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Mental health

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Original poster

Fluoxetine experiences

30 replies

Loo234 · 08/09/2021 11:48

Does anyone have any experiences of taking fluoxetine.. it’s mainly for OCD ( instrusive thoughts) and health anxiety but now the thoughts and the HA are causing depression

I’ve never been on ADs before and I’m scared. I have taken my first one today

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TeenMinusTests · 08/09/2021 11:56

Haven't taken it myself but it has been a game changer for my 16yo.

She felt off her food / sick for a couple of weeks as she adjusted, but it moved her from not being able to manage anything much at all to slowly, slowly managing limited schoolwork and social interactions.

She's not out of the woods yet, but it got her better enough to access other therapies and try going out of her comfort zones.

Takes time to work out the right dose. Worth persevering from my very very very limited experience.

Kittyswhiskers · 08/09/2021 11:59

Fluoxetine made a huge difference to me. I have GAD and OCD (contamination and intrusive thoughts) I was on it for about 9 months and came off to get pregnant. I am now 30 weeks and can’t wait to go back onto fluoxetine when the baby arrives. I didn’t realise how much it had helped me until I came off them. I felt sick and nauseous for a few weeks and lost about half a stone. I also take them first thing in the AM otherwise they can disrupt your sleep. I hope they help you too!

Peachee · 08/09/2021 12:01

I took fluoxetine for OCD.. it took a lot of courage but it helped me massively. It did make me feel a bit zizzy (I don’t know if that makes sense) like I was full of energy almost. But by the stage I started taking it I was massively depressed so that helped with that. Intrusive thoughts are horrible.

Original poster

Loo234 · 08/09/2021 12:51

Thanks everyone that is encouraging.. I am pretty much at rock bottom atm with this and it’s came on suddenly and is occupying my every thought I feel like I am always in my head if that makes sense ?

How long till I see any difference ? The GP said the first two weeks can be rough but I don’t see how it can get any worse than this

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Kittyswhiskers · 08/09/2021 14:07

I don’t think you’ll get any worse but you might feel rough and weird. It took about 8 weeks for me to feel better.

poopypuppy · 08/09/2021 14:14

I've also had a really positive experience with fluoxetine. Started taking it for depression for the first time last autumn and it has helped me feel quite a lot better. After about three weeks of taking it I began to hope that it might be starting to make a difference, but a couple of weeks after that I was sure that things were improving. It did initially make me feel more anxious though, but other than that I had no side effects. I'm still taking it now and it's enabled me to start counselling in a few weeks' time, which is something that I couldn't have accessed before the medication.

SudokuZebra · 08/09/2021 15:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Loo234 · 08/09/2021 15:25

Thanks all I feel really spaced out right now and so tired but I didn’t get much sleep last night so don’t know if it’s from that.

If I’m going to feel like this everyday then this will be a struggle

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SudokuZebra · 08/09/2021 15:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 08/09/2021 16:55

I have been on fluoxetine for a number of years, for depression, @Loo234. I take it in conjunction with mirtazipine for depression and anxiety, and they have definitely helped to level off my mood - it is still low, but it keeps me out of the depths of depression that have made life a misery.

One thing I will tell you - I have found that fluoxetine can give me horrendous heartburn, and according to my GP, this is a well known side effect. He prescribed me omeprazole - but a doctor friend of mine told me that all I needed to do was to make sure I drank plenty of water when I took it - and she was right.

I do occasionally get heartburn, but only when I haven’t drunk enough with it.

Original poster

Loo234 · 08/09/2021 16:59

I really don’t want to be on this for a long time but all of a sudden in the last month I’ve just completely gone down hill and I was fine before it’s really scaring me as I don’t know what is wrong . I’m taking these as a last resort as I am basically
Unable to function right now. 6-8 weeks sounds like a very long time though

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TolpuddleFarter · 08/09/2021 17:07

I have currently started taking it after very intrusive thoughts and panic attacks (with a bit of health anxiety thrown in.)

I have only been taking it a week and my anxiety levels have dropped dramatically. My appetite is a bit off at the moment, and I am waking in the night, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I honestly think it is a wonder drug.

Original poster

Loo234 · 08/09/2021 17:26

@TolpuddleFarter that gives me some hope as I feel awful atm and the intrusive thoughts are making me feel so guilty and want to avoid ppl. I usually wake in the night anyways tbh. I’ve not had an appetite for weeks anyways. Did you get any other side effects ?

