Flu week 4
Posted , 5 users are following.
I am just starting my 4th week on 20mg Fluoxetine. I am still getting stomach upset and thoughts racing/forgetting side effects. No idea how long this will go on. I think there is a very slight improvement in my mood (I have depression and severe anxiety) The doctor says to stick with them for another month then be reassessed. I have made myself try to write down anything that I have found positive each day, even if it is only seeing a bird in the garden or making myself cope with even the smallest task. Yesterday I managed to drive myself to the doctors which was HUGE, first time since November! It is crazy how even the most ordinary things seem unachievable when you are so depressed, just making a phone call is a massive trauma. Does anyone have any advice as to when there might be a real difference or when the side effects wear off? I had to come off Sertraline as the side effects were so appalling and in the past I have also had Seroxat, Citalopram and Venlafaxine - all with varying degrees of success.
1 like, 12 replies
alex10154 AliceAnagram
Posted
Reading your post is like going back in time 8 weeks.....I was exactly the same. I have just come back from Dr who has increased my dose to 30mg. I felt all the things you are feeling and I too had anxiety so bad I didn't/wouldn't do anything as you say even ringing for a docs app sent me into a tailspin.
What you are going through is part of the process, you WILL start to feel better as I did, it took a while and I have just increased my dose as I still have that underlying anxiety but not nearly as bad as I was 8 weeks ago.
Try and be strong take one day at a time and come on here (I did every single day) when you need reassurance. You need patience with this medication as I have also found. I no longer wake up with the anxiety and no longer feel nausea after taking my med. Slow and steady. Talk to people if you can, it helps if even for a short while.
X
katecogs AliceAnagram
Posted
These medicines are no quick fix unfortunately - but if you stick with them, get through the awful side effects and keep persevering, they will work for you. I suffered many, many years from depression and severe anxiety and eventually recovered on SSRI's and have been well ever since.
You need lots of patience. Side effects can last weeks, sometimes months - but don't be alarmed by this, everyone is different and most find around 4-6 weeks the side effects begin to ease.
After the side effects wear off you'll find the journey towards recovery up and down. You'll begin to feel better, but will probably encounter many down times too. Don't make the mistake of thinking the medicine isn't working - it is working, and this seems to be the normal route. Also don't make the mistake of getting your dose upped, as you'll have to go through side effects again.
These down times will feel just like you're back to square one again. Just accept this is part of recovery, let it be there, carry on, and you'll find it'll ease off again. This can happen many times, but if you persevere you'll find the good times get longer and longer until you feel good all the time.
I started to week better around 3 months, but I'd say it took me around 6 months before I felt completely at ease.
Recovery is so very slow, and so very slight that you hardly notice it happening. Little changes (like you being able to drive to the surgery) are all positive results. Keep on with the medication, through everything that's thrown at you, and you'll get there.
Its always 2 steps forward, 3 steps back ....
K xx
katecogs
Posted
daz101 AliceAnagram
Posted
I'm on day 29 and like you I've been through the wars
My only real concern now is insomnia
I started waking 2-3 hours before I get up
At 6:30am
Today was the earliest so far at 2:30am
Sometimes there's the morning anxiety
Episodes some lasting longer than others
I was prescribed amitriptayline 10mg
To take at night to try and combat
The early waking so far I've not seen an improvement 6 days on it now so I may
Need to give it a bit longer
I've had gd days and have noticed an improvement in my mood so I know somethings happening , just need to iron
Out the insomnia asap lol
Keep us informed of your progress
As will I
Regards daz
AliceAnagram
Posted
katie77777 AliceAnagram
Posted
I was the same initially when I started to feel better, I would feel great for an hour then dreadful again, but then I started to feel better for longer & eventually I had good days not hours.
Im just starting my 12th week on flu (4 weeks on 20mg 8 weeks on 40mg) I feel so much better it really is worth sticking with it. I have the odd bad day but in comparison to how I was I can cope with that.
Keep using this site I found it so reassuring to read other peoples posts knowing what I was going through was 'normal' & things can & do get better.
I wish you a speedy recovery.
Take care
Katie x
AliceAnagram katie77777
Posted
katecogs AliceAnagram
Posted
K x
AliceAnagram katecogs
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katecogs AliceAnagram
Posted
It's a long rocky road ..... but you'll get there ;-)
K xx
daz101 AliceAnagram
Posted
Atleast you've had a couple of gd hours
This shows that your on the right path
Also that you've achieved something by doing a task
Take each day at a time and always remember that tomorrow is another day
Eventually you'll get gd full days and these
Will outnumber the bad as the meds take effect . It can be a long rd but it's worth it
Proven by the gd couple of hrs
Regards daz
AliceAnagram daz101
Posted