Prozac (fluoxetine

[Relaxing2]

Has anyone taken these? Do you recommend I've been on citalpram for 10 years and doctors thinks it's a good idea to change as I'm struggling at the moment

I switched from citaloptam to fluoxetine after about 3 years and it was great. After 2 years on fluoxetine I was able to come off the tablets altogether. I also didn't have the horrible side effects with fluoxetine that I experienced when starting citaloptam.

hi I've just started on fluoxetine 20mg myself im only on day 3 of taking them. iv actually come on here looking for some advice over whether it's best to take them in the morning or night time. my anxiety is always worse first thing in the morning. I previously took citalopram a few years ago myself for about 3 months but I had horrendous headaches on them. day 1 of the fluoxetine I felt a bit nauseous all day but yesterday (day 2) I felt much better. I'd love to hear people's experiences on fluoxetine did they help etc..
Have you started on them yet @Relaxing2
maybe we could use this as a support thread to see how people are getting on on fluoxetine I hope it helps for you op I'm struggling too at the moment with anxiety, ocd and intrusive thoughts with is affecting my life quite badly.

I haven't started them yet I'm having a bad time been weaned off my citalpram at the moment what mg are you on?

I'm only on 20mg which I think is the starter dose. I've come on here today looking for a fluoxetine thread of people's experiences of them. I know everyone's experiences are different though. I'm hoping something helps me to ease this awful anxiety and ocd type behaviour because it's totally ruining my life.
Hope things get better for you as your body gets used to the lower dose of citalopram and weaning off.

Thank you and I feel awful anxiety is taking over my life too and these fxxking thoughts just don't Piss off do they I'm waiting for intense cbt at the moment I have a lot of health anxiety why

No personal experience, but I found this on the NHS website:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

SSRIs are the most widely prescribed type of antidepressants. They're usually preferred over other antidepressants, as they cause fewer side effects.

Fluoxetine is probably the best known SSRI (sold under the brand name Prozac). Other SSRIs include citalopram (Cipramil), escitalopram (Cipralex), paroxetine (Seroxat) and sertraline (Lustral).

Information about Fluoxetine

I'm not sure that Prozac is the best AD for anxiety - I had a lot of anxiety when I switched to it from another SSRI. It does take a while to build up though so be patient. It's one that stays in the system for a long time so the time of day may not matter but I was always encouraged to take it in the morning as it tends to wake you up.

I was fine on it for years and then developed a serious tremor so had to stop it.

I was on it for about 6 months last year and really helped my depression. I came off it as felt better but after experiencing alot of stress recently and feeling depressed I've started back on. I think I need to stay on it long term, I have a long history of depression and last year was the first time I took any medication to treat it.

I was prescribed them for pnd and within about a year I was 100 times better. They really agreed with me.

I was also very very anxious

It's been a game changer for me ( anxiety and ocd)

I'm on 20mg...only started back on a few days ago.

I started fluoxetine 5 weeks ago and it has made a huge difference for me. I take it first thing in the morning and have had no side effects. I am much less anxious, more optimistic, easy going and find it easier to switch off and ruminate less than I did. I haven't taken anything similar in the past so nothing to compare it to but it has made me more 'me' than I have been in a long time.

@Stuckandinamess same.

I'm on day 10 now of starting fluoxetine and I'm find the intrusive thoughts and anxiety slightly worse. I'm sat here having anxiety sweats whilst typing this. Did anyone else find they felt slightly worse at first. I will persevere and continue to take it I hope things improve

I've been started on 37.5mg twice a day never been on it before xx

@Relaxing2 that seems like a very high dose for a starter dose. I'm on 20mg once a day which is the usual starter dose I think.
im having a particularly bad day today my head is all over the place. how long have you been taking them and how are you feeling?

I was on up to 60mg for depression. Changed my life. I’m now medications free

That is great to hear @polkadotties it's great to hear positive stories. I've been prescribed fluoxetine for anxiety and ocd type behaviour.
like I said I feel slightly worse today but I know it can happen before things get better.

How are you all, a few weeks on?

Hi all
I’m on day 5 today. Felt slightly worse to begin with but gradually improving daily.
Really affecting my libido though. Literally feel numb in that area. Does anyone know if this subsides?

@PennyFleck how are you?

@friendlygal79 good to hear you're gradually improving. My libido has gone missing but that could be due to perimenopause too ...back on the medication for a about 5 weeks now from being on it a few months last year. I stopped before as felt better, stopping was a mistake.
I've recently gone up to 40mg. I have no motivation and still feel depressed although not as many intrusive thoughts which is good.

Horrible stuff, couldn’t deal with the numb feeling, would rather feel something than nothing, had what felt like electric shocks & couldn’t keep still. Tried to commit suicide, that was enough for me, never again.

Good luck

@crispsarny sorry to hear your experience.
Are you on any other medication now or getting any support?

Thanks @Frollop, I choose not to take anything, I am in therapy. I understand that meds are extremely important for a lot of people, without them they couldn’t survive, a life saver, I would always encourage people to try them as they can be a stepping stone to better mental health. However in some cases I feel that meds are pushed on people too easily, they suppress emotions that need to be felt & addressed, it seems that it’s acceptable to not feel because our emotions are an inconvenience to society, an inconvenience to ourselves. What most people feel a lot of the time is completely normal, it’s understandable, emotions/reactions to trauma & loss, people shouldn’t feel shame for feeling these emotions, they need help in processing them. I think for some other therapies should be tried first before going down the meds route, I just feel Prozac & the like are given out like sweeties, there needs to be better mental health education & support but we’re dreaming there aren’t we, a government that don’t care, funding constantly slashed, a mental health crisis that’s only going to get worse.

Apologies as I should have said all this originally, I wouldn’t want to put anyone off something that could potentially turn their life around, it just wasn’t suited to me.