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New to Fluoxetine - Not sure what to expect??

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BigTexas
BigTexas

Hello everyone - I'm on day 9 of taking fluoxetine.  I started last Tuesday at 10mg and increased this past Monday to 20mg per doctor's orders.  During the first couple of days I really felt a difference.  I actually felt like my old self again.  But then shortly after I started to feel anxious again.  It would mainly hit me around the early part of the morning.  I get this scary feeling in my stomach like when something bad was going to happen.  Of course, nothing would happen.  

Has anyone else felt like this? And have people actually felt better taking this medicine?  My mom takes it now and she swears it changed her life for the better.  I don’t know if she is just telling me this to give me hope and make me feel better.  After all that’s what mom’s do right?  Well, I’m hoping to hear back from someone here with his or her personal experience.  I just don’t want to lose hope. I get scared when I feel like this.  Like I’m never going to feel like myself again.    

I will add that I started walking on a daily basis and have changed my diet.  No more soft drinks for me.  I only drink water now.  It’s boring but seems to help.  

Thank you in advance 

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • deborah93854
    deborah93854 BigTexas

    Posted

    Hi,

    I have been taking flux for nearly 5 months now and I feel great. They do take a while to kick in. Give it 4-6 weeks and I am sure you will be back to yr normal self.

    Take care and hold on in there.

    D

    • BigTexas
      BigTexas deborah93854

      Posted

      Thank you Deborah for your reply.  It gives me hope that others have seen some improvements.  I guess we will never know why these things happen right?  

      Thank you again.

  • pud1959
    pud1959 BigTexas

    Posted

    I'm into week 4 and still feel nauseous but it does get better as the day goes on. I do still get very anxious but I think there is a slight improvement. I have been told it can take some time.
  • Zio10
    Zio10 BigTexas

    Posted

    I found out Fluoxetin has a half life of 16 days. So that's why it us one of the ones that take EXTREMELY long time to get to working for most. It could take couple months. I had to stop it after 6 wks because it was making me very sick. Lost 10 lbs in 6 wks. Severe diaherra. Liver area pain (not gallbladder its gone) an back pain in kidney are on pain scale it was 6. It was bad. Joint pain like a hot poker in them. Zoloft did same thing to me. Like its toxic or something. Im not on anything rt now. It was my 4th antidepressant. Bummed.
  • BigTexas
    BigTexas

    Posted

    Thanks everyone for the information.  I guess at times I feel like I am alone on this journey.  I know it's an easy one so it helps to hear that other people are also dealing with this.  

    I have lost weight and don't really feel hungry as much.  I used to be a big snacker and now I don't even crave sweets.  Has anyone else felt like this?  I know I have to eat so I do make an effort to eat but healthier foods and only drink water.  Plus I'm exercising so I'm hoping with this combination of things I will see results soon.  

    • deborah93854
      deborah93854 BigTexas

      Posted

      Hi eortega,

      That is exactly what happened to me. I could not eat for a while and I lost prob nearly a stone. I also drank a lot of water and tried to eat fruit, I swam too. Its a terrible thing to go through. I also had awful anxiety and panic attacks. I have now put the weight back on and I am completely back to myself. I feel fantastic and very positive. You will get better believe me, as I felt exactly the same as you. Its a horrible thing to go through. Hope you have some support there. Keep taking the tabs, it will subside eventually. It just takes a while. You feel worse before you get better.

      Take care

      D x😊 x

    • pud1959
      pud1959 deborah93854

      Posted

      How long did the nausea last. It's driving me mad. At the end of my 4th week now
    • deborah93854
      deborah93854 pud1959

      Posted

      Nausea shld be stopping soon, give it another few weeks and you shld be back to normal.

      Good luck

      D

    • BigTexas
      BigTexas deborah93854

      Posted

      This gives me hope.  I guess the toughest challenge is waiting.  Waiting to feel normal again.  I used to be very active before this.  I would work my day job and in the afternoon work on my hobbies.  Plus on weekends I would take my mom to breakfast.  Now, I don't feel like I could do any of those things.  But reading what you posted gives me hope that I will feel better which is what we all want right?  I do have a good support group here with family and friends.  I just feel bad having to put this on them.  

      By the way, do you remember when you started to feel better?  Some people say 2 weeks, others say 4 weeks and some even say 6 weeks.  Just curious what your experience with it?  I'm on day 10 (20mg) so I have a bit to go.  

    • deborah93854
      deborah93854 BigTexas

      Posted

      Hi eortega,

      For me I wld say it was a good 6-8 weeks before I felt completely normal. I know exactly what yr going through. I could not work. I was off work for 6'weeks. I work for the NHS, so they were very understanding. I could not Stay alone in my flat, so I stayed with my friend for abt 4 weeks. I cld not look after my dog either. My brother had him. My anxiety was terrible, cld not sleep at all for abt 3 weeks. I was so, so low. Believe me you will get better, just keep taking the tabs. Please keep in touch and let me know how you are getting on. I am here to give you support.

      Take care

      Deborah x😊 x

    • deborah93854
      deborah93854 pud1959

      Posted

      Nausea I suffered about 4 weeks. The main side effects was no sleep and no eating and v bad anxiety. Everybody is different though. Hope you get better soon.

      D

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