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Experience with increasing current fluoxetine dosage

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heather57213
heather57213

Hi everyone.  I was so glad to find a forum where there was so much support and information! I'm 45 and I have been on fluoxetine 10 mg/day (taken at night) for 7 years for PMS.  For the last several months, I have had issues with anxiety (which I've never really had before now) and so my GP suggested I increase the dosage to 20mg/day. So at day 17, I still woke up with a lot of anxiety (maybe more than before I increased the dosage) so I decided instead of taking (2) 10mg at night, I am taking (1/10 mg) in the morning and (1/10mg at night.)  It's day 19 and I am still experiencing the same anxiety, a little insomnia, and am sometimes a little shaky.  I don't remember feeling any of this when I started taking flu 7 years ago, just some light-headedness mainly.  Has anyone has a similar experience, is this normal?  I am seeing my Dr this week to discuss.  I've been wondering if I am perimenopausal, but my blood work came back "normal." Thanks for your feedback!

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • sally56219
    sally56219 heather57213

    Posted

    Hi Heather. I too have taken fluoxetine many years ago and don't remember the side effects that I experience now however I do remember at my first month check with the doctor telling him that for the first 3 weeks I hadn't felt any better if anything I had felt worse. However week 4 had been great and I had felt "normal" again. I am on day 17 today  of 20mg and have got steadily better and the side effects have lessened each week. They were awful on day 4,5,6 and I felt dreadful. I am hopeful that I will have the same experience that I had before and will feel better after the 3rd week. I seem to feel worse first thing in a morning, shakey, nausea and better as the day goes on and then more anxious, restless and tired during the evening. I take the tablet at about 7pm thinking that the side effects may be worse during the night whilst I am asleep. Hope this reassures you. Here's to feeling better and better, Sally x

     

    • heather57213
      heather57213 sally56219

      Posted

      Thank you, Sally!  It's not a happy place to be, but at least there is comfort in knowing there are many others who share our experience and can offer hope and support. :O)
  • mrmeanerz
    mrmeanerz heather57213

    Posted

    Dear Heather,

     Fluoxetine gives you those sort of side effects, at least during the first 2 weeks of treatment. Initially when my doc increased my meds to 40mg, I went almost crazy. I was restless and anxiety was uncontrollable, I reduced to dosage to 20mg and I was fine with it.

     I am in the 8th week of Fluoxetine 20mg and I find it hard to sleep at night and I have background anxiety almost daily. It was manageable but I thought I should try out taking it on alternate days (the equivalent of 10mg/day). So far I am feeling better.

     I believe fluoxetine works differently in different individuals. Like in your case, probably a lower dose and a longer duration of treatment should sort the problem.

    Y.

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