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On 40mg of Fluoxetine...has wiped out my xmas

Posted , 6 users are following.

sb51640
sb51640

After years of crippling anxiety which I think led to the breakdown of my family life, i started on 20mg of prozac around 3 weeks ago. I have been on various meds before including citalopram but I am not sure that one ever really worked. So I have gone back to prozac and am now up to 40mg after going to see the doctor over a week ago. He thought I was being hasty in leaping up to 40mg after only 3 weeks on 20mg but I felt it was the right thing to do. He actually said he would leave it for me to decide! Anyway i didn't really have many side effects on 20, but can say I have experienced them on 40mg. These were cold-like symptoms, lack of sleep, horrible anxiety and a mouth drier than Gandhi's flip flop! Do you think the side effects are a sign that 40mg was the right way to go? I didn't get anything from 20mg really. I am also a big bloke so felt 20mg as a dose was just a drop in the ocean.

1 like, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • kim31778
    kim31778 sb51640

    Posted

    I was put directly on 40 and have experienced many side effects; five weeks in now...dry mouth as dry as Ghandi's flip flop too-lol; I have sick stomach, high anxiety, trembling, high bp, fast pulse, agitation, unreality....hoping it all subsides soon for you as well...

  • Intrepidfred
    Intrepidfred sb51640

    Posted

    I went from 20 to 30 and then started to be sick: gastro, flu, muscle pain and dry mouth. It never occurred to me that Prozac could have been in cause. Then I found this group, read about it and decided to go down to 10 mg/daily. All the side effects are gone. I didn't have any at 20 mg/daily. The main recommendation for Prozac is "use the smaller dose that's effective for you". Maybe that's a way to know. You can also get a Prozac in 10 mg capsules. So maybe try 30?

  • sb51640
    sb51640

    Posted

    thanks guys. I have not felt physically sick other than the usual tense sickly feeling in my stomach. back to work tomorrow so I think that obviously adds to the general feeling of anxiety. I just keep getting thoughts in my head that I can't get rid of. my brain latches on to something to worry about then won't let go.

  • lookingonwards
    lookingonwards sb51640

    Posted

    I do not think that the amount of Anti Depressant corolates with what body weight/size you are.. it is not like alcohol where people seem to get drunker quicker if they are smaller or a bigger person who drinks regularly can drink and drink and not feel a thing.

    I feel you did increase way to quickly and your Doctor should have known better than to leave you to make that decision on your own. My doctor made me wait 6 weeks before increasing me to 30mg and then another 10 days before going up to 40mg. I have been on Citalopram for 16 years before switching to Prozac and I can tell you now they are such different medication that there is no way to compare them. Prozac takes a long time to start working.. actually my 3rd and 4th week on 20mg they had not even started to overly do anything yet.. it was not until my 6th week that I started to feel a tiny bit better. 

    You did not really have any side effects on 20mg because for most people the side effects seem to start getting nastier around that 3rd or 4th week mark.

    20mg of one Anti D is not the same as 20mg of another so please do not compare them to your last drug either.

    I think as mentioned you can either look at dropping back to 30mg for a few weeks and see how you go before increasing again or just stay with the 40mg and understand that you will feel like crap for many weeks before the light slowly starts to shine.

    I am on week 7 or 8 of being on 40mg now and still had a few bad days this week but they are better now.

    I just remind myself that this medication is not about making us numb to the world and making everyday chocolates and roses... even people who are not on meds have really crappy days. 

    I suggest you go back to your doctor and discuss with them and do not try and work things out on your own. Your doctor was right in the first place by saying it was way to soon... my doctor would be in shock if I had done that myself. 

    Do not panic over the ruminating thoughts. I know they are awful but slowly they wll go away... just keep saying to yourself "they are just thoughts they mean nothing" ...    Also make sure you get outside and do some walking or even throw a ball against a wall or something where you have to focus on doing something that removes your mind off the thoughts for a bit.

     

    • lookingonwards
      lookingonwards monica62597

      Posted

      I have noticed a lot of improvement. What I am trying to say is people need to stop panicking if they have a bad day even after being on them for a while. They are not supposed to make us all into non emotional zombies.. we still have our up and down days just like those who are not on them. As long as my up days are way more than the occassional down day then I can handle that.
    • RonVis
      RonVis lookingonwards

      Posted

      Lookingonwards,  I'm really in tune with what you've been saying about this process.  I'm starting my 7th week, there has been inprovement, but I'm still having more bad days than good, although the good days are what is keeping me pressing forward with same dose, no changes.  Extreme tiredness and dull head are the side effects that knock me down.  Feel like there is a broick tied to the top of my head.  I've read on the 7th week you should start to see some releif with side effects and that for some it's the 8th week, some it's 2-3 months.   I work daily, never stopped working even on the worst days, but it is taking everything I have to push through.   I push myself to get up and do things even though my body is saying no,  What was your expereince, any encouragement would be appreciated.

    • lookingonwards
      lookingonwards RonVis

      Posted

      Hiya..

      I actually took an ibuprofen whenever I had a dull headache. Check if ok with your pharmacist first. It really helped me get thru some of those side effects and I found even just one capsule at a low dose did the trick.

      I still get quite tired even now but I work nights and also decided to change my lifestyle when I shifted to this medication. I have lost about 25 pounds since starting and truthfully having this secondary focus has helped me. I cut out caffeine and am trying to get the good old sugar addiction under control.

      Honestly I still have some bad days even after all this time.. but they do not stay bad as long and I do not seem to be as fixated on those thoughts like I was at the start. I can now reason with myself a lot better and not go into a major tail spin about it all.

      You will start seeing improvement.. little by little but do not count it by days.. count it by moments.. like "hey I smiled at a stranger today without even forcing myself"

      Baby steps add up after a while.. nothing good happens when you rush it.

    • sb51640
      sb51640 RonVis

      Posted

      I know what you mean. I went back to work today and the effort was excruciating at times. I was conscious of every word that came out of my mouth, which is so tiring.
    • RonVis
      RonVis lookingonwards

      Posted

      Thanks lo. I'm so aware of the timeframe and how slow this is, just never had anything like this and it's frustrating. I'm embracing the suck and have faith in the process. The side effects/physical symptoms are what I'm dealing with and I have my moments of why can't it get better now! Thanks for your words

    • RonVis
      RonVis sb51640

      Posted

      Yep, it not even a question of anxiety or depression, the medicine has definitely help, it's the side effects/physical symptoms. I'm ready to be myself again but I have no power over making this work quicker and I'm starting my 7th week.

  • sb51640
    sb51640

    Posted

    thanks for the reply. It was encouraging. I think I will stick out 40mg for a few more weeks and then reassess with my Dr. I have been sleeping better the last few days and am trying to rest as much as I can whilst also keeping occupied at other times. I am not sure your analysis of alcohol consumption is right...in my experience some of the biggest drinkers are smaller fellas wink

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