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

Thanks so much @bluevelvetine. ⚘I just started crying when I read your message, and don't be offended! This is what happened last month, just bursting out crying out of nowhere. I hope I can keep my shit together on the phone with the GP. I felt so fine on Tuesday, this has to be fluctuating hormones. Do you still get regular periods? I was just wondering do we start HRT on first day of period. X

Oh @Maidenpink the exact same thing is happening to me. Crying at nothing, sometimes it just hits me completely out of the blue. I’m sure this is all hormonal for us both. Don’t worry about breaking down on the phone to your GP as they are very used to it and it will bring home just how much you’re struggling. ❤️
My periods are all over the place. At first they were every fortnight then they moved to 6 weeks apart then 2 months. At the moment it’s just light spotting so I think I would just start it whenever. Unsure how it would work for you if yours are still regular so possibly ask your GP x

Please update how you get on. We can go through this together. I know I would be glad of the support xx huge hugs ❤️

My 15 year old daughter started on fluoxetine about 4-5 weeks ago. She's fine during the day but cries during the evenings. She tells me the urge to self harm is greater in the evenings too.
She's on 20 mg. She also seems incredibly tired. I might call the GP to ask if this seems right.

Yes, I will ask the GP. My periods are more regular than yours but I've had a random 6 week cycle and and 18 day cycle in past 6 months, and my 'normal' cycle seems to vary in length from 25 to 29 days. I used to be very regular. Mine are lighter too. I will definitely report back. Waiting on the call is never nice, and it feels so much is riding on it too. X

Hi @mondeofan, sorry your daughter is struggling. I would definitely get back in touch with your GP if your daughter is feeling like SH in the evenings. I think young people and SSRIs have to be monterrey closely. I hope she feels better soon. X

*monitored

Hi @MondeoFan…I’m so sorry to hear this, it must be hard watching your daughter go through this. I am at exactly the same stage with Fluoxetine. Tomorrow I will be taking it 5weeks. I know antidepressants usually make you feel worse before you feel better and this is certainly true for me and I think a lot of folk on this thread. So her mood shift in the evenings may be caused by the meds settling in her system. I’ve read that for some 6 weeks can be a turning point so here’s hoping🤞I’m still getting side effects but mainly in the mornings. I know a lot of folk have increased their dose and found that it helped so that may be an option. Good idea to chat over with GP though…hugs ❤️
@Maidenpink…will be thinking of you xx

Hi everyone,

Finally got the call from GP, very nice and clued up. Said I am typical of the women who turn up at meno clinic who have not had their peri treated properly. Initially suggested patch for me but I said I wanted body identical progesterone so this is where it's a bit tricky because I'm in Scotland. The Scottish version of NICE has not approved Utrogestan as a first line progesterone in menopause treatment. So ... she suggested I try a synthetic first then she could change me but I said I really wasn't keen. So ... she is going to email the meno Drs at the meno clinic (as she has before), explain I've requested Utrogestan bc of prior issues with synthetics and MH history. She says 95% they will approve. Then she can prescribe me it. But to allow me to get started she is prescribing Oestrogel and a synthetic progesterone pill, so by the time it's time for me to take progesterone two weeks in, I'll have my Utrogestan prescription. Not ideal but best way forward bc of crappy Scottish rules. I need to go in to surgery tomorrow to get BP + BMI checked and pick up my prescription! I'm feeling a bit all over the place, I really hope this helps. She said to start on one pump of gel, I know this is low but she acknowledged that I can and may need to go much higher.

What do you reckon @polelynn? I think it went well. She was supportive and clearly quite passionate about it all. @bluevelvetine we may indeed be buddying up. @bookcrazy did you get anywhere with your GP?

Hope all well and sorry about the meno hijack. X

Hi @Maidenpink I think this is great news! You were clear about what you wanted and your GP supports this so well done! 🙌
I am in Scotland too! And this is most likely the reason I had to be referred to a meno clinic but no one actually told me. As it happens I was watching a Liz Earle YouTube video earlier today and one of the people that commented said Utrogestan isn’t routinely available in Scotland! I suspect they’ve gotten around it as I tried Elleste first and didn’t get on well with it so they can now go ahead and prescribe Utrogestan. Can’t quite believe that we are in the same boat! Only difference is apparently I’ve been given sachets of Oestrogel rather than a pump. How’re you feeling about it all?

