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

Impatience is weirdly a good sign I think. It's when you get glimpses of better you get hungrier for it. Good luck with the GP and let us know how it goes. ❤❤❤

Yay, I’ll be your mentor @Maidenpink and @BlueVelvetine and go easy on yourself today. I know too well that sense of being a drain on the household income (as well as your depression, this I believe also comes from the strong sense of responsibility many of us who struggle with what we do face). Let me tell you, you getting better is the most important thing right now. If work will help in that, then it’ll happen. If not, it’s not the right time.

@Maidenpink I’m glad we both seem to be slowly and steadily flattening out those squiggly lines. Your plans for the weekend sound perfect for you. As well as recovering I am finding day in day out that I am rebuilding my boundaries and getting a stronger sense of myself. In the past I would’ve done things because I thought I ought to, to please others and to keep the peace. Now I’m quite happy to say no, thank you.

Thank you @polelynn ❤️ These are wise words. My thoughts go between thinking ‘I need time to get better’ and ‘but work would give me back routine and a sense of purpose’. I think a huge part of this is what I perceive to be what others are thinking. When I was made redundant I said to myself I would find something by March/April so I’ve put this stress on myself tbh. At the moment I struggle to even keep on top of the housework let alone hold down a job so maybe I do need to accept my limits for the time being.
You seem to be in a good place though which is lovely to hear. In control of your boundaries and understanding what would push you over and having the will to say no is huge. 🙌❤️

@Maidenpink I’ll certainly update once I’ve spoken with the GP. I do think a combination of HRT and fluoxetine would be a good option to help me get back in control.
It’s great we have @polelynn to guide us through! ❤️

Morning all, I hope you all had a restful night x
I said I would update once I’d spoken to my GP. I’m even more confused tbh. I explained that I am still suffering from heightened anxiety, trembling/shaking, low mood/motivation and her advice is to stop fluoxetine as it should have kicked in by 4weeks. I don’t know how I feel about this. She said they still have no word from the meno clinic rev the HRT but she is looking into this today to hopefully get a prescription sorted for me. Truly at a loss what to do…..thinking about continuing with Fluoxetine at least till 6wk mark rather than just give up! Feeling quite anxious about stopping with no alternative in place apart from HRT. How would you guys approach this?
My usual GP is on annual leave this week so spoke to young female GP who I thought would be more understanding but not 😕

Oh no @bluevelvetine! No, no, no! Fluox takes 6-8 weeks to kick in. It can take ages for some folk to metabolize (I'm one of them). Imho 4 weeks is way too soon to quit unless you really felt you couldn't go on but I don't think that's the case. Week on week the side effects decrease but it's too soon for you to have felt the positive effects fully. God, it's so derailing when a GP gives you bad advice like that. One thing I would ask is have you suffered from anxiety/depression prior to peri? If it has never been a problem for you before it may be that hormones really are the thing that will help you to settle. What advice is the GP looking for anyway? She just needs to start you on oestrogel and utrogestan, unless you have other condition/s that she's not sure about. Honestly, MH and women's health are an absolute shit show. Please don't worry. I think staying as you are til 6 weeks is completely fine and sensible. And talking to your normal GP when they are back. My GP said to me at 7 weeks on increased dose of 40mg that it's still relatively early days to give you a comparison. It will be okay, and I'm sure @polelynn has some sound advice on this too. Hugs. ❤❤❤

Thanks for replying @Maidenpink…I’m honestly in tears after call with GP. I feel my life has been flipped on it’s head and I don’t know which way is up! I was really looking for reassurance that this was relatively normal side effects and that things will get better. She threw me for a loop when she said quit! I still have about a full months prescription so will continue on a couple of weeks and see how I go.

As for the HRT I have no clue what the big deal is in then prescribing Oestrogel and Utrogestan but I am having to jump threw hoops to get it. I’ve been asked to attend for a BP test before they’ll issue it but can’t get appointment for another week! It’s lousy tbh
Re your question about previous anxiety/depression…yes, I was on Citalopram for roughly 4yrs (came off last summer). I was fine on these apart from bad nausea at the start. Before fluoxetine I was given these again but was violently sick so they swapped me to Trazodone (awful) then fluoxetine….in my opinion I need combined AD’s and HRT….
How are you today?

