Will fluoxetine work for my anxiety? Any positive stories?

[Ceetee23]

Hi all, I've been taking fluoxetine for 4 weeks now at 20mg. It's been quite a few weeks with awful side effects - crying, sickness, nausea, raised anxiety. But I feel like I'm coming out the other side.
My mood seems to be improving - I went on them for depression and anxiety following a period of illness. I feel less teary but I still suffer with the anxiety. It doesn't seem to be turning into panic anymore but it's still there.

I know it's only been 4 weeks and fluoxetine is a slowy so may take 4-6 weeks so realise there is still time. I suppose I just want some reassurance from others that fluoxetine will tackle the anxiety too?

Thanks x

I've been on fluoxetine for depression and anxiety for four weeks too. 20mg wasn't really cutting it, so the doctor doubled my dose. Still anxious, but less so. Watching with interest to see other people's experiences.

Thanks Stormybrid, how were things when the dose was doubled? Did you get side effects again? Thanks. X

To be honest, I didn't really get any side effects in the first place. The higher dose has helped though. The anxiety is still there, but it isn't as all-consuming as it was.

Thanks. Just to update this morning is the first morning in a long long time I haven't woken up to the crushing anxiety. It's such a nice feeling! Just hope it lasts. That's after 4 weeks 5 days at 20mg just to give an idea. Hoping this means the tablets are kicking in. Going to doct next weds and if things aren't good still I will ask about increasing the dose. X

fluoxetine can actually heighten anxiety so keep an eye on it. Give it 6 weeks then ask the doctor their advice if the anxiety is still there.

I did quite well on it. But was always on/off with it (my fault not the doctors). I tried Cognative behaviour therapy and that was really good. Although I feel anxiety coming back as haven't been focusing on what I've been taught. But have had a word with myself and calmed down.

Honestly, couldn't recommend it enough x

As MyBeloved says, fluoxetine can be quite anxiety provoking, there are other options for AD that are less so, so definitely have a chat with uour GP if you're not getting any better

Thanks all. Pleased to report my anxiety and depression are both a lot better just as of two days ago. Feel like things have cleared a lot and my anxiety is not rising as it used to at all. It's been 5 weeks today since I started on 20mg.
The only thing I feel now is a bit shaky, my head is not anxious at all and no anxious thoughts it's more like my body feels a bit anxious?! This must be the meds and I'm hoping it will go away as it's not nice.
As it's been 5 weeks im hoping that things will start to get even better from here, if the meds have only just started to kick in im presuming your serotonin levels have just started to rise and will continue to until they've balances out? Is this how it works and what others have experienced? X