I am almost six weeks on fluoxetine
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hi
I would love to hear from someone thats been on fluoxetine 40m on Tuesday it will be six weeks, I do feel the low mood has lifted a bit and I dont feel so sad all of the time, but when I get up in the morning I dont feel the same, until about 11am then I start to feel hungry, and dont feel so bad through out the day, I dont feel motivated to do much.
I started on 20m and two and a half weeks ago was put up to 40m, has anyone else felt like this, I seem to have good days and then not so good.
It would be nice to hear from someone thats six weeks in to taking the fluoxetine and how they are feeling.
0 likes, 13 replies
albert_99155 Shadow19422
Posted
Hello and Thank you for sharing your story.
I have been battling a similar situation for a few years and have tried a few different medications.
I like fluoxetine for a few reasons however it was not the best fit. I found it did nothing for that aspect (the symptoms you are describing) of my condition. If after 6 weeks I can say it most likely will not do what you need it to (this is just my opinion).
If you are having trouble with anxiety and depression you may want to try Lexapro or Celexa, I now take Lexapro and was able to go from 10mg to 5mg vs 20 of fluoxetine. Just some food for thought.
lisa30697 albert_99155
Posted
Hi this reply has really helped me as I am 6 weeks in and just don't feel right. Did you find that Lexapro or Celexa helped to lift your mood? I have been recommended mood stabilizers but it's hard to know what to try next. I am worried about changing my medication as I always think you feel worse to begin with but wondered how you had got on with these medications you mentioned please?
thank you 😊
Shadow19422 albert_99155
Posted
Hi
Thank you for your reply.
I feel I need to give it a bit more time, as changing meds you have to go through all those awful side effects again, and I dont know if I could stick it, I had side effects twice with fluoxetine when I started and then on the increased dose.
Were you able to start on the new drug straight away or did you have to take so long in between, and did you get awful side effects from the new drug, how long did it take for the new drug to kick in, sorry to ask so many questions, but it would be interesting to know if you thought it was worth changing, how many weeks on fluoxetine.
It does say it can take several months to get into the system, there are several others been on them the same amount of time as me.
Before for over five weeks I had no appetite, but I can eat small amounts now, so I feel thats an improvement, and when I have a good day I feel good and then go back to not so good days, most people say its normal to feel like this its the meds trying to kick in, I dont think there is a time scale for any one person, everyone is different.
I have taken fluoxetine many years ago and I am sure it took months and not weeks, I only stopped about two years ago as the Doctor wanted me to ween off them, it was the worst thing I have ever done, as I felt good all the time I was on it and it was 20m back then, I am now on 40m.
It would be nice to hear from you about your journey to getting better.
lisa30697 Shadow19422
Posted
if I'm honest I feel the same as you some days are good some days I just feel like they are just not working. I'm going to go back to the doctors as I'm not sure if this is the right medication for me. I don't feel emotional but do you actually feel anything? as I feel like I'm just functioning x
Shadow19422 lisa30697
Posted
Hello
How long have you been on fluoxetine, it is almost six weeks for me, I do have days when I feel ok, but then I have days when its a step backwards, the worse thing was this low mood, and the awful side effects I had twice at first at 20m then the higher dose of 40m that took some sticking, I had everything, no appetite, no sleep, the shakes, and hot feeling running through my body, just horrid.
I did feel empty and had no interest in anything even the tv was a bind, but I am a bit better from that now, so maybe it just takes time, but I dont think I want to change now, I think everyone is different some get better in weeks and some its months.
so I dont know how long you have been on it, but give it a bit longer, I wouldnt want all those awful side effects again, you get the side effects with them all.
keep me informed of how you are.
lisa30697 Shadow19422
Posted
Yes I had terrible side effects so I understand. I felt more numb and was waking with really bad heart palpitations. They have settled but would just love to laugh again and feel happy. I have suffered for years and always went back to citalopram but it made me so unwell with awful stomach pain so had to swop.
I just feel like a real heavy feeling at the moment but hoping it will lift. I'm so pleased you are starting to be able to watch TV and get some enjoyment back. Let me know how you get on to, good luck as I know it's so hard!
Shadow19422 lisa30697
Posted
Hi Lisa
I would just stick with it, I asked this question a few times on hear, and on Health unlocked and most people have told me its normal to get this, maybe a good day and then a bad day, in fact one person said its one step forward and two back, so hearing from people that have experienced the same I think we need to give it more time, I certainly would not want to change and go through that hell again of side effects., I have spoken with people who said its taken two months or longer, so just hope each day gets better, for us both.
