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Original poster

Fluoxetine/antidepressants

613 replies

Cloudd · 05/03/2021 19:52

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

OP posts:
TolpuddleFarter · 11/03/2021 18:05

@sugarlost At the time I was on 20mg, but did feel like I could have done with a higher dosage at points. It did take away my anxiety, but I do think at some points I felt more depressive.

For the record, I no longer take fluoxetine for anxiety. As effective as I found it, (and the effects lasted long after coming off it) I can't cope with the side effects anymore, so have tackled anxiety with CBT and other lifestyle things. It isn't always under control, but I am managing at moment.

escape212 · 11/03/2021 18:45

@TolpuddleFarter thanks for the input....i was just wondering, as i have recently been put on 20mg for anxiety, how you felt it changed you life so to speak? Having been taking them for 3 weeks i notice i am not catastrophic in my thoughts as much. I seem to be able to 'get on with it' a bit better. Hopefully by week 6 i notice big changes.

sugarlost · 11/03/2021 18:51

@TolpuddleFarter it's good to hear you found another way to manage your anxiety. Thanks for your feedback.

Was it the depressive side effects on the medication you couldn't cope with?

TolpuddleFarter · 11/03/2021 20:15

@escape212 my anxiety, when it is really bad, manifests itself as psychosomatic illness. So, when I was on fluoxetine, I didn't believe I was going to die of whatever I'd read in the news that day, and that did last after I came off the tablets. (I am now at the point where I can mostly recognise when I am heading in that direction, and I use CBT to manage it.)

@sugarlost I did not enjoy the depressive aspects (I found I lost motivation.) But the big things for me were massive weight gain, and tiredness - I put on about five stone when I started taking the tablets. The weight gain was partly because I felt tired a lot, so needed energy to keep going, and the fact I stopped caring about how I looked. It's a balance isn't it? When my anxiety was very bad, I'd take the side effects to rid myself of the anxiety.

sugarlost · 12/03/2021 16:08

@TolpuddleFarter thanks again for your feedback. I do feel tired alot. It's difficult weighing up the positives and negatives. Sometimes I feel confused about my feelings and what effect the medication is having..I may not be making sense.

I'm glad the CBT and lifestyle changes are helping you x

polelynn · 12/03/2021 16:42

@sugarlost my GP made it clear to me that 20mg was very much the starting dose (anxiety/OCD traits for me). It may be worth having a conversation with yours.

sugarlost · 12/03/2021 18:50

@polelynn thanks for your feedback. I'll speak to my GP.

sugarlost · 14/03/2021 17:24

Does anyone find it hard to cry since taking the medication? I read on another forum that this can happen. It’s such a weird feeling...at times I’ve wanted to cry but can’t.

polelynn · 14/03/2021 19:09

I'm very early days with this medication but I do remember not being able to cry when I was on a different SSRI many years ago. I've no idea why but I'd hazard a guess that it's the numbing of emotions which might be a contributory factor.

sugarlost · 14/03/2021 20:11

@polelynn thanks for your feedback.

polelynn · 31/03/2021 11:21

How is everyone?

4 weeks for in tomorrow with this medication and side effects have settled. I've had some glimpses of the old, less anxious me but definitely feel I've plateaued over the last few days. I suspect I probably need the CBT to move things forward.

aliensprig · 31/03/2021 17:31

Please can I join in on this thread? TW for suicide reference.

I have been on fluoxetine 20mg since 2018 when I was diagnosed hypothyroid. Switched to Sertraline/citalopram whilst pregnant/breastfeeding, now back to fluoxetine since Jan this year. I've also put on 5st since I started taking SSRIs and it completely zaps my energy (though not sure if it's just my thyroid playing up). No interest or motivation to improve my appearance. It's quite a steep price to pay for not killing myself, but I can't risk the alternative while I'm the main carer for my 15mo. It's been a case of weighing up pros and cons really.

Sertraline and citalopram did nothing for me whatsoever!

polelynn · 01/04/2021 08:08

Hello @aliensprig

I can understand about the lack of motivation. Just getting through the day is enough most days. I have two teen DC who have their own challenges to deal with right now and consequently there is little in the tank left for me. I used to run (when I felt confident going out), it helped keep me sane but a physical health issue meant I had to stop. I do need to find an alternative.

bluetongue · 01/04/2021 08:58

I’ve upped my dose recently and I’m struggling with insomnia and lethargy.

I had to take the day off work yesterday as my sleep has been so bad and I was just exhausted. Made it to work today but even with coffee it took about two hours to get my head into gear. On the plus plus side I’m much less anxious!

