Fluoxetine increase help!!

[Mrsbrooks1]

Hi all, I've been on 20mg of fluoxetine for around 5 years for GAD, OCD, panic and mild depression. I've been recently having blips more and more often and yesterday had a major panic attack for the first time in a long time. Anyway, my dr is urging me to increase to 40mg but I'm terrified of the side effects coming back like when I started. He says that because I'm already established on the medicine, I might not get them. Please please share your experiences, good or bad. Xx

Bump. Please give me some hope

Sorry, no experience but I'm bumping for you.

I hope someone with better knowledge comes along soon x

Dd increased and no issues. Last year she decided to come off them completely and feels more in control and she's using exercise and mindfulness instead (took them for 4 years).

If it concerns you do look into other options, alongside the 20mg

Hi, I know this is probably not what you want to hear as you are asking for reassurance but I am not sure anyone is able to give you a definitive answer on what will happen to you on the increased dose. The problem is with side effects is they differ very much from person to person. For example i started 20mg Fluoxetine about 6mths ago and hardly suffered any, whereas you sound like you suffered a lot? I would guess your doctor is correct - the medicine is already in your system and you have gone through the initial side effects when you started, personally I can't see how an increased dose is going to be like it was when you first went on them. Good luck

Thank you for your answers everyone, I suppose I just have to bite the bullet and do it. Increasing tonight wish me luck xx

I went from 40 to 60 a week ago and I haven't had side effects like when I first started on 20. I didn't when I bumped up to 40 either.

Do you mind me asking how old you are Mrsbrooks1?

I am just wondering if the increased anxiety could be down to something else like perimenopause? Something that I suffered from dramatically even whilst on Fluoxetine.. Just a thought...

Hi my new G.P. suggested increasing to 40 mg but I asked to only go up to 30mg ... btw most pharmacies don't stock the 30 mg , so if you opt for 30 the doc will have to prescribe for both 20 and 10 mg

Cosmos45 I'm 32, my hormones definitely have an impact on my anxiety.weedingthegarden, how have you found the increase?

Well, no noticeable side effects... It's been 2 1/2 months now, September was level, and this month is starting ok,, but I'll admit October became erratic, but I have to admit that I'd missed some doses that month....I have my fingers crossed, , I am also doing some free self-help days, and expect to join a therapy group n the new year , I do resent the fact that I need meds to cope with life, but I known they work for me

Hi, late reply but I have increased from 20 to 40 and didn't find the change too bad, definitely nothing like when i started. hth x