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Original poster

Fluoxetine, does it work?

55 replies

Dontknowwhatyoumean · 05/01/2020 18:52

Hi all
Trying Fluoxetine for the first time, had the first tablet yesterday. I’ve had anxiety since I was a child but getting out of control now, so I really want this to work. No side effects yet except for feeling more tired... Can you please let me know if this medication has worked for you? Should I expect more side affects in the coming weeks? Cheers!

OP posts:
CakeInMyFace · 05/01/2020 19:54

Fluoxetine for me has literally changed my life for the better.
I feel like a better version of what I once was. I feel so much better at coping with things, I worry less, and its helped some of my compulsive habits too.

I have been taking it for 2 ish years and recently just upped my dose as went through the death of a friend and wasnt coping well. It took a bit for them to kick in but am definitely doing better now.

I understand them to be one of the best tolerated AD with the least side effects. Stick with them Smile

Lofari · 05/01/2020 19:57

Works a treat for me

Original poster
Dontknowwhatyoumean · 05/01/2020 22:42

Thanks for the comments, I’m really hoping this is going to work. I tried sertraline a few months ago but didn’t work at all and the side effects were bad from day one. I was unsure about fluoxetine after that, but today is my second day and I feel fine, so fingers crossed!

OP posts:
FordPrefect42 · 06/01/2020 00:32

It’s the one I’d be most willing to try, given I’ve heard good things about it being compatible with autism too. Autistic people can often have adverse reactions to medications so that was reassuring to hear, from my perspective anyway.

AutumnRose1 · 06/01/2020 00:36

I wouldn’t be here without it

Terrible restless legs the first few nights though, ugh.

Hope it works well for you Flowers

grincheux · 06/01/2020 00:43

I didn't get on with it but persevered with my GP's recommendations before finding Sertraline, which has changed my life for the better! Fluoxetine kept me pretty emotionless.

ploofyorangebats · 06/01/2020 01:24

Fluoxetine has been a saviour for me. Didn't expect it to be and there were a fair few side effects (clenching jaw/feeling nauseous/restless and increased anxiety for a while) but they passed after a few weeks and it's helped me a lot. I feel less anxious, more in control and it's reduced my compulsive habits by a huge amount.

Good luck, it does take time and for someone who never gets along with medication like this, it really has made an incredible difference to my well being. I've felt content and happy at times which has evaded me for many years.

Original poster
Dontknowwhatyoumean · 06/01/2020 09:13

Thanks all, it would be great if I could feel content and happy again! I’ve got all my fingers crossed, I’ll let you know how it goes Smile

OP posts:
silverwire · 06/01/2020 19:27

Hi Dontknow, I'm (selfishly) glad you posted this.. I took my first fluoxetine today after looking at the box for the past 10 days. First time I've had mental health issues so have no comparison with other meds. Hope you've been ok today.. My GP said they take about 3 weeks to work, and that any side effects will prob last a couple of weeks. I'm hoping the side effects are few! It's good to read the comments of support

Original poster
Dontknowwhatyoumean · 06/01/2020 22:00

Hi silverwire, I was exactly the same! I actually waited for nearly 30 days before taking the first tablet Smile . I’m still doing ok, no signs of side effects except for tiredness. Much better than sertraline. It just need to work now! How was your first day?

OP posts:
LooksBetterWithAFilter · 06/01/2020 22:37

Sertraline only worked for me in that I felt absolutely nothing when I was in it. Fluoxetine has been a tor’s game changer for me. Have been on it for almost a year now and honestly I couldn’t remember before what it felt like to wake up in the morning without that horrible pit of my stomach feeling. Being inside my head used to be exhausting with the constant anxiety and worrying. Trips away were spoiled by my anxiety about being away from home. I remember my first weekend away I’d only been on it about a fortnight and commenting to dh that we were over an hour away from home and I sudden realised I wasn’t panicking. It took a couple of months all in for me to feel completely stable but the difference it has made to my life is unbelievable.
I never got any worse side effects than feeing a bit tired and washed out but I was always exhausted from the anxiety anyway. Now I have loads more energy too as I’m sleeping better as well because my brain isn’t in constant overdrive.

