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Strange Fluoxetine side effects

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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

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  • rumur
    rumur Guest

    Posted

    Hi, I've just started fluoxetine again after being on it twice in the past for a year at a time. My anxiety has been severe for a while and I've only taken 2 tablets at 20mg but my head feels odd. Not really pain or an ache just tingly and tight feelings, mostly in the back of my head or sometimes a warm feeling. Is this a normal side effect?

     

  • jesika28180
    jesika28180 Guest

    Posted

    It's day 5 for me,,and it feels like an eternity, i take mine at night and i sleep well, wake up fine, but my anxiety kicks in always around 2pm so im taking xanax to calm me, but i dont want to and it makes me feel nasty even though it's the only thing that calms me. I hope my anxiety dies down soon so i dont have to take it anymore. I'ts bad enough i have to put up wit the extra anxiety from the fluoxetine, and now to have to keep taking xanax. I feel like a junkie....
  • margaret21458
    margaret21458 Guest

    Posted

    Hello All,

    I am on Wellbrutrin for about 2 years. I am going to switch to Prozac or Zoloft, has anyone every switched from Wellb. to either one, and if so, did you see any positive difference with social anxiety?

    Thanks Margaret

  • rob09556
    rob09556 Guest

    Posted

    Actually you're not alone on the symptoms. My Dad started on it a couple of weeks ago and he doesn't have any energy, appetite and just wants to sleep. I think this crap is over Precribed and really isn't that great of an anti depressant IMO.

    Side effects are worse than the depression. So why anyone would want to feel like that?

    Stupid doctors. All egomaniacs!

    Good luck and hope you feel better. Trying to get my Dad to get off it and on something else. Luckily he's only been on it for close to 3 weeks. Have to wean even at that amount of time. I think it has a pretty short half life which is good if you're trying to get off.

  • p71394
    p71394 Guest

    Posted

    The anxiety really decreased for me over 8 weeks.  I'm now on 60mg per day.  I did have Tinitus at start of treatment and sleeplessness but this has disappeared.  I've also lost 1.5 stone since March (4ish months).  Anyone else? Thanks

  • Iqra86
    Iqra86 Guest

    Posted

    Hi Everyone,

          My dad has been taking Fluoxetine 20mg for the last four weeks. And his side effects have not subsided, he is always feeling low, complains about feeling lethargic and at other times restlessness, shows no will or motivation to even do the everyday chores. I just wanted to know if that is normal for someone who has been taking fluxoetine for four weeks? And also if age is a factor, my dad being 70 is already weak and the medicine just adds to the confusion. Its really hard to remind him that he will feel better eventually when I am not even sure if taking the medicine is worth going through it all. If anyone can share anything that would help with my situation. Kindly do.

    • isiao
      isiao Iqra86

      Posted

      I'm just reading this post. How is your dad doing now?

       

  • MelanieGordon
    MelanieGordon Guest

    Posted

    Hi there,

    I just wanted to chime in, as I've been on 20mg Fluoxetine for the last 13 weeks and it has truly changed my life. I have Health Anxiety that manifests itself in bizarre OCD compulsions (checking myself for various conditions) and I sought help for that reason. Here is my timeline:

    1-3 weeks; Anxiety MUCH worse. Had one of my largest and scariest panic attacks during this time after one too many glasses of wine the night before. AVOID DRINKING if you can during this stage.

    3-5 weeks: Started to calm down. 

    5-10 weeks: I felt like I was on the edge of feeling better but couldn't quite cross that threshold.

    10 weeks plus: I have stopped many of my compulsions and my thoughts about being sick have almost completely subsided.

    If I were you, I would stick it out for at least 10 weeks before giving up. I get better every single day. 

    Good luck with everything and remember there are plenty of us out there.

