Fluoxetine week 9 - still have side effects

Hello Andrea! So happy to hear from you and that there is someone else out there going through this, so do you think going up to 40mg just prolonged your recovery? I've read that increasing the dose is just like starting over, which is why I just want to stay at 20mgs, yes I want to give it more time but it's just so hard feeling like this, though I've definitely had some good days recently, just the past few days have been really crap...hopefully just a blip..

I'm sure it is a blip x I am back and forth too . My doc wanted me to up to max dose 60 mg but I said no . I'm also worried of further side effects too .

RIght ok, I think doctors feel like they need to do something and it's obvious to say increase the dose but I don't think these meds actually work that way, it's about getting a stable dose established in the body which will eventually be recognised by the receptors and I guess the ups and downs we're having plus the side effects still being there show the body hasn't stabilised yet...I've been reading through a lot of posts and many of the ones reporting success stories mention not seeing results until week 12 on the same dose, so worth hanging in there and if I think back honestly it has probably taken that long in the past to get positive effects...just the night sweats starting to really bother me, just woke up drenched again, don't remember having this before, have you experienced that ?

Hi Karen yes had the night sweats don't have them now x thought I was starting the menopause very early 😁 X yes the 12 week mark does seem to be the time it starts to stabilise.

OK, yep I was thinking the same, I'm 40 now so it would be a bit early  at least you're over them now! how long did it take? it's so good to chat to someone going through the same thing [hugs]...I really think you should try and hang in there and not switch, as it shoulds like a lot of the side effects are wearing off for you - I read somewhere that once the side effects wear off you just feel like to did to begin with - and THEN it starts to work...it's just so slow!! I'm in work now - just going thorugh the motions really until the afternoon when I usually start to feel a bit better, not too much anxiety this morning yet x

Hi Karen I'm 40 too lol . Side effects nearly gone for me - anxiety still here tho. Not as many panic attacks just feeling low sometimes and anxious whilst in work . Sleeping well now tho .

Yes work is when I'm really challenged, just difficult to concentrate and be motivated when I feel like crap, but it can be a good distraction so I force myself to go in...anyway this morning my anxiety really escalated, like it was in week one, and so I thought this really isn't right, this dose isn't working so I just decided to take 2 tabs at lunchtime (when I ususally take mine) which my doctor recomended I do last week...and now it's 2 hours later and I actually think I feel calmer so hopefully the effects won't be as bad on increasing - how was it when you increased? x

Hi Karen - when I increased it was bad but not as bad as when I first started the first dose . It's also 9 weeks since I took my bigger dose . Thought I would be normal by now but I'm not . It's frustrating the l my hormones have something to do with it too x get so tired in the afternoon but can't sleep .

ok I'm starting to feel a bit agitated now, but not too bad - what dose were you on before? I've never been on 40mgs so I'm hoping it will make the difference as my body won't be used to it, are you on it for depression or anxiety? my doctor said flu takes longer to work for anxiety..I have a bit of both as I don't believe that you can be anxious and happy?? though my doctor thinks the anxiety is the bigger issue and has diagnosed me as having general anxiety disorder..it seems to come and go for me - the past few years I've been great and then bam! it comes back  , think hormones could be playing a part as well - I went on oestrogen gel last year when I had a bit of a blip as it is known low oestrogen plays a part in depression and anxiety, and after a couple of months on it I felt great - had the best summer! which is why I thought I didn't need the prozac anymore and started to come off it - BIG MISTAKE! so now I'm still on the oestrogen gel but it's not doing anything whilist the prozac is not working...I read yesterday that folic acid and b vitamins are also really important in helping the prozac to work, so make sure you take those...

Thanks Karen for your reply x very helpful . I'm on 40 mg never been on 40 before been on fluoxetine for over 4 years last summer I was forgetting to take them - bad for me too . Ended up really bad panic attacks , anxiety , crying etc . I was on 20 mg doctors is giving me 3 more weeks and if there's no improvements I have to try another tablet . He did suggest I go max dose which is 60 mg I said no .

So what symptoms have you still got? If you're tired in the afternoon maybe you should get your thyroid checked as well? Are you having any therapy ? I'm starting some next week, hoping that will help too, guess the medication is only one part of the treatment for this illness, you're lucky you're sleeping well at least, I'm falling asleep ok but then waking at 3am drenched in sweat and not able to go back to sleep 😞And then my kids come and jump on me at 6am...it's not wonder I'm frazzled really, if I could get my sleep back it would be great...

Hi Karen I've still got yawning spells / tired spells x not much side effects just anxiety when going to work and in work . I have young 2 kids too also headaches but not sure if they are side effects . I've also lost weight also . Docs have checked my thyroid last year .

Right we definitely have a lot in common! Maybe this is all part of a mid life crisis or something! Can so relate to the anxiety at work, I used to enjoy going to my job and having some me time, but I work in advertising and it's such a sexist/ Agist industry that it's just ground me down to the point where I just started to despise what I did and the company, so last week I handed in my notice! I've got 3 months left so I'm taking the summer off to spend with my kids and get myself better, then I'm hoping to go back to studying and maybe working part time...money might be a struggle but my partner should be able to support me, I just think life is to short to be doing something you hate, I think my anxiety come out when I'm in a situation that makes me unhappy x

Hi Karen well done for taking action .👍🏻 I work part-time woukd love to give my job up , but we would struggle financially. Yes lots in common . I am getting better but very slowly .im so impatient and want to be back to normal asap but it takes time .

So slow I know, beginning to forget what's it's like to feel normal, thou this evening I've been pretty good, definitely think going up to 40mg has been right for me, hope I don't crash down again tomorrow morning, and really hope I don't get the night sweats 😥😴

Hi Andrea, how are you feeling now? I've been on 40mg for a week now and it's been a bit of a roller coaster, mostly been feeling better, but then got a bad dose of gastroenteritis and it's left me pretty flat, wondering if it flushed the meds out of my system or something? So anyway just taking one day at a time x