Prozac day 6 feeling dreadful, don’t what to do :(

Thank you for replying Lisa! I'm pleased to hear you are glad you stuck with it. I feel like throwing in the towel. Did it take 8 weeks to feel better? I do try to do some meditation, I used to be a regular meditator, but struggling with that just now when symptoms are so severe.

Thank you Theodore! Really appreciate your reply. Although I go up to 20mg tomorrow so I'm pretty worried about it getting even worse 😦 How long was it before you felt improvements? I'm only on day 7. It seems interminable.

It was about 12-13 days before i started to feel better each day. There were peaks and valleys after that for sure but the general trend was up. I had a xanax script that helped get over the bump. Of course its different for everyone but 2 weeks give or take is where many start to have decreased side effects and an increase in mood.

It can take many months before the full benefits appear however, so keep that in mind! And increases in dosages are different for everyone. Some people dont have as bad side effects from increases as they do from starting so hopefully thats the case for you!

However, if things do get worse youre still going to get through it. Just take things day by day or hour by hour if you need to. Try not to put a strict timeline on when youll feel better. Take care of yourself and go on walks and meditate, or whatever works for you. The anxiety will pass with time, I promise. If youre feeling especially bad, feel free to send me a message! You got this! I know how hard this can be and im rooting for you 😃

Thanks so much Theodore. I am already taking you up on your offer of messaging you! I went up to 20mg yesterday and today i just feel like dying. I feel so, so awful 😦 I've been awake since 4am in utter torture, such extreme anxiety i barely know what to do with myself. I eventually took diazepam at 6am which is taking the edge off. I don't know if i can do this. This is the worst start up on an SSRI I have ever had and I'm worried this means it's not right for me. And if it's this bad going on it, what on earth is it like trying to get off it? I'm so scared right now.

How are you feeling today? i am on 20mg and on day 11...i feel awful...no motivation, keep laying down, in Pjs all day (I work from home!) no interest in anything, mornings feel sick, have hardly eaten anything in 11 days, wake up 3am every morning, i just cant see myself getting better

Lucy, PLEASE hang in there!It WILL get better. I am so glad that you took the diazepam. Yes, it will take the edge off until this med fully kicks in. We've all been where you are right now. I hate to say this but it does take a bit of time. We all want an instant fix & unfortunately it isn't an instant thing.

Please keep in touch & let us know how you are getting along.

You are in my thoughts & prayers. Actually-I pray for ALL of us to find complete relief.

Hugs,

Barb

Hi Katie, Yup! I've been there. The no appetite thing really upset me the most. I knew that if I could eat, I would feel better. As I said to Lucy, it WILL get better! 11 days is still so early yet. This med takes time but you will definitely be glad when it fully kicks in!I'm 61 years old. Went off of it because I listened to some people that thought I didn't need it. STUPID me. I finally went back on & had to go thru all of the unpleasant side effects, especially the Anxiety that just seemed to over-take me.

I don't give 2 hoots if I have to stay on this med the rest of my life. Who cares? As long as I spend my retirement years happy & anxiety free. I also always carry my Xanax (alprazolam) with me in case I need it.Again, if I have to take those once a day or not even, for the rest of my life, who cares?LOL.

Please continue on....don't give up.

Hugs,

Barb

Hey Barb!

Thank you so much for your positive reply! I have never felt so low and the anxiety as soon as i open my eyes from sleeping!!

I really hope i get better! the thought of everything gives me a fear of dread!!

K xxx

I TOTALLY get it......I've been there. The mornings were the absolute worst. The dread, the low feeling....I had like a scary weird feeling like something bad was going to happen to me. It was awful, so I get what you're going thru. Has your doc prescribed anything to help calm you during this initial phase? It would make a big difference.

