1. Community
  2. Mental health
  3. Fluoxetine

Strange Fluoxetine side effects

Posted , 182 users are following.

Guest
Guest

Hi everyone.

Started to take Fluoxetine just over 2 weeks ago after being prescribed them for depression and anxiety. I'm hoping it will get better with time, but at the moment I'm feeling so tired constantly, and like I've lost all my motivation. I'm also feeling quite self conscious around people, and my anxiety has increased a little. If anyone's had a similar experience, how long was it until you started to feel better? I'm not planning on stopping the medication as I've heard it does take time, but can't help wondering how long I have to endure these exacerbated feelings :?

12 likes, 415 replies

415 Replies

Prev Next
  • KateMT
    KateMT Guest

    Posted

    Hi all,

    Just wanted to say how much of a help reading all your comments has been, I'm on day 12 of 20mg, and the last week has been really tough for side effects for me!

    No sleep, can't eat (not good for someone with an eating disorder) anxiety off the scale, normally at 3am! No motivation to even do simple things like brush my teeth or get dressed!

    But reading about the fact its "normal" to have this and feel like I do is so reasuring and giving me the energy to go on. I have been on Fluoxetine before a few years back but cant remember it being like this, think I must of blocked it all out! lol. 

    Does anyone on here use sleeping tablets with the Fluoxetine? I think having a good nights sleep will help me so much, but also worried about them reacting? Whats everyones experience of this?

    Thanks

    Kate 

    • VaJaJa
      VaJaJa KateMT

      Posted

      Don't take sleeping tablets - what you are experiencing is the norm with this med- it will calm down
    • nogger
      nogger KateMT

      Posted

      hi Kate and others

      I thought i would join this forum as we are all in the same boat. Last year i took sertraline worked great but again first 3-4 weeks were rough. However I never shook of the nausea which was a problem for the 12 months I took it...I had a blip and decided that I would try fluoxetine. The first 10 days were pretty even some good some bad then day 14 to 17 was pretty good really felt like this was going ok...Then day 18 to 22 were really rough lots of anxiety which I never had to start with mainly was really low why I started to take these. Now on day 23 and am trying to hang in there have days when feel tired and not with it then it picks up then drops and picks up really need some consistency.....Seem to have minor crying bouts for no reason but so many seem to give it the full 6 weeks so am hoping that it gets better day by day....hope you guys keep in touch and we help each other through these times ....

    • KateMT
      KateMT nogger

      Posted

      Hi! 

      Welcome to the forum, I'm now on day 25 (?) and things have settled right down, I do get the odd moment of panic and anxiety, I call them wobble moments, and normally I Just focus and I can talk myself around. I did go through a really rough patch on days 6-9 and day 20, felt so low and didn't want to be in my own skin and couldn't stop crying! But the good is out waying the bad again now, and i'm starting to be able to build a route and live again. I did start taking Promethazine Hydrochloride (an antihystamine) prescribed by my Dr. to help me sleep, the insomnia was doing as much damage as the anxiety! 

      I hope these work for you, I have only ever taken Fluoxitine, I took it for a year about 4 years ago. So I know it can work for me, but I guess they don't sit well with everyone. Fingers crossed you start to feel the benifits soon. Let me know how you are getting on.

      Kate 

    • nogger
      nogger KateMT

      Posted

      hi Kate 

      The start of the day seems to be hard work feel a little hyper sometimes but not for long ....get the odd surge of adrenaline which makes me tingle but i seem to manage it....have noticed that i feel a bit better when i wake up and not as up and down as i was....i am on day 24 today....the night seems to be better like the tablet has settled and i feel a lot more relaxed.....I know what you mean with the sleep i can fall asleep but its usually disturbed and not good sleep wake up feeling really restless...well fingers crossed this settles down more I can almost feel it starting to work but so frustrating as everyday feels like a nearly there day ....thanks for the reply Kate 

    • KateMT
      KateMT nogger

      Posted

      Hi Nogger,

      i'm glad you are starting to feel a bit better, I was always rubbish in the morning anyway but I'm even worse now - takes me so long to get going, which can he hard getting to work etc. The sleeping tablets have really helped me, I only had one last night and slept reasonably well, woke up a couple of times but managed to go back to sleep rather than just laying there like I used too! 

