8 week on Fluoxetine and still suffering, but I have found a way to deal with it.
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hi
I have been on Fluoxetine for 8 weeks and 3 days (3 weeks on 20mg and the rest on 40mg) and am still suffering with the side effects and high anxiety especially in the morning. My dr has suggested I return to see her in 4 week to see if there are any improvements and if not consider changing to another med. I have read lots and lots of fantastic posts on here and I believe that in some cases it can take 12 weeks or so to start feeling the benefit so I am going to keep thinking positive and hope they start to work. I like many people I imagine have been trawling the internet wondering if its just me that seems to be suffering after 8 weeks but have found that so many people are in the same boat and recover after 12 weeks or so which has given me great comfort to know I am not alone. On trawling the internet I came across a post from an American chap that mentioned he'd tried EFT and how amazing it was at making him feel less anxious and able to sleep so I have looked into it and tried it for a couple of days now and it has really helped calm me down and feel less anxious. I wanted to share this with everyone who is suffering with Anxiety, depression etc as I have found it a godsend.
Here is a link to a basic web site, it is so simple to follow and easy to do. I found rubbing my wrists as shown and ears is makes me so relaxed when I have the tremors and anxiety. Here is the link.
http://www.finebalanceacupuncture.com/2011/04/acupressure-for-instant-anxiety-relief/
I really hope this post reaches people suffering with a mental illness and hope that it helps everyone with the slow battle of getting better.
0 likes, 12 replies
Octopus john19437
Posted
Thank you so much for this, I'm about to start Fluoxetine and have been dreading at as I already have anxiety and am fatigued from other medications and know I am likely to get worse before I get better.
Knowing there is something like that that works to fall back on when I'm feeling low makes me much more confident about starting it.
john19437 Octopus
Posted
Hi Octopus
Thank you for the message, there are so many positives on this site. Every one is genuine and going through the same hell, some get well quick and some it takes more time (like me)
It gives me reassurance reading peoples stories and when they recovered. I am still not there but I see a light at the end of the tunnel, I have had a few great days and have started to feel better towards the evening. I'm not going to say being on Fluoxetine is easy as it isn't it can have horrible side effects for some people and for some it works straight away. I suffer with stress and anxiety due to running a business that has to be reactive which has made me ill but I have taken fluoxetine for 8 weeks or so now and I am coping better each day and not taken any time off work, its just the side effect which are horrendous still. A big part of healing I believe is admitting you have the problem and speaking to a doctor from this point we recover, we may need to wait a while or even try other meds but we will recover. Good luck with your journey and contact me at any time you like. All the very best.
alison85282 john19437
Posted
John I am probably on week 12 of Flu. I am still getting some anxiety symptoms and intrusive thoughts BUT i have found that Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT has really worked well for me too. It is also known as tapping. If you look on youtube you will find lots of videos to help guide you through it. I really like it as well. Thanks for sharing!
john19437 alison85282
Posted
Hi Alison
Do you feel better on week 12 than week 9? The problem I am having is I feel great from around 2pm in the afternoon and wake up the next morning feeling great but about after an hour of taking the tablets I feel very anxious, internal tremors etc etc, these feelings get worse though out the day and disappear around 2pm each day. I have not read any comments from people on here that they have experienced the same thing. Do you feel like this too? It miy be because they are strong at first then wear off. I just hope I haven't been prescribed a too higher dose than I can take.
Thanks
alison85282 john19437
Posted
John-
I have come to find that everyone is extremely different. Unfortunately, I have been experiencing tremors or trembling for the past month. Not sure if it is bc I am on too high of a dose (40 mg but I don't think it is because I have anxiety everyday) but to be almost 29 years old and shaking like a leaf when I do presentations at work is horrible.
What the medication has done for me is help me face some of my fears and problems and learn to cope with them in a healthy way. It is, what i think, at least chemically balanced me so that I can think of things rationally. When I have a spike in my anxiety, using mindfulness techniques, I am able to step out of it a little bit and not get so upset. When I am feeling down, I know that the feeling is temporary and it typically wears off. It has been ALOT of personal work but it has also been alot of personal growth. General anxiety disorder runs in my family, but I had been dealing with it with distraction and business for about 6 years until I finally broke down! Now I am on the mend.
