Fluoxetine week 1

Thanks for the update Sarah!

It reassured me a little. I am on day 19 and it is very rough. My anxiety is much increased and I have feelings of hopelessness, panic attacks head pressures, dizziness, blurred vision at times, tension and shivers in my upper body and jaw, sleeplessness, no appetite and loss of 6kg in just two weeks. I am completely exhausted.

When did it start getting better for you?

Thanks,

Luci

Hi Luci, The first few weeks were rough, felt very low and really sick all the time. Lost a lot of weight as well, then the sickness started to get better later in the day and gradually I felt less sick in the mornings too. Putting weight back on now. Same for the mood also, felt less uptight and tense in the evenings, still do, but gradually started feeling a bit better earlier in the day.

It's still early days for me too and I get really shaky and my muscles are often tense for no reason, I'm hoping that goes soon! But so far, bit by bit, and in weird ways (started putting make up on again, not being so paranoid about every ache and pain I have) I'm starting to feel a bit better again. I was a wreck over Xmas, a real mess. Compared to then I'm a different person. I've a long way to go though still, I know that.

Give a while to settle down, Luci. I think it takes a while to settle. I have to take a nytol to sleep, Dr told me it's fine so ask about that, (The over the counter ones not the herbal ones!) I think you feel 100 times worse when you're exhausted, so try and get some sleep.

I got the dizziness and shivers in first few weeks as well but that's gone now, so have headaches. I've still got the tension though like I said, but hoping it goes. I think it helps reading through the posts on here to reassure you that it will get better and you're not on your own. Early days for both of us.. We'll get there!

Hope you start feeling a bit better soon, stay positive Xx

Dear Sarah,

I very much appreciate your reply and sharing. It feels reassuring. Thank you! Good to know where you are 5 weeks on, following the initial thread, and that there are improvements.

Are you also on a 20mg dose?

The strange thing for me is that I took fluoxetine/prozac already in the past (3x for short periods of time of 3 to 9 months, some 12 to 5 years ago), and I never experienced such side effects. Only the second time I had the same head pressure for some 3 weeks. But nothing else, and I pretty much felt less anxious straight away.

This time I am completely rattled by the range of side effects, the worst of all being the deterioration of my mental health and the increased anxiety, even thoughts of not wanting to live which I definitely do not normally experience even with bounds of depressions/ anxiety.

Just like you and other people describe, mornings are the biggest struggle. I wake up with a feeling of hopelessness, little trust in my ability to cope with the day ahead/life and lack of motivation. Being on my own without any company also makes me very anxious (whilst normally I am very independent and happy with my own company). In the afternoon my anxiety starts to lift a bit and I have some moments when I think of some upsetting recent events and I get these strange moments of feeling like 'but it doesn't matter that much after all', which I take as a sign of improvement.

I also experience lack of interest and enthusiasm, even about things I normally really enjoy. I do hope this lifts too.

For sleeping - my Dr prescribed sleeping pills too. I fully depend on them right now to fall asleep as the anxiety is still too strong to let me relax and sleep. They only work for about 4-5 hours for me though, but I am grateful for this aid too.

I will try to be patient then. As you say early days.

And like you said it helps to read other people's exeriences here to alleviate the worry.

I hope we feel better soon!!! Lots of wishes of positive thoughts from me too.

Luci

That's interesting actually Luci, I took them in 2013 for about 10months and also had no side effects then either! I guess our bodies and minds change in tolerance etc.. I was much more poorly this time than last, both before I started them and the first few weeks after.

It's definitely a slow burner this med, I still have waves of nausea but not as extreme. Also, i felt like a black cloud was over me for a few weeks, very low, very dark. I dont feel like that now so I'm certain its a side effect and it will pass for you too. Hopefully you will find that feeling better later in the day, starts getting earlier and earlier.. I'm still not great in the mornings but better than before!

