Depression and Fluoxetine

[KLian29]

I have been on Fluoxetine for 9 days and I've never reacted to medication before, but the side effects of this are a nightmare. Diarrhea, nausea, severe insomnia, feeling spaced out, tired, shaky, a bit breathless, loss of appetite, no motivation.Has anybody else had symptoms like this and please tell me will get easier. I feel worse than I did before.

Oh dear
What's the dose?

I reacted badly for about three days with the worst thing being restless legs, I wanted to cut them off. But I was given diazepam to manage that.

I think it was 5 days or a week but I started on 10mg.

Maybe it isnt the one for you. I had to try a few before I found one i could tolerate, which funnily enough is fluoxetine. I couldnt cope with citalopram, which my ds has settled on very well

I'm in 20mg. Will give it another week and hope the side effects pass. And I had restless leg before but worse now.

@Lianpp

I'm in 20mg. Will give it another week and hope the side effects pass. And I had restless leg before but worse now.

Is that you OP?

I think that's too high to start on, can you drop back?

10mg capsules do exist though my doc says they are a nuisance to get, I don't know why.

Will try and get hold of dr tomorrow...or try and half these tablets for a bit x

20mg is the usual starting dose. These symptoms are common when starting medications like this and usually subside after about 2 weeks but you should contact your gp if you feel they are excessive/intolerable

@Grumpetvoluntary

20mg is the usual starting dose. These symptoms are common when starting medications like this and usually subside after about 2 weeks but you should contact your gp if you feel they are excessive/intolerable

I was lucky

Me and my doc, who is now retired, knew I'd never cope with 20mg to start.

Do talk to your doctor. I'm not a big fan of doctors but equally I am not in a position to advise!

Hi. Changed my user name..🙄 I will persevere a bit longer and hopefully start feeling better soon. I've put off foing on medication for years since having my 3rd DS and suffering pnd. Hes now 14...I managed on diet and excercise....fingers crossed these help xx

@Lianpp I had awful nausea, no appetite and problems sleeping which is normal for me .
After 2 weeks the nausea went and appetite returned.

I started 20mg in January and have improved gradually. Recently have felt more improved.
Still have suicidal thoughts at times but that started prior to medication. I put off medication for years.... wish I started a long time ago.

Hope you're feeling better soon.

I'm happy for my appetite to stay gone...lol. it's the upset tummy and not sleeping. Hopefully will improve in a few days x

Hope you start to feel better 😘. X

Fluoxetine was a life saver for me but it took a while to find the correct dose. I didn't have many side effects either although I did on other antidepressants I tried. Speak to your doctor if it doesn't suit you, theres lots of alternatives and finding the right one will change your life. Good luck.

@Lianpp i am on week 6 now.... but the first week was horrible for side effects. Insomnia, nausea, sleep jerks, dry mouth, no appetite. But now i have none of these symptoms. Dr said i can take 6 weeks for the meds to work and i am noticing a bit of a difference now.

I started on 20mg about 3 weeks ago, although my symptoms are tiredness (I've been going to bed at 9 whereas I'd usually go at midnight) and heavy teeth grinding during the night.
I'm waiting it out for the tiredness but know from experience the teeth grinding / tense jaw doesn't ease.

I hope that it settles for you soon, OP and you start to feel better 💐

I've just been prescribed this, 20mg.

Has anyone gone from Sertraline to this? I was on 150mg sertraline for 5 or so years and it stopped working I think, I came off it and tried to do without, ended up writing 12 birthdays worth of letters for my DD

I've been prescribed 20mg fluoxetine so I'm really hoping it'll help, thanks to PP's. It's helped knowing what side effects to keep an eye on, and what will hopefully pass etc.

I've been on fluoxetine just over 3 weeks (20mg starting dose). Side effects are settling down which were initial nausea, insomnia, dry mouth and little appetite. Stick with it. I am starting to have breakthrough moments of the old, less anxious me.

I had the same but with all antidepressants. Then I was told I was particularly sensitive to them and best to do without! I have managed without and wouldn't touch any of them ever again.