I also highly suggest meditation and learning mindfulness. It forces you to sit with your feelings and accept who you are and accept your feelings. However, I was not able to start benefitting from these techniques until probably 7 weeks on meds. Let me know if you have any questions! We are all in this together. Take it day by day and focus on your breath when you are feeling "crazy".
john19437 alison85282
Posted
Good morning Alison
I had a horrendous day yesterday. I didn't recover from the tremors and I have still got them now. A friend visited me yesterday evening and he is quite a loud character and I couldn't cope with him and asked him to leave. I cannot believe I did that it's not me but I was so anxious and stressed I needed to close everything off and be on my own. I was so looking forward to feeling better in the afternoon and when it didn't happen I got so down and worked up. I even thought about just giving up and letting it take me. I live on my own with my little doggy and I have a few friends I have opened up to who are all very supportive and understand what I am going through but I feel so alone and I am struggling to deal with this. Your message to me was really inspiring and I hope we both get through this. Thank you for listening.
alison85282 john19437
Posted
Hi John,
I am sorry you had a bad day. I know the feeling all too well. We will absolutely get through it! Sure you will have good days and bad days but remember your anxiety and stress is NOT you. Your thoughts are NOT you. They are merely symptoms of an overactive mind and nervous system. Anxiety is a physical condition not just mental. I highly suggest reading some of Claire Weeks' books. Her writing has really helped me recover. Also read "Mindfulness" and learn more about self-awareness. Education has been my greatest tool of recovery.
john19437 alison85282
Posted
Hi Alison
Thank you for your message and information. I have ordered Mindfulness off Amazon and it should arrive today.
I had a super day yesterday I woke up like I usually do feeling OK but dread taking the meds as I have felt so bad for most of the day after but yesterday no tremors no side effects and I actually laughed (I cannot remember the last time I laughed) Unfortunately today I have got the tremors again and feel anxious but I have had a day as my old self so I am not going to let this get me down.
How are you feeling, I hope you are well
John
sarahrinaz john19437
Posted
I am looking into EFT with a local person, how do you feel it has helped you?? has there been any negative effects doing it?? I am looking to get through this emotional time with the Prozac, I'm into my 4th week of taking it and having one good day, one bad, its not consistent for me yet and its driving me mad.... I want so badly to just feel happy and normal like I did 3 months ago......I have a tendency to be a little impatient, so anything that can get me through this slump/yucky time I'm willing to try.
john19437 sarahrinaz
Posted
Good morning Sarah
I have continued to work through the terrible side effects as I have my own business and its difficult to take time away. I use ETF several times a day while at work for a couple of minutes at a time. It relaxes me a lot I think it just takes my mind off the side effects for a while and puts me in a better place and I have had no negative effects at all. I am into week 10 now and I will be honest it has been a horrendous time. I am still having tremors throughout the day and high anxiety but on Monday I had a full day without the side effects which has made me more positive even though I have had the tremors every day since. Everyone who takes this medicine goes through side effects some a lot worse than others and I think most people think its net going to work when you get to a certain time of taking them. I have read some fantastic posts on here from people who have got through it and these posts have kept me going. Everyone one on here is suffering and I feel everyone knows what each other is going through and genuinely want each other to get better.
I am probably one of the most impatient people you could meet but taking these tablets you have got to be patient all our bodies and minds are different and the meds differ with each of us. I have also cut out the caffeine completely, I drink hot water with fresh lime while at work and a chamomile tea in the evening which I feel is helping too. I hope you start feeling better soon and please get in touch any time and I will respond as quickly as possible.
brian49010 john19437
Posted
john
i too have been encouraged by people on here. i have learned more about anxiety and the meds . i had the tremors too they eventually go away . we have to be very patient. feeling better in afternoon is also normal . means you getting better!
it takes a while to get better with meds some people 2 months and some 9 months everyone is different
stick with same med and dose as long as you can safely. your body has to adjust to it. hang in there!
john19437 brian49010
Posted
Good morning Brian
Thank you for your kind words of encouragement they mean so much. I am still suffering but had 1 good day on Monday which has give me hope and its people like you who offer words of support that keeps a lot of us battling through and coping with the suffering we are going through. I am going to hang in there. I am seeing the Dr on the 5th Nov which will be 12 weeks in. I do hope I feel better by then but if not I am going to stick with the meds I feel they will work eventually and I don't want to change or give up after being on them so long. I do think the notes with the meds should be altered, stating 4 to 6 weeks and you feel the benefits is mis leading and gives a lot of us false hope and when we get to 6 weeks and we are no better it makes us feel they are not working and is very disheartening.