fluoxatine... when does it get better?! Help!

[Emzylou29]

Hi! I was prescribed fluoxatine 20mg 19 days ago ( currently on day 19) after I tried setraline but the side effects made me feel spaced out so Doc reccomended fluoxatine. I just wanted to know of any success stories taking this medication? I was prescribed it for anxiety and depression - I mainly have really bad anxiety though so wondered if I should have stuck with the setraline?!
I'm just worried that I won't feel better and I'll feel this way forever! I have had a few good days but today has been awful with such bad anxiety! It's so hard to hang in there with the medication when you feel like this! Any help please or sucess stories :(

Give it another month. I had nausea on and off still at this stage.

Thanks @justasking111 how did you get on with it? I haven't had any nausea with it just loss of appetite and awful anxiety it seems to have heightened it :(

I currently take Fluoxitine after previously being on Sertraline.

I started noticing an improvement around 3 to 4 weeks in although there were ups and downs. Like you I would have a few days which were a bit "better" then the next day would be as bad as ever. Try not to panic that this means it is not working. Gradually over the next few weeks there were fewer bad days and more "better" days. Also the bad days were not as bad.

It is so hard but you will get there.

I've been on Fluoxetine for about six months and feel it's been life changing. Initially felt better after a couple of weeks then had a major panic attack about a month in and since then I feel amazing. Stick with it x.

Thank you so much @Pineappledancer @bjs2310 it's really hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel isn't it when your in such a bad place. Did you feel it helped with anxiety? I know its still early days but it's so hard to stick with it when you feel like this isn't it.

Yes anxiety is a big part for me. I think the meds did make the anxiety a bit worse to begin with but then the symptoms went away over time.

Thank you for replying @Pineappledancer and you feel it helped with your anxiety after the 3/4 week mark? I just keep thinking will today be the day I feel OK and a bit hopeless 😔

Yes, mine was mostly for anxiety. I knew it was working when Ofsted arrived at our school. Everyone else was in a flat panic and I realised I was sitting calmly eating my lunch and I really didn't care. I mean I care passionately about my job but wasn't in the least bothered about Ofsted. Nearly handed my prescription to the entire staff 🤣.

@bjs2310 I would love to feel like this one day! It sounds great you were calmly eating lunch! I think today has really thrown me thinking what am I doing, is this working, am I on the wrong medication, will I ever get better etc. Its very nice to hear some positive stories so thank you so much. I will stick with it and see how I am around a month in. Praying for better days xx

I am a worrier and an anxious person generally, but when I first went on medication I was struggling with horrible physical symptoms of anxiety. I was struggling to eat or sleep, would wretch over the sink and have the runs every morning. I felt a burning/tingling sensation most of the day and my brain was just constantly worrying. After 3 / 4 weeks this all gradually began to fade. I would sleep a bit longer and not wretch for so long. I would feel a bit more like my normal self for a few hours in the evening. A few weeks later I was not wrenching at all and was able to eat a little breakfast and lunch again. I was beginning to feel a bit more normal by the afternoon and my brain was able to concentrate on fun things for short periods instead of constant stress/ worry. Eventually this all stopped and I felt like me again.

I still struggle with a bit of anxiety which I hope to have a bash at with therapy at some point, but the crippling anxiety that was making my life a living hell was stopped with the help of the meds.

The other thing that helped (which was also down to the meds really I would say) was that as I began to see a little improvement in the symptoms I became a little less scared of the anxiety. It was definitely a vicious cycle for me which was feeding itself and the meds helped to break that.

I hope this helps you.

Hi. I feel you’re struggle. Hang in there it does get better. The first two weeks was the worst for me, sertraline heightened everything but then I noticed a change. I actually went out and started doing stuff that I enjoyed again. The physical symptoms I hardly noticed.

I hope things start to improve for you. Each day focus on 3 positives and the way you felt about those positives. We tend to focus more on the negative and just stay in that cycle of thinking. Reading and music I find help in the evenings to wind down. Hope you’re ok

Personally i had a great experience but it did take 3/4 to settle. You have switched meds so may take you slightly longer than that. But on the whole they really did save me

3/4 weeks* i meant to write!

@Emzylou29 I hope you feel better soon- I managed 4days on it as the vomiting was awful. I would say if you’ve reached day 19 to try and stick with it - you’ve done so well so far.

I'm m in my 5th month on fluoxetine, the doc said 2-3 weeks but then the pharmacist said really more like 3 months to even out.

I do still have some ups and downs but and definitely feeling better overall.

I would keep going, 6-12 weeks is the realistic sweet spot and if by then it's not working for you go back to your GP.

Treat yourself kindly, this is not a fix all, and this part is just as hard as the before.

Thanks @BobShark I am just so worried I won't feel any better. Like I'm in such a black hole. I've had another really bad day with panic attacks and full of anxiety. I just want to be back to me and a mummy to my boys. It worries me that in 6-12weeks I could still feel like this :(

Thanks @amispeakingintongues I'm having a really bad day today and really struggling with panic attacks and anxiety. I am trying to hold hope that the medication will work but it really feels like I'll feel like this forever. I have a review with my gp tomorrow to see if I have had any nasty side effects (only side effects I've jad are bad panic attacks and sky high anxiety)

Unfortunately anxiety does that. It makes you consider worst case scenarios and go over and over things in your head. This drug has helped me so much. But there are other things you can do. CBT, exercise, time outdoors, mindfulness.

Thanks @Wolfiefan that's what I am doing just going over and over everything. Today has been really bad. How long until you started to feel a bit better?

It has been a long time since I started this drug so can’t really remember. Distraction is your friend for now.

Sorry you’re having such a rough day xx it WILL get better. I was at rock bottom when i started on meds, mainly due to terrible anxiety and panic which led to me feeling depressed. You will get better OP, give yourself the time and the chance for the meds to work. Keep speaking to your dr. There will be sunshine again, hang on in there

Hope you’re feeling a bit better today@Emzylou29

Hi did this help in the end?