Aw I know, it just completely messes with your head when you have a consultation like that. These folk have no clue how fragile people are. You should never have been left without a way forward like that. Stay as you are then and give it til 6 weeks and review I reckon.

Sorry you've had such a crappy time with the ADs. No wonder you're so upset. Technically you don't need your BP checked before being prescribed oestrogel and utrogestan because they're transdermal and don't affect your bp. But they wouldn't know that because they are clearly not up to speed on HRT! If you were feeling a bit stronger you could call them and say that but it's a fight you could prob do without right now. I suspect I need a combo of AD and HRT at this point but who knows further down the line. Once we know how HRT feels I think we'll get a better sense of what is best. It's so long, frustrating and miserable trying to access the right care. I feel your pain. Hang on in there.

I'm doing okay thanks, I'm day 23 of my cycle and I haven't lost it this month. I do feel premenstrual in a body sense but my mood hasn't tumbled and my anxiety is less. My sleep is still crap but I can handle that when I'm not anxious.

Xxx

I watched this yesterday and it's really worth a look @bluevelvetine (and others!).

www.themenopausecharity.org/2021/06/09/the-menopause-explained-webinar/

Great all-rounder and advice on dealing with health professionals who aren't clued up. Xxx

Thanks @Maidenpink, I’ll definitely watch this.

I’m exhausted now tbh but may try to call back tomorrow as she’s effectively left me with no help!
Glad to hear that you’re doing well and your hormones don’t seem to be affecting your mood quite as much this month. Hope it continues ❤️

Just try to take it easy, you don't need to change anything today, just get from here to bedtime and hopefully you'll feel a bit lighter in the evening. ❤

Good advice, thanks xx

Just wanted to share that I am listening to actual proper music on Spotify for the first time since this episode started in Feb and I'm enjoying it. For me, this is MASSIVE. X

@BlueVelvetine I’m so sorry you’ve had to deal with all this this morning. I absolutely echo what @Maidenpink says and what my GP told me, 4 weeks is not enough unless it is abundantly clear you are having quite severe side effects which means the risk vs. benefit of the medication is too skewed. I’m really angry you’ve been let down by a trusted healthcare professional about this and I am speechless as to her plan to stop and leave you with no alternative. I understood that any SSRI should be tapered off not just stopped (this may however be different in the early days however the patient information leaflet certainly supports this view). My advice would try to put this to the back of your mind for now and get through the day, hour by hour, and speak to your own GP on their return. Another option is to have a chat by phone to the dispensing pharmacist where you picked up your prescription. They are an excellent source of information and know more about medications than anyone else. Sending you a hug. X

Thanks @polelynn….her advice threw me for a loop as I too thought AD’s needed to be slowly tapered. I’m discounting what she’s said and carrying on with fluoxetine for the time being. I actually called to get her opinion on increasing incrementally (possibly using liquid fluoxetine to avoid an increase in side effects). Certainly didn’t expect her to tell me to bin it! Felt very rushed on the call and this is never the case with my usual GP. Will see out this week and call him next Monday when he’s back. How are you doing? ❤️
@Maidenpink this is amazing! I would rather listen to music than watch tv but all my favourite tunes are making me sad at the moment 👎 ….. this is MASSIVE tho and lovely to hear…youre in the home straight! ❤️

Aw @bluevelvetine, I'm the same, can't listen to music when I'm unwell, every word and sound is like a trigger. 😫 You'll be back listening to your tunes again before too long. How you feeling now? X

Hey @Maidenpink I feel a little better this afternoon…my son has a couple of friends in and hearing their laughter has lifted my spirits. Although to be fair evenings, and now afternoons are getting a little better.
I hope Spotify has had you dancing in the kitchen! 💃🏻 🥰

@Maidenpink sorry, I missed your update earlier. So happy for you, what a fantastic breakthrough. I’ve started reading again for pleasure over the last couple of weeks. As much as I love reading, I just could not concentrate and found it both too tiring and overwhelming a few weeks/months ago. These are positive signs for us both and gives hope to others that things really can start to return to normal.

