Fluoxetine/antidepressants

[Cloudd]

Hi. Need your advice/positive experiences...
Couple weeks ago I was diagnosed with severe depression and generalised anxiety disorder so started fluoxetine/Prozac for first time. It’s been 3weeks now, a did a week on 10mg and then to 20mg. I’ve seen an improvement in my mood and energy, from a 0 to a 4, but will this continue to improve over the following weeks or is this the best it’s going to get? I still feel down during the evenings, when did it start to work for you/noticeable improvements? Xx

So went to the pharmacy to be told they didn't have anything for me. Checked my details and it turns out the woman on the phone saw 13th May (when I first got the tablets) and thought it was 13th June 🤦🏻‍♀️ luckily they had the prescription in a pile so did it there and then. Does anyone else get so anxious about stuff like this? I felt like such a pest and was laughing it off and thought I sounded like a right idiot 🙈 even though they made the mistake!

@FiloFaxx glad you got your prescription sorted and yes, that very much would’ve thrown me. These things can be very difficult to navigate and it makes me wonder how very vulnerable or elderly people cope. I’ve thought about using an online prescription service but too afraid to try and that I may not get what I need when I need it. You can breathe a huge sigh of relief now.

I’m on a run! Another day with another first conquered and feeling stronger. I went to sit in a relatives garden which was a big step for me. Not able to be close or have a cuppa but I’ll work up to that. I’ve invited a friend over next week to see my garden and me in real life rather than via video call and I’m looking forward to that, rather than dreading it as I would’ve done a few weeks ago.

@Maidenpink I absolutely think getting your hormones sorted will be the crux to rid you of these thoughts and feelings, in conjunction with the fluoxetine. I wouldn’t be surprised if you can start to reduce that down in time.

@sugarlost I hope you sleep better tonight. It looks to be cooling off slightly which should help. I struggle with this but at least I’m not having to work alongside it. You’re a superstar and you are enough, by the way. ❤️

Does anyone of you have therapy alongside your medication? I’m not sure which is helping me, probably a combination of both. I’ve had talking therapy in the past but the CBT seems much more helpful in a sense as it’s so structured.

Hi all,

@FiloFaxx I'm glad you got your medication sorted...things like that can cause anxiety. I don't like going to pick my meds up so try and go in and out quickly. My GP will only repeat my prescription if they've spoken to me and done a telephone assessment for this type of medication but I'm lucky I can normally get a phone appointment the same day if I ring in the morning.

@Maidenpink thanks for your motivating words. I reflect back on some of my intrusive thoughts and it makes me realise how unwell I have been for many years. Luckily I'm in a better work environment now and I am also happier WFH which I found difficult to adapt to intially.

That's a difficult adjustment about your period relief not being as it was. I ache alot and need to chase up my blood results.
I think looking at your diet sounds positive as well as doing exercise. I've skipped exercise for a while so once it cools down I'll restart...it really does help my mood!

@polelynn I'm so pleased with the positive steps your continuing to make and another first!
The social interaction also sounds great and not dreading a meeting is a nice relief.
Thank you too for your support..it is really appreciated and @FiloFaxx too. Sometimes I slip and forget about being kind to myself.

I'm not having therapy currently...I have trauma going back to childhood to adulthood that I can't deal with that at the moment but maybe some day in the future.
I did have a few sessions counselling years ago. I think it would need to be ongoing if I had counselling which isn't a bad thing.
I'm glad your finding CBT helpful, it is reported that a combination of medication and therapy can be extremely helpful.

I felt sad today not completely sure why but also had good moments which I think can be normal. In the past I haven't always had time to reflect if that makes sense. I've often been overwhelmed so it's good to have some time to myself and try and analyse how I'm feeling and why.

Wishing you all a relaxing evening 🌱🌾🌿
XXX

@polelynn well done again on more progress and for making plans to see your friend. I haven't known you long but know this is such a big deal and you should be proud.

@sugarlost I hope you have a better night tonight. Reflecting is such a good thing to start doing for yourself even if you're not currently having therapy. I find allowing myself to feel sad/angry or whatever emotion for a while does help.

@Maidenpink I hope your period has settled over today. Weirdly I'm also on day two of mine and it's also horrendous. I've always had heavy periods anyway but the first few since have DD2 have been extra awful. Sending hugs and chocolate.

I'm currently on a waiting list for counselling but I've got limited times I can do (restricted to evenings as my husband works and I'm going back to work in August) so might be waiting a while!

hi, everyone.
I contacted my doc, explaining symptoms of per menopause but saying the main symptom i was struggling with was low moods, mood swings and short temper.

she prescribed Fluoxetine instead of HRT, but i’m a little worried it’s the wrong thing to take.
have any of you been prescribed it for the same reason and did it help. 🙂

@bookcrazy Hi. Unfortunately this isn’t uncommon. Arm yourself with a copy of the NICE guidelines and query why this is the case as it is against guidance. If you are having symptoms of peri your GP should be prescribing you HRT not an SSRI, unless it is contraindicated in your case. No need for blood tests either as they are unreliable unless you are below average peri age.

