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Advice needed

Posted , 3 users are following.

ali12345
ali12345

I'm new to this.  Been on fluxotine since 2009 when my son was diagnosed with cancer.  20 mgs per day,  Upon his death in 2011 doctor increased me to 40 mgs per day.  I have now no reason to be depressed.  New home, new town, retired, money in the bank, yet I'm very depressed.  Do you think I need to up to 60 mgs or is that too much?  I feel unwlling to socialize, sad and very irritable, especially with my husband.  Don't even want to talk to him and he's a wondeful man.  Some advice please.

0 likes, 16 replies

16 Replies

  • karen76145
    karen76145 ali12345

    Posted

    Hi, Ali. I am so sorry about your son. A lot of people take 60mg. I am on 40mg right now and am considering going up to 60mg. It sounds like you may need to. Does your doctor suggest that you increase? 
    • ali12345
      ali12345 karen76145

      Posted

      Thank you for replying.  I have recently moved and have gotten a new doctor.  I am seeing him in July and will talk to him then.  My previous doctor knew me very well and really helped me.  Do you find yourself more depressed or anxious?  I am concerned about my irritability along with my unhappiness. 
    • karen76145
      karen76145 ali12345

      Posted

      I recently went back on flouxetine after trying Saint John's Wort which wasn't enough for me. I found myself getting depressed and very irritable, and then came the anxiety which caused me to give it up and go back on flouxetine. I am now trying to get leveled out on it, but am still having ups and downs with anxiety, although much less than before. I am praying that this all evens out soon. Otherwise I may have to increase.
    • ali12345
      ali12345 karen76145

      Posted

      Thank you Karen.  You have helped me alot.  I didn't know if the irritability was part of the process or if it was just me.  Now I see it all ties together.  So I will try to increase to 60 when I see the doc.  Thanks again.

       

    • karen76145
      karen76145 ali12345

      Posted

      You are very welcome. If you need support anytime, we are here. 

       

  • Richo67
    Richo67 ali12345

    Posted

    Hi Ali (& Karen)

    I have just started to disply side effects since going from 40-60 - 2 weeks now and the disturbed nights, yawning and tiredness have started kicking in.

    Other than that I'm more "up" today - better than the last few weeks i would say. This is how I felt when I settled on 40 (about week 6 maybe).

    Lets hope it stays like this now!!

    • karen76145
      karen76145 Richo67

      Posted

      Richo, was that 6 weeks on 40mg or 6 weeks from the beginning of starting flouxetine?
    • Richo67
      Richo67 karen76145

      Posted

      Karen......

      Ooooo it seems a long time ago now. 20mg for 5 weeks ish...then 30mg for a couple of weeks, then 40 for about 8 weeks (just worked it out) and now 60 for the last 3.

      As I have said to others - I have told a lot of people about my problems.. some of them at work - including some of my managers. They have been brilliant. I had "other ways" of dealing with it before now... other substances that were not available from the doctor. That all stopped at the end of september... then my situation became more apparent and could not be hidden anymore. I chose to be honest... very honest... the Fluoxetine lets me deal with the issues as they arise. I guess I have always been sensitive (words hurt)... I need to continue to face this and be able to smile sometimes too.

      I still have down periods - when I let it get to me.. but i am much stronger now.

    • karen76145
      karen76145 Richo67

      Posted

      In the last two days I can feel more of my normal self coming through and that makes me very hopeful. So glad you are doing so well, now.
    • Richo67
      Richo67 karen76145

      Posted

      Everything is relative I suppose. I'm doing better than before.

      I can cope better with other things that I need to.

      I smile when I can and laugh at every opportunity.

      Making the most of the good times (I'm hoping) will offset the bad times... and there are still plenty of those!!

    • Richo67
      Richo67 karen76145

      Posted

      Yes, but only when severely stressed. Not in general now - not triggered by my own thoughts... whereas in the past, all I had to do was think negatively for a good old panic attack.

      Now it takes a bloody good wallop to get me there...

      These meds have stopped all but the most extreme of circumstances from affecting me that way. I would say that human nature of self preservation needs us to have that intense thought to alert us to real dangers.

      I feel less fragile and less vulnerable... so "stronger"....

    • karen76145
      karen76145 Richo67

      Posted

      I'm so glad you are doing so well. I'm still having generalized anxiety, but mostly in the morning. I do feel like I am coming out of this, but I wish it would go a little faster.
    • Richo67
      Richo67 karen76145

      Posted

      I hope it will too...

      Friends help... not necessesarily close friends... sometimes we worry about scaring people away... but other friends... people on here maybe... people that understand... and you KNOW wont turn their back.

      Rejection is hard enough when you are in good health...!!

  • ali12345
    ali12345

    Posted

    Thanks Richie.  As for the sleeping issues I have had them for years so that wouldn't be a big change for me.  But the fact that you are beginning to feel "up" is great.
    • Richo67
      Richo67 ali12345

      Posted

      Ali

      Anxiety will stop you from socialising... this is natural.

      The underlying reasons for yours may be being exacerbated (excuse spooling he-he!) by the new home, new town, retired phase you have just entered.

      You do not have to fear your new surroundings... fear being the wrong word... you need familiararity... something constant... something that makes you happy to ease the transition perhaps?

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