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6 weeks on fluoxetine and no improvement

Posted , 5 users are following.

LittleLR
LittleLR

I've been on fluoxetine for 6 weeks now. My doc prescribed it because For depression and I hoped I'd feel a bit better by now. Still feel low and hopeless, still have zero notification and still feel like wine is the only thing that helps. I have cut back on drinking wine but still feel it helps more than the flyoxetine

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

2 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • iamchris
    iamchris LittleLR

    Posted

    It took me about 8 weeks to feel better. Has ur doc upped the dosage. Also and don't need to tell ya this....alcohol is a depressant so it will fight against the fluox. It just takes determinedness and a lot of willpower. Have u been off work? Also have u been doing any breathing techniques? Hope u feel better soon
  • vix167
    vix167 LittleLR

    Posted

    Hi littler

    Sorry to hear you feel so low. I think I started to feel physically better around wk 6-8 with some improvement to my mood but not lots. I had other stuff going on as well though which dragged me down but finally feel like me now most of the time but it took til about wk 14 and an increase in dose to 30mg to get me there (at 16 wks now).

    I didnt really drink for a while, when I have ive had the hangovers from hell (but I do tend to have my months quota in one night! :-) ). The times ive drank I have felt pretty low for a good few days after so I know if I drank regularly i'd be getting nowhere.

    Its worth sticking with it a bit longer as 6-8 wks seems to be when people start to notice a change so it may just be around the corner for you - hope so.

    Are you doing all the extra stuff that helps, vitamins n fish oils, regular exercise, relaxation techniques? If not these really do make a difference the exercise especially (n I do not like exercise but often walk now to local supermarket, ive even been on a short "run"!!! ).

    Hope things brighten for you soon, things will get better it just takes time

    Vix

  • daz101
    daz101 LittleLR

    Posted

    Go back to your doc and explain

    How your feeling

    He/she might up the dose

    And if that doesn't work they may try another med

    But if your drinking wine then your not giving the meds a chance to fully operate

    I know it's hard but do try to cut the wine out

    You'll be undoing any good work where you've took the meds and still drank

  • LittleLR
    LittleLR

    Posted

    Thanks for everyone's advice. Have decided to make another appointment with my doctor to see if I maybe need an increased dose. I am on 20mg at the moment. Other than the medication I haven't been doing much else. I know that excercise and medication do help when treating depression but I have absolutely zero motivation for anything. I'm a student and have missed some college but my head of program is aware that I've been having personal problems. I do mobile and pc repairs from home to make some extra money, but I can't even bring myself to finish the repairs I have here or get back to people to explain why there is a delay. I've never felt such low mood or lack of motivation in my life, I'd quite happily spend all day in bed hiding from the world because I don't want to see anyone. I can't do that though because I have a daughter and I know she is priority here. So I push myself to get on with the day to day things for her sake. Before I started on fluoxetine I was drinking on average a bottle of wine every night. Once I started the medication I stopped for the first few weeks and after that was only having the odd drink at the weekend. I do feel that when I have had a drink my mood is lower so I've decided from

    Today to have at least a month of no drinking and hopefully I'll start to see a difference. Thanks again everyone for your advice.

    • vix167
      vix167 LittleLR

      Posted

      Well done for making that decision! How old is your daughter? At my worst I did school run with nightie under clothes n went back to bed as it was the only thing that eased my nausea.

      I work part time in a small firm and tried to miss as little as work as possible otherwise my boss had to do my job on top of his. I have to admit though it was a serious chore to get showered n out to work but I id always feel better later on those days cos id been busy n distracted (thankfully im not face to face with customers as I looked as sick as I felt!). Try push yourself to do something in the morning then rest in afternoon if you need to. It does help.

      Good luck!

      Vix

    • LittleLR
      LittleLR vix167

      Posted

      hi Vix,

      My daughter is 4 and on the days I'm not at college I tend to take her to nursery and then go back to bed. I know I should try and get on with things but I just have absolutely no motovation or want to do anything.

      I'll try your tip about pushing myself to get something done in the morning it might help me get more stuff done.

      Thanks again for the advice Vic

      L x

  • paul29655
    paul29655 LittleLR

    Posted

    HI Little 

    I am on them for 6 weeks and feel very low too. I had one good day this week on monday felt pretty normal.

    Just keep in there life will change for us. 

    Hope you get better and thinking of you. 

    Regards 

    Paul 

    • LittleLR
      LittleLR paul29655

      Posted

      Hi Paul,

      Thanks for your reply, it's good to know that there are others who feel the same and are having the same troubles.

      Hope you start to feel better soon

      L x

  • LittleLR
    LittleLR

    Posted

    Saw my doctor today and she feels hopeful that I will turn the corner soon, but does think that doubling my dose will make a huge difference. So as of tonight I will be on 40mg of fluoxetine. I hope the extra dose does start to help as I hate feeling like this.

    Thanks for everyone's advice.

    L x

    • vix167
      vix167 LittleLR

      Posted

      Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

      Take care

      Vix

  • alex10154
    alex10154 LittleLR

    Posted

    Hi Im exactly at the same point of treatment as you (6 weeks) and have been reading this Forum since day 1

    At the very beginning everything I was feeling increased considerably, I have depression and anxiety which was so bad I was having cold shivers and physically vomiting. Every morning I would wake up (after having about 2-3 hours sleep) and the depression and anxiety would hit me straight away, I have 2 school age children and like you jist about managed to get them to school but then hated the whole day being alone.

    I too would have some wine in the evening and whilst it relaxed me at the time the next day or 2 were horrendous. I soon worked this out and stopped completely. I also went back to the Drs and she gave me Zoplicone to help with the sleep. I am now starting to turn the corner I feel, I wake up (still early but have had decent sleep) sometimes some negative thoughts enter my mind like this morning but go very quickly and I jump on here for reassurance.

    Please try and stop the drinking you really will notice the difference smile

    It is a very slow process and I, like many other wanted a quick fix, unfortunately there isn't one. I am due to see my Dr again soon and we will decide if my dose needs to be upped.

    I wouldn't wish it on anyone the way I was feeling 6 weeks ago and really couldn't see a way through but like many others have stuck with it and hopefully going in the right direction.

    I know my journey isn't over yet but feel I am getting there SLOWLY but SURELY and I know you don't think so right now but so will you.

    X

    • vix167
      vix167 alex10154

      Posted

      Hi Alex

      Well done for sticking it out its not easy! See how you get on for another couple of weeks n then speak to dr, I started feeling better between wks 6 & 8.

      Hope you turn that corner soon.

      All the best

      Vix

    • alex10154
      alex10154 vix167

      Posted

      Thank you for your encouraging words, I have been reading your posts on here since I started and together with some others have helped a great deal with this long journey. Only now do I feel I can maybe give a few words of encouragement and support as we all know exactly how terribly debilitating this desease is.

    • LittleLR
      LittleLR alex10154

      Posted

      Hi Alex,

      I realised that mixing alcohol with the fluoxetine wasn't doubg me any favours, in fact I felt so much worse for a few days after having a drink, so I have decided to have at least a month drink free to allow the fluoxetine time to work.

      I am now on 40mg fluoxetine but have been getting terrible tension headaches! I hope they stop soon!

      I'm glad you are starting to see an improvement Alex, I am seeing an improvement too though so maybe their is light at the end of the tunnel!

      Take care

      L x

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