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Mental health

fluoxetine advice

7 replies

deeplybaffled · 08/03/2014 15:03

Hoping that someone might have some wise words for me, as am rather in need!

The background is that I had a bad patch several years ago and was prescribed sertraline and also saw a counsellor, and things improved a lot, to the extent that I felt able to cut the dose over time so that it ended up at a minimal level throughout much of this autumn - one or two tablets a week, probably really as a comfort blanket. I stopped taking any in November, and hoped to be able to start ttc, as I was too scared to try whilst on them.

A few things got in the way of that plan, and sadly, I've gone downhill again and have started again with tablets, this time on fluoxetine. I've been on them now for 3 weeks and a day, and unfortunately, the last few days have been pretty tough. I've been crying a lot and starting to get scared of little things like I did a number of years ago.

The wisdom I seek is whether this is normal, or whether I should really be starting to feel better now? So as not to drip feed, I was on pre booked holiday for the first two weeks that I was on them, but have been back at work for the last week, which might have a bearing? I also came on on Thursday which might not have helped....or equally, that could be clutching at straws?

Any wisdom about ttc and fluoxetine would also be really helpful.

Thanks very much in advance for any thoughts

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teawomen · 08/03/2014 15:21

I am currently in sertraline but before that I tried fluoxetine and by god it made me feel horrendous go back to gp on Monday.

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deeplybaffled · 10/03/2014 08:50

Thanks, teawomen, I have made an appointment.
Does anyone else have any experience of fluoxetine?

thanks

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babyheaves · 10/03/2014 09:00

I've taken Fluoxetine a lot. The first couple of weeks on it are always dreadful, but then I find it works better than anything else I've ever had.

My advice is to stick it out as it worked wonders for me, but I know that different drugs suit different people better.

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LastingLight · 10/03/2014 09:41

Fluoxetine is the drug that is currently keeping me sane. It turns a friend of mine into a zombie. Everybody reacts differently to the drugs and I think you need to go back to your doc.

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ColouringInQueen · 10/03/2014 14:22

I've been on fluoxetine for a year. Like babyheaves, the first few weeks I felt really bad with anxiety and nausea, but it has definitely helped. I had to go up a dose to 40mg before I felt any improvement. So prob worth a chat with GP in case you need to increase does or switch.

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C4ro · 10/03/2014 14:54

Impact on TTC - no clue.

I was on fluoxetine for a year or so. I think the first few weeks starting up were tough with still a few crying jags/ stress attacks. It then got to (presumably) the right dose and I got a slab of time in that zombie (un)comfortable numbness state that it gets you to.
After 3 weeks, I'd definitely go back and say this doesn't seem to be kicking in yet.

I was on it for depression. I'm not at all expert on panic attacks/ stress side.

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deeplybaffled · 10/03/2014 20:33

Thanks, all. Spoke to the gp and she has told me to stop taking it and to start taking sertraline again on Friday. Apparently got to get the fluoxetine out of my system first before starting the sertraline. Have to admit that I'm a bit nervous about the next few days....but clinging to the thought that if the fluoxetine wasn't working for me, then stopping it shouldn't be an issue. I hope!