on fluoxetine (prozac) for three weeks. When will I start feeling better?

[notagiraffe]

It seems so slow to work. Never taken this long before for a drug to take effect. Citalopram lifts my mood instantly but I just sleep my life away on it and really can't afford to right now if I'm going to ever finish my degree and earn a living. But I can't take this low mood for much longer.

Does anyone have good stories of Prozac taking a while to kick in but then being effective?

Hi,

Well I managed the whole shower, get dressed in half decent clothes, walk in sunshine for 40 mins routine which is the one thing I'm putting pressure on myself to do as it makes me feel human. Went to GP who upped my dose, then did a food shop. Now knackered and intend to spend the afternoon watching cheesy made for TV films if I can find any and then do an hour's work. One hour a day at the moment. I suppose it's better than being curled in a ball in bed weeping unable to eat or wash.

Good luck with returning to work next week Veronica.

hello OP. I've been on fluoxetine for a couple of years, and going from 20 to 40mg really helped me
had quite a lot of side effects when I started on them but stepping up to 40mg was relatively side effect free
hope you feel better

'One hour a day at the moment. hmm I suppose it's better than being curled in a ball in bed weeping unable to eat or wash.'

Yes, was there myself through most of January.

to Veronica. God it's tough isn't it?

I felt a tiny bit better today. But that could be because it's half term, so I have a distraction from focusing on how crap I am at getting back to work.
DS1 was at a half day workshop in London so I just hung around and read a book for hours while waiting for him. Not exactly taxing. But felt quite calm all day.

Aura I've just started on 40mg tonight. Glad to hear it worked for you.

Thank you! It is horrendous.

I've been up and about and mostly normal since upping my medication last weekend. I hope that things click for you soon.

Thanks Veronica. Was at a big lunch party today. It was good fun and I felt OK but drank, and know alcohol and Fluoxetine really don't mix for me. Not looking forward to the aftereffect tomorrow morning when I'm teaching for an hour. Only been on double dose for one night so far, so too early to tell if it'll work. Sounds like your increase kicked in almost immediately. That's good news.

I hope you are feeling ok this morning?

I'm still feeling very lethargic and not very bright in the mornings. But I feel positive at the same time.

The increase did work almost instantly for me. I wouldn't have minded any other side effect as long as something stopped the crushing misery.

I felt rubbish yesterday but that was due to the alcohol. It reacts very badly with paroxetine for me. Today has been better and I've even managed to do a couple of things I'd put off for ages, like chase a late payment invoice, which is beyond me when I'm down.

Veronica Does your lethargy wear off as the day goes on? Could you alter the time you take your dose so that the lethargy coincided with sleep?

I do take it to sleep. But it lasts all day, until about 4pm. Later, even!

I am back at work tomorrow, so gone down from 150mgs to 100mgs. The tiredness is gone. Some anxiety, but nothing too killer.

I get just the same about bills and things. Literally can't talk to anyone or do anything.

Must admit one of the things I appreciate about Prozac is that it doesn't wipe me out. Even DH has noticed that I'm a bit more alert.

I'm on the same medication and I found that it worked after about 3 months. It only lasted 2 weeks before my anxiety and depression starting interfering with me again. I'm in a low spot just now with no one to talk to. I've had a counsellor who has cancelled and quit her job.. Now I have no clue how to realise everything. I used to use my partner but I have too much anger and just make him feel like it's his fault all the time, so I've stopped telling him my problems.

Leopard it sounds like it didn't work for you. Is there something else you can try? Very early days but I think the higher dose is working.

I've tried a few things before that, including sertraline. Might just need a higher dosage.

I feel for you Leopard. It's so dispiriting when ADs don't work. I think this higher dose fluoxetine is beginning to do the trick. I hope so, but not certain yet.

Just thought it's worth noting that I've now been on it for 8-9 weeks and am only just starting to feel better. It was very slow to work, but I am noticing some changes now. Far fewer dark thoughts, less anxiety and panic, more ability to do things I don't feel like doing, less over emotional, less 'stoned' by the depression. I'm actually starting to look forward to a few things now and not feeling dreadful about everything. Even thinking I can start to manage my time and get things done. Very early stages but it is a change for the better. So if anyone else is feeling frustrated, hang in there for a while.

Glad to hear it is slowly getting better giraffe I started taking mine in the morning and it seems to be helping. My MH team tell me they can see an improvement.

Hi op im on fluoxetine too and it took a good 4-5 weeks to get into my system. The side effects were horrendous and I almost gave up with them many times but carried on and they were great.
I suffer with terrible anxiety and in the last few months was getting worse, also talking propranolol and diazepam and doctor suggested upping my dose from 20mg to 40mg.
I had been on 20mg for about 18 months. Almost instantly i felt an improvement ( only started a week ago ) with little side effects and the horrible anxious feeling I had in the pit of my stomach has gone.
This seems to be the right dose for me.
Best of luck and keep posting :)