I was on them in 2014 and did very well on them...came off in 2016 as I felt better! Since September OMG its come back big time!! I found two packs in my cupboard so decided to start again as cant take this any longer and haven't managed to get to doctors as yet to let him know I've put myself back on them! I will ring doctors tomorrow as thought of waking at scares the hell out of me x

Hi Katie,

Sounds like we are pretty much going through the same thing although you are a few days ahead of me! This is day 9 for me and only third day at 20mg. It's just hell isn't it. I'm crippled with anxiety as soon as I wake up, it's a horrible way to start the day - and then the rest of the day is just surviving. I had a complete meltdown yesterday. I'm self-employed so also work from home (although i haven't done any work for weeks). I have no motivation, I'm exhausted but can't rest. I guess we just have to hold out hope and listen to the others on here to get us through. Big hug to you.

Hi Barb,

Thanks so much for relating and encouraging us to keep going. When you're going through this it feels like you will never feel better, never feel well ever again. If this med works for me I'm never coming off it either as I don't think I could go through this hell again.

Really appreciate your replies Barb x

Hang in there Lucy!! I know exactly what youre going through. I lost about 20 lbs starting prozac. I couldnt eat, sleep, or function. I truly wouldnt wish it on anybody. It landed me in the emergency room because I thought I was going to die or go crazy and hurt myself or someone. Its a terrifying feeling. But the end result is worth it!! Give yourself a few weeks on this new dosage and I know youll be feeling better soon! Just take it day by day.

You can do this, I know you can!

Thats the exact feeling that makes it so hard. The "never going to end" feeling. I had myself convinced that i would always feel that way and that i always had felt that way! I knew on some level it wasnt true but i felt so bad in the moment it had to be true. And it just made me feel so beyond hopeless. But its temporary! I promise you that.

Hi Lucy,

Yes going through the same!! I feel exactly like you..i can't function and no interest in work at the mo...just doing bits and pieces.

Do you find the anxiety settles by the evening? Do you have nausea feeling in the mornings? Today just sat all day in pjs. I worry over everything, I'm 45 & think what is wrong with me??!!

Sorry to hear you had a bad day yesterday...this forum is helping me so much...send hugs right back at you x

Hi Katie,

Yes I wonder what the hell is wrong with me too! I'm 46... so we are very similar!

I had nausea the first few days after starting the Prozac, but now my stomach is so knotted with severe anxiety I'm not sure I can even sense the nausea! If that makes sense. Anxiety is so crippling I can hardly breathe. I sometimes feel it settles a bit in the evening but that may be more because I'm relieved the day is nearly over. From what I've read it's a good sign if your symptoms start dissipating by the evening... then it widens to leveling out by the afternoon and so on. Morning/waking anxiety is the last to go... but it's the worst for me! What I wouldn't give to wake up with a peaceful body and no extreme dread/agitation...

Guess we just have to keep going, with the support of the lovely people on here x

How was you this morning? I kept wretching to be sick!! Same as me my stomach in knots!! I cant eat..Just been drinking tea!! i was reading last night could be down to start of menopause!! Christmas feels me with worry as cannot be bothered with it this year!

Hi Katie,

Yesterday was utterly dreadful for me too. Severe anxiety all day, eventually took a diazepam at 5pm that did nothing! I'm forcing myself to eat. I'm staying at my sisters just now so she's supervising! (in Australia, I actually live in Scotland). Yes fairly sure hormones will be involved somewhere. I slept til 5, but have this awful deep dread feeling all the time. So sick of it all 😦 Hope you sleep well x

Hi Lucy!

Just checking in, wondering if today has treated you any better so far. Hang in there.

Hi Theodore,

Thanks for asking, really appreciate it. Still really struggling I'm afraid. Waking at 4.30-5am with severe anxiety that lasts all day and constant dread and agitation. Day 11 for me, so I know early days, but it is just a matter of surviving through each day and trying not to give up 😦

Lucy

Let me know if there's anything I can do! Even if you just need more reassurance. It's all about distraction to get through this. Anything at all that keeps your mind off things will help. Whether it's binge watching a show that you can get into, or walking around, or calling a friend. Anything that you can focus on. Just know you have people rooting for you 😃 and that you WILL succeed!

Thanks Theodore. Any reassurance is gratefully received at this point, as I'm ready to throw in the towel. Day 12 and feel so dreadful. What is the point in going on a medication that just makes you feel so much worse than you already were 😦