i hope it will do this time.can't remember any weight issues with it.just want it to work straight the way.i have no motivation and feel so miserable.i hate feeling this way.hope things become clearer for you soon and you work things out with dh x

[tracig]

Hi please can anyone help me i have just been to my doc and he has prescribed prozac to me as i have been very depressed lately i am 16 weeks pregnant and am concerned for the welfare of my babt if i start taking prozac during pregnancy

[sunnydayz75]

Hi
tracig if you GP has percribed it to you then it must be considered ok to take it.
I understand how you feel I have been on Fluxotine (same as Prozac) on and off for a few years. I havent been on it whilst pregnant but this time I was percribed medication the GP knew we were ttc.
I wish you the bext of luck with our pregnancy and hope you start to feel better soon.

[mummyhill]

Fluroxetine/prozac is one of the few anti depressants that is recognised as safe in pregnancy. If you are still on it when you give birth they will keep you and the baby in for 48 hours to ensure that everything is ok as it can make baby a bit drowsy and slower to feed initially but those side effects will wear off fairly quick. You can also continue to take it after the birth even if breast feeding.

It can take 6 - 8 weeks for this drug to take effect and any side effects should not last more than 2-4 weeks.

It will help to clear your head as that is what these style of drugs are intended for.

[wheresclaire]

I've been on them for 8 weeks now. I am calm now. (Too calm?) But my god am I tired. So so drousy. Is this normal?

[mummyhill]

yes but it will wear off eventually.

[littleboyblue]

I started taking Fluoxetine today. 6-8 weeks to see any change???? The doc told me 2-3 weeks. OMG, I can't live another 2 months like this which is why I went on AD's (PND). I have looked at my behaviour over the past few weeks, and I have been acting like a spoilt child, I am unable to think clearly or make the simplist decisions, I have even spent days trying to get dp to break up with me and I can't at this moment remember why.....I was doing this on tuesday and wednesday and the reason has completely escaped me, and I've (and him) have got to have another 6-8 weeks of this? I just hope it gives me some balance back and helps me think and act like a normal person and stops me feeling like such a failure. Although the fact that I'm now officially on AD's is making me feel like a failure too! (although deep down, I know I am not iykwim)

[sunnydayz75]

Hi Littleboyblue

Just read your post I have been on Fluxotine (currently now comming off it)For me I found Fluxotine worked after about 3 weeks. It made me feel more relaxed less anxious and a whole lot better. I would never have got through it all with out it. I know how you feel when you say taking Ads makes you feel like a failure as well but dont worry your not alone it that, and your not anyway.
Hope you start to feel better soon and if you dont then go back to your GP. Best Wishes to you and let us know how you get along.

[littleboyblue]

Thanks sunnydayz.

[Cazzaben]

I used to talk fluoxetine as did my younger sister. If you ever feel like its not working or you feel worse than the original symptoms (before you started taking it) then go back and see your GP...
If they offer to increase your dosage ask to be put on a different AD's... Some people don't agree with Fluoxetine

Take things one day at a time and I always found it helpful to write things down. It helped me to make sense of everything going on in my head.

xxx

[aseriouslyblondemoment]

how's everybody getting on with fluoxetine?
i've been on it for 5 days now and just feel absolutely wiped out like i've hit a brick wall of chronic fatigue tho still having insomnia
am hopeful it will help me long term
but does anyone know how long this side effect will last?

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

I had some serious short term memory loss with Fluoxetine...didn't realise until I came off it, and at first felt absolutely wiped out too and could hardly speak. If it continues I'd see about changing to one of the newer ADs which supposedly have less side-effects.

[aseriouslyblondemoment]

fanjo thanks for that
did you switch ADs?
how are you feeling now?

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

I didn't switch, I just came off them, and my memory came back suddenly, I was surprised as I had been putting the memory loss down to a head injury i had last year!!

There are lots out there and I don't think Fluoxetine does suit everyone.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

I have to say I felt great otherwise when on them, quite happy and bubbly, which is not like me!

[aseriouslyblondemoment]

well there's hope for me yet then
i guess i'll just have to ride it out and see

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Yes, I would give it a little more time

[aseriouslyblondemoment]

thanks fanjo

[3timer]

I was prescribed this 3 months ago, a four month course.
It really helped me. Like you I am having a personal dilemma about dh. My main symptom was that I was loosing it big time with the kids, constantly shouting etc. That dissapeared within a couple weeks, it was such a relief..

With regards the weight, I actually lost alot of weight on it. I was about 10 stone going on it and dipped to below 9 at one stage. It leveled off after about a month and Im now at about 9 stone, so was defiantly affected by weightloss (which is listed as one of the side affects, it does not mention weight gain)

My only concern is that last month I left a 4 or 5 day gap in the treatment and I felt myself slipping back very fast to my old ways, so I am terrified of coming off them. I am on the lowest dosage and am wondering what the doc is going suggest...

Hope you are feeling better everyone!!

[aseriouslyblondemoment]

3timer glad to hear that it's helped you
did you find that your appetite just subsided when your first started your course?
are you back onto taking them every day?

[3timer]

Yes I think my appetite dissapeared a bit, but I was also a nauseous for a while. I am supposed to take them everyday, but sometimes forget! I was great at taking them at the start as they were really helping me..

I was told you could be 'cured' of your symptoms after 2 months, but to take them for 4 months to avoid a relapse, but as I said, I am dreading coming off them if he insists that I do. And I always swore that I wouldnt become reliant on them!!!!
Need to get rid of the bloody husband and see if that makes me better lol,
HTH

[littleboyblue]

Hi. I'm on day 8 now. My appetite went befre Istarted taking them and hasn't really returned, although I am making myself eat bits here and there.
I have also noticed that I am feeling drained, empty, and completely exhausted. I had a really good nights sleep last night, but all day have struggled to keep my eyes open! Vision was a bit bleared for a while this morning too, but am hoping negative side effects wear off as meds kick in.
Emotionally, I am feeling a bit numb I think. I'm not happy or sad or angry or pissed off, just nothing. Today anyway........

[myermay]

thought i'd add my experience. I debated for years whether to take ad's and then finally decided it was worth a go.

I was prescribed prozac, and i'm not sure whether it was the relief of finally going to the doctors, but i felt a difference from day 1!! i am so much calmer, totally lost my appetite for a month, always yawning, sweating feet, no sex drive, funny taste in mouth, very tired.

Fast forward 4 mths, and i have gained a bit of weight but am exercising and trying to watch what i eat, sex drive come back a bit. No emotions, i haven't cried since i started taking them, and feel a bit hard emotionally. Loads calmer with the kids, ocassional bit of anxiety, but it tends to come in waves. Sleeping like a log, which is great. Do sometimes feel rather detached, a bit like i'm living in a dream and "did that really happen", and slight memory loss - but i will discuss this with my doctor.

So, i think it's been good for me, i hope it does the job for you too .

[littleboyblue]

I think that taking that first positive step of speaking to the doctor makes a huge difference. I felt alot better before I even started taking them! They were in the house for 5 days before I decided to start taking them.

[aseriouslyblondemoment]

littleboyblue i'm on day8 too now,i'm still tired but am managing to get thru it,like you i am also finding that i am finally sleeping like a log which is great as it's the first time in a long time
i'm curious to see how i'll be during the dreaded pmt time this to me will be the acid test of how well they're working
myermay i do agree that even taking the first step of making that GP's appointment is a relief and def.gave me a lift
3timer when are you seeing your GP next?
the other thing i wanted to ask was do any of you try taking them at diff.times of the day?
i have been taking mine 1st thing so the fatigue/yawning etc kicks in round lunchtime