Fluoxetine side effect or something else?

[woowoo22]

Hi, my ds is 6 weeks old. I cried nonstop at the 6 week check up last week over various things that have been going on and the Dr prescribed Prozac for PND.

I took the first one at about 10am yesterday. In between feeds at 3am & 5am last night, I heard very loud, clear chanting (dh was sleeping in the spare room and it sounded like he'd come in and started doing the haka v loudly, was scary), and had some very horrible images/thoughts running through my head, like scenes from a horror movie.

Throughout it I was trying to call out/scream to dh but couldn't make enough noise.

I think I was awake throughout all of this, or at least in a half awake/asleep state.

Is this a likely side effect of the medicine and is it likely to happen again?Also, is Prozac any good for anxiety? After having a couple of better days, I think I am more anxious when triggered by certain things rather than depressed. Not sure if it's all part and parcel of the same thing though.

[galwaygirl]

Hi woowoo, I think you should go back to the doctor about this. I never experienced it from Fluoxetine (not to say its not from that) but I know they were very concerned about hallucinations in case I developed post-partum psychosis.
My biggest problem was also extreme anxiety and it's hard to say if the fluoxetine helped that or it improved gradually over time but I ended up also taking propranolol for anxiety and that definitely helped so you could ask your GP for something specific to anxiety.
Hang in there - you will get through this and get better xx

[galwaygirl]

Just to add not sure how much sleep you're getting but I felt some of the vivid almost hallucinations I got were probably from being so sleep deprived coupled with the anxiety.

[woowoo22]

Thank you for replying. I'll give the Dr a phone and let her know. Am very sleep deprived so maybe that caused it, though got 2 lots of 3 hours yesterday which felt great. Feel like am losing my mind sometimes but good to know it does get better xx

[sydlexic]

I have experienced that sort of thing on fluoxetine, usually only if I take them late in the day. I have always felt slightly worse and more anxious when first taking them. For me they have been a god send, but some people react badly to them, so definitely talk to your DR.

Yes Prozac is good for anxiety and depression.

Is there any chance DH could help you to get more sleep, it really helps.

Hope things improve soon.

[Branleuse]

sleep paralysis x

[woowoo22]

Thanks sydlexic, that's good they are good for anxiety too. I worry about him being up in the night with the baby and always feel like I want to do it myself. I had no clue whatsoever before I got pg that I could worry this much about everything.

Just googled sleep paralysis Branleuse, that's exactly what it was - thank you. Will tell the doctor this when I call. Horrible thing :-(