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TolpuddleFarter · 08/09/2021 17:36

@Loo234 as I'm only a week in I'm not sure how I will react this time, but when I took it for a prolonged period five years ago the biggest side effects were tiredness and needing a nap in the afternoon, and weight gain (but some of that gain will because I stopped thinking being fat was going to kill me.)

Peachee · 08/09/2021 18:34

Loo234 will make you feel really peculiar for a bit but it does subside.. google fluoxetine diaries - it gives some good indications of timelines when things should get better.. having a few weeks of feeling odd beats a lifetime of intrusive thoughts.. that’s what got me through.. of course if it really is too much to bear go to gp to swap but if you can get by it should really help. Have you got RL support? Xx

Original poster

Loo234 · 08/09/2021 19:28

@TolpuddleFarter I can’t afford to gain any weight so I really hope I don’t get that.. I read that you can lose weight on it?

@Peachee as a health anxiety sufferer google is my biggest enemy so I shouldn’t really google anything related to it knowing what I’m like although I’ve been reading reviews for days. But I do need to really try with it. Is it best to take in the mornings? I don’t want it to effect my sleep but I read some ppl take at night to sleep through the side effects. Yeah I do my best friend has been amazing as well as my
Parents although I think they are very worried as nobody has ever seen me like this before. Also did you drink on them? Xx

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bethabean · 08/09/2021 19:53

I take it for anxiety and OCD and it's been amazing! Has changed my life and relationships with everybody

VerbenaGirl · 08/09/2021 20:00

Please don’t be scared. It has worked really well for me over a number of years. It seems gentle yet effective. I remember feeling a little bit spacey at first but now I would say it helps me feel normal and I don’t experience any side effects. And if it’s not quite right for you it really won’t do you any harm while you’ve tried it.

bethabean · 08/09/2021 20:03

Also, I was so worried about gaining weight but I lost weight when I was working out and healthy and gained when I started shovelling my face with cake and got pregnant

In conclusion, it had no effect whatsoever!

Peachee · 08/09/2021 21:26

Aww bless you. I know google isn’t my friend either. I understand.
Good you have people you can talk to.. my parents were worried too.. its their job I suppose.. they worry less now I have a hold on things and always say I probably know my own mind better than anyone now I’ve been through it and come out the other side.
Morning might be best although I think you will struggle with sleep regardless as they seem to be a stimulating AD. Just be gentle with yourself and expect not to sleep well for a while and it will soon get better i promise! It’s not you it’s the tablets doing their thing.. as long as you are resting your body is ok. If you need to work can you take time off?? It’s horrible at the start..
I didn’t drink on them no, not a big drinker.. I did however have a prescription for diazepam in the early days as I was on another level.. if you can’t do it and feel they are too much and can’t cope with the heightened anxiety and lack of sleep I would defo speak to gp tomorrow don’t battle it if you feel you can’t.. I really feel for you it’s tough but totally can and will get better xx

Newbabynewhouse · 08/09/2021 21:36

Hey! I have been on a few different Ad's think I took fluoxitine (can't spell it haha) for a few weeks but can't remember any bad side effects.. been on Cirtraline citalopram and mirtazipine too... I was sooo scared when first taken them but no major side effects.. I think so many people take them now so would t worry.. if u havnt taken your first one yet u might feel better taking it in morn so u have the whole day to.look out for any immediate side effects ... I do remember getting a twitchy feeling inside my head with one.. and a dry mouth

Newbabynewhouse · 08/09/2021 21:39

I dont remember gaining much weight on any of the ADs I will say OTHER THAN mirtazipine! So if u don't want to gain weight.. don't try those! They are the worse for it... I didn't eat any different but gained around 3 stone

Newbabynewhouse · 08/09/2021 21:41

Also having the odd drink on anti depressants is ok.. I was told this by a pharmacist... it is only cos it might make you sleepier than usual and might lessen the positive effects.. so if you're going to have a few then fine but I wouldn't get drunk on them and know when to stop

MuchTooTired · 08/09/2021 21:46

I’m on it currently. It’s taken care of my crippling anxiety, but I’m trialling it for another month as I’ve got some unpleasant side effects. I was on sertraline for 2 years before which was brilliant until it stopped working for me!

Original poster

Loo234 · 09/09/2021 10:00

Well I woke up at 2 am last night and couldn’t really get back to sleep at all. Had broken sleep all
Night. I am very very anxious today

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