are these normal side effects?

Hi Lisa

Those are all completely normal side effects. Make sure you see your doc weekly for the first few weeks and let them know how you're getting on so they can monitor you.

I'm in to week 6 of the tablets and started feeling better from week 3 prob and then had a bit of a wobble at week 5 but overall I'm much better. The side effects you are experiencing will calm down much sooner than that though. Try writing a diary so you can keep track of how you feel because you'll forget and then when you feel better you'll be convinced you aren't until you read back and see how you did feel (if that makes sense)

I hope you start to feel better soon. It really does get better. It's a rough ride - well has been for me but I let myself get so bad before I started taking the tablets that started from rock bottom so has prob been harder for me and taken a bit longer to pull me back up. Stick with it - it'll be worth it in the end. Ask doc for diazepam

And beta blockers to help with the side effects x

Hi j50802

thank you so much for replying, and so quickly too. The side effects listed on the leaflet that comes with the meds is vast but doesn't contain all I'm feeling, so i immediately started to panic. i also have difficulty breathing. Not so much that its causing anything bad to happen, but as i have hypersensitivity, i'm obsessing over it!

the diary is an awesome idea. I felt really ill on friday, then yesterday much better, and back to awful again today, and cant remember friday haha.

I have taken fluoxetine before, after the breakdown in the relationship with my childrens dad, but don't remember feeling like this at all. I was just weepy and tired back then, with no physical side effects at all.

What is diazepam? I was prescribed amitrytaline about a month ago and was scared to take it and now my gp says not to take it with the fluoxetine.

Thank you again,

Lisa. xx

Hey.

You sound a bit like me ... I've been on it before but seems so much worse and harder this time. I'm having to go back to work tomoro after being of for 7 weeks so feeling anxious tonight!

Mine is all anxiety too so were on the same wave lenght with that side of things. What do you have that isn't listed in the side effects? X

Good luck with work tomorrow, i'm sure you'll be fine!!

Chest pain isn't listed, or the stabbing pains, so i immediately think i'm having a heart attack. As long as i know what i'm feeling are side effects, i can tell myself that and not be so anxious about it.

I also have a really stiff neck, not sure if i slept awkwardly, but its playing on my mind.

It seems a little ridiculous that they would give meds for anxiety that actually increase it!

Unfortunatley it's one of the side effects that it heightens your anxiety before it levels it out - it's ridiculous!!

Are you working?

Do you know what's triggered it this time round. Happy to pm if you want ? X

I'll message you. x

I tried this, much against my better judgement, and under pressure from the GP. I gave up after 5 days, the

side effects were worse than the anxiety, and it made me feel hungry, then sick when I ate anything. Since

then I have gradually got myself under control under most situations. The problem now is that my anxiety and depression were caused by an operation, which was changed when I was under anaesthetic, a difficult recovery from the anaesthetic its self, and then loosing my job because I was on long term sick leave. As I am a nurse the fear caused by going back to the hospital is a problem, which is not easily overcome. I have been unable to find a new job since, and think it is due to my lack of confidence, and anxiety at interview, as well as my age (52) I can live with this, as the anxiety is only there when I go back to the hospital, and am in the surgical departments, but I could do with getting another job.

Hi Lisa

I know how you are feeling I got so many side affects, after day 4 my anxiety was at its worse and that's what my gp put me on them for. Every pain I got I thought I was going to die that lasted for about 4 weeks. My side affects were.

Chest pain

Shaking

Muscle twitching still have this side affect

Headaches

Insomnia still have this , I wake over 10 times and wake up about 4.00am

Nightmares these started about 5 weeks

Sweating

Increased appetiite still have this

I'm now on week 7 but do feel better than where I was and starting to gradually do things I used to do but still of work, its been 2 months. Once they start working its like when you take paracetamol for a headache you Can still feel it but it takes the edge off. That's how it feels like with the anxiety its still there but not as bad .

UPDATE

So I went to the docs yesterday as the side effects were getting too much and she said to stop taking them immediately, not had any since Wednesday afternoon. I felt better straight away. Still got a few side effects but she said that it takes 72 hours for the fluoxetine to leave my system and a bit longer for all the symptoms to go. I have some amitriptyline that I was prescribed about 6 weeks ago that I haven't taken yet so she suggested I give one a try tomorrow to relax me but I'm not anxious of medication....i'm pathetic lol. Been in contact with the mental health service in my area so hopefully I can try one to one cbt soon. I think therapy and natural supplements are my way forward.

Hi i can see this is an old post bjt just wondered if things eventually imlroved ss i am on day 4 of fluoxerine and have those you have listed above. My neck and shoulders are so stiff and i feel so spaced out