Fluoxetine for stress, anxiety why isn't it helping?

[saffymum]

hi any users out there...I've been on 20mg a day for about 6 months now and was feeling better (calmer, clarity of thought, not panicing) but now that things have picked up pace with college work this semester, and a huge increase in responsibility in my job etc I'm really finding it difficult to manage. is this normal or am i just going mad? I'm not sleeping well and getting very stressed.

I think Prozac (fluoxetine) only works to reduce disproportional stress - IE stop you fainting because you are a bit late for a dentist appointment. It sounds like your life is a bit stress ful, so to feel a biot stressed is normal. Be careful of falling into the trap that anxious people (myself included) often fall into, of being frightened of stress and anxiety, and being frightened it will never leave again. It will.

Yes, I know I've got a to-do-list of unreasonable proportions, I'm keeping one list for January and the other just keeps piling up.

I'm really scared that this all means that I am never goign to be able to deal with stressful times.

No, no not at all. Dealing with stress is a learned skill, and you have to (in a way) learn to switch the little evil voice inside you hissing "Deal with it! You must! You have to!"

because the truth is, you don't. You have choices .. you could choose not to do the course, or reduce hours etc etc. You have to silence the inner critic, and learn to like and forgive yourself as much as you would like and forgive others.

I am v stressed and on prozac too. I think it is stopping me from spiralling down into despair, but it doesn't take the stress away.

I must say the despair spiral isn't there this time and nor is the crying and fretting. I am finding it easier to say 'no' and am listening to when my body wants to rest (2 naps on Saturday and 1 on sunday, I'm like an old woman). thanks for your replies.

Hi saffymum
I took prozac for 7 years ,my gp advised me to take it during the day as it can up your anxiety at nightime.

I have switched to a differnet ad now dosulepin as it helps with anxiety and use a relaxation tape to cope with my anxiety.

there are days when if I dont have an hours kip on the bed after lunch I cant function so dont feel guilty put your feet up and have forty winks,

Thanks, I'm not sleeping at all at the moment, started taking Kalms night time as well.

I take my ad tablets at night, maybe I will swop to morning again and see if that helps. Do you think I should ask my gp to try another type of ad? I don't really want to upset things right in the middle of this huge work project by going off the rails..... it ends in January so I only have to make it through the next 2 months.

I took fleuoxitine and it didn't work for me but I would ask what other therapy are you having in conjucntion to the tablets?

The tablets are designed to level you so you can then approach in a calmer way the issues that are the underlying cause to your symptoms of anxiety.

I was referred to a psychologist and have been having regular sessions with her using cbt and sometimes jsut talking through the problems. This has meant that when I face new situations, I have strategies to deal with them.

Sorry bad spelling there....

no therapy offered really, my gp just chats to me for a little while, seen her twice.

it is always worth discussing other options with your gp especially getting a counsellor as well if your surgery has one.
its really crap when you cant sleep,my gp advised me to take a one a nite nytol for really bad sleeplessness and only occassionally.I was always a bit worried as they knocked me out solid then hubby couldnt sleep as I would snore so loudly and hog the duvet
chammomile tea is a good one to try and a T lite candle in the room in a jar ,
goodluck x

Saffymum
I was given 12 prescriptions of fluoxetine and told to give them to my phamacist who would dispense them for me each month. This saved me going back to the drs for a repeat prescription This was not a good way to treat depressions and my b/f's husband who is a pharmacist told me to go back to the drs to arr ange follw up apps -which the dr hadn't.

I went rapidly downhill and went back to see another dr who precribed a different a/d AND referred me to the psycholgist (through assessment first)

What I am saying is that each dr has their own view of depression and equally the way it should be treated. I would say to you that the symptoms seem to have been alviated but the underlying issues have not been addressed meaning when things in your 'picked up a pace' these issues still cause you anxiety.

I would go back to the dr and ask what other therapies you can be offered ie counselling, a cbt course in the evenings or psychology sessions.

Good luck

I was also on this and my tension and anxiety got worse. My doctor said it's not always the best for anxiety and changed me to Citalopram which really calmed me down but also gave me motivation as well. Everyone says to me that what I really need is time to myself but there is no time for it!