I’ve been in an odd mood today, motivated but then absolutely not. Mornings are my best time of day so unless I get up and on with a homework task that’s it in terms of my progress. I was planning on washing my car as that’ll take me close to others passing by the house and then I’d like to walk round the block and eventually down to the sea but my husband needed the car today so I’ll leave that for another day.

Have a good evening everyone. X

Hi @polelynn the motivation is still there which is great 😊 And being interested enough to pick up a book and start reading again is fabulous!

The dirt on the car can wait…. tomorrow is another day ❤️

Morning,

@polelynn that's wonderful that you're feeling like reading for pleasure. These things make us feel more human again. I actually watched a mini series on Netflix too yesterday and it got quite dark but I really enjoyed it and not triggered. These things are really big for me. My creativity hasn't really returned yet but I can feel ideas starting again and the urge to write there in the background.

I wonder @polelynn if you're feeling unmotivated because you're feeling better and a bit more comfortable. I find misery motivating because I want a way out of where I am but as I start to feel better I can get a bit lazier ... which btw I love because I can be like a cat on a hot tin roof at times when the anxiety is bad.

It's sunny here and I'm off out for a swim with a couple of people this morning. Have to say I'm enjoying the change of dynamic in the house and being able to suit myself. I don't think any of us comprehend yet how living as we have the past 18 months has impacted us. Hope you all have a good day. Xxx

Good morning all I hope you are all doing ok x
I’ve had a bit of a rubbish night mainly due to our dog wanting out at 3am then getting spooked by something in the garden (prob a fox). Mind starting whirring so struggled to get back over. However, one positive is that I just had a call from my GP surgery and they’ve finally prescribed me Oestrogel and Utrogestan. Waited an age for this so hoping it helps!🤞 @polelynn can I ask how you felt when you first started it? GP said it is sachets of Oestrogel (I thought it would be a pump bottle?). She said I’ve to take 200mg of Utrogestan at bedtime for 12 days each 28 day cycle, so I assume I use only Oestrogel for 16 days then use for for the next 12? Think I’ll need to set up alerts on my phone to remind me! Are you still managing to read? My husband keeps coming in with books for me but my concentration isn’t there yet….hopefully soon x
@Maidenpink, I know you have an appointment with your GP soon but have forgotten when this is….hoping you get sorted 🤞 have you been back out swimming? I love the idea of this but not sure I would be good with the reality!
Hope everyone has a good day ❤️

Morning @bluevelvetine, sorry you had a rubbish night. But great news about HRT. I know you'll probably be feeling very nervous too. I'm not feeling great, came on yesterday again. Wah. It's like wave of fatigue, aching joints, anxiety, low, brain fog ... day 24 of my cycle so it was possibly a matter of time. I am speaking to GP this afternoon finally. I've written a script of everything I've to say. I'm so nervous but hoping it's a supportive, helpful consultation. I do still feel I'm just going mad sometimes. Hopefully our lovely @polelynn will help us through this next bit. I'm hoping to get a prescription today too. X

Aw sorry to hear this @Maidenpink…it all sounds hormonal tbh. I really hope your GP is understanding and prescribes HRT. I know there will be a period of adjustment for us both but hopefully the benefits outweigh the negatives 🤞
@polelynn…you are our appointed peri guru! ❤️

Thanks @bluevelvetine. I don't know what i feel worse about, when I come here feeling shit again or when come on feeling good. I seem to feel guilty either way! Have picked up your prescription yet? X

I totally get that @Maidenpink…we desperately want to feel better and spread a little joy but sometimes it’s just not there. I think it’s important to share the bad and the good as it can be helpful to folk going through similar to know they’re not alone and it will get better. I know everyone on here has helped me massively, including your lovely self ❤️❤️
My prescription gets sent direct to my local pharmacy, usually the following day, so don’t have it yet. I get a text alert with a code to use when its ready to pick up. The pharmacy has a sort of vending machine attached to the shop so you can go at anytime, pop in the code and out pops your prescription! Very handy. So, hoping I’ll have it tomorrow 🤞🤞