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Fluoxetine is making me a nervous wreck. I don't know what to do?

Posted , 3 users are following.

Beezwax
Beezwax

Hi all, hope you are doing well this festive season. I really just feel like I need some help. I have been on 4 different SSRI's now and I honestly feel worse and believe these are what are causing most of my symptoms. I was on Mirtazapine for over 2 years, and I always felt like I was in a cloud, I was very tired all the time and I was always hungry. I decided to come off them and the Doctor put me straight onto Fluoxetine because he said they're better for Anxiety than Mirtazapine are. I have been on them for around 2 months and I'm now taking 40mg a day. My side effects from the fluoxetine are:

Stomach ache

Constant Nausea

Body Shaking

Hyperactive at times

Sleep issues

Worse anxiety

Worse social anxiety

Disassociation with myself

Intrusive thoughts

IBS

Lack of Motivation

Trouble Urinating

Dry mouth

Loss of appetite (I know I'm hungry but I never want to eat!) 

Grinding teeth

There are possibly more but these are what have been particularly bothering me. I was doing CBT on the Mirtazapine and that was going well. I was seeing progress and doing things that I never used to be able to do, but since starting Fluoxetine I'm a nervous wreck. My Therapist has had to let me go because she can no longer help me and she's referred me to a Psychiatrist who I'm yet to hear from. I juts feel dead miserable and I'm fed up with feeling ill everyday. I just want to enjoy Christmas with my Family. I told my doctor all the side effects I'm getting and he just explained theirs no magic pill that will make my problems go away. I just don't know what to do now, I'm convinced Fluoxetine will never work for me and just make my problems worse. Any help would be appreciated. The root to my problems is severe anxiety with social anxiety and that brought on depression and insomnia at the start of my adult life. Hope everyone has a great Christmas! Thanks

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • juliearm
    juliearm Beezwax

    Posted

    Hi Beezwax... I know exactly how you are feeling. Ive been on then for nearly 6 weeks and did have a good run of about 10 days. However this last week I have felt poorly and it is all down to my liver count is way up. This sickness, stomach ache. I have got to come of them now and Ive been put on beta blockers. It may be worth checking that your liver count is ok? But having read a lot of posts on here it seems it does take a hell of a long time to get into your system. My liver count went up on Citalapram too so had to come off that, but I really felt awful on that. Hope this helps a little and I really really feel for you. I have gone from a social butterfly to not wanting to go out and socialise! x
    • Beezwax
      Beezwax juliearm

      Posted

      Hey, thanks for that information, thats interesting to hear it can cause problems with your liver. I really don't have any desire to do anything anymore and the anxiety just feels debilitating. I'm hoping its just taking time to get into my system and I will stabilize. The thought of having to taper off a drug again and start something else with a load of side effects is a frightening thought at this time. Thanks for your advise and Merry Christmas!

    • juliearm
      juliearm Beezwax

      Posted

      Hi .. I really really understand how you are feeling and what you are going through. The good thing about this forum is reading how many people are going thro exactly the same thing and that we are not alone .. I’ve missed my flu this morning as going onto every other day to get over the festive period! I did have a beta blocker this morn and within 20 mins my anxiety had gone and been fine all day thank god. Is it just anxiety you suffer from? I say “just” very lightly!! Cos it’s bloody awful xx
    • Beezwax
      Beezwax juliearm

      Posted

      thanks it makes me feel better when i realise its not just me, because you can really gain that mentality when its giving you so many issues and you isolate yourself. The morning thing is pretty unusual i have to admit, i was starting to think i could be dehydrated because i always have a very dry mouth since taking fluox. And my root cause is severe anxiety, social anxiety and then it progressed to depression and insomnia in my adulthood. Thanks for your advise and have a very merry Christmas!
    • juliearm
      juliearm Beezwax

      Posted

      Merry Christmas to you too my love and really hope you get there xx
  • dawn70425
    dawn70425 Beezwax

    Posted

    Hi how old are you? Iv been on mirt but couldn’t stand the nite mares from it, and it does causes weight gain on mirt...

    I’m on 60mg and depression as all gone now, did take me 3+ months to feel that way tho xx 

    • Beezwax
      Beezwax dawn70425

      Posted

      Hey Dawn, I am 22. I also had bad nightmares on Mirt and generally very bad sleeping habits. So it really took you an entire 3 months to feel better of Fluoxetine? I guess that gives me a little hope that it may eventually work. Have a merry Christmas!
    • dawn70425
      dawn70425 Beezwax

      Posted

      Yeah it did, I started on 20 then 40, and now 60, been 7+ months since first started, and must say feel good for once, I take it in the morin so good for the day time at least, when I wake up I must say I don’t feel great, but then I’m not a morning person any way lol, but after about a hour if taking Prozac I’m good again, so yeah it can work ( for most) but like I said and every one eles says, it just takes soooo bloody long to work fully.. 

      I do hope it does work for you and you get to feel better, your so young, you should be enjoying life, have a lovely Xmas, and fingers crossed for you x

    • Beezwax
      Beezwax dawn70425

      Posted

      Ah I'm glad to hear you've found some peace with the drug and you're doing better. I also feel very anxious upon waking and my stomach goes in turmoil. And you're absolutely right, i wish i didn't have to give this so much attention at my age and do things normal young men do 😂 Thank you for your kind words and have a lovely Xmas!

  • juliearm
    juliearm Beezwax

    Posted

    Have you had your thyroid checked? I’m sure you prob have but just tho I would ask xx
    • Beezwax
      Beezwax juliearm

      Posted

      Hey, i don't think i have no? Could a thyroid issue cause bad anxiety? I feel like the docs should of taken that step already but they haven't so i may bring that up next time. Thanks smile

    • juliearm
      juliearm Beezwax

      Posted

      Yes it can.. one of the times when I was in a & e as tho I was having heart attack 😱.. the nurse asked me if I’d had it checked.. gives same symptoms as panic/anxiety/heart. Worth having it checked xx

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