Anyone else had a terrible time on Fluoxetine?

[27Harper]

I changed to Sertraline after about 6 months of being on Fluoxetine. Fluoxetine made me a suicidal mess and I ended up overdosing on them in a half arsed suicide attempt. It made me so anxious and I had several panic attacks every day. About 4 days into taking Sertraline (25mg was my starting dose), I felt the same way, but I kept going, and after moving up to the 50mg I started feeling a lot better and they worked for me soo much better than the Fluoxetine.

I then worked up to 75mg, and then stayed at that for a while. Accidentally started taking the full 100mg somewhere along the line, which my Psychiatrist said was totally fine, and that she thought that she would still need to raise the dose even further. I started taking 150mg a few days ago, as my GP said to just go straight there from 100mg, so I didn't really work up from 125mg. I'm feeling quite low right now, but I think this should even out in a few days and I don't think it's to do with the dosage increase.

Just wondering if anyone else has felt that way or still feels that way on Fluoxetine? Sorry for such a long post xx

I was just about to post for my DS (20). He was intially on citalopram for anxiety issues but was changed to fluoxetine about 10 months ago on 20mg. He didn't think it was helping so his dose was increased to 40mg in June but he feels much worse.

His sleep pattern is inconsistant and he feel disoriented all the time, his mood is quite low. He is still waiting for a psychiatrist appointment as he may also have personality disorder but as he returns to uni next week I am a bit concerned. I have urged him to make a GP appointment as soon as he gets back to talk about the medication again.

Oh gosh I'm really sorry to hear that sweetie. Any idea why he was taken off the Citalopram? Was it working for him or was he having nasty side effects? I too would definitely urge him to make an appointment with a GP as soon as possible xx

I had it at 19 and I was fine. I had them again in my 40s and I had to ring 999 because I had the mother of all panic attacks. I had to have beta blockers to get me off them and back onto sertraline.

Aww that must have been awful for you. I don't mean to sound dramatic here but I can't even believe I survived all those horrible panic attacks. I was having them at least once a day, and for me that was a calm day. Its so strange how a medication can work well for a period of time, and then going back on them after you've come off them can give you such awful side effects xx

Thanks, he just didn't think the citalopram was doing anything, when out in public he was shaking at the thought of new encounters and it wasn't getting easier.

He had mixed messages about the fluoxetine, one GP gave it easily the next one who reviewed him said he didn't think it would help him but gave him another script anyway. His problem is that he doesn't know the GPs other than one off appointments so doesn't feel that they are listening to what he says.

He was supposed to have a mentor at uni to help him but she has never made any appointments with him and when he tried she wanted to talk over the phone istead of meeting him in person.

What an arse! Your son needs another mentor in my opinion. Great help she is.

What the doctor should have probably done is raise the Citalopram dosage. With Citalopram I believe the max dosage is 60mg. Doesn't sound like it was really given a good shot.

I really do wish your son all the best, and I hope that he can find a medication that is much more suitable for him. It can be such a journey finding the right antidepressant that a lot of people just give up xx

So glad I came across your post! Just posted one of my own actually, about switching from fluoxetine to sertraline.. fluoxetine turned me into a suicidal/panicked mess! I read all these rave reviews about how it saved people's lives and couldn't understand why it wasn't working for me.. but I suppose we just have to remember that every AD affects everybody differently and we just have to find what fits us best!

I completely agree with you LennonB, I thought that I was going to be that crazed and paranoid my entire life! But after coming off the Fluoxetine I felt much better, and after being put on Sertraline it's on noticeable on bad days thank goodness! xx

Yes, I took Fluoxetine when I was younger and it made me actively suicidal, it was AWFUL, probably the maddest I've ever felt which is saying something!. Hope the Sertraline works out for you OP, I was ok on that one.

Me too! I felt like everyone was talking about me and trying to get me! I was so paranoid and delusional. Even at 20mg a day, and then I started taking it every other day, same result. Never in my life will I agree to take it again. Thanks sweetie! xx