OCD Fluoxetine

[mbel2025]

Hey, I've just started taking Fluoxetine a couple of weeks ago for my self diagnosed OCD. I took 10mg for a week and have been on 20mg for a week. At the moment they are making me feel so much worse and I can barely sleep at night? Is this normal? Will it get better?
I'm a single mum of two and am in a fairly new job, and am struggling every day at the moment. Feel like I'm living in a nightmare.
It's been a horrible 18 months of separating from husband, moving twice, and then another health diagnosis. It's all just got on top of me and what once was very low level manageable OCD has just gone through the roof in the last couple of months!
My OCD manifests itself in to know constant detail and asking excessive questions, also struggling to throw things away in the rubbish, needing to know where it all came from. It's so weird and hard to get my head around. Would be nice not to feel so alone.

I have diagnosed OCD & OCPD. When I was first prescribed Fluoxetine I started on 20mg, increased to 40mg after 3 months, it took a while but it did help massively, completely changed my life for the better.

Are you sure it's OCD? have you spoken to a psychiatrist?
How did you get a Fluoxetine prescription in the first place?
If you have a legitimate prescription for it, I'd say carry on for a while and see how it goes, it can take a while to get used to it. If you see no improvement after 2/3 weeks or you get worse, go back to your GP.

I'd never go on MH drugs without getting a formal diagnosis first, even those with a firmal diagnosis proceed with caution, extremely dangerous! How did you get the prescription and how do you know what dose is right for you?

I did go to the doctors and explained how I was feeling. I was prescribed 20mg. I am starting CBT soon.

My 15yo daughter was diagnosed with OCD and was given 60mg Fluoxetine (starting with 20mg, then 40mg just to make sure she wasn't having a bad reaction to it, but always with the goal of 60mg. High dosages are more normal for OCD apparently.)

Sorry, I don't know enough to advise about teething problems because DD tolerated it well with no noticeable ill effects. But just thought I would mention the dosage thing.

My 9 year old has complex contamination OCD just before Christmas she was hospitalised as she wouldn’t eat, drink or swallow her own saliva with fear of everything and everyone being contaminated
they had to sedate her in hospital to start her on fluoxetine as she literally wouldn’t eat or put anything in her mouth
it’s been a saviour for us
due to her age and size she started off on 10 the follow up care has been shocking as they had to discharge her quickly due to her age and being in a mental health unit with teenagers she saw a few things she shouldn’t have and picked up on other behaviours. we are still waiting on her appointment with the head psych.
she couldn’t leave the house, we couldn’t touch her it was awful she would cry and cry and beg us to help her with her fears but we couldn’t go near her to help her.
id had enough waiting and put her meds up myself
within a week we notice a massive difference
she started wanting to leave the house and eating more
she is still funny with food and has to check use by dates but I’ve noticed a few times she hasn’t
we can touch her and she will come to me again for comfort
shes a child and on 20
perhaps the dr can increase it ?

@AnAussieMum That is such a heart wrenching story to read, you must've been terrified and your poor DD! I'm so glad to read sge is responding well to medication and you were so brave to just up her beds, only someone who's maxed out on options will do that, I hope she continues to improve.1:

Thank you it was horrible. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. It’s still a struggle with her but she’s much better and all because of these amazing meds!
if we didn’t up it I have no doubt she would be house bound. It was definitely the last and only option.
I always thought ocd was excessive cleaning checking etc never in my wildest dreams did I think ocd was so much more!