Please stick it out I am in touch with another lady and she has been on 20m fluoxetine for two months, and hasnt had a breakthrough once, not one good day, these drugs take time and are different for everyone.
Keep in touch as it helps me to speak with people that are going through the same.
Yes I had a very fast pulse, and dreadful indigestion, but I have been taking mepradec, and its much better, but it was awful to start with, and not sleeping well.
lisa30697 Shadow19422
Posted
bless you have you tried meditation on you tube for helping with your sleeping. I always thought oh no that wont work but with some of the breathing techniques I have learnt it actually relaxes you. Self development work on YouTube is so helpful to. you can search support with anixety. I like Nicola Bird on Facebook aswell. I hope this helps you. I will stick with it, it just gets hard working and having children to sort when you feel so crap at times. Thank you for replying and keep in touch too x
Shadow19422
Posted
Hello Lisa
I have bought the book"A little piece of mind" bought it on kindle so I can read it on my ipad, thank you for telling me about it, and yes I did do meditation on line, and the deep breathing, it does help, I think I am more on the depression side, I do get anxious but not so much as this low mood its horrible, just to be able to laugh at something would be nice, and to feel like going out some where, we use to go out for a meal regular and I enjoyed it, but with no appetite and this mood dont want to do much at all, its good I have a supportive Husband to help me get through this.
And most people say its normal to get good days and not so good, its the drugs trying to work, how many days in a week would you say are good days.
Its just nice to talk with some one who feels the same as me.
I will def give it more time, because I do feel that the good days will become more and the bad days less, you have to think positive, and I keep saying you will get better.X
lisa30697 Shadow19422
Posted
I love your attitude! I totally understand about wanting to laugh again. I am actually going for my first hypnosis session this morning. I thought I'd try another approach to help. I have also been learning about how movement shifts cortisol and improves your mood. I have found a good video clip on You tube called emotions and the brain and neuroplasticity. It's so interesting, got to keep fighting to get better and I'm all for learning about ways to help myself. I've suffered from being a teenager so learning to accept it but will always try to take positive action
Enjoy your book! let me know what you think x
Shadow19422 lisa30697
Posted
Hello Lisa
Let me know how the hypnosis goes and if it helped you, can you still have it if you are on fluoxetine.
I will let you know what I think about the book as soon as I get around to reading it, just not in a mood to do much at the moment.
I just dont understand why I felt good on Sat and part of Sunday but now I am back to the low mood and feeling anxious, just dont understand why it keeps changing, you said you are the same, wonder why, maybe we need it to be a bit stronger perhaps another 10m would help, its very difficult for me to speak with my GP, we have to wait three weeks for an appointment, and two for a telephone consultation, I have never been able to discuss with my Doctor how I feel, its pretty disgusting really as they were plugging about mental health on the TV, just hope Boris gets the NHS in order, its going down hill fast.
Some one told me about Doctor weeks book have you heard of it, they say its very good will check to see if its UK or USA.
Oh just one thing I am now able to eat just small portions so thats an improvement.
Love
Ann x
lisa30697 Shadow19422
Posted
Hi Ann
I loved the session today I asked her to focus on helping me to learn to relax and it was amazing. my next one is for happiness. I honestly feel unless you talk to a professional about how you feel and they can link this to situations you need to heal from in the past it's very difficult to get better. I realise now some of depression symptoms can be from past trauma that needs healing. You will have good and bad days but you always end up back to neutral so don't ever panic. we will get better. if you cant face reading a good starting point is you tube and listening. I love the things I discover about where depression comes from on there and coping tools. We are not our thoughts too and I have learnt not to fight them as much but let them come and go as they do. The book will help you get this more I promise. keep in touch and maybe see a nice doctor as it's no good keeping it all in x
Shadow19422 lisa30697
Posted
Hello Lisa
I am pleased it worked out for you, did you actually have hypnosis, if so do you think it helped, I agree you need to talk with someone but my Doctor seems to think I can just get on with it, he gave me fluoxetine but he didnt want to do a follow up seeing me, I have emailed him today to ask if its normal to get maybe two days that the mood has lifted and the next day I feel depressed again, its odd, as the good days it feels as though I am getting better, but then the next day not so good, are you still feeling like this, I messaged Kate Cogs she has a lot of knowledge about depression, she has told me its normal and part of the recovery, she called them blips, but my question is how long do these blips go on for, they are hard to cope with.
Look forward to hearing from you
Ann X