Fluoxetine buddy required! Anyone just starting and want to talk

[GC12345]

Hi I’m on day 5 of fluoxetine and could do with talking to people in the same situation xx

Hi talk to me im at the same stage :-)

I've been on it for a couple of months and feel genuinely amazing, I honestly didn't realise how bad I'd been feeling and for how long. I started feeling better after about a week - wasn't expecting it to work that quickly, and it then ramped up over the next couple of weeks. I really hope it works for you too.

I was on it for ten years. Didn't do well on it at all. I'm now on Duloxetine (which doesn't take 2+ weeks to get into your system!!) and wow what a difference, for me at least! Every anti depressant affects everyone differently. I will say though, my biggest piece of advice is to NEVER miss a dose. Do not let it get out of your system whatever the heck you do.....

Best of luck

Hi @kateshair. How are you doing? Any side effects at all? X

@delishdelosh that’s fantastic that it’s working. Did you get any side effects? In what way do you feel better. I have ocd and anxiety and was starting to feel depressed x

I've taken it twice. Once 14 years ago for 3 years, once 4 years ago for 18 months. Both times it took a while to get the right dose but when settled it was great. It just let me carry on with normal life until I was able to cope. I was also able to come off it fairly easily with a managed withdrawal when I felt better. Honestly, it was a life saver for me. It

@Meceme were you able to tolerate a glass of wine whilst taking it x

Hi GC1234
Hmm side effects for me - lack of appetite this is only to begin with then it gives me increased appetite.. been on them before fir a few years.
Tiredness, poor libido:-((, find my memory isn’t as good as it was - that could be normal
ageing or even the peri- menopause.

The good effects - more drive, far less anxiety and generally more positive.
I take them for anxiety as when I get it badly I can’t eat, concentrate or relax it’s horrible.
How are you getting on with them today ?

And yes still have alcohol with them but never too much just a few :-)

Been on it for about a year and its absolutely saved my life. At the beginning I had terrible tiredness but that's normal and i find it sometimes gives me heartburn but that's to do with the casing.

I’m doing ok, had no appetite yesterday and felt really down. Very tired today but managed to eat a bit. Still feel very anxious and would love a glass of wine but feel it’s too early as only been on them 5 days x

Not sure about side effects - I thought not but I've seen people up thread saying tiredness and that could explain why I've been completely wiped. That and/or the non sleeping 8 month old anyway.
I feel better in a few ways. Mainly that I am less cross and snappy than I was - this has been a real challenge for me for ages and it is a blessing for it to have all but vanished. Also less anxious, less picky about stuff eg things having to be put away, less obsessive about cleaning etc. Generally more chilled and able to sit in the moment and enjoy being in it, rather than trying to constantly improve everything and wind up even more stressed.
I agree with what a pp said about needing to find the right drug and dose for you - I have been on citalopram in the past and it did absolutely nothing for me. Once you have the right one you will know it, and I am amazed every day by how 20mg of some random chemical can completely alter my brain for the better.

@delishdelosh that sounds just like me. I have become so angry with my two little boys, always cross, trying to make everything perfect and not appreciating the moment and what I have. I really hope fluoxetine can help me chill out and be less anxious. It’s fantastic that they are helping so much. X

Yes, still had the odd glass of wine. No major side effects. I just felt, on both occasions, it gave me a breathing space to sort myself out while I dealt with clinical depression. It allowed me to separate out what was real and what was in my head ...if that makes sense.

I agree also re the heartburn when swallowing fluoxetine - definitely need lots of water otherwise massive heartburn as a side effect...

DD has been on it since mid November and the improvement has been great. She is still anxious, but is now functioning and we even see her smile and hear her laugh sometimes.

Eating something with it can help with heartburn or nausea I find. Found similar to others. Been on them on and off 20 years!

12 weeks I on my 3rd time on it in about 25 years. Suicidal, panic ridden wreck in mid October to functioning normally and feeling balanced and taking pleasure in things again. Nasty side effects (nausea, gastro issues, restless legs, worse anxiety) for about 3.5 weeks so had to take sick leave and stay in bed. If you can get through the first month it really can help massively. All the best!

Hi! I just took my first. GP said try in the morning first, then if sleepy move the time to the evening but that can induce appetite. So I thought I’d try middle of the day and if sleepy will gradually move to the evening and if not - then to the morning.

Seven years ago I stopped taking sertraline. Maybe the seven year cycles do exist!

Does anyone get a fluoxetine brand that comes tablets not capsules? Had a bad experience with another medication and earlier I opened the packet and my heart sunk. Had some soup with it to make it gone down 🤷‍♀️

DD is having liquid because we don't think she could cope with capsules.

I take capsules and think they are easier to swallow but everyone is different.

I take the capsules. Need a load of water to swill them down properly.
I’m taking 20 mg daily. It seems to be helping me I’m not over thinking as much. Anxiety levels better still occasional pangs of it.
It gives me vivid dreams also.
What dosage is everyone else on ?

20mg as well, the standard adult dose I think.

I’m on 20mg, might go up to 40 but GP said not likely to go up to 60.

How many days in have you started feeling the side effects? I remember them being quite rough with sertraline but no idea when they kicked in. Thanks!