Aha! That must be how you've gotten round it then. Some areas of Scotland won't prescribe it all so we are pretty lucky I think. Was Elleste a patch? I may get sachets too, I'll find out tomorrow. I'm feeling a mixture of stuff. I've been crying quite a bit today (or greetin' as we say up here lol) and my head feels pretty mashed with it all. I honestly barely knew a thing about menopause about a month ago and thought HRT was some crazy, toxic chemical stuff. So it's been a massive learning curve and a shock to realise I'm actually peri because I had that earmarked for later on in my 40s (I'm 44). I feel like it's been a roller coaster and I'm trying to assimilate everything I've learned and what I'm about to do next. Is a sachet equivalent to 1 pump? X

I've been on these tablets for over 10 years and I'm currently on 60mg maximum dosage. They definitely help my moods, panic attacks

Aww have had quite a few greetin spells myself lately! They just come out of nowhere…horrible! Elleste are tablets…16 oestrogen and 12 progesterone (I think). The oestrogen was fine but the progesterone didn’t agree with me at all…4 days in I was a wreck. It was also norethisterone which is supposed to be quite strong and linked to hair loss so just not a goer. Yeah I think HRT has had a really bad rap in the past because of reports that came out back in the day but I think these have been debunked and it’s meant to be really safe 🤞….. I’m 48 so think I’ve been peri for quite some time tbh. I think 1 sachet is 1mg which is equal to 1 of the tabs I was taking. Unsure if that’s the same amount in 1pump 🤔
I feel like I’m on some crazy ride too….no clue what each day will bring one day to the next!

Just quickly checking in to reply to @BlueVelvetine. So it’s oestrogen every day and 2 x Utrogestan capsules as prescribed on the latter part of your cycle (think I suggested that for ease you keep with the same days every month - so I’m currently on mine and take from the 5th-16th every month as these dates equate to days 15-26 of my cycle). Sachets may be due to you being on the equivalent of one pump which equals 1mg. I’m on two pumps as was previously on 2mg oral tablets. I find the oestrogen is much better in gel form than oral as absorption is better via this route. This was another reason I changed from oral. I apply the gel to my upper arms/shoulders.

@Maidenpink I’ll have a proper read of your post tomorrow and reply then.

Thanks @polelynn….appreciate the info x
Hope you’re doing ok x

Thanks @polelynn, it's so great you know about this stuff.

Hi Sarahjayne123, that's great Fluox has worked so well for you. I've been on 60mg for a time in the past but it gave me worse tingling and numbness in my hands. Thought I might have to go up to 60mg this time but I think it's hormones I need more than increased AD. Good to know it's an option though. X

Morning everyone, how are you all doing today?

@sugarlost I hope you're doing okay, I'm thinking of you. ☀️

@polelynn I hope your week has continued to be good. Bummed my mood has crashed again but @bluevelvetine and I are still at the mercy of fluctuating hormones. I'm hoping that now I have a plan going forward I'm a bit less anxious.

@filofaxx how are you getting on?

@bookcrazy not forgotten about you either, say hello if you get a chance.

Sending love x

@Maidenpink absolutely delighted you’ve had such a positive response from the meno specialist. That is exactly what you’d hoped for, yes? So, yes, start the gel on day 1 of your next cycle. Don’t worry about them being all over the place. Around my mid 40s I went from a regular 29 day cycle to anything from 15 to 90 days. Yes the Utrogestan will be prescribed (usually) from days 15-26 of your cycle and it sounds like this is likely to be prescribed in your case. Stick with the same dates every month, so much easier then recalculating every month (a tip I was given from the menopause topic on here). Yes 1mg = 1 pump (or in the case of @BlueVelvetine 1 sachet I’m presuming). You can increase, I believe up to 4 pumps but not entirely sure. I was started on 2mg of oestrogen as started on the oral route (there was a supply issues with patches at the time) and absorption of the drug is not as optimal via that method. I feel improved on 2mg of gel since I changed regime and feel no need to increase (yet). I apply one pump to each of my upper arms/shoulders every morning. Utrogestan at bedtime. A word of warning - the patient information leaflets are a bit of an overwhelming read but don’t be put off. It’s a legal requirement that they state all that they do (bit like with fluoxetine).

Looking back I felt the effects when I started quite quickly 3-4 weeks but I’m sure they’ve told you that you need to stick with the regime at least 12 weeks.

Anymore questions from either of you (@BlueVelvetine) I’m happy to help. It’s great you are both starting together but remember your journeys are individual too.

I’m doing okay. Been stretching myself further the last couple of days (washed the car and weeding/sweeping out front yesterday). Even managed a couple of conversations with some neighbours which felt ‘normal’. Intrusive thoughts throughout but anxiety reduced in time as I sat with it. However it hugely increased last night when I saw my husband not doing something which as a family we’ve done since last March. I mentioned it to him and he said he felt no need to do it anymore. I really struggled with this and went around cleaning everything he had touched so a real backwards step for me. I know it’s my OCD but I felt compelled to do it and upset with him that he had unilaterally decided to drop this. Felt like making his tea this morning very weak with 2 sugars (he has a strong brew with none!). Silly really and a bit passive aggressive of me. I’m over it now but I don’t think I’ll make as much progress today as I’d hoped. I keep that little gift you posted for me on here @Maidenpink uppermost in my mind when I’m challenging myself and that I should go towards the fear rather than away from it but sometimes the day has proved quite enough.

Hi @polelynn, thanks so much for the support and advice on this. Apart from the Utrogestan issue up here it went as well as I could've hoped. I realise I'm lucky to have a GP up the road from me who is so knowledgeable and passionate about the area. She is a younger woman too which is nice. That's fab you felt positive effects so quickly. I just hope I don't feel worse! I know it's a very individual thing. I am a bit worried about the progesterone part, just in case it doesn't agree with me, like the synthetics have in the past. My GP was supportive of me taking it vaginally too so that is another option. Did you have no problems with Utrogestan orally? Think I've been reading too much.

