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Dosage increased to 40mg - terrible anxiety. Should I stick it out?

Posted , 6 users are following.

Chappie1001
Chappie1001

Hi everyone,

My dosage of Fluoxetine has been increased from 30mg to 40mg which I have now been on for a week. Over the past few days I've been experiencing the most intense bursts of anxiety/panic. I can't remember the feeling of anxiety being this intense on previous dose increases so I'm looking for some advice from anyone who has experienced similar, should I stick it out and wait for it to pass or is it completely not normal and go back to 30mg?

Many thanks 😃

0 likes, 27 replies

27 Replies

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  • Shadow19422
    Shadow19422 Chappie1001

    Posted

    Hi

    How are you doing now, are you past the horrid side effects of the higher dose, mine were also increased from 20m to 40m, the first week of the 40m was a living hell, no sleep, no appetite, shaking, hot feelings through out my body.

    But most of the side effects arent so bad now, except not sleeping thoughout the whole night, and still a bit shaky, not feeling very hungry.

    How long have tou been on Fluoxetine.

    • Chappie1001
      Chappie1001 Shadow19422

      Posted

      Yes I am thankfully - they were just awful!! I started on 10mg in January and very slowly increased to 40mg as I've been reducing mirtazapine from 45mg to 15mg. Going to tackle coming off that after Christmas once I've come off pregablin & beta blocker this side of Christmas. My end goal is to be on Fluoxetine 40mg only 😃

    • Shadow19422
      Shadow19422 Chappie1001

      Posted

      Hi

      You are on a few different things, how long have you been ok from depression, yes I agree I am not coming off fluoxetine ever again, all the time I was taking it before I felt fine not stressed or anything, this time its been dreadful, I seem to get a few good days and feel better and then go backwards again to the low mood, its so annoying, I just want the fluoxetine to kick in properly.

      Just dont feel like going out or doing anything.

    • Chappie1001
      Chappie1001 Shadow19422

      Posted

      OCD is my problem, I became severely depressed when I came off sertraline which I had been on for over 10 years - my OCD spiraled out of control and I had a very nasty breakdown 😦 I couldn't tolerate SSRI's when I was very ill, the only thing that helped was diazepam and the only antidepressant I could tolerate at the beginning was mirtazapine, started at 15mg & increased to 45mg which helped lift my depression, my psychiatrist then started me on fluoxetine as SSRI's target both depression and OCD - now that i'm tolerating the fluoxetine & on recommended dose I can come off everything else which is going to take some time but I'm happy to take my time to avoid any nasty side effects. We can only take each day at time, if its a great day then fab but if its a bad day we should extra kind & gentle to ourselves and know that it will pass. One thing that I find really helpful is meditation and i use the app called CALM - highly reccomend it. Sending lots & lots of best wishes to you & be extra kind to yourself on the days that you need it xx

  • Toughgo
    Toughgo Chappie1001

    Posted

    i am in the same boat for an increase except its been 3 weeks since i did . im a total of 20 weeks . crazy anxiety and felling really low and un motivated .

    how did things work out for you .

  • Toughgo
    Toughgo Chappie1001

    Posted

    i am in the same boat for an increase except its been 3 weeks since i did . im a total of 20 weeks . crazy anxiety and felling really low and un motivated .

    how did things work out for you .

  • Shadow19422
    Shadow19422 Chappie1001

    Edited

    Stick it out, I was the same, had all the side effects again when I went on the 40mg, and it took at least another 4-5 weeks before I felt the low mood lifting, I have been on fluoxetine for 24 weeks now, so six months, I feel fine now no anxiety and no depression, but I kept telling myself I would get better and I did, it took a long time but I am as happy as ever, and able to cope with the stress that the coronavirus brings, my Husband and I are self isolating, following the goverment, we are both climbing up to 80.

    You will get better, I was able to eat small amounts, and could feel the low mood lifting each day I felt a bit better, and now I feel my old happy self again.

    Try to keep positive and give the drugs time to work, it took a while after my dose was increased to 40mg, after the increase dose I had all the awful side effects again, but with time you will get better, I have had depression twice once before many years ago, so I new I would get better, Good Luck continue your journey you will get there in the end.y

    • julieD49
      julieD49 Shadow19422

      Posted

      I happened upon this today.

      I'm so glad i did its given me hope.

      Hope to be well again.

      Thank you both stay safe and well xxx

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