Just been prescribed Fluoxetine (Prozac) - Anyone else taken this?

[tid]

I was prescribed Fluoxetine today after 10 months of ups and downs (mostly downs). Counselling helped a bit, but lately I'm just not making any progress and have actually reversed a bit.

I had been thinking about trying medication anyway, but now that I have them and have read the potential side-effects, I'm a bit scared.

Has anyone taken this drug recently and willing to share experiences?

Hi Tid, I took Fluoxetine for ages after the birth of my twins. I was almost suicidal at one point and it definitely took away the "bad" feelings, but in the end I found I couldn't cope with the total lack of libido and persuaded my GP to let me reduce the dose and then stop taking it. I have had depression on and off for years and although Fluoxetine was brilliant, in the end I found counselling helped me more in the long run. Very best of luck to you.

I took them for a year after DS 2 arrived....to help with the exhaustion of difficult pregnancy, 2 boys, work, life.

I was exhausted I think rather than depressed and explained to the GP I felt like I had jet lag all the time.

They were great, though had to try different brands to find one that didn't give me a headache. Boots own brand was best for me in the end.

I came off them slowly after a year, reduced to every other day, then every 3rd day etc....with no problems.

Im taking fluoxetine at the mo although Im begining to come off them. I found them a great boost. I started to take them when I was pregnant with DS 2 who is nearly 3. The side effects only lasted a couple of weeks for me and the worst was a twich which I couldnt control.

This happened again every time I increase or decreased my dose, Ive been up to 3 tablets when the recomended is only 1. 2 in severe cases.

If you read side effcts on any tablets you will be reluctant to take them. My friend is a pharmacist and the side effects are rare.

Feel free to get in touch if you need to talk.

I have just been prescribed this and was worried, sounds like I shouldn't be now.

I have been prescribed prozac twice in the last 5 years and have found they were a great help. I didn't really notice any major side effects, maybe a little too chirpy for the first few days. i found that they kept me on a more even keel, the lows were not so low and the highs not so high. Both times I was able to reduce the dosage and come off them with out any problems.
I think if you read the side effects of most medication it's enough to scare the pants off you and a lot of the side effects are rare.
Oh just remembered I went off sex for a while but then again I was hardly swinging from the chandelier when I was depressed so I don't think dh noticed

i've been on fluoxetine for 8 months, really struggled when i became unexpectantly pregnant when dd was five months old, gp reluctant to give me medication and i did get better but went downhill slowly after ds was born. struggled for about 3 months before i went to the gp, but best thing i ever did.
i was spending my life screaming and shouting at the older two kids and couldn't cope with work, life or anything else, was miserable and felt like i was in a pit that i would never get out of.

only side effect was a dry mouth for a while, you should definatly take them in a morning as they have a stimulant in them (so my pharmasist friend told me)

was on them back in 2000 and came off them with no probs but at the moment feel like i want to stay on them for ever coz i cant face going back to how i was before.

if any one in doubt and been offered them just GO FOR IT it will change your life for the better

Thank you for asking, Jasper. I've now been on them for nearly two months and the difference is amazing. As kt75 said, I feel like the old me again, and I also realise just how long I have not been myself. I am so thankful for everyone's encouragement on this thread.

On the downside, I've been having a pretty awful week. Thought it was PMT, but that doesn't usually last this long. I have no energy at all, get frustrated with dd who is teething and not herself either and have cried twice today alone. It's not as bad as pre-Fluoxetine, but I still can't explain it. Could be sleep related as I haven't been sleeping at all well this week.

But that's nothing to do with the pills I'm sure. I'm fairly certain it's lack of sleep. Sorry about that ramble!

To anyone who reads this and is not sure about taking them, they really will make a difference!

tid your last post sounds just like me - how weird. I am trying to learn to control my temper a bit more but I am so much better than before fluoxotine. sex drive not returned much yet though (been on them since June last year).

Just noticed your bit about the stimulant, Kath4kids...I have been taking them at night for fear of being ill all day as I can't with cope being ill and entertaining dd for 12 solid hours - I'm lucky if I get an hour's worth of naps out of her!

This might explain my sleep problems this week...however, I have been sleeping really well since I started taking them up until now. Oops...more rambling. Apologies!

I take mine at night before bed too. Doctor told me not to take them in that day especially if driving.

Darlingbud - sounds very familiar! I had a really bad time with my temper and dealing with rage. I have been SO much better the last few weeks on the pills - the difference is incredible. This week, however, I have an extremely short fuse and seem to have zero-tolerance for the slightest whinge, not to mention the biting that has suddenly started up. GRRRRR!

What are you doing to help with that? At my last counselling session the counsellor was convinced that there's still something "in there" that's making me angry.

I really hope it's just sleep this time, though.

As for sex drive...giving birth has COMPLETELY put me off the idea anyway, so that's one side effect I don't mind!

I tend to still have a short fuse when I am short of sleep or when I am due to get my period.

I was on 30mg, didn't like it at all. Felt twitchy and nervous, and didn't feel much less miserable.

Easy to come off though, now on citalopram, after the initial few weeks of hell we're doing nicely.

I have had 40mg of fluoxetine per day since day 1.

I was advised to take it after breakfast. Apparently, taking it on an empty stomach is more likely to cause nausea, which seemed to be the only side-effect my GP thought likely to affect me.

Anyway, veering off topic slightly, as of Friday I am reducing my dosage (under GP's supervision) in order to be off entirely in 6 weeks' time. How long before my libido realises?

Sorry to write something so negative but I was prscribed these when I was very depressed and I felt very bad on them indeed, Didnt agree with me at all, aggravated the depression and I didnt know it was the pills , they actually made me feel more depressed! Also very anxious and jittery doc advised me off them and tried another and felt better pretty quickly.

I know these do work for some but just be aware that it can sometimes not agree with everybody and if you do feel bad it may well be down to them. If you feel strangely agitated etc.