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nearly week 7 fluoxetine. update. side effects.

Posted , 6 users are following.

rachel62244
rachel62244

It will be 7 weeks on Tuesday since I started fluoxetine. 2weeks on 15mg 5 on 20mg. Depression and anxiety has lifted not fully but no more huge black cloud. The only thing bothering me is hard to explain..... 

My brain doesn't seem to match up, its kind of empty and confused and feels like its got a vise on it. Kind of out of focus as I don't feel with it I still want to lay down and close my eyes as this feels most normal. I just hope it passes and its not just want the meds do to me coz I can't stop like it although they are helping the depression anxiety and dp 

Any advise or experience thank u very much 

2 likes, 23 replies

23 Replies

  • david_25160
    david_25160 rachel62244

    Posted

    hello Rachel,

     yeah it's not uncommon this spaced out brain detached from reality feeling, I too have it almost from the word go, initially I did'nt bother to much but as time passes it becomes more annoying and disconcerting, and as you say lying down closing your eyes gives relief but we can't do that 24\7, it's a price we pay for relief of anxiety and depression I guess, although I do believe that further in weeks 10 to 12 that particular side effect should slowly diminish (can't wait!) also I guess some people lose that sooner or maybe later, but I do'nt think it's there for ever, I'm only week 8+ and my dose was altered from 20 to 40mg a few days ago so I have'nt yet got there. I hope you start to lose this fuzzy brain thing real soon and you can get your life back on track, best wishes smile

    • rachel62244
      rachel62244 david_25160

      Posted

      Iv had enough of it !!! I sometimes think maybe its the depression rather then the meds. The feeling wupl cause depression though I should think x
    • RonVis
      RonVis david_25160

      Posted

      David, I know this is over a year old, but I'm on week 7 and having the exact same thing - just curious, did the confused, vise-like grip on your brain go away?

  • david_25160
    david_25160 rachel62244

    Posted

    I know it's easier said than done Rachel but patience is the name of the game at this stage, bearing in mind we have come so far already it would be daft for us to think about stopping the meds, in my humble opinion. smile hang in there and I'm sure everything will be cool before too long, virtual hugs (( smile )) 
    • rachel62244
      rachel62244 david_25160

      Posted

      Its hard because it seems I'll never be me ever again which means iv lost everything really. I try so hard to be dragged back down and no one can understand unless they have been here can they. Xx 
  • david_25160
    david_25160 rachel62244

    Posted

    I know what you mean Rachel, nobody that I know understands how I feel or what I'm going through, I did try explaining to my sister a few weeks back hoping for support, but the opposite happened- she now avoids me like the plague! and at the moment I'm hating what's going on with me, can only hope tomorrow is better smile
    • rachel62244
      rachel62244 david_25160

      Posted

      Sorry to hear about your sister u think a lot of the time they just find to hard so stop out of the way because they feel they cant help. I get "why are u crying?" This is a stupid question!!! Iv got deoression dah it feels like my world is ending I know its not but my brain wants to tell me it is. Sometimes I feel better after a good cry/realise. I'm just so worried these meds won't recover me and its been waisted time effecting my health. I have episodes where I break down in hopelessness. My 5yr old gives me loads of hugs and I love u's which is lovely. ... He's more helpful then the adults. I feel guilt though as I should be so happy but for some reason my brain thinks other wise. Sorry to go on lol its easier writing down feelings smile we just need to fight ! 
    • david_25160
      david_25160 rachel62244

      Posted

      no need to say sorry for going on, that's one thing that's great about this website you can just open your heart and let your feelings flow and more often than not there is somebody somewhere listening and answering. that's cool your youngster provides some cuddles, it can't be easy being a mum to a child whilst suffering from this illness. yes we need to fight, be strong and defeat these oppresive feelings smile
    • rachel62244
      rachel62244 david_25160

      Posted

      I'm going to get my sorry ass off this bed and get ready and go out even though I want to curl I

      Up in a ball. Iv just read a story saying recovered by ten weeks so I'll hold on to hope. I hold the tablet in my hand everyday thinking erm are u worth it before my heart sinks and I take it feeling like a freak sad x

  • david_25160
    david_25160 rachel62244

    Posted

    please do'nt go thinking that "you're a freak" because it just is not so!! depression affects millions of people worldwide and we are 2 of the lucky ones getting help to make us better, hey enjoy your day, stay strong, smile
  • karen13323
    karen13323 rachel62244

    Posted

    Hi,  my daughter starts week 7 on Monday. She still gets side effects,  different ones on different days/times of day. And in all that time she has only managed 3 proper nights sleep. 

    She doesn't have her"foggy" head very often now, and I'm guessing it will wear off for you. 

    Are you the pregnant lady?  If so your hormones will be having a party right now. 

    Stop worrying about it,  nothing you can do to change it, and hopefully you will notice it less. 

    Big hugs to you.  X

    • rachel62244
      rachel62244 karen13323

      Posted

      Yes. 8days till my c section. I'm OK just up and down and feel empty headed the fog is easing but slowly. Sweats have stoped now. I hope when baby is out I'll settle x 
  • vix167
    vix167 rachel62244

    Posted

    Hey rachel

    Been thinking about you over christmas wondering how you've coped. Hope you managed to enjoy some of Christmas? I feel like ive observed Christmas rather than taking part properly but have managed to quietly enjoy lots of it too so im grateful for that.

