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

How's everyone else getting on? @ChampooPapi @Proudnana3 @emmajayn3 and others. I'm even a nervous wreck joining a mn thread, it's taken ages to pluck up the courage and I get scared when people post heavy and negative stuff. But it can feel so lonely and long going on meds, need the peer support.

@Maidenpink

I'm pleased you've reached out. I find it helpful being here and feel much less alone.

I'm hoping to start tomorrow if my DH can collect my prescription, one of the things I'm now unable to do simply because of my anxiety and fears.

We sound alike. I have OCD type thoughts too but they do have a strong basis in reality as it surrounds Covid and my fear of becoming infected, so a trip to the pharmacy is quite simply beyond me. A few weeks ago I was even frightened of going in my garden if my neighbours were out as felt at risk.

I have some contamination fears too so wash my hands a lot to ensure they are clean and I don't like touching my face. As I say these aren't illogical because that's what we've been told to do but I seem to have taken it to the extreme so not sure if it really is OCD or not but it's certainly ruling and ruining my life. It's like a big stop sign stopping me from doing the things I once took for granted, did on autopilot and enjoyed.

20mg dialled the anxiety back a little after starting but I've plateaued and some worries are worsening, so hopeful increasing will help me.

@polelynn sorry things have been so difficult. It's awful when anxieties start getting in the way of your ability to function. I think obsessions aren't any less frightening when there's a kernel of reality in them, in ways it makes the 'what ifs' worse. I can worry about anything but I have a few 'greatest hits' that are my absolute worst. I seem to go between them and it's horrifying. What I can say is that I have been in a really bad place before and with the right dose of medication and time I got well again and felt myself. So you can too. I've been on ADs twice before, and both times I needed higher than the basic dose to recover because I think as you said, anxiety seems to require a higher dose. In spite of all I'm saying I feel very fragile atm and the depression has been dreadful too. I do force myself to do things but sometimes I overreach and it can set me back. Hopefully you get your prescription soon and we can report back on how we're doing.

@Maidenpink thank you. Yes the 'what ifs' are very strong and often overwhelming because the threat seems very real and is constantly reinforced. Avoidance has been a tactic I've used in the past to keep myself safe so it appears that's exactly what I'm doing now.

Trying things is a real balancing act isn't it. I've tried to push myself a couple of times over the last few weeks but feel I've possibly made things worse as I'm not really sure I'm doing it right! Your past recovery has made me feel hopeful and equally it must help you to know you've overcome it in the past, or at least learnt to live alongside it. I really hope the increase helps you. Keep in touch. .

Thanks @polelynn 🤗

@Maidenpink I have still not got courage to try mine
The idea my panic attacks could get worse before better is too terrifying at the moment

@emmajayn3 thinking of you. I can understand why you feel as you do. Do I recall on the thread you started about being worried about starting on 20mg. I believe Fluoxetine is also available in a liquid form so could that be an option for you, so you can build up more gradually?

Sorry you feel so afraid @emmajayn3 It's just so hard that these meds can make you feel a bit worse before they make you feel better. @polelynn is right, you could take 10mg or build it up from even smaller doses with the liquid which might reassure you. I was also prescribed diazepam with my initial prescription because I was so worried about feeling worse when I was already struggling so much. I was afraid to take them but I did on 3 occasions and they do take the edge off. It was only 2mg tablets which is quite a low dose. Maybe speak to your GP and see if you can come up with a plan to overcome this. I know last time I was ill the psychiatrist I saw prescribed diazepam for the first three weeks on the medication because my anxiety was so bad. There will be a way through this for you. 🤗

Day 2 on 40mg ... I've got a slight headache and my anxiety is pretty high but much the same as it has been. I'm also 7 weeks on 20mg and there is a slight shift in the low mood today ... touch wood.

Waves @Maidenpink 🙌 I'm doing well thanks, 40mg is definitely having more of an effect, I am actually really looking forward to starting work and being out in the world, I'm actually feeling pretty fearless and strong. I may move up to 60 at my next review, if I'm on medication I want to give myself the maximum chance and the maximum break so to speak from over thinking and worrying. I'm giving myself 2 years to just go with it, then I'll start coming off them. My twins are 6 months old nearly so by then they will be in nursery and less pressure on everyone genrally.