Do you find if you're hormonal your anxiety is worse? There is definitely a link with pms and my anxiety, it can be through the roof at the same time every month for a few days, and the week after its gone. It's odd, Dr said this med will help with pms too hopefully but a bit early to tell yet.

It's good you've got something to help you sleep, I know it's hard to relax when you feel full of adrenaline. It'll get easier..

Keep going with it, we'll get there! Xx

Again, good to know about your similar experiences Sarah!

You have described that well, with the black cloud. I feel the same. When not anxious, then weighed down by lack of motivation, some numbness and head pressure. Probably very common!

Yes, definitely there also is a link to my anxiety during PMS. It really is the reason for me going back onto the medication. Over the last year, since stopping contraceptive pill, I have had several breakdowns always a day or two before my period. Unreasonable reactions and emotions, felt completely controlled by them, and not recognizing myself, creating lots of drama affecting relationships with many people. And feeling hopeless and anxious too.

I am now again some 4 days before the cycle, at 3 weeks of Fluoxetine with these side effects, so getting quite worried what will happen over the next few days. Although I am trying to stay hopeful that there may already be some positive effect? Let's see!

In addition to this I have been in psychotherapy for 1.5 years. Although it is no doubt helpful, it also brings up emotional stuff that sometimes causes difficult emotions, at times hard to handle. So these two reasons really, why I am back on fluoxetine.

Speak soon; fingers cross for both of us and many others on here! x

Hi Luci, yep same here regarding pms.. but physical symptoms too, night sweats, headaches, irrational and over emotional!

I was about 4 weeks into this med when had pms week and it wasn't as bad although I had the odd pang of anxiety still and hot flushes a couple of nights too. There is definitely a pms and anxiety connection, I'm 100% convinced on that! (...although it took me a good few months of suffering it to link the two) I will keep you posted on how the next few months go!

How are you doing this week? Xx

Hi Lucy

Your post has helped me. Thank you. I was prescribed flu 10 years ago and it worked great. Quick and no nasty side effects. Completely different this time with the nausea and sleep disturbance and high level anxiety suddenly shooting up and lasting hours. I'll stick with it though reassured by yours and others posts. Best wishes

Hi Sarah,

I hope you are doing better with each week! It is so helpful to read about similar experiences and not feel so crazy.

Hmm...my pms this week was one of the worst ever I would say, so fluoxetine has not helped with this yet about 3.5 weeks in, on the contrary. I had a lot of cold sweat anxious shivers, feeling of hopelessness and no purpose, and lots of crying. And the last two mornings before period I had such crazy suicidal thoughts (which I never suffered before fluoxetine) and really had to repeat to myself that it is such the meds and the pms and that I cannot do such a stupid thing. Madness. It did not help to travel on the last day of pms too, away from my family back to London where I live alone. I had several moments at airports where I thought I would just collapse and cry on the floor that I can't cope with life. Somehow like a robot I managed to travel and get to my London home. The loneliness is very difficult at the moment as I can't trust my moods and emotions, and it is very scary. And very new to me, normally being a very happy active and independent person. Now I feel very lonely, needy, clingy and needing company.

Since the period yesterday it is slightly better with the physical symptoms but anxiety and cries are still there. I had a review with my GP today, at 4 weeks, but it was not helpful at all. She is empathetic but really has no expertise and just asks me what I want to do - switch to different meds, another SSRI one type or tricyclical one, or just up the dose? She said she thinks it is not working for me if no change in 4 weeks...I told her about forums like these where people say it may take perhaps 5-6 weeks to see improvements and she just said 'hm I don't know'. She also said she has no idea if I would have any withdrawal symptoms if stopping fluoxetine. I was not encouraged by her lack of knowledge. We simply postponed review again in 2 weeks.

How are you doing this week?

Sending lots of warm thoughts and wishes of better days!

