Strange Fluoxetine side effects

Hi Claire,

Not taking fluo myself but my teenage daughter is. You need to know that you CAN get it in a liquid format

And take 10mg. My daughter started on that dose. You should me ion to your doc. Maybe they only routinely offer lower doses to teens?

Sorry, posted before I reread . Looks like I was advising you to take 10mg, in fact I was just mentioning that

this is the dose my daughter started on. Not giving dosage advice! 😊

Worth asking your doc if she thinks the liquid may be worth a try, if a lower dose is appropriate.

Hi Cat and Claire

I'm heading in the opposite direction...ie: weaning myself off the flu after over 5 years on them. I took liquid from the start as unable to swallow tablets. The docs do say 20mg is the minimum to start on and then it goes up in 20mgs a time. I don't know what kind of effect only 10mg would have on your or anyone's symptoms.

Stick with the meds for a while longer. The 1st 6-8 weeks for me were the worst and it is worth persevering.

Best wishes to you both.

Emma

I've sent you a personal message.

MP

I'm taking the fluid version as I can Swallow tablets and this is my first week. The side effects are horrendous the nausea is awful and it's leaving me unable to function

Does anyone no if these side effects will go soon? I'm really close to coming off them!

Beth x

I've sent you a PM Beth.

Well the last 2 days have been MUCH better, I think I'm over the worst of the side effects now.

Ive had 2 days free from the side effects except the insomnia and am on day 6 of the

fluoxetine.

To combat the Insomnia my GP gave me an antihistamine called Sominex that makes you very drowsy, I've taken it for the last 2 nights and had solid nights of sleep since!! Happy Days.

For anyone suffering Nausea ginger tea helps massively and also try and eat something when taking the tablet, even if it's just a biscuit.

Thanks SO much Cat, really, really helps to know that there's a 10mg alternative xx

Hi

I am new to the forum - just need some reassurance I am not going mad. On day 4 of fluoxetine and hoping I can get some advice on coping with the anxiety and side effects. I have been on it before and did not associate the worsening anxiety with the side effects, but since reading the various forums I can see things gets worse before they get better! I have heard tonic water helps with the million butterflies in my tummy. Any advice wil be much appreciated. Thanks......

Hi Sue,

welcome back (to the medication) :-)

I doubt if you're going mad but I can really empathise with that feeling. If you read my earlier posts over the last few weeks you will see that I too returned to fluoxetine about 8 weeks ago now and suffered what I felt were fairly severe side effects compared to my previous starts on these tablets. I am absolutely fine now and the majority of the issues I had are a distant memory. I never used tonic water as I wasn't aware of it but may be worth a try. For me it was just an acceptance of my situation (difficult to do) and try to be patient (also hard).

The main things for me were, staying on the medication even though I thought it wasn't working/ making me worse- and it did get worse before it got better and also trying to get out and do stuff even though I didn't feel like it. I also have been off work since a few days after starting the meds again as I couldn't have coped with that as well. I hope to go back pretty soon now though.

I did see my GP about increasing anxiety in the early days and was prescribed a beta blocker to cope with panic as it arose. I only really used them for a few days though. Really worth keeping in close contact with the doctor.

These are just my experiences and I believe it affects people in a different way but it has certainly helped to be able to look on here for support.

Best wishes

G.

Thanks for that Graham. Thought I would join the group as I do think it helps to be in contact with others going through similar feelings. I have had to call in sick to work today as not able to function properly. I think I was off sick for about a month when I last had anxiety (7 years ago now). I had been on fluox for the 7 years but gradually cut them down about 6 months ago and finally came off them in January. Hey presto! what happens? Lots of changes at work giving me responsibility and I am like this again !!

I am trying hard to accept the way I feel and try to be confident that I will get better - in fact I know I will given time.

My GP is ok but I don't know whether to go and see her again as I know I have just got to carry on - in what way did your GP help once you wee on the meds again? I think last time she gave me 2mg diazepam for 2 weeks to try and settle the stomach churning.

Your story sounds similar to mine as regards being on them for a good while and then reducing and coming off altogether. I did that and crashed after about 4/5 months. I am also looking now at how work and other responsibilities have affected me in terms of stress and then anxiety/ depression.

I saw the doctor every couple of weeks for the first 6 but I was able to have an extra telephone consultation when things were really bad in the first week and that's when I got signed off from work. He also discussed the options around additional meds, i.e. tranquilisers or beta blockers. I opted to use the latter as the issue of becoming somewhat hooked on something like diazepam does concern me (But that's just me). As I say I only used the beta blockers for a few days anyway and I am not sure how much of an effect they had.

As someone who has been reluctant to ask for help in the past I have to make an extra effort to ensure I do keep in touch with the doc this time and get proper advice :-).

Like you say these pills can and do work - its just a case of perseverance and patience for me.

Good luck

G.

Thanks again - it is good to talk!! I have been out for a walk, feeling not too bad at the moment although work have just sent me a text message Hopefully the pills will kick in more easily this time round as I went to the GP before I got too bad, fingers crossed.

Al the best

S

hello = I've been following the discussion and now feel like I want to join in - like you guys for mutual support - been on Prozac for nearly 3 weeks now and it has been hideous - I was depressed which is why I started taking them (worked for me a few times before) but I have felt so awful this time - physically bad but emotionally much worse - slightly better today so that's good - but experience tells me i'll come crashing down tomorrow am - one day at a time - really hoping start to feel better by 6 weeks - don't ever remember feeling this low and hopeless or that I can't think about anything without being flooded by massive anxiety - thinking of you all and wishing you well tonight

h