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Original poster

Fluoxetine Buddies!! - there will be a group for every AD at this rate!

170 replies

NattyThomasandEllen · 21/01/2008 17:58

hey guys
saw there were some other "buddie" groups but couldnt find one for Fluoxetine. if there is one point me in the direction and i apologise for taking up cyberspace lol

i went on these a week ago, and was told they take three weeks to kick in, anyone else out there on the same ones?

OP posts:
Dior · 28/01/2008 21:10

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Dior · 28/01/2008 21:11

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Original poster
NattyThomasandEllen · 28/01/2008 21:13

aw expat huuuge hug

OP posts:
Divastrop · 28/01/2008 21:25

hi,can i join this thread?

i am back on fluoxetine for the 3rd time in 3 years.i was on it when pregnant with dd3(10 months)but when she was about 8/9 weeks it stopped working,and an increase from 20-40mg didnt help,so i went on effexor for 5 months.
now,i thought that stuff was great,but dh said i was like a zombie.i have to say,i didnt have any emotions.then all of a sudden i kind of exploded into a wailing heap in my gp's surgery,so she suggesed i try fluoxetine again.
coming off the effexor was hard,but it is out of my system now and i am now on week 5 of fluoxetine 20mg/day,and doing ok sofar.

GrinningSoul · 29/01/2008 16:48

hey divastrop. glad to have you along! that wailing-heap-in-the-GP-thing is often a useful sign that things aren't working out... i almost remember my similar experience fondly as it was such a turning point for me (and my family...)

i was walking along today, realised i was smiling to myself and just felt so lucky that i have my happiness back.

Dior · 01/02/2008 16:40

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Original poster
NattyThomasandEllen · 02/02/2008 12:53

forgot to take my dose yesterday and today woke up feeling awful again didnt realise id forgotten till DH asked if i had taken it, guess i must have looked miserable
i am going to have to take more care of myself i think!

i know what u mean ginningsoul, i felt the same way the other day, i was smiling whilst putting the washing in the machine... now i havent smiled just for the hell of it for a while and it felt strange but i am just so relieved to be feeling normal and happy with life again. now i just hope they keep working for me

OP posts:
suzywong · 02/02/2008 12:57

hello
havent' read the whole thread yet, but will in the morning.
I was on the wonderful helpful Fluoxetine for 12 months and am coming off them this month, half a dose i.e. 10mcgs a day and I am feeling very sensitive and introspecitve. I want to come off them becaue life is now very very good and I feel on an even keel, but ...... does one have to come off them really? I mean they are very nice? What do you reckon?

Original poster
NattyThomasandEllen · 02/02/2008 13:16

lol suzy at the moment i feel exactly the same.. but imagine how happy you will feel about being happy simply because you are happy IUSWIM lol!

welcome by the way! and welcome diva!

OP posts:
123ken · 02/02/2008 20:22

In terms of coming off, last time I was on them for 5 years and eventually they made me put on weight. Within 2 months of coming off I'd lost a stone without trying. Also, whenever I've been on prozac I've had to avoid getting too hot from hot baths/ hot climates/ exercise etc, as it brings on horrendous migraines. Has never happened when I've been off them so obviously connected. They are powerful drugs but am seriously considering going back on so upsides must be much greater than downsides!

Yorkiegirl · 02/02/2008 20:27

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Scotia · 02/02/2008 20:28

Is dizzyness a common side effect of Fluoxetine? My friend is on it (not sure what dose) and getting worried about the dizzyness. She hasn't been sleeping well - recently widowed and a new baby - so doesn't know if it's the drugs causing this problem or not.

123ken · 02/02/2008 20:33

Think its quite common - how long has she been on them?

Divastrop · 02/02/2008 20:34

i had dizziness for the first couple of weeks with them,but it wore off.

thank you for the welcomes.im having a shit day today,i felt anxious and panicky all morning and got worse as the day went on.i was in tears bathing the kids and ended up laying on my bed crying for 20minutes after id put the lo's to bed.

ive been on them 6 weeks now,maybe they arent going to work,or maybe they are making things worse and causing me to be anxious?i dont want to go on a higher dose really cos i dont want to put weight on.i put enough on with the venlafaxine.