Luci

Hi Paul,

Yes it is so strange how our bodies react differently to the meds some years on. It is also my experience of the last time I took it that keeps me going, thinking it must help eventually if it did the job last time. As we say we have to try to stick with it for now and keep up hope. I am trying to watch also some youtube videos how to manage anxiety, through breathing or affirmations...does not always snap me out of the anxiety but it feels comforting listening to advise.

Best wishes back and positive thoughts.

Luci

(Sorry it sent too soon before)

Oh Luci, sorry you're having such a rubbish time of it. It's such a long road isn't it. Personally I think it's a time thing with this med, maybe next month you'll feel different in that pms week? It's frustrating. Give it a bit of time I'd say. I know it's all very well saying it and all that but I think it's the best advice I've seen, certainly on here... My doc said she actually uses this Patient site herself, I think the best advice is from people that have been through the same thing.

I'm doing OK, thanks.. getting there. Here if you need to chat, you are not alone! Xx

Hi Sarah,

thanks for reply. How has your weekend been? Do you see further positive changes in daily moods? Are mornings getting easier?

The pms/period week (3-4 weeks on fluo) was by far the hardest, with the shaky anxiety and suicidal thoughts. And being fearful of everything, even what was not my sitution - I would fear it could become my situation in the future and that I would not be able to cope. Extreme overworrying, hopelessness and lots crying.

But happy to report that now past the 4 week mark I have had a good couple of days. I don't know whether it is the starting of the 5th week or also the coincidence with the end of the period cycle. I spent lots of times outdoors walking. I felt like socialising with friends, and it didn't take too much mental effort to get ready and get out. At times when alone I have been managing 'not to think', and just remain calm, and tell myself 'be patient it will keep getting better, don't get the anxiety panic you again about the future, focus on the now'. Also, I slept more in the last 3 nights with fewer waking ups during the night and was able to fall asleep without topping up with a half of sleeping pill during the night. This morning some anxiety was there again but I managed to block it out partly and take myself to park in the sun.

The one physical side effects that remains is the headpressure, fog and blurred visions from about 6pm to bedtime in the evening (I take my pill before bedtime). But before it was more frequent during the day, so also some improvement there. I am starting to have more appetite too, especially in company of dear friends, but when alone not so much yet.

I am feeling more positive after this weekend, seeing some improvements. I want to remain realistic and expect that it may be still up and down, but the little improvements are very reassuring. You were right, probably the 5-6 week mark brings about feeling better.

What new improvements have you seen in this last week?

Sending love and supportive thoughts to you.

Luci

hi sarah i also took them around 2013 for about a year with good results but came off them after feeling better perhaps a mistake.At that time i was really low with anxiety and deppression.i was due to get married abroad i was scared and under that cloud.i dont think i noticed many side effects as i alredy felt terrible. this time around i was not as low as last time with only really slight anxiety and insomnia well i was perscribed fluoxetine again this time around iv really felt the side effects no sleep no appitite extream anxiety especially in the morning hot and cold sweats and very down its been just over 4 weeks now. This site and posts like yours and others do reassure and help when you think theres no hope thank you. my doctor wanted me to switch to citalopram but i wanted to wait at least a few more weeks as i remember it taking around 6 weeks last time before i felt any real difference what do you think and when did you start to see positive improvment the worst for me is anxiety and lack of sleep funny as thats what i went too the docs for im  trying to stay positive and iv had one or two days in the last week where i have felt slightly better

Feeling much better, I'm about 6 weeks in. I felt crap for the first 2-3 weeks. Odd side effects, strange thoughts and old memories (?!) Very nauseous.. no appetite and generally low and shaky. Evenings were better, still are! But I'm starting to feel much more like me now. I'm not there yet but I'm hopeful and know it's early days!

Keep going, it'll get better. It just takes a while to settle it seems. You won't feel rubbish forever! :-)

Thanks Sarah. I'm glad you're feeling better. Reassuring to know and I will stick with it. Very bad anxiety yesterday and weird dreams and then couldn't get back so sleep. So reassuring to hear someone else describing strange not nice side effects. Take care. Paul