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FLUOXETINE UPDATE .....HOPE

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sharon_22416
sharon_22416

Hi

I thought i would just write and share my experiences to give a little hope to those who have just started fluoxetine and are suffering from the awful side effects... Hang in there! i am 6 months in now and i cannot believe how my life has changed, im laughing every day, i love my job im enjoying my wonderful children and my beautiful granddaughter, im moving house and i just feel my old self again, my friends are so happy for me they said i got lost for a while but they have been so supportive, and say that its great to have me back ! something i didnt think would happen 5 months ago believe me i had no motivation and suffered every side effect felt totally disconnected from the world, i have been where you are now! this site has been my life line and people who came through the other side gave me hope so by sharing this post with you i hope it will give you the encouragement and strength to carry on with the tablets, good luck to everyone and thank you all who have replied to me when i needed advice and reassurance. good luck love sharon xxx

32 likes, 334 replies

334 Replies

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  • smn0728
    smn0728 sharon_22416

    Posted

    Someone please tell me this gets better. I'm on day 10 and already 3 days of horrible side effects. I'm on 10mg once a day. I have follow up with doc in 5 days. I hate this and can't believe I'm going thru this.
    • sarahB2890
      sarahB2890 smn0728

      Posted

      It gets better ! Keep with it

      taking it at night helps

      and for me I felt my best after a month I no longer have any side effects that I had before such as mood swings, upset tummy, headaches, drowsiness, flu-like stomach pains foggy head ...just to name a few

      All my family and friends say I'm different now so I know it works

    • smn0728
      smn0728 mikayla1226

      Posted

      I did last night. I was taking it in the morning. Yesterday I waited and took it at 8 then took my ativan at 9. Seems to be fine. I went to the doctor yesterday and he told me that my anxiety would be worse starting this out and it most certainly has been. Between the no appetite and chest pains and nausea It has been no fun. But he assured me these will all go away. He increased my ativan usage because it's been so bad. Hopefully that works. I slept all thru the night last night. So i did get 9 hours of rest. Thank goodness!
    • smn0728
      smn0728 sarahB2890

      Posted

      I started taking it at night last night. I do take .5mg Ativan during the day. I slept 9 hours last night but was very tired all day. This is day 12 it def has caused increased anxiety since I started taking it so my doc upped the Ativan to 3 times a day but mainly I take it at night to sleep. Because of all the stress of having this anxiety horrible for 7 weeks I've lost 10 lbs my appetite is just coming back a little. The worse thing I've dealt with during the panic attacks are the chest pains and rapid heartbeat. Those naturally scare you so bad. I do feel a little jittery and sometimes dizzy. But I'm gonna keep going! I have a follow up on Friday! And first session tonight with counselor so just trying stay positive to feeling myself again!
    • sarahB2890
      sarahB2890 mikayla1226

      Posted

      I just took it at night after trying in the morning worked way better and I don't have insomnia anymore
    • moises79
      moises79 sarahB2890

      Posted

      Hi Sarah, sorry to break in the conversation. At what time at night do you take the med? I'm looking into taking it at night as well. Thanks

    • sarahB2890
      sarahB2890 moises79

      Posted

      I take it at 11 pm before I go to bed

      Helps me sleep as I had insomnia before it's great!

    • moises79
      moises79 sarahB2890

      Posted

      I take it at 8:30 PM, but don't go to bed until 11:00 PM. Would it make any difference if I take it right before bed time?

    • sarahB2890
      sarahB2890 moises79

      Posted

      I don't think it would matter as long as you pick a time and take it at the same time every night

      I personally just remember to take it before I go to sleep at 11

  • sarah_38250
    sarah_38250 sharon_22416

    Posted

    Hello all! I have been looking online for a good forum to keep me motivated on taking the Prozac. I saw this one said hope at the top and it has given me some hope! Just finished week 3 (20mg first week 40mg past 2 wks) and I've been pretty down in the dumps during it all. Side effects have been increased anxiety, dry mouth, chest tightness, and the highs and lows have begun this last week. I'll have a couple of hours of feeling 'normal' then boom crash! back down with the blues and not wanting to move. Lots of feelings of depersonalazation, and blankness so to speak. Avoiding people and all things that provoke my panic. Going to Psych doc tomorrow for 3 wk follow up. Thought about saying I wanted to throw in the towel on this one. But after reading everyone's comments on how long it takes I am going to stick it out. What's a couple more months when you've been in the trenches so long for already right? At least that's my thinking. Keeping busy helps. My job is stressful but one of the only things I look forward to right now just to pass the time. How is everyone else doing? Any more success stories?

    • becky1983
      becky1983 sarah_38250

      Posted

      Hey sarah I'm wondering how u r doing now? I just started two days ago I'm tired and have no motivation last night and this morning I had a bad head ache. Took some tylonal today but now it seems like my anxiety is back

  • moises79
    moises79 sharon_22416

    Posted

    Thanks Sharon! your story is very uplifting. Today I'm ending week 3 on Fluoxetine 20mg and starting week 4 tomorrow. I have noticed some improvement: I don't get as dizzy and my head feels a little less pressure. However, I still have to take half a pill of Lunesta 3mg to sleep and still no interest in daily activities. Any ideas how long will it take for things to get better, based on your experience? Thanks.

  • ger00232
    ger00232 sharon_22416

    Posted

    Has anyone ever switched from Effexor 225mg to flu? If so how did it go?

    I have been reading the above posts and it's looks as though this could be a route for me. I take Effexor 225mg Mirap 45 and olanzapine 10mg oh and 200 mg of Pregablin. I suffer with Gad and I've been rock bottom since November.

    Please any advise would be glance.

  • Smellslikeralph
    Smellslikeralph sharon_22416

    Posted

    So when I was 16 I woke up one night having severe anxiety and panic attacks ks for the first time ever. Every day for 2 years was complete hell until one day when I was 18 it all went away. I had panic attacks, lightheaded, out of body experience, many ER visits and I never got help.

    From 18-33 (this year). Anxiety was gone, clear head. Life was fantastic until I started a high stress management job 8 months ago. My anxiety attacks came back followed by panic attacks. Then 8 weeks ago I woke up just like I was 16. Lightheaded 24/7, brain fog, memory loss, followed by completely new symptoms.

    This time around I have had a lump in throat, hard to swallow, constant worry I have a severe disease or i make up diseases. Can't stay off the internet always researching diseases. Light sensitivity and heat sensitivity.

    I have been cleared by every doctor for any diseases or health problems, cat scans,ri, ultrasound sound, blood tests, bacteria test, stool tests, scopes. No one could find anything

    They put me on 20mg of Prozac 2 days ago and so far so good no side affects but of course since it's been only 2 days I don't feel anything from it yet.

    I just want to feel normal again. It's been hell for my wife who is a trooper through this. She knows what it's like she has anxiety to but no as severe. I wish my thought would just stop and go away so I could think straight and stop thinking I have this disease or that disease.

    8 weeks to long and I'm sure it's a long road ahead

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