Scotia · 02/02/2008 20:38

My friend's been taking the tablets for about 10 weeks now. Should the side effects be wearing off by now? I've advied her to go back to her gp, or mention it to her hv in case she needs to change to something else. It's hard to know if it's the tablets though, or if it's down to her not sleeping and eating properly.

123ken · 02/02/2008 20:48

I think she should go back to her GP, firstly to rule out anything else causing it and also she may need to try a different AD. Different ones suit different people and sometimes you have to try a few before you find one taht suits. Wish her all the best

Scotia · 02/02/2008 22:34

Thanks 123, I will

GrinningSoul · 02/02/2008 23:38

divastrop - i know i didn't feel much better after 6 weeks, and they increased my dose to 30mg a day (ie 1 then 2 tabs on alternate days) and after a while i began to realise i was fine.... but i have put on lots of weight. 2 stone. i'm so much happier though that i reckon it's worth it. i'm on a major exercise regime now to see if i can shift any of it.

expatinscotland · 02/02/2008 23:40

oh, diva!

i think shit days are still possible, though.

i had two panic attacks yesterday, but hadn't had one in weeks so my ADs are definitely working!

i hope it goes better for you.

FWIW, my 'shit' days are related to my cycle - PMS or that time of the month.

suzywong · 03/02/2008 02:18

hello
now I know you aren't GPS blah blah blah, but afer 10 days on half dose and rading this thread, plus this morning the dizziness of withdrawal has really kicked in and I don't know if I'll be able to drive today which would really let ds1 down, I decided to get back on my 20mcgs. Why the hell not?

Sure, my day to day situation is improving vastly but that doesn't mean I have to go back to fretting and bringing my family down. Plus I'm going on the mirena next week and I think the double whammy of that and coming off fluoxetine is more than I want to put on my family, because the point of using ADs is so that we all as a family can bet on having most of our days good and happy with out mum getting her knickers in a twist unpredicatbly. DH is super super supportive over all this.

Wow, that felt better, getting that out, thanks fluoxetine buddies.

BTW does anyone else feel they are using ADs to improve, depsite best efforts on all other fronts and methods, the harmony of family interactions?

jellibabe · 03/02/2008 06:21

Thanks for this thread. Am on day 5 of my journey with fluoxetine. Was on Citalapram last year but came off it after missing a couple of tablets. Seemed to be alright for a while but lately I have been totally overwhelmed by feelings of not coping. Been unable to even go shopping for food or do basic chores around the house which just reinforces the feelings that I am not coping. I have 2 children and am a lone parent so this has been extremely frightening for me. At least this thread has given me some hope.

Divastrop · 03/02/2008 11:41

hi jellibabe.i hope fluoxetine works for you.i was a single mum of 2,and then 3 for a long time,its tough going it alone,but you have done well to seek help.

expat-i think it may be cycle related as i am ovulating,even though its only day 8 of my cycle.my hormones are screwed.

plus ive felt overwhelmed the past few days and have ahd a number of 'i cant cope with being a mum,i should never have had kids' moments over the past few days.i think i needed a shit day to give me a kick up the arse to stop feeling sorry for myself and do something positive.

suzywong-i feel like that to an extent,like i have to be on a certain level in order to look after my children and prevent my dh from walking out.i dont think i would take AD's if i was single and childless(i would probably be drinking and taking drugs in that case though).i really felt strongly that way when i was on venalfaxine,though,as it basically just supressed all my emotions and i never got angry or pissed off.

has anybody else put weight on with fluoxetine?i always found i lost weight on it in the past.sofar i have just stayed the same.

suzywong · 03/02/2008 13:38

hello diva
no, I didn't put on excess weight and yes I hear you about doing drink or drugs if I was single.

I grilled dh today over whether or not I had been a depersonalised Stepford Wife over the last 12 months and he said that I had just been less bad tempered and pleasing to live with. I do feel I have all my faculties and then some, so that's good enough for me. Of course I will consult my GP and follow her advice.

suzywong · 03/02/2008 13:39

that's not less pleasing to live with, simply pleasing to live with

GrinningSoul · 03/02/2008 18:44

Yes i do sometimes feel i'm drugging myself in order to harmonise the family - as though we are all one body and as long as i'm not bonkers crying we can all function, but if i'm falling apart, we all do.