Posted , 8 users are following.
been on it for over a month now and still feel full of anxiety and panic nothing has changed i struggle to sleep how long can it take for this pill to kick in. Doctor promised my sleep will get back to normal after taking these but am sittign here 6 weeks later with like an hours sleep at max rarely 
0 likes, 18 replies
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LJK68 rossg1234
Posted
Hi, there,
I know its not easy, i've been on 20mg since end of July, then 40 mg since the end of Sept and am only now just feeling better and sleeping better. I was the same as you. Its tremendously hard to stick with it, and even the increase made me feel more depressed and anxious...but I stuck with it and am so glad as I am feeling so much better. Have you tried some warm milk at night and going out for a walk during the day, i've found that has helped me?
If the tv or watching a movie or reading helps, then try that too, and a warm bath,
try and hang in there as i'm sure things will get better for you, believe me, I do understand how hard that is to do right now, but try your best to relax and do anything you can to help alongside the meds and hopefully you will feel the benefit soon. It'll be worth it in the long run.
jo88887 LJK68
Posted
Hi LJK68 can you please give me some hope, I've been on 20mg since mid August, I was doing ok until around week 8 then I had a panic attack out of the blue and the anxiety then became the problem and focus. I have felt ok on and off but the last 2 days have been awful, really panicy, feeling detached, butterflies etc. I don't know whether to up my doseage to 40mg or if this will make me worse. I have taken fluoxetine before and I have heard that each time you take it it takes that bit longer to kick in? Did your relaxation/walking etc help? thanks
LJK68 jo88887
Posted
Hi there,
I'm so sorry you're having a rough time...its horrible. You know, I felt the same around that time and that's when I went to see my doc and had a chat and she suggested upping the dose to 40mg. I was wary...but also desperate to feel better. Initially I felt worse but kept telling myself to keep going...and now I am so glad I did. With this medication, it seems to really do have to ride the waves to get to calmer seas!
I have also heard that it can take longer to kick in if you've taken it before...but have a wee chat with your doc and see what they suggest. The 40mg has really helped me and it may be the best thing for you to try also, just be prepared for a little bit of an adjustment period where you may feel worse, I think if you prepare yourself for that and try and stay as calm as you possibly can, I go out even a little 20 min walk a day with the dogs, and have bubble baths, watch movies, read, listen to music...ANYTHING that cheers you and takes you out the moment and soothes you.
You will get there, I know its so tough but try to hang in there.
Things will get better.
Keep in touch and let me know how you are getting on? x
Painintopower jo88887
Posted
Mzunique98 rossg1234
Posted
They may need to up your dose if it's been that long but I've heard people say it takes time to work. As to sleep I've been taking melatonin at night to help me sleep it's been doing the trick I just take it earlier. I've been on flu for a little over 3wks so it's still kinda early for me to say how I feel yet. However the people in here are really good at giving advice and helping each other so hang in there. Also if I were you I'd talk to my doctor as well to see what they can do to help you
april04956 rossg1234
Posted
Hi I hear ya I'm on 5 the week start today I never got out bed first time half nearly 3 weeks thought yes I'm good then boom 3rd n 4th back to major stress on propanol but still freaking out doing lots meditation but now can't sleep so starting now taking halfamtryptyline to try help me sleep as I hate taking meds as I freak was ready to give up and go hospital at my lowest but n here people gave me hope so I'm plodding on as support here great,,,,,,I was on it before don't remember all these side effects but I thought I was ok came off email worse thing I done,,,so I would use experience at the if i can struggle then anyone can i swear I thought I was a lonely freak and realised hat there's loads n same boat as me now I feel united and not alone,,,,,please stick in here keep us posted as will I xxx all the luck for us all xx ,,,i
april04956 rossg1234
Posted
rossg1234
Posted
Thanks to the replies it really does help that knowing your not the only one and yes it took me weeks to get on the fluoxetine then i started takign been on it for over a month now no change hoping it kicks in so i don't need to up my dosage scary enough taking 20 i can only imagine having to take 40
april04956 rossg1234
Posted
It does help having people here,,,,,I'm here headphones on wide wake I believe that it will get easier and better for us all soon we gotta ride this rollercoaster together x
katecogs rossg1234
Posted
5 week is still early days for many. It can take months and months. Your doctor shouldn't promise when you'd feel better, as we're all different. Took me 6 months.
