Posted , 21 users are following.
Really not happy with the progress on the fluoxetine, I'v been on 20mg now for 7 weeks and was hoping to be back to my normal self by now. I am also on 80mg propranolol. Is it too early days to change the dosage or meds really hoping for more improvement.
Thanks
2 likes, 482 replies
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Em_lisa abi28
Posted
Good luck
abi28 Em_lisa
Posted
Thanks for the reply. I have had a review and I think my gp was keen on me to up to 40mg but before she could really suggest this I had already told her I didn't want to because I had read it can take upto 8-12 weeks and if I up it too 40mg I can start from scratch again.
The gp told me the first time I saw her I have GAD then my therapist thinks I may have depression and anxiety.
katecogs abi28
Posted
7 weeks is still early days - these type of meds can take months (took my son 9 months to recover and myself 6 months on a different type).
Everyone is different of course, so you shouldn't base your recovery on anyone else's timings or that your doctor may say 6 weeks etc. The meds works differently for each inividual so it could take some weeks or many months.
You usually get side effects with each increase, but it usually only lasts a week or so.
Don't put a time frame on your recovery - just let the meds to their thing for you in their own time.
You need a lot of patience and perseverance with these meds.
K x
abi28 katecogs
Posted
katecogs abi28
Posted
Its not easy I know - we've all been there. It does get easier though xx
abi28 katecogs
Posted
brian97812 katecogs
Posted
Kate cogs
I am 13 weeks in 40mg prozac . For anxiety and obsessive worry. I need some encouragement to stay the course. It started when hurt back in 1999 . Dr put me on Paxil miserable anxiety side effects. 7 months later all better. Felt so good I quit taking it 2006 bad mistake. Started back on Paxil miserable worry and anxiety side effects .6 to 7 months later all better. Quit taking it again fall 2013 bad withdrawal again. Different Dr this time we decided to go with zoloft about same side effects went through a tornado took about 7 months to get better. I really wanted to come off this medication so I thought zoloft easy to come off. Wrong. We have decided prozac. Had several side effects. All gone but Still have higher anxiety and muscle tension .keep telling myself I will get better be patient. My history says around 6 months so 3 months still too early. But the worry side of me with the extra anxiety side effect is telling me oh no it won't work. Lots of extra stress rt now. I just need encouragement that I am doing the right thing and don't give up. Sorry for the long story.
Thanks
brian97812 katecogs
Posted
Also side effect wake up extra early like 4am. But just lay there and don't want to do anything. Can't seem to relax. It will get better be patient!
katecogs brian97812
Posted
Hi Brian
Oh poor you - sorry to hear you've had such a time trying to be without SSRI's. How long did you take withdrawing from each of the medicines? They take a long, long time to withdraw from ..... not just months. The slower and these with the smallest reduction is best. I spent a year coming off meds. Doing it too quick by too big a jump isn't kind to the body either.
Yes the meds will work - trouble is when you're suffering with anxiety you'll get that negative voice in the background telling you it won't work this time etc etc ..... they are only just thoughts, and you know you'll get better (even though you don't feel it). You know the medicine works and it will work again for you.
One the biggest things that helped me (as well as taking meds) was learning about anxiety and all its side effects.
We keep ourselves in the anxiety cycle by being afraid of anxiety ... the very thing we want to escape from. Negative thoughts, aches / pains, depression, disturbing thoughts, and so many more are all side effects of anxiety ..... all of which we end up worrying about which in turn produces even more anxiety. So we end up feeding the fire.
Understanding that when the anxiety goes, so do all these side effects ... so really there is no need to worry about them because the main cause is anxiety. I know though its easier said than done not to worry about them.
When I came off meds I started taking 5-HTP and l-tyrosine. 5-HTP is a natural SSRI and can be bought at any chemist. I knew I needed something and so went onto these once off prescriptions meds (you cannot take them together). 5-HTP causes no side effects like prescription meds do, and you can start and stop without problems and no withdrawal. They work quicker too. So ... this is something to consider once you're off meds in the future.
For now though, the Prozac will work for you. It is that waiting game again though sadly, but it does get easier as time goes by. 3 months is early days for some, but you're so nearly there, and things should start easing up for you soon. When I took meds for the second time I told myself they would work, that the thoughts were just a side effect and I just had to wait. I still worried and felt anxious, but I told myself that anyway. They worked eventually ..... and I stayed on them for a year, spent a year coming off them and have been meds free since last year now.
I'll private message you too.
K x
brian97812 katecogs
Posted
sam89566 abi28
Posted
Hi I've been on for roughly 4 weeks longer than you and decided to taper off by taking one every other day, please take my advice and see your dr before changing as I have just been off for one day and I feel worse than ever. Seek medical advise and take care
abi28
Posted
After 7 weeks does anyone think I should change the dosage or stick with the 20mg. Has anyone upped their dosage from 20mg to 40mg if so at what stage not sure if 7 weeks is still early but I don't know what to expect like is this it? Just really confused how will I know if the fluox is working at its full potential
sam89566 abi28
Posted
Abi28 stick with 20 for now, I've been reading all the replies and I'm so glad I found this forum, it's made a real difference to me that I'm not alone in this. Thanks to all, I don't think any of us really want to depend on these medications but thank goodness they are there. Best wishes to all.
abi28 sam89566
Posted
I'm trying but it's so up and down today my anxiety is through the roof and I don't know what to do to lower my anxiety levels
abi28
Posted
I feel like my low mood has improved but my anxiety seems worse for some reason. So it feels like as my mood has lifted the anxiety has increased which brings my mood back down but not as bad as I was, I also feel like my negative thoughts and worries don't effect me as bad but are still there and very strong.
As the time goes on does anyone know if my anxiety will improve from the fluox?
boggers abi28
Posted
I too felt my low mood improve, but anxiety seemed to worsen as I got used to it. I have been on fluoxetine for almost 10 weeks now. I keep holding on to hope that it'll get better, but since of course everyone's journey is different, I don't know how much longer it'll be until i get MY breakthrough.
I have to mention that I started working again and I am drinking a cup of coffee every two days or so and it really has sent me over the edge. I need to go back to never ingesting caffeine as that is the safest thing to do (no matter how tired I get during the day). I am tweaking over here. Caffeine for me really messes my nervous system up on this medication.
abi28 boggers
Posted
I have been working too I dropped my hours and feel like going work helps me.
One minute I think don't increase and the next I think yes do increase it could really help.