Hopefully I’ve linked the guidelines below:

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/chapter/Recommendations#diagnosis-of-perimenopause-and-menopause

The menopause topic on here is very useful too.

@polelynn, good morning and thanks for the reply. think she was targeting the mood symptoms as that's the ones i find hard to deal with, rather than all my symptoms. but yes when doing some research there's so many saying its the wrong thing and should have been hrt. many thanks for the link, i'll have a good read.

Hi @bookcrazy and welcome. Your question is very interesting to me. I was prescribed Fluox in March for anxiety/depression. I've been on it before and assumed I was having some sort of relapse (after being well for 5 years). However, now I do feel a bit better but still having hormonal symptoms, mood swings and dreadful PMS, night sweating etc. and I'm now thinking this episode might have been triggered by entering peri. I'm sat here waiting on a GP call back to discuss. Will let you know if I find out anything useful. X

@polelynn I've had counselling in the past but am not having any currently. I'm involved in wellbeing/mental health work and have friends who've been supporting me informally. I know so much but when it's you that's struggling your good sense goes out the window (I'm finding).

As @sugarlost says, the combo of quality CBT/ERP combined with the medication will be more powerful than one or other alone. I'm so glad it's working for you. Xxx

@Maidenpink hi, yes please let me know how you get on. i'm seriously considering going back to my gp. i don't feel right taking AD's when i'm sure the cause is hormonal
GP did say Fluoxetine can help with peri symptoms but all research suggest it's not right.

Good luck I hope you get some answers

@Maidenpink I completely agree. I have a little knowledge (also for my job), but when you are in the thick of it and living it day in day out, you just can’t see the wood for the trees. I’m glad you’ve got supportive friends who have some professional understanding. That really does help.

How’s things today?

@sugarlost time for reflection is so important otherwise we are just like hamsters on a wheel, going round and round without questioning whether what we are doing is (still) the right thing for us. I try to strike a balance though as this can lead to overthinking and over-analysing which can be unhelpful (for me). I’m trying to be more mindful in every interaction and not focus, and worry, about what’s gone on before and not working too far ahead either. Hope you are doing okay and have managed some better sleep since the temperatures have cooled a little.

Hi all,

@FiloFaxx I hope your counselling is arranged soon at a convenient time for you. I find WFH currently helpful in arranging appointments etc.

@bookcrazy I've recently had blood test results back and it looks like pre menopause regarding my hormone levels.
I suspected this but recently pushed it to the back of my mind. My body feels achy, I'm Very tired, losing appetite recently, sleeping worse than normal (could be the weather) low mood and low sex drive but no partner anyway.
I hope you're provided with the right support, it's alot to deal with emotionally but this support threads has helped me so much 🧡.
I need to discuss the way forward regarding the body aches and tiredness..I already suffer from fatigue from another condition.

@Maidenpink we seem to have something else in common . I hope your call goes well X

@polelynn You're so right about striking a balance... over analysing can be unhelpful for me too!

I hope you're all ok.

I've not been feeling right again and intrusive thoughts crept back today. Maybe because I had such a good social weekend which was something to look forward to from last Friday and it's gone quiet so I'm back to reality.
I'm thinking is work to much too... should I cut my hours but I don't think that's a good idea financially for the future. Today was not as productive as I could have been at work but I have been feeling low. I will try to have a good work day tomorrow.

Im not feeling like cooking again...even putting something in the oven is an effort. Yesterday I couldn't even be bothered to heat food in the oven so I climbed out of bed and had some popcorn. I couldn't even be bothered to go to the kitchen to get some more water to drink. I always go to the bathroom to ready for bed.. washing etc so that's good.

I feel like a cloud is hovering over me temporarily. It's disappointing but it's all part of the journey to wellness. I have to try and be strong to get through this pre menopause as best as I can.

Thinking of you all🌷🌸🌹🌺 XXXX

@sugarlost hi, thank you so much for replyi. I have a 14yr old and a husband and being honest, sadly no, this isn't something I can talk to either of them about. my hubby is not understanding or considerate when it comes to mood swings. in fact i haven't even told him about talking to the GP or the fluoxetine.
I have just found a really nice support group in FB though as well as this site. which i'm grateful for

i'm so sorry to read you're doing it tough at the moment. life feels like a real mine field at the minute doesn't it .

@sugarlost
i forgot to say, when you don't feel like eating have you ever tried having a protein shake, just so that your having something

So the GP eventually called. I hate these situations, waiting on a call back, got really anxious waiting.