    -Melanie

     

    • Chaobrie
      Chaobrie MelanieGordon

      Posted

      Hello Melanie, I am a 31yo male and I belive I am in the same boat as you. I constantly think something is wrong with me. I guess you can call me a hypochondriac. This and the pressue I put on myself leads to anxiety and the occasional panic attack. The anxiety and panic attacks then lead to a lot more anxiety... It's a vicious cycle. And I agree drinking in general always increases my anxiety level the next day or couple of days and magnifies the side effects of Fluoxitine. 

      I've been perscribed to a very low does of Alprazolam (.25 mg) the past few years and would only take half a pill as needed when I was feeling a little jittery and it always seemed to do the trick.

      That was until this July when my father passed away suddenly and I was there to see him go which looking back now was probably very traumatic for me. Not only was he my best friend but we were also starting a business together. His passing left me with the full burden of the new business, my day job and all of it's problems, his estate and it's problems, plus my wife and I were in the process of purchasing and remodeling a home for ourselves. 

      Needless to say I was very busy for a couple of months after it happened. Once the dust finally started to settle I think reality finally started to set in and I was able to process everything that had happened. That is when I started having panic attacks and was just crying often and randomly, even with the alprazoram (which I wasnt taking enough of). Everything coupled with my preexising anxiety lead to a breaking point. 

      I finally told my GP about everything that had been going on and he did an EKG to help give me peace of mind and also perscribed Fluoxitine (20 mg).

      The first week he had me take half of the fluoxitine daily along with three full .25 mg alprazoram daily to help alleviate some of the side effects of the fluoxitine. 

      The second week I started the full 20mg fluoxitine daily along with two full .25mg of alprazoram daily. The side effects were pretty rough even with the alprazoram but seemed to get better every day until I went out drinking Friday night. (Do not do this becuase the next two days were miserable).

      I am now on the third week of taking it (second week of the full 20mg) and I am back to taking half of the .25mg of alprazoram twice a day or as needed. I am still very tired in the morning and feel a little anxious when I get out of bed but that is when I take both pills and start to level out shortly after.

      Other than that my main side effects are the tiredness and not wanting to do anything, loss of appetite, not pooping enough then diarrhea and jittery/anxiety. I do think it is getting better with every passing day though. I was lucky to have the alprazoram to get me started. 

      Also being on here and talking about it really seems to help. When I was crying a lot it actually felt really good, like I was getting it out. I'm normally the guy that keeps everything bottled up, which I know isnt healthy. I hate feeling weak or broken in front of my friends or loved ones so I keep it all in. 

      This brings me to my question, what do you all think about talking to a psychologist if for nothing else to have someone to talk to about it and get it out?

      Sorry for the long post but like I said, talking about it feels good. 

    • laura61114
      laura61114 MelanieGordon

      Posted

      Hi Melanie

      After 20 years of suspecting I'm depressed although I've masked it with alcohol , I'm now 43 and have had to bite the bullet to get blood tested and diagnosed. As my blood tests, thyroid and hormones and completely normal, I've been put on 20mg fluoxetine as doctor suspects I'm bipolar. One day in bed for 12 hours next day non stop jabbering to people I've not seen for ages who look at me like I'm on drugs which I wasn't.

      I'm on day 11, and have stubbornly refused to stop drinking alcohol until 2 days ago , where I read alcohol and caffeine (I love redbull) makes u so much worse.

      Anyway I'm struggling to get out of bed, I've heart palpitations, my legs and arms are heavy and have like a horrible unpleasant tingle and my chest aches. I've also got headaches and finger tremors. Did you go through this in the early weeks??? Can someone tell me I'll feel better soon?????? Uuurgh.

  • sara88796
    sara88796 Guest

    Posted

    My daughter has been on 10 mg for 6 days she got sick the first day and has been nauseous several of the others I am wondering about mood changes. She has become indifferent to her siblings that she used to concern her self with and started talking back a lot which was extremely rare before
  • john64106
    john64106 Guest

    Posted

    I am now 54 and on my second bout of severe depression in my life. Last time was just short of 20 years ago where I felt far worse, main reason I never knew what was happening to me at the time.

    I went on to have some very productive years and most importantly was very happy, to this day I am not sure if it was the anti depressants or all the other stuff I tried, talking therapy for example, maybe it all helped.

