My story - what to expect from Fluoxetine.

My experience so far (it's a long read!)...

In January I was a competent Compliance Manager, attended the gym daily, had a perfect relationship, a great social life and a meticulously clean house.

By March I was crying in the store cupboard, making excuses to call in sick, ignoring all my friends, arguing with my boyfriend and barely had the energy to brush my teeth - let alone exercise or do housework. I rarely ate or slept and I had the attention span of a goldfish. I was a wreck. All for no apparent reason.

My boyfriend forced me to see a Doctor, who signed me off sick with depression and prescribed 20mg of Fluoxetine daily.

Week 1-2: All I did was sleep and cry. I became terrified of everything and was convinced either me or someone I loved was about to die. I couldn't eat and my teeth were grinding horribly. I stopped showering a refused to brush my hair. These weeks felt like months.

Week 2-6: I started to take it before bed instead of in the morning and slowly regained the ability to stay awake bit by bit, but spent all day on the sofa and was too anxious to speak to anyone except my boyfriend, who I suddenly couldn't stand the sight of anyway. Time slowed to a standstill - I didn't think I'd ever get better. I ground my teeth totally flat.

Week 6-9: My mood began to stabilize, I started speaking regularly to someone on this forum who was very supportive and I stopped feeling so angry/upset all the time. I remembered why hygiene is important! I remained too anxious to speak to anyone else though and still slept every few hours. I felt like I'd been on Fluoxetine for YEARS.

Week 9-12: I began forcing myself to go for long walks with my boyfriend (though I really didn't want to) and started to remember how much I loved him. I kept a mood dairy and started eating again... probably too much. Though still anxious, each day I gained a little more energy and started to take pride in my house again.

Week 12-16: I found myself again. I started laughing, wanting to get dressed every day and even started talking to my friends. I realized how little time had passed since I stopped working, it felt like forever. I still had a few bad days in between and they seem to last a lifetime when you g through them.

It's now mid July and today I started a new job as a retail Manager. I've been walking a few miles a day, eating healthily and generally enjoying life more than I think I've been able to in years. I don't know when I became depressed but Fluoxetine has made me feel like I actually appreciate things more than I ever have. I still have the odd anxious or teary moment and I need more sleep than I used to - but I can't believe how much things have changed for the better. If this happens to me again at least I know there is light at the end of the tunnel. The only lasting side effect now is that my jaw clenches when I'm tired - my dentist isn't impressed but at least I don't smell anymore :-)

The journey is horrible. I'm 26 and in the past few months I feel like I've aged a few decades, but Fluoxetine really does work. Push yourself to get out there and not give into depression and you'll get through it.

I hope this helps someone and is worth the chore of reading. Good luck xxx

6 likes, 14 replies