Feeling very positive, just need to loose some baby weight and hoping what I've heard about prosac being true that it doesn't make you gain anything and helps you be more active, which I'm definitely finding.

@Maidenpink you are really going to be ok on 40mg, it did take about three weeks though for me to notice an uplift of my mood, I think your doing really well ☺️

That's brilliant @ChampooPapi! So good you're feeling the benefits and I love your pragmatism looking ahead. I did put weight on with fluoxetine before but that may just have been because I felt so well on it I was enjoying my food too much. I know people who haven't gained weight on it too so I think as long as you're sensible you'll be grand. ❤

That is a fantastic update @ChampooPapi, I'm so pleased its making you feel stronger and ready to embrace what comes your way.

Thanks you @polelynn and @Maidenpink for your kind words of support, embracing what comes my way is my new mantra 💜

Will try and avoid the biscuit tin also...

@champoopapi so glad to hear you’re feeling better, I had a bad panic attack in the night and feel back to square one, started hrt now as well so hoping that helps. Hope everyone else starts to feel better soon it really is the worst.

Hi @Proudnana3 sorry you had a rough night. Really hope you feel better soon. I'm feeling a bit agitated and on edge today, functioning but can't settle to anything. Considering going for a cycle to see if it helps. How's everyone doing? @polelynn

Hey @Proudnana3 sounds like a grim start to the day, I really hope some positive things have crossed your path and the day has only got better. Wednesday's definitely always seem to have an odd middling bland feeling, for me anyway it's my least favourite day of the week. Never get drunk on a Tuesday night that's for sure! 😆

@Maidenpink yes absolutely go for a cycle, it'll make you feel good and free!

Thanks for asking @Maidenpink, did you get out for that ride? So first day on 40mg today, no initial adverse effects. I'll be delighted if I'm posting a similar update to @ChampooPapi in a couple of weeks time 🤞🏻.

@Proudnana3 sorry you had a tough night. I hope your day has been more positive for you. I'm also on HRT. Looking back my anxiety really ramped up when I started to become peri-menopausal but HRT alone has not been enough to manage it. It has definitely helped with other symptoms. I'm really looking forward to embracing this new chapter in my life with more positivity when things settle.

I did get out @polelynn ... just. I've been really anxious today and my intrusive thoughts have been going haywire. I ended up having a nap earlier which I don't usually do. Weird to feel sleepy and so tense.

Interesting what you say about anxiety and peri-menopause. I've had awful premenstrual anxiety this past few months. Period is due which will be affecting how I feel atm.

Well done on day 1 @polelynn. ❤

Sorry you've had a difficult day @Maidenpink. Here's to a better today tomorrow. Yes anxiety is one of many very common peri symptoms and, as with many of the symptoms, not really discussed enough imo so, for many women, it really comes out of the blue. Some GPs prescribe SSRIs instead of HRT but they won't help with those symptoms which are due to depleting oestrogen levels.

Thanks @polelynn 🤗 I hope tomorrow is better too. I thought I was on the up yesterday but today has been a bit harder. Wish my period would come so at least that's out the way. How many weeks have you been on 20mg @polelynn?

6 weeks on 20mg @Maidenpink

Feel a bit heady today (day 2 of increase) and didn't sleep particularly well but my DH was tossing and turning with post vaccine side effects so that's probably why.

How are you this morning?

@Proudnana3 I hope you are doing okay.

@Cloudd

Hi, I think the pandemic has made everyone worse!! Did you still have ‘bad’ days with the depression? x

Yes. Because that's normal life. Ups and downs.

It's a while since I was on fluoxetine but I would suggest that you don't see it as the whole solution by itself. Use it as the helping hand to get yourself on an even keen using all the tools and strategies you need to be 'you'. Good luck!

@polelynn Morning, I'm feeling really tired and quite tense and on edge. I took diazepam in the evening but didn't do much. Usually when I'm anxious I can't lie in bed but I feel I could sleep all day. I also had that heady feeling on day two, it's settled a bit now. I hope this feeling passes soon. X

Anyone else felt super tired/sleepy with the dose increase?

@Maidenpink I'm sorry to hear that. Can you do something to just chill out today - have a long bath, listen to some music, gardening or baking. Something mindful. Hopefully the tense feelings will settle and you'll start to feel the benefits of the increase soon.