Prozac/Fluoxetine is feeling jittery normal

[Bamboopole]

I've been taking fluoxetine 20mg for 12 days now. I have been feeling nauseous and exhausted but now, when I was hoping things would start to improve, I'm feeling very jittery, full of nervous energy. Wired. It's quite unsettling.

Is this a sign it's not the AD for me and to try something else? Lots of people have said it started working for them within two weeks and every day I wake up hoping to feel more normal.

I was previously on sertraline which worked and don't remember feeling jittery like this, though I do remember other side effects initially - headaches etc. I stopped taking it because it make me gain a lot of weight (over 2 stone).

If anyone can share their experience that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I felt like you've described when I first started taking citalopam - lasted for a few weeks. I got all jittery and off balance feeling again when I increased the dose. Again, this only lasted a few weeks.

And no antidepressants start working as quickly as two weeks. I'd estimate more like six weeks from person experience.

I trialled fluoxetine for the recommended 3 months after also trying sertraline (which didn't work) but it made me feel 'on edge' and sweaty / jittery constantly. Combined with affecting my sleep and sex life, I gave up in the end and my GP switched to Venlafaxine which was brilliant.

@Bamboopole I had exactly the same. The jittery feeling was awful. I came off it after 10 weeks because it was creating an anxiety that I never had to start with. Unfortunately, the jittery feeling lasted for months. I'm ok now but I wouldn't ever take it again as a result!

I would speak to your GP. It sounds like you are not suited to the medication and they need to look atvother options.

Really helpful to hear other experiences - so hard to know if it's par for the course or a sign to stop.

I had that feeling. It lessened when I cut down on coffee, the two weren't a good mix for me.

It's hard knowing what's for the best. I know I could try sertraline again but the weight gain is quite a price to pay, and I was hoping since I responded well to that then other SSRIs would work for me.

I will try to stick this out a bit longer and hope my body adjusts. It would be great if I could start the new year in a better place.

Thanks to everyone who commented.

I had this when I was on fluoxetine, had to stop my driving lessons as I was a bag of nerves !! It did level off though after a couple of weeks. Stay away from caffeine in the meantime might help

Did Fluoxetine work for you after you got over the side effects @jimmyateworld?

@Bamboopole Yes it did for a few years actually ! I found sertraline better though, I felt great on that !

Stick with it OP is my advice, your brain is re-wiring and will find a balance. Takes about six weeks to sort.

Interesting about the caffeine. I was drinking tons of Pepsi max so probs didn't help matters!!

I'll definitely avoid the coffee. This afternoon it feels like I'm full of tiny birds if that makes sense!!! I feel like I need to run and cry at the same time. Just a very weird sort of energy.