april04956 katecogs
Posted
Oh my God really 6 months I'm having bad anxiety today it's the jittery feelings inside that make e a nice now today the propanol didn't work so ok a half of lorazepam helhelp very little my doc won't give me no more benzo so what can i do buy one valium as that's l hats bout, ,,I take my flu at 630 am and most of day I'm jittery x how long before i sleep again bit desperate now x
katecogs april04956
Posted
We're all different and all take different times to recover. During the 6 months it took for me it wasn't super bad all the way through - I'd started to recover around 3 months, so those last 3 months it was more bearable. Some people recover after 1-2 months.
When I look back, my recovery time wasn't really that long compared to the length of time I'd been ill. It will happen for you. During my waiting, I practiced relaxation - letting go of the stomach tension whilst I went about my everyday - I stopped rushing about. I also went out daily for walks - fresh air and exercise help to burn off the excess adrenaline. Sleep can be a problem for many people on these meds. Talk to your doctor about melatonin tablets - it helps sleep. Yes I was jittery - I had an inner tremble for a while, but it did eventually wear off.
vanilla27 rossg1234
Posted
I was in Flu for about 7-8 weeks and my anxiety increasingly got worse over time. I was at the point where I couldnt leave my house. I really feel that wasnt the drug for me. I don't mean to be the voice of doom but sometimes certain drugs just dont do it. I tried to listen to everyone on these forums and hang in there in hopes of better days but it just kept getting worse so I stopped the Flu.
april04956 vanilla27
Posted
I'm feeling that way now on 5th week shaking inside no sleep I'm feeling i can't go out the fear is bad
vanilla27 april04956
Posted
Yes, i was having this shaky feeling too, almost like tremors. I've been off the Flu for about 13 days and things have gotten a little better. I can't say a ton, but at least I can go to work now and leave my house without so much fear. I'm looking into a company called genesight that can do a simple DNA test to tell you which medications will work for you based on your DNA and condtion. I've tried so many medicines at this point for my anxiety and I need help. Nothing seems to work. In fact all of them seem to make it worse.
april04956 vanilla27
Posted
I think I need my dna tested that's great idea my father was manic depressive who hanged himself aged 44 my uncles committed suicide I was diagnosed bipolar but never took meds I stick with flu just now as I thought was better went off everything but hit me like ton bricks I'm better than I was weeks ago I didn't get out bed but I'm up and about showering and doing bits in house but I'm still not me when the fear Co es I freeze I'm thinking hypnotherapy what do you think I'm 46 just want to live
vanilla27 april04956
Posted
I think if you feel like the Flu is helping you and you feel better than before you were on it then you should stick with it. For me I was ten times worse on it! I havent heard anything about hypotherapy but I think I could be worth a shot. I know how you feel - you just want your life back! I think the DNA test would be a good thing bc it tells you which drugs to avoid and also if your body is properly metabolizing the drugs, some reviews said the test showed their bodies had some issues with folic acid which prevented the medicines from working properly. I'm at the point where I'll do anything to feel normal again.
april04956 vanilla27
Posted
Yes your right anything I'd rather have childbirth everyday than this xxx see my brother today first in weeks couldn't even talk to noone so had big chat he suffers with mental health he said he's scared everyday but gets on his bike and goes out he does hide behind alcohol but he doesn't take any meds,,,he told me take one day at a time and go to head doctors,,it's just sometimes we feel weird like funky off balance then I freak but I gotta be strong and say snap out this but easier said than done,,I'm thinking about going making friends at groups as I moved away few years ago from all my mates and now it's just me my hubby n absent kids feel I've no place anymore I used to help everyone were I lived like the go to one who done all maybe I'm missing purpose I'm trying to figure this out,,,I read that you sometime es have to get so low n dark to realise that you want to live to fight for it and then when you get better you get something good out of it an eye opener here's to us and our demon battles