cakebythepound1234 · 07/01/2020 06:18

Hi all - thank you OP for this thread, my GP has just put me on fluoxetine for my anxiety so this couldn't be a more well timed thread! Pleased to see that it has worked well for a few people, I'm only 4 days in so still early days for me. Still feel pretty anxious but the feeling of my heart beating out of its chest has stopped since taking them, and I'm not ruminating quite so much although I still get these anxious thoughts frequently, so that's something. I have also been feeling nauseous, was sick yesterday while brushing my teeth but I've read vomiting and nausea is a common side effect. Really hoping the meds work as I've felt incredibly anxious for the past 3 weeks and it's been unbearable, so I desperately want this medication to have an impact.

Original poster
Dontknowwhatyoumean · 07/01/2020 06:25

Thanks LooksBetterWithAFilter, I needed to hear that today! I had a very bad night last night, probably because I’m back to work today after two weeks off, and work is very stressful at the moment. I woke up full of anxiety, with very bad muscle pains, bad eczema, and that horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach.
I’ve had anxiety since I was a child, but have only recently been to the doctors to find a solution (I’m 40). I really hope this is going to work.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dontknowwhatyoumean · 07/01/2020 07:03

Hi cakebythepound1234, I’m also on day 4! I can’t notice any improvements yet, but I guess it’s still too soon. Glad to hear that you are already experiencing some positive changes though, fingers crossed it works well!

OP posts:
cakebythepound1234 · 07/01/2020 09:39

Fingers crossed for you too @Dontknowwhatyoumean , it's a horrible illness so hopefully we all feel more ourselves soon.

Katiet123 · 07/01/2020 15:58

Hi,

I recently started on these around 6 weeks ago after years on amitryptiline, and having been newly diagnosed with OCD as well as depression and anxiety.

I had a few side effects for the first couple of weeks, but I think the vast majority of that was due to coming off. The amitryptiline quickly rather that the fluoxetine.

I can honestly say they have helped me so much. I feel much better able to cope with things, my ruminating is reduced, and I feel generally better. I think I need to adjust my dose to get to the right level as work seems to make my symptoms show more, but I'm a lot more confident that these are working for me.

silverwire · 07/01/2020 17:25

I'm taking lots of reassurance from this thread

Original poster
Dontknowwhatyoumean · 08/01/2020 05:36

Right, another terrible night’s sleep. Could it be the medication? I think I only slept for two hours, if that! I’m not going to function very well today, and I have a few important meetings! Urgh

OP posts:
cakebythepound1234 · 08/01/2020 06:56

I've found myself waking up a couple of times in the night since starting my prescription. I think that's one of the side effects while it gets into your system.

Flatwhite32 · 08/01/2020 07:05

Place marking! I started last week, mainly for bad sleep. My worst side effect so far is a really poor appetite, which I'm hoping will pass quickly as I don't need to lose weight.

dementedma · 08/01/2020 07:06

It's been great for me. No side effects.

silverwire · 08/01/2020 18:34

3rd day for me today, and actually had 2 fairly good nights' sleep so far, even if waking too early. I'm still on 'high alert' side-effect watching but so far I haven't noticed anything, and I had expected it to affect my sleep as I'm a terrible sleeper at the best of times. Hope you have a better night tonight Dontknow

TolpuddleFarter · 08/01/2020 18:40

Fluoxetine worked a treat for me. No longer on it, but I wouldn't hesitate to go on it again if I needed it.

(I did put on a lot of weight with it, but I think that's really because I felt relaxed for the first time in my life and I really didn't care about conforming and dieting.)

VerbenaGirl · 08/01/2020 18:41

Works really well for me and with no real side effects. Really hope you have good results too.

TolpuddleFarter · 08/01/2020 18:42

BTW at the beginning I do recall one or two nights with not much sleep - I remember feeling quite hyper, but I slept well after that.