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I've been on fluoxetine 32 days

Posted , 6 users are following.

pud1959
pud1959

I've now been on fluoxetine 32 days. After awful side effects I am now starting to have the odd good day (no nausea and eating better) but then the next day feel awful again. Also head still not right, light headed etc although I think this could be due to tiredness as not sleeping very well at all. Anyone else felt the same. It's disheartening when you wake up one day and feel so much better and then the next day not so good. The bad days are not as bad as they were though thank goodness.

2 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • david76436
    david76436 pud1959

    Posted

    Hi There, ive been on Flu now for six weeks, i agree last week was a good week this week has been consumed with tiredness , still very agitated eating is all over the place also , not sure what to make of it all , some days i have lots of energy some just cant get out of bed , only to have breakfast then want to sleep again. not good

    Not sure what to do now . 

    • pud1959
      pud1959 david76436

      Posted

      I'm very tired and feel out of it but seen an improvement in nausea. Good days and bad. However I have started walking again which two weeks ago I wouldn't have even contemplated. I have been told it can take quite some time before we feel the effects of this drug. Just wish it would hurry up.
  • katecogs
    katecogs pud1959

    Posted

    Recovery comes in waves.  This is normal.  You'll get good hours / low hours, good days/weeks and low days/weeks.  This can go on for months.  Don't worry though as it absolutely normal and means the meds are working.

    Accept everything that's thrown at you.  Just understand its part of recovery and it can feel like you're back at the start sometimes.  Just carry on - keep persevering and you'll find the good days will get more and more.

    Count recovery in months, not weeks.  Took my son 9 months to get back to his happy self again.  Everyone is different, so it could happen quicker for you or longer.

    K xx

  • Snow123
    Snow123 pud1959

    Edited

    This was the most frustrating part- it is absolutely normal to be so up and down but so disheartening when you feel things are starting to look brighter one day then the next you are ruminating and feeling low again. I found that the pattern was probably 1/7 days felt ok for a few weeks, then 2/7, then 3 and so on (not neccesarily consecutively) then it turned into id be ok for a week, then have a rubbish week etc but slowly and surely there became days where i didnt wake up and the first thought was 'how do i feel today'. You will get there xx

     

  • keysersoze
    keysersoze pud1959

    Posted

    On day 31 here and over the last week the nausea has been extremely bad, worse than it was during week 1. I'm literally forcing food down and I'm losing weight. I also feel that the head on top of my body is not my own. It's "foggy"... and I cant concentrate or think clearly, and often bothered by repetitive unpleasant thoughts and doom and gloom scenarios.

    This journey has been strange since I've started meds. One week in I was nearly feeling myself for about 3 weeks until last week, when it slowly started to crumble. Disappointing is an understatement, but with the help of posts like the ones above(and below) I realize now that it's a journey and that I've only just begun.

  • shoeshineshoe
    shoeshineshoe pud1959

    Posted

    How are you getting on now pud1959?

    I'm on day 31 and despairing tbh so could really do with some encouragement.

    I'm definitely less tearful and less volatile than before I started but I basically have zero motivation to do anything (which is pretty terrible when you're in sole charge of your own business...)

    I start everyday with good intentions but I just can't seem to bring myself to do anything, at all. Whereas before I started on Fluoxetine I felt like I was going crazy with too many emotions and a strong sense of overwhelm and stress I now feel almost like I can't access my feelings, like I'm underwhelmed by pretty much everything and like nothing is important, but in the back of my mind I know it is I just can't kick myself in to gear.

    Gah! Just so frustrating. I feel more and more guilty everyday because I am basically a waste of space like this.

    Please tell me it gets better?

    Does anyone know, are there any anti depressants that work more on kicking your dopamine into gear to pump up motivation?

    (Going back to bed to stare at the ceiling)

    • keysersoze
      keysersoze shoeshineshoe

      Posted

      Just started week 6 and I'm kinda the opposite from you. I feel like I'm bi-polar now. I have some almost euphoric stretches where I feel mostly fine and my outlook is 100% positive, then I hit a low and start getting all negative and gloom and doom. 

      I will say this week over last week is an improvement with more of those highs, and the lows don't seem to be as low. Hit a 'blip; tonight but overall I'm still positive about things, I just wish the fluox would start working faster!

      You shouldnt feel guilty at all, just blame the meds. You'll come around, just try to force yourself into doing "normal" things, even if it's just to keep you busy. It helps for me.

    • shoeshineshoe
      shoeshineshoe keysersoze

      Posted

      Thank you so much for your response keysersoze.

      Today was actually a lot brighter, so am feeling a bit more hopeful.

      Yeah, I actually kinda been enjoying doing mundane things like cleaning the last few days... Makes me feel slightly more normal and like I'm achieving something...

      Hope it's onwards and upwards for you!

    • keysersoze
      keysersoze shoeshineshoe

      Posted

      Wow I'm glad today was an improvement for you! Just enjoy those little victories until things start turning around for good. And just measure improvement week over week as opposed to hour by hour or even day by day. I can really tell I'm in a better place this week over last week and it's making me hopeful. smile
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