Approaching second week on fluoxetine and feeling worse
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi everyone. I am just feeling very discouraged today. I know these meds take time to work but I felt I was improving then last night was extremely anxious and panicky. I was on 5 mgs for a week and now as of tomorrow it will be one week on 10mgs.(so almost 2 weeks total.) I know it can go back and forth for a while and i KNOW I need to be patient... But has anyone had improvement in their anxiety only to have it hit harder (xanax didn't even help) ans does anyone else have their thoughts kind of go all over the place as they are falling asleep? it's kind of odd. I'm sure it's all just side effects. Hoping they will fade. But after the panic last night it makes me want to give up. I have gone on for anxiety/panic and depression (but as my panic has been so bad the last few months i haven't even has time to worry about my depression haha). Thanks in advance for any encouragement!
0 likes, 8 replies
katie70778 sarahannie
Edited
Hi Sarah!
Please do not give up!! I started in November on 20ml and December was in a right old state..january doctor up me up to 30ml...did not have a side effects going to 30ml as you name it i had every side effect on 20ml... i seriously thought i was dying...didn't move out the house for the whole time! i could not see light at the end of tunnel. I felt so ill but then suddenly come January the morning anxiety start to ease, got every other day, then noticed my mood changing and i was waking with no anxiety!! Now Anxiety free..got to the stage do not get stressed anymore and February felt like a new person...2 weeks ago took a lovely 5 day trip with my youngest daughter (She's 15) to NY and left the rest of family at home! If you would of asked me in December there is no way i would agree to of gone!! I sold half my business in January and felt relived and work so much more managable! I was the same as you on verge of giving up...I am so glad i did not as hell know's where i would be now!! These tabs do not work over night but have helped me so much...I wish you all the best xxx
sarahannie katie70778
Posted
Hi Katie. Thank you so much for responding! That seems to be the answer I read everywhere. Just hold on. But I see you say you didn't move from the house. I don't have that option unfortunately and it's very hard to go to work feeling so panicky. I said to myself I will try and give it a little longer. I also think maybe because I did have a few days where I felt pretty calm and no impending doom that maybe it's a sign the medicine IS going to work for me. I can handle side effects but really the only one I have at this point is increased panic which is crazy frustrating. I guess I also wonder how do you know the difference between give it time and this med is just too activating for your system? Well I guess I'll see how the weekend goes. Thanks again. It's nice to know people understand how I feel.
feelingpositive sarahannie
Posted
Hi I hope you are feeling better and not panicky anymore.
I felt like that exactly the same way when I started Lexapro my old antidepressant I couldnt even work I was so agitated . The agitation hit me at week 2-3 . So I took some time off of work . Ativan 0.5mg helped me with that I took it when I could take it any more cause I was so agitated , I tried not to use it much . It helped .
I hope you are feeling better 😃
sarahannie feelingpositive
Posted
thanks for replying. I ended up getting off that and going onto Lexapro. feel it is working much better. fluoxetine was just too strong for me.
yu69395 sarahannie
Posted
Hello
I'm so sorry to hear you're struggling with initial side effects that FLU causes right now.
But please don't give up.
Anxiety (it's horrible) and other uncomfortable initial side effects such as tremors on hands and legs WILL BE GONE In my case, it took 8-9 weeks. I'm on Week 15 now. no more symptom lately.
i took a brand Prozac for 6 month before a long time ago. So I started FLU 20mg, then 40mg then 60mg that was a little too much. i'm currently on 40mg.
I'm also on Mirtazapine 15mg just for sleep ( trying to come off since i can sleep without it) . But i think Mirtazapine also helped reduce anxiety. i don't take benzodiazepines for anxiety. I take Hydroxyzine Pam that is antihistamine for anxiety. But i don't need it so much lately.
sarahannie yu69395
Posted
thank you so much for taking the time to reply but I'm going to come off the med. I think it is just too strong for some people (me). hope you continue to feel well!
Eyeshen sarahannie
Posted
I am having exactly the same situation. I am almost finishing 3rd week on 20mgs. The anxiety and sleep disturbance are the worst side effects I have. Are you taking any meds for anxiety? Like Benzodiazepines? It can help you through this side effects until they subside. you can consult your doctor about them before you decide to come off the med..
sarahannie Eyeshen
Posted
yeah I take xanax as needed but it doesn't even help sometimes. I know everyone keeps saying hang on. give it more time but I have had enough. I work and coach and I can't be feeling even worse. I did speak to my doctor. She agreed that something else might not be as activating for me. I'm also going to get better about supplementing my iron, D and B12 which are all low and can make anxiety worse. good luck to you!