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 @polelynn ❤ It's sunny today so I'm going to try and be outside. I do have some plants to put in pots so I might do that. It's such a thought to start anything when you feel so tense! I will keep on though. How are you getting on? I hope you are okay. X

@Maidenpink Good morning, did you manage your planting? I'm still heady, but slept better. Exhausted and feel a bit out of it this morning. How are you?

Morning @polelynn, i did manage to do the pots but I ended up feeling very down yesterday, lots of tears. Sometimes dealing with the high anxiety and intrusive thoughts just gets too much.

My sleep was quite broken and I feel tired too and on edge. I think I just hoped I would feel better than this by now, which can make me feel worse. Glad you slept a bit better, hopefully that will make the day a bit easier. Are you feeling quite spacey? X

Yes definitely spacey @Maidenpink. I do understand. We will get better, hang on in there with me.

Thanks @polelynn I am sticking with it, nowt else for it. Hope you have a better day. Even though it feels like a long time on these pills, I'm only approaching 8 weeks and it can take that long for them to kick in. Plus adding in the dose increase things are bound to be a bit haywire while it all settles. Just need to be patient and one day at a time. ❤

How was today @polelynn?

The morning was awful @Maidenpink, really felt like I'd taken a huge step back (very anxious/intrusive thoughts worse than ever) so I just rested and read. Come late afternoon/evening it was like a cloud had lifted and I managed a very little walk and brushed off easily a couple of 'risks' which I'd usually ruminate a long time over, which I've taken as real positives. Had a good night too. How are you?

That sounds really good @polelynn, great that you got out a walk and dealt with it so well. 🤗

I was a bit better as the day went on yesterday, felt hopeful that today would be better. I slept well last night but my anxiety has been so high today and I'm feeling quite low too. Period finally arrived today, hoping I might settle a bit more in the coming days.

Did you have a better morning today?

@Maidenpink I'm sorry you've been so low and anxious. Hopefully things'll improve soon. I've felt quite relaxed most of the day but upset after an incident this evening but up til then been able to bat away unpleasant thoughts though I've not really challenged myself at all and the compulsions are still very much there. I've got my OCD assessment next week so hopefully treatment will start thereafter and I can work on these behaviours which I just can't seem to shift.

@polelynn It can be pretty up and down, can't it? Good you're being seen next week, I hope the service is good where you are. I've only just been referred to CMHT so I don't know when anything will happen and I don't know what the service is like here. I'm hoping the medication will be enough as I've been referred a couple of times over the years (different area) and for me it's been the right dose of medication that's made all the difference. I think once 40mg kicks in and you start seeing someone for treatment you'll start making good progress.

Morning, how's everyone doing?

I've been taking it for a few years, starting on 20 mg. It took a few months for things to settle down and really see where I was with it. Like others have mentioned, it helped with depression but not so much with anxiety at that level and so i'm now taking 40 mg. I'm still anxious, but it is at a much lower level and I rarely have panic attacks now - they were happening on pretty much a weekly basis before fluoxetine.

Hi @StarryGazeyEyes, I'm glad you feel a good improvement on 40mg. I was great on 40mg for years. How long have you been on 40mg? I was reading somewhere that it can take up to 12 weeks for the anti obsessional effects to kick in (if that's an issue, it is for me).

I've been on 40 mg for around 18 months. It's definitely a more effective dose for me. I reckon 12 weeks is the right amount of time to expect to see any effects. I'd say it kind of smooths off the extremes so that things are more level.

Thanks @StarryGazeyEyes I agree with you, it does take time to realise the full benefits of this drug. I think in the early weeks you count the days but it's an incremental thing and doesn't happen overnight for most people. It just feels like forever when you don't feel well.

So good to read of your experience with the higher dose @StarryGazeyEyes. I'm glad they are working well and keeping things at bay.

I feel impatient for a significant improvement, not just for me but my loved ones too who are finding my illness hard and getting very frustrated with me, which only makes me feel like a huge burden. A few more lows today than yesterday but it's still early days and I have to remember it's only been just over 7 weeks since I started on fluoxetine.

How are you @Maidenpink ?

@polelynn so sorry you are feeling like a burden. I do understand but you must hold in mind that this is not of your choosing, it isn't your fault and it is an illness. You're doing the right things and following the treatment. It just takes time and I know how frustrating it is.

It is early days, you (we) are still adjusting to the 40mg increase, it does take a good few weeks to kick in. Today has been better for me on the whole, I've gotten out and done things but my anxiety has been very high. I ended up feeling a bit odd and panicky a little while ago so took some diazepam and feel a bit better now. I do think there's a lot of adjustment going on in our brains just now and we can't expect too much. If in doubt rest, something I frequently forget.

We will get there. 🤗

Hey I'm onto week 4 and starting to feel ok. I have noticed the days that I do stuff I feel so much better. Especially getting outside. I painted the trims at the front of my house today and that gave me a great boost. I want to get on with a few more jobs now.

That's fab @cravingthelook, sounds like motivation is coming back which is a good sign. ❤

Hi everyone, glad some of you are starting to feel better, it’s been nearly 4 weeks now for me and to be honest don’t feel much different, still not sleeping well at all which isn’t helping. Not sure how long I should give it before I go back to gp I’m thinking six weeks and maybe if no improvement ask for something else or a dose increase. I am still working and some days are better than others but I just want to feel like my old self again.

Hi @Proudnana3 are you on 20mg? I'd give it to the 6 week mark and book a GP review.

A pp earlier on in this thread said the following which I found helpful: "I personally feel 6 weeks is a key moment but at a decent dose ie not counting weaning into it. After 6 weeks the balance of side effects vs efficacy will be apparent".

I've had to go up to 40mg (albeit only a few days ago) and I'm still waiting for that sustained breakthrough.

@Maidenpink thank you for your kind words. How are you today?

@Proudnana3 so sorry things are still tough for you. Although some people feel the benefits after a few weeks, it's usually 6-8 weeks for fluoxetine to build up in your system and properly start helping so it's still relatively early days for you at 4 weeks. That said, it might help to have a chat to your GP before then so you can make a plan together. It's so frustrating slow I know.

@polelynn I've not had a great day tbh. I've been quite low and in tears a lot. Have had diazepam this afternoon. (Btw I don't usually take them but I have had one 5 days out of the last 6.) How about you?

@Maidenpink I'm so sorry to hear that. Do you think its escalated since the increase? Might be worth a chat with your GP if so. I'm feeling quite calm. Again, managed to shrug a couple of things off today and the house has been quieter as everyone back to school/work so less to 'manage'. Again I've not stretched myself but starting to believe that doing things that would've brought me out in a cold sweat a few weeks ago might now be possible if I carry on improving.

Thank you @polelynn and @Maidenpink it’s reassuring to know it may just need a bit more time. Yes I am on 20mg thought I was starting to feel better but then had a relapse ☹️