stopped Fluoxetine after 5 days,awful side effects.1 week later & still ill

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I was on 20mg for 5 days. On the 4th day I was completely hyper,bad dreams,sweating,uncontrollable shaking which ended in an awful panic attack which I had never had before. 2 days later after another attack I ended up in A&E and apparently its a bad reaction.

Anyway I've been off them 6 days now and not feeling much better-nausea,dreams,anxiety,sweating. After taking them for such a short time shouldn't these side effects have stopped now? Thank you

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  • Edited

    Hi Claire,

    how are you getting on now? I see this was last updated 2 months ago. I've had a very similar experience and still am after coming off Fluoxetine after only 6 days of taking it. Never have I experienced such fear like it. I've never before had a panic attack and this drug has set off multiple attacks where I've been close to losing control, especially in the first week's withdrawal. I'm now off them 12 days and really still not right at all. The intense panic attacks and fear is now a constant lower level fear and dread. I feel like I can't function properly, am much more depressed than before. I'm averaging 3 hours sleep a night at best and waken around 4am every morning since I started them.

    My head is either blank and detached or whirling with fear thoughts of what might happen.

    Praying every day for these effects to go away. I did doubt my own sanity and want to give everyone who has posted on here a huge thank you. Because of this forum I realise it is the effects of the drug and so there is hope x

    • Posted

      hey, I'm not claire but I delt with it too and no one on here would answer me. it's awful I spent 3 days in patient on a psych unit because I legit thought I was losing my mind. it's been nearly 3 months and I just started feeling normal again. still not back to 100 percent me. but I can tell you eventually it will start to get better. very slowly. may want to ask your doctor about an antipshycotic med like abilify that's what helped me start to get better. I took it for about 2 weeks. the worst part was that no one seemed to understand the pure unbridled terror that the medicine caused. if you want to message me feel free and I will try to help as much as I can.

    • Posted

      hi I endured the worst too I left my house ended up in my mums like I was loosing control the fear dread scared panic sweats is this normal for this drug

    • Posted

      Hi, I realize its been a few months. But I would like to ask how long it took for you to feel better after stopping Fluoxetine. Took it 9 days, had every side effect possible. Im on 2 weeks of being off and still struggling. Ive never taken anything like this before. I sure wish I hadnt tried it. I feel like I've lost almost a month of my life. Thanks

  • Posted

    hi, can I ask. were you taking anything else for the panic attacks like propananol or was it just fluoxetine you were taking?

  • Posted

    hello luv I endured the same i was loosing the plot but stuck with it I couldn't cope but I'm on day13 now slightly better the doc said it's the serotonin med getting into your system in hope your ok I'd like to help you

  • Edited

    i see this is an old thread but i am so glad i found it. i took 20mg flu for a week and it was the worst mistake of my life. i was prescribed it for mild postnatal depression but honestly i shouldve just stuck to therapy. exactly a week after taking them my heart started pounding so bad i spent all night in A&E , and i was so restless i was pacing up and down all night couldnt sit still. it made me extremely nauseas also. i was also having a migraine so that couldve exasperated my symptoms. i had this burning/tingling feeling on my skin too which i had no idea what that was until i googled it.

    my doctor told me to just stop taking it - i stopped taking it 2 days ago and ive never felt so unwell in my life. i am sweating profusely 24/7 - i wake up drenched in sweat. i have been lightheaded, extremely anxious and ive barely slept or eaten (having weird dreams also). i feel like i am going mad to be honest. i just pray this nightmare ends soon and i can go back to normal. it is an evil drug - never ever ever again . put me off antidepressants for life !

  • Posted

    could anyone provide a timeframe on when this went away? i only took 10 mg for 4 days, been off for 3 days and i cant keep food down, lost 10 lbs, shaking, waking up in panic, sweating, nauseous, dizzy.

    I cant remember a time i was ever this miserable, even when i had covid. 😦

  • Posted

    hello to whoever will respond. I only took Prozac 10mg for 4 days and I am still miserably sick - severe nausea, waking up in panic, malaise, flu like symptoms, headache, sweating, no appetite.

    It has been 8 days - Any hope? I am beginning to get a freaked out by this 😦

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