You sound as though you're making excellent progress! Try not to be too hard on yourself over what happened last night. I can see why you were irritated by his unilateral decision. I guess he just can't grasp how loaded these things are for you still. It's one wee bit at a time though, and you just weren't ready yet for what he did last night. You will be. Amazing you've been washing the car and talking to neighbours though, that's brilliant. Just keep patting that fear on the head and asking it to step aside. It won't always work but that's okay. It's a balancing act of pushing ourselves but at a pace that doesn't overwhelm and allows growth. You're doing really well. I feel in a slightly different zone to you now because I feel so at the mercy of my flipping hormones! I definitely feel better than we did at the start but these hormonal fluctuations are derailing. I'm trying to just remind myself it's chemical and it's not 'me' if that makes sense. I feel so limited by it. I watched a video on Newson Health last night on menopause and mood and the experiences Meg Matthews and Diane Danzebrink really hit home with me. You just feel so unlike yourself at times it's like you're losing your mind.

Anyway! I hope you have a good day. I've to go to the surgery later to get my BMI and BP checked and get my prescription. Feeling quite on edge and like I can easily get overwhelmed so will be doing as little as possible. Hoping my period comes soon! X

Aw @polelynn you’re doing so so well…always pushing yourself outside your comfort zone which is amazing. I totally get how that one change your husband has made has thrown you off kilter but you’ve pushed past it and without sabotaging his tea (loved this 😂) so I think that’s great ❤️
Thanks for the offer of info re HRT…will certainly take you up on that x

I’m off out to meet my friend today for a walk/coffee….we know each other inside out but I’m still anxious. Hoping feeling passes soon xx
The waking cortisol rush is still really bothering me but I managed without lorazepam (took 5mg propranolol as 10mg makes me quite nauseous). I’m still shaky but it’s lessening a bit and now feels like a butterflies/buzzy feeling. Today marks 5wks on fluoxetine so hoping things will settle soon 🤞
@Maidenpink I hope you’re doing ok…we will most likely be starting HRT about the same time. Here’s hoping it’s positive for us both 🤞❤️
@MondeoFan how’s your daughter doing?
Ok all…I hope you have a lovely day…I’m off to do some deep breathing! ❤️❤️

Thank you both. I’m going to keep on keeping on as that’s the way forward. Enjoy your time with your friend @BlueVelvetine.

@Maidenpink no, no problems at all orally, with either Utrogestan or the progesterone element of my oral HRT. I suspect my body was craving both that and oestrogen. I suspect you will start to feel relief in days rather than weeks.

Hope everyone else is okay.

@sugarlost hope you have nice weekend plans.

@bookcrazy and @FiloFaxx hope you are both doing okay too.

@MondeoFan fluoxetine, from what I’ve read, seems to work well for many adolescents. I suspect my DD may be started on it or something similar down the line too. I agree, a check in with the GP sounds like a good plan and it may be a case of slightly adjusting dosage or switching time of day she takes it. 6 weeks is that magical point at which benefits vs side effects are clear but day on day it continues to have a cumulative effect. It’s been so so difficult for teenagers the last 16 months or so, alongside what they are usually having to deal with at this point in their lives. Is your daughter receiving any help/therapy through CAHMS? I understand as a Mum how hard it can be watching your children struggle with their mental health. I’m always worried I will say or do the wrong thing and make matters worse and carry guilt that my current issues have exacerbated things for her.

Thanks @polelynn. I really hope I'm the same with the Utrogestan.

So I went to the surgery to get my BMI and BP checked this afternoon, to allow me to get my prescription. My BMI is on the high side ... 29.7. BP healthy. The nurse said to me as I was leaving that I could do with losing some weight. I said well, hopefully once I get my hormones sort I can concentrate on that, and she said now's the time to deal with it. It's actually really upset me. I'm 5'7" and a size 14. I'm not skinny, no, but I have a healthy distribution of weight and my waist/hip ratio isn't bad. My self-confidence is on the floor just now and something like this wouldn't usually bother me but I just feel like a fat, perimenopausal cow now! Honestly, I don't think she should just say that stuff off the cuff, she knows nothing about me. Or the fact that I'm premenstrual and just holding myself together today. Anyway, rant over. I've got my prescription, that's the main thing.

I hope everyone else is having a better afternoon than me. X

Hope folks

Random hope folks on the end there!

Oh @Maidenpink I think most people would react the same way anxiety or no anxiety. That was very insensitive and uncalled for. Talk about a bedside manner! I’m so angry for you 😡
Please try and ignore it…you’ve come so far and are now taking another big step towards feeling better. Big hugs ❤️

Thanks blue. 🌼

Ignore @Maidenpink, also BMI is a bit of a blunt instrument imo. You sound very healthy to me, you are active too. She probably has to mention it as part of following guidelines but behaviour change usually doesn’t come about by making people feel like shit. Hugs.