      Glad you have kept going with them and that day will come, every day you are a little closer to that. 

      Are you still managing to go to work etc? 

      Kate 

    • nogger
      nogger KateMT

      Posted

      Hi kate 

      yes am still working most things i can manage at the moment but not really getting any consistency day 26/27 were really good day 28 today and its been a little flat not felt great....i have started to sleep a little better so have avoided the sleeping tablets have some kalms sleep but not used them much.....Doc said to keep going there is still more improvement with two weeks to go before am at 6 weeks so we shall see....we will get to the end am sure of it Kate hope your well 

    • hilary95948
      hilary95948 nogger

      Posted

      Hi nogger, I have had a bad 7 months. Took Tramadol for a knee op stopped it suddenly, didn't know to ween off, left me with severe anxiety, went weeks like that, then the Doctor put me on Sertraline, that sent me going crazy, Looked it up and found it did not go with my thyroxine, so went on Mirtazapine, I was on them 7.5 weeks, all they did was make me sleep and eat, I cried all day, couldn't wait to go to sleep to forget.  I have now been given fluoxetine, been on them 2.5 weeks, again anxiety went worse, so they have given me diazepam to take as and when till I get used to the fluoxetine, Hate taking the Valium,  just hope  the Prozac start to work very soon.... Have been on Prozac before when my husband was ill then he died that was 3 years ago, but didn't feel this bad on them, but I think I have never been this bad before either, I think the loosing of my husband has maybe cought  up with me this year... just hoping thes Prozac help me this time   Hilary

       

  • Mickey13
    Mickey13 Guest

    Posted

    Hello everyone,

    Start to taking Prozac about 2 weeks first 2 weeks 10 mg then 20mg first 3-4 days I felt like superman then trouble..constant headache, lost weight and sweate hands ... Terrible side effect , oh the worst is my sinus pressure it's killing me & no sleep at all just rolling left right all nite long .

    Welcome to the club ?

    Sometimes my body temperature goes up like hot flesh and cold chills, hopefully symptoms will be gone soon , if anyone can give some advice I will highly appreciated.

    • maylee6
      maylee6 Mickey13

      Posted

      It will get better just takes time I been on 10 mg for two months been through all the side effects and now I am really good so don't give up it will get better.
    • Mickey13
      Mickey13 maylee6

      Posted

      Ok , thank you for get back to me , I don't want to quit taking it , just this side effect little strange to me , I was in Xanax for two years that was ok just killed my memory .

      Now on Prozac 20 mg/day give me a headache and my ear is ringing so loud , but hopefully it will goes away.

      Maylee thanks again !

      God bless !

    • nicole430
      nicole430 pud1959

      Posted

      Hey for me it stopped after the 2nd week , have you been eating and drinking tea helps sometimes you just have to force yourself
  • Mickey13
    Mickey13 Guest

    Posted

    Hey man,

    I just started taking Prozac 20 mg about 2 weeks ago , first couple day was alright after 4th day I start to feel really edgy , I couldn't eat and sleep + bad sinus pressure headache.

    I'm on my 16th day today , and I feel like something

    happened in positive way today ,feel totally fine ,no headache and my mood is cool as well .

    I was kept myself busy much is I can and ignore side effects.

    Sometimes takes little longer to build in to your system but I'm sure next couple days you'll be better.

  • Anna_Liddy_Khol
    Anna_Liddy_Khol Guest

    Posted

    Hello, I don't know your particular case but I do know about Prozac. It DOES take awhile to kick in/—therefore if you stop at some point it must be gradual. Your doctor will help you with that. Finding the correct dosage is tricky but stick with it as long as you don't have side effects. Just remember there is help out there; you are not alone no matter how alone you may feel now.
Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.