Fluoxetine - Side Effects / Timescale?

[ElleBelleLou]

Hello Mumsnet

I am on Day 9 of fluoxetine and wondered when I can expect the side effects (mostly the nausea) to start to calm down?

The first 3 days on it I felt great, I could eat three meals for the first time in months, I slept well and felt some normality coming back. Then Day 4 to now have been awful, the headaches every evening send me to bed, I get to sleep and wake up every hour, I'm so tired, I feel more anxious, I feel nauseous and I have absolutely no appetite - yesterday I ate half an apple, the day before half a banana, I'm really struggling.

If you've been on fluoxetine, when did the nausea go away for you? I'm hoping it will start to get better now I'm in the second week?

I didn’t have any side effects on fluoxetine luckily, but I know some people do. I’m a GP and I always tell people to try to push through the side effects if it’s at all possible as they usually settle down after about 3 weeks and that’s when the beneficial effects kick in. But if it’s really severe then you could call your GP and ask to switch to a different SSRI. I have to say fluoxetine in my experience is usually the one that people tend to have least side effects with so I’d try to stick it out if you can. Although I think it might take 3 weeks for them to go away, they might improve by week 2?

Son had hideous indigestion. He had to take it in the morning and stay upright for an hour. It really did work it’s magic ,so persevere OP 💐

First 10 days are the worst for any SSRI/SNRI with feeling the benefits from around week 3. The first few days may have just been the placebo effect whilst it got into your system, but keep that thought in your mind for the next few days, keep going and you will start to feel better x

I'm on day 13. Feel less nauseous, eating better, but not seeing much improvement in mood yet. Hoping things pick up from here

I'm on day 13. Feel less nauseous, eating better, but not seeing much improvement in mood yet. Hoping things pick up from here