To ask about Fluoxetine

[Shinyshoe73]

Hi,

I’m on day 4 of Fluoxetine and am SO anxious. Feel like I’m crawling with nerves, is this normal?? I’ve been prescribed them for severe anxiety (I stress that I won’t sleep which sets of a vicious cycle!) and the doctor said that once the pills address the anxiety, the sleep will follow. Any positive stories are most welcome! One very frazzled and anxious Mum!

I’m in my first week too OP but it’s not my first rodeo - it does get better, i know I’ll feel so much better in a few weeks. Are you having any talking therapy alongside? Making sure you take time to do something you really want to do etc?

I started this about 2 months ago and it’s been one of the best antidepressants I’ve taken. The reviews for people show either great or terrible. So give it another week or 2 if you can and make a call then.

Thank you both. I took it after the birth of my first DS five years ago and remember it working so I’m really really hoping it does!

It takes around two weeks to start working properly.

I'm a long time taker, it takes a good 3 weeks to have any effect and the effects start working slowly but make such a difference. Do persevere !

Thank you! I

I love love love my fluoxetine. Keep persevering.

I also started them about a week ago and my anxiety and nerves are skyrocketing. Managing to hold it together to sort out the children but I'm on a knife edge of hyper vigilance and the shakes all the time.

I've heard it gets better, I seriously hope so!

Push through the side effects, they should go away! My side effects when I started taking it were that I couldn’t sleep but now I’m used to it I sleep just fine. They’ve changed my life for the better for sure!

It took about 3-4 weeks for mine to settle but it was mixed with other medication, I always had the shakes and wouldn’t leave the house alone, but after it’s worked wonders it’s just holding out the first few weeks as it settle s into your system x

It made living with my husband bearable, and now enjoyable again. He's on month four and it's like I've got the man I married back. The positive difference is immense. It took a few weeks to feel the change for him.

Yes please persevere - they can make you feel worse before you feel better. However, if you feel you're feeling worse in a few weeks then go back to GP. Not every antidepressant/anxiety medication 'fits all'.
I took citalopram for a short time and felt absolutely awful but know other people on them that are just fine.
I hope you start to feel better soon

Yes, I was prescribed it for PND and had similar sleep issues. It definitely made things worse before it made them better but then things hugely improved and it was a lifesaver, literally. Best antidepressant I've ever taken. It's made a huge difference to my anxiety and hasn't stopped me from feeling joy.

The first two weeks can be quite unsettling but then once they take full effect it really is amazing. When I went back on it a year after having my baby I tried to keep myself as distracted as possible and went for a lot of long buggy walks in the fresh air. It’ll pass and settle and you’ll be so much better.

Thank you so much everyone xxx

Sorry, I gave a quick reply earlier. I too had difficulty starting on fluoxetine - I was anxious, jittery and had trouble sleeping. It did pass and my quality of life improved as I could actually see the wood for the trees.

Thank you. Do you think fluoxetine helps break a negative thought process e.g. I worry about not sleeping, then don’t sleep, then worry that I’ll never be able to stop worrying about sleep!! I have referred for CBT too.

The problem with anxiety is it grips you by the throat and doesn't let go. Then it's a vicious circle cos you can't sleep so you get anxious that you can't sleep and so it goes on. Hopefully you'll start to feel a difference soon - keep focusing on that and mentally think ' I will feel better soon'.
I'm just about to embark on some hypnotherapy to help with my anxiety. Years of traditional medication, herbal remedies, books etc - I've been recommended a hypnotherapist - a bit skeptical tbh but I'm willing to give it a try!
The trouble is there is no easy fix to anxiety. It's awful and you have my sympathy

Thank you hopefully the fluoxetine will help with the anxiety - I really hope so!!

Give it 2 weeks. It's amazing stuff. Life changer for me.

Thank you - did it help out anxiety? X

I take have fluoxetine but I am on Escitalopram for anxiety and it definitely made me more nervous, foggy and gave me either severe fatigue or insomnia depending on the time of day I took it. After a week the symptoms gradually easier and easier and I feel like a new woman after two years of post partum anxiety and pnd.

I don't take Fluoxetine my post should have started.

I started it 5 weeks ago for pnd and anxiety. It has definitely lifted my mood and pulled me out of depression but I'm still very anxious. I spoke to my gp about this last week and will now be going to therapy for the anxiety. he thinks the therapy is needed aswell as the medication, so keep going with both

By the way it has helped me to sleep better.