    Im just starting wk 9 and many of the side effects are now gone but still get night sweats, insomnia, anxiety and shakiness but not all the time so easier to cope with when they come. Still often feel very blue but rarely low enough to not keep the tears at bay so overall much better than when I started. Though often feel im not really there I dont have the total fuzziness you describe so cant advise on that but generally side effects have subsided bit by bit from wk6-7 so hopefully it will ease for you soon. Also I dont have an iminent arrival and huge hormonal changes that can come with it like you so you've lots more to contend with.

    Noone understands if theyve not been there, cant comprehend how physical it can be and how you cant control emotions. Sometimes grown ups can learn from kids, dont tell us to cheer up just give us hugs! And kids just treat us like normal whereas adults can either smother you or make you feel like they're avoiding you, neither of which help.

    The fact that your anxiety and depression have improved means the meds are working, as hard as it is you may just need to stick with it for a bit longer to start seeing more positive changes. Reassess after the baby has arrived, see how youre feeling then.

    My heart goes out to you, not what you need right at this point. I hope it all eases for you soon. And like david says people on here do understand a lot of what you're going through so dont apologise for "going on". 

    Look after yourself and hope you feel more improvement soon. 

    All the best

    Vix

    • rachel62244
      rachel62244 vix167

      Posted

      Hi vix, 

      To my surprise a went out this tea time and felt quite normal smile I need destracting all the time. I'm very up and down with these blue moments. As you describe "not really there" this is what I'm like it feels empty and like I'm watching rather then part of sad but this could be depressed not the fluoxetine, I felt really disconnected before the meds to the point to was really scary ! I'm hoping the baby will change things for me. Hope u had a nice Christmas and that u feel the fluoxetine is going well though slow x x 

    • vix167
      vix167 rachel62244

      Posted

      Glad you got out this evening,  distraction soooo helps! Nice to feel normal again.

      I dont know whether its the meds or depression making me feel that way, comes and goes but I just thought it was me being distant due to anxiety or my brain avoiding interaction.

      Well I think a new baby will give you plenty of distraction, hope you have lots of help on hand for the first few months (did I say months, meant decades! :-) ) so you can get some rest.

      Keep distracted but take it easy ..... if thats possible?!

      Take care

      Vix

    • rachel62244
      rachel62244 vix167

      Posted

      Thank u vix! If I wasn't so huge I could keep better distracted but I'm unable to do much now. I take my fluoxetine in the evening about 7pm and I always feel my best about 5pm which makes me think its as the meds lessen I feel more normal. Anxiety makes up so disconnected though as u say. Got my pre op tomorrow so the pregnancy is nearly all done smile 
    • vix167
      vix167 rachel62244

      Posted

      Good luck with pre-op! 

      I feel better from 4-5pm onwards too tho I take flu 9am ish but I read somewhere feeling better in evening is a classic symptom of depression  as youve worn off some of the excess adrenaline that heightens anxiety in the mornings. Fairly new to this so I just accepted that and felt that as I neared bed time when sleep brought relief from symptoms I just started to relax a bit because of that.

      I remember my last few weeks of pregnancy,  no sleep lots of heartburn and my legs swelled beyond anything the hospital had ever seen in fact the swelling went to my belly button-wierd! Couldnt bend my legs so was told to sit with them up, not ideal preparation for birth. I was known as the lady with sausage feet and went up 2 shoe sizes wore flip flops even in pouring rain! Mustve looked bonkers...... Haha :-)

      Not long for you now, rest while you can xx

    • karen13323
      karen13323 rachel62244

      Posted

      good luck today, not long to go now, and you will be holding babe in your arms, precious times!

      daughter takes her pill 9 or 10am, and always feels better in the evening, but that may be due to her being at home, and feeling safe.

      to anyone with anxiety first thing, swimming/skipping, anything you can do to burn adrenaline first thing is good! thats if you have the motivation to, i know my daughter hasnt.

      as for my pregnancys, first one my labour was 2 and a half hours, 2nd one was 25 minutes!!

      im guessing you will have a spinal whilst you have the c section, much better than a general aneasthetic. xx

    • rachel62244
      rachel62244 karen13323

      Posted

      Thanks guy. Pre op was fine but I did go all dizzy and spaced out in the room (anxiety I think) I still feel this constant day dreamness which int nice. Seeing my own go tomorrow rather then hospital doctors see if he thinks its me or the meds. I'm still praying once the baby is out it will all click into place xx
    • vix167
      vix167 rachel62244

      Posted

      Glad pre-op went well. Could well be anxietu esp if affects you most at times like that and  it eased after the hospital. Its hard to tell either way with all this isnt it? 

      Hopefully when the babys here it will all settle down n you can recover prop erly. Or maybe you'll just be too busy to notice! :-)

      Look after yourself

      Vix

    • rachel62244
      rachel62244 vix167

      Posted

      I'm just sick of this not really here feeling its horrible just want it to go away! It makes me think something is wrong with me or I'm turning crazy but it seems common sad
    • vix167
      vix167 rachel62244

      Posted

      I dont think you're going crazy, unless most of us on here are too :-) im sure its all just symptoms of this illness or side effects.

      X

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