Last week I snapped at someone who mentioned using ‘feeling stressed’ as a way to get a chunk of sick leave (they don’t actually have mental health issues).

cravingthelook · 01/04/2021 12:32

Hi can I join the discussion, my dr just prescribed this for me (not sure the dose) I need to pick up the prescription tomorrow morning. My mental health hasn't been great for a while but I've been seeing a private counsellor. Yesterday I dropped like a stone. In hindsight I saw it coming as I couldn't focus on anything the last few weeks.
I'm nervous about taking medication that might have side effects but I'm mentally exhausted and just need something.

polelynn · 01/04/2021 12:46

Hi @cravingthelook I can completely understand your apprehension. I was where you are 4 weeks ago. Yes I've had side effects but they settled after the first couple of weeks and I do think the medication is helping. They've dialled things back a little in terms of my symptoms but I'm awaiting therapy and suspect too I'll need to go up to a higher dose in time as my poor MH has built up over a long time.

cravingthelook · 01/04/2021 16:55

Thanks, just got my prescription and took my first one. 20mg

ChampooPapi · 02/04/2021 07:29

I'll join, been on sertraline for the last 7 months, upped to 200mg about 6 weeks ago but the night sweats are not agreeing with me! Ive got a totally naturally filled mattress and brought a silk duvet, but still I'm waking up at least three times in a swimming pool.

I've been switched to prosac so I'm joining you in a few days, got to taper down by taking 100 of the sertraline instead for three days then it's 20mg of the fluoxetine.

This is the first time I've been on this sort of medication so really don't know what to expect from this change, hopefully less sweating though!

Proudnana3 · 05/04/2021 15:21

I too have been prescribed 20mg of fluoxetine and am on day 5 only side effects so far is terrible sleep which doesn’t help with my obsession for listening for sounds in my ears, sounds silly I know but I was so terrified of getting tinnitus when I had dizzy problems as doctors kept asking me if I had ringing in my ears and I ended up hearing sounds that I now can’t stop hearing, hoping the tablets will help to stop me over focusing. Those of you that had sleep problems with it did it get better after awhile. First time on these meds for me too, praying they will help.

sugarlost · 05/04/2021 19:04

@Proudnana3 I've always had problems sleeping but this medication made it worse. I found taking the medication earlier in the day seems to better for me regarding improving my sleep.

polelynn · 05/04/2021 20:24

@Proudnana3 yes I struggled to go off to sleep and then waking very early initially (first 2 weeks) but it has settled. I take the medication first thing.

Proudnana3 · 06/04/2021 07:59

Thank you for you’re replies. I’ve not slept well for a couple of years really( peri menopause) but waking every hour at the moment. I have done this before though so could be the anxiety of starting the meds more than the meds itself. Champoopapi my gp said fluoxetine is proven to be good for night sweats. She also wants to start me on hrt in a few weeks so maybe that will help with sleep but that’s a whole other thread lol😁

FindingMeno · 06/04/2021 08:16

Prescribed for anxiety. I found good periods of the day within 2 weeks. By 3 weeks I was back to the normal laid-back me. I take 20 mg in the morning.
My anxiety increased a little in the first 2 weeks which is not unusual but I knew just to push through that. I had no other side effects other than that.
I don't feel it has changed me as a person, just removed the anxiety and catastrophizing.
It has markedly improved my sleep also, and I have lost rather than gained weight ( which is a plus for me).
I wanted to put in a really positive story for those worried about taking medication, which I was.
It turned out to be an excellent decision for me, seems to really suit me, and has changed things around in a quite spectacular way.

Proudnana3 · 06/04/2021 11:16

Good to hear findingnemo, I am hopeful of good results and it is only day 6 for me. I just wish I could sleep better but from the other posts I’m again hopeful it will settle eventually.

ChampooPapi · 06/04/2021 19:16

@Proudnana3 thats music to my ears, I know it isn't a definite but just knowing that there is a chance I won't continue to wake up in a pool of sweat every few hours is lovely to imagine!

I'm on 40mg now as the 20 felt like I was essentially taking smarties. I was on 200mg of sertraline so going down to a starter thereputic dose again made me feel not great! And very not myself.

Which is so odd because in the past, increasing, it's made me feel really weird and not myself at all because of the side effects, but having been on the high dose for so many months and feeling so good and level within myself, tapering off and starting this new medication has felt like a hundred steps back.

Hopefully it'll all be worth it after a month or two when I'm peaceful and rested at night as well as in the day