I explained my situation ... taking Fluoxetine for 15 weeks, 8 at increased dose. It has helped but I feel I may be peri and it's not addressing my fluctuating mood through my cycle. Ran through some of my symptoms. She said the use SSRIs a lot to treat the mood related symptoms of menopause ... and I said I thought there was a move away from that recently and she assured me that no, we use them a lot in menopause. That put me on the back foot a bit, given I feel SSRI isn't effective in treating my fluctuating moods with my cycle. She then said if I was looking to take hormones would need to consider the risks of starting at the age of 44 because the longer you're on them the higher the risk of breast cancer. So I queried that saying it was my understanding that the risk was very small with the more modern body identical types and that you have a higher risk of breast cancer if you drink a glass of wine every day. And she said tour risk is higher than a woman not on HRT and gets higher the longer you stay on. This was not my understanding! @polelynn what do you reckon? Anyway, getting bloods done to check iron, sugar, thyroid etc and inflammatory markers which sounded scary. Then take it from there.

@sugarlost sorry you're having a bit of a slump again. Would you mind me asking what blood tests you had done to check your menopause status? I'm thinking that it may be hormones that are contributing to your low mood and fatigue as well. I'm becoming obsessed with bloody hormones! I've honestly learned so much I didn't know before in the last week about menopause and can't believe how little I understood of it.

@bookcrazy sorry you don't have great support at home. You have us now and your FB group too. Can I ask how long you've been on Fluoxetine and what other meno symptoms you've been experiencing apart from the mood ones?

@bookcrazy sorry to hear about your husband not being supportive, I hope this changes going forward.

I haven't told anyone in real life about taking medication. I don't really want to discuss the depression in real life either.

It does feel like a mine field! I'm going have to make notes to keep up with everything that's going on with me 😁. If you don't laugh you cry...I haven't even the energy to do that!

I have thought about protein shakes and it's a good reminder to put easy options there for days like this. Thanks! I have managed a salad for dinner which is good.

I hope you're eating well and getting rest.

X

@sugarlost
hubby is a good dad, great provider but when it come to emotions he's clueless, so yes there are time i feel very alone, which obviously makes low moods worse.
but we ladies are good at pushing though.

i'm glad you've eaten, i know sometimes you don't feel like it but you don't want to get run down or poorly because of not eating.
i struggle with the weight i've gained and have only recently started having the shake and i think they help .
sending hugs 🤗

@Maidenpink I missed your post. I get anxious waiting for the GP call too.

I need to do research regarding pre menopause. I just can't really concentrate at the moment, no motivation either.
It sounds like there's alot to consider regarding treatment and possible side effects.
I currently feel like my body is ageing quickly with these aches and the tiredness.

The nurse said they were testing for everything...I had said I was feeling achy and suspected peri menopause.
All of my test results were normal but my hormone level could suggest I'm pre menopausal. I'm planning on speaking to the GP.
Hormones can have alot to answer for...I need to get up to speed like you with researching this topic!

When I finish work I just want to crawl onto bed... I feel like I need to be reprogrammed mentally and physically!

@bookcrazy I'm glad your hubby is supportive in other ways. You're right about us ladies being able to push through!

It's funny as I didn't want to update the thread and say I didn't eat properly again so I stopped typing and quickly put a salad together.

What shake do you normally have?

🤗 back to you

@Maidenpink hi, i'm so glad i've found this group. and i do prefer to talk to other ladies that understand and can give their thoughts.

i've not taken the Fluoxetine yet. I had planed to wait till the weekend, so that if i had side effects of nausea, or tiredness i didn't need to worry about school runs. but because of all the feedback i've had I'm thinking of just going back to my GP, although a little scarred to do so 🤣

i'd say the mild symptoms that i can cope with are, trouble getting to sleep, staying asleep, vaginal dryness, on the rare occasion of sex (🤣) i get a uti .
the symptoms i am REALLY struggling with are low moods, mood swing, short temper and unfortunately feeling rage.. which isn't like me.

what about you, how you doing x

@sugarlost
i've only tried one brand so far but it's the xtone. i have the vanilla with hazelnut milk. or strawberry with semi skimmed and added frozen fruit.
i need to try others, but i find they do stop the hunger and curb the cravings.

@sugarlost you never need to censor what you say on here! Although I'm glad you managed some salad, we've got to keep you strong.

@bookcrazy I think I would definitely query the Fluoxetine if you're not already on them. It really goes against the advice. Just make sure you've got the facts at your fingertips. There may even be a GP at your practice who has a special interest in menopause (there is at mine). Unfort that GP was not the one I spoke to today which might account for the dodgy advice.

I have had terrible anxiety and low mood, loss of interest in things I usually enjoy, mood swings and irritability. I've been sweaty during the night, esp close to my period. Sleep problems. Aching hips/pelvis. Changes in my cycle. I've been forgetting words too which I had put down to anxiety but thinking that also may be related. My skin has become oily too. And I've had palpitations. I've only just put together that all these things are probably related. I just thought it was down to anxiety. Just take me out and shoot me someone. Only joking.