    This year things have crept up on me, and a lot of it was down to some pretty bad  things happening in my life topped up with my Mum dying after a 25 year spell with MS and my horrible Dad becoming very ill weeks later which ended up with open heart surgery, and so much more.

    But I was copingsmile

    I had few minor relapses over the years, but knew the warning signs and fought them off, mostly by looking after myself in various ways. But I have left it get too bad now and really should have seeked help earlier.

    Went onto Fluoxetine just over two weeks ago and like so many on here I felt terrible and far worse than I had done weeks before. But I know the drillsmile and stuck it out.

    Today I felt it all, worthless, sad, blaming myself for everything and basically not too happy, evrything is a task at the moment. I tried a long bike ride, I could see how beautiful the world was, but it never really never did the full trick and I was looking at the beautiful world other people were living in and not me.

    My mind like everyone on here says it's the drugs, I hope it really is the drugs and not the real me, so I came running on here to get some hard facts and try to convince myself that it's not all me and it will get better, this thread has helped me do that.

    Stick with it Guys, hope I might of been of some help as well

    • april04956
      april04956 john64106

      Posted

      You have been through it,,,,,,,I'm now on 5th week feel jittery can't go out was in bed for 2 half weeks never had it this bad thought was better 3rd week then boom no sleep started but all I cling to is I'm better than I was week 1 n 2 crying not even showering now I can only bits in house but I think years of looking after everyone has took its toll along with stress from few different sources i fell into the darkness as i somehow told myself i wanted the tablets out my body so stopped the flu and amytrpyline after years on them bang I hit the floor after month of them then here i am struggling to cope to get through it,,,but i believe on here has helped me so much,,,,,I can cope with alot but the jumpiness inside me and panic it's horrid I'm doing meditation but even struggle to sit still,,doc gave me propanol but not cutting t ok t today along its half lorazepam to calm me but only 3 left as doc said no more I'm on sideline smoking to calm me but I onto even smoke ciggies so that or buy valium as I'm 46 and freak out when all sensations run round my body and head,,I'm not sleeping good so considering taking amytrpyline to help I'm just wanting to be me again,,,but John I think you are right use stick with the God help us all x

    • april04956
      april04956

      Posted

      Sorry about typing mistakes keeps jumping all very place x
  • Troubled_Mind
    Troubled_Mind Guest

    Posted

    I am 51 now and have been suffering in silence for the last 24years. Until recently I have had a loving wife to soak my moods and negative thoughts up. After 20 years of marrige she has had enough and left me and now I have no one.  This was the real start of me recognising I have had depression, anxiety and stress for all this time. I have been to the doctors and he has prescribed Fluoxetine. I hate taking medication and am frightened of feeling any worse. I have had these for 5 weeks but only took the first one this morning. I sometimes have to take one anamitriptyline 10mg tablet on a night time, for nerve pain. Will this be a problem. It also helps me sleep, something I have not had much of recently. Heres hoping the medication helps as I cant see any positives, at the minute. 
    • april04956
      april04956 Troubled_Mind

      Posted

      Sorry about your situation,,,,,your in early stages but I used to take amytrpyline the last time on fluoxetine it's a good combination I'm thinking about adding them back as my sleep is 3 hours I can handle pain but the jittery jumpyines inside makes me panic and now got lump feeling in throat and just feel fidgety can't sit still is anyone else suffering g these symptoms at this stage 5 weeks today I'm counting days as I wait to be free and back to me but on plus side walked back from doctors today had to get bloods done I've got underactive thyroid so checking that and had my b12 jab I have to go back docs Friday my doc says to me april what do you suggest yes he does think he's had enough of me gave me propanol for anxiety but felt funky,,I've had lorazepam 0.5 today but none left so I'm thinking acquiring some diazepam as I'll freak if this continues my doc said no more benzos so I've been that desperate I've looked into medicinal canabis oil,,,,,,,,just my mind doing overtime

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