Posted , 8 users are following.
Ive now been on fluoxetine for 7 weeks. 4 weeks at 20mg, then increased 3 weeks ago to 40mg. Still don't feel great, slightly better but nowhere near happy. The morning anxiety is the worst, does this fade? if so, when? and the tiredness is awful.....I'm yawning all the time. I really thought I would be better by now, as when I google 'how long does it take to work' all the medical websites say 6-8 weeks,
?Any advice appreciated.
Donna xx
0 likes, 13 replies
craig05866 donna30993
Posted
Hi Donna
By my (very limited) understanding any change in dose can take 8 weeks plus to settle. For some it's sooner and others longer.
I'm at 4.2 weeks on 20mg and really struggling =(
Take care and I hope you feel better soon.
donna30993 craig05866
Posted
Hi Craig,
?Sorry to hear you are also struggling.....it's so hard isn't it? This forum is the only thing that keeps me pushing through.
?Hope you feel better soon Craig.
Donna :-)
luci11 donna30993
Posted
yes, my morning anxiety started improving in about week 6-8, some mornings it would still be there and some mornings it was better and I would even start having couple of good whole days here and there. Or I would notice the anxiety would be milder.
After week 8, it was a turnaround point for me, now I ony had 2 anxious days in the last two weeks, and the anxiety was nothing like in the early stages.
So maintain hope. and push through. Remember that the increased dose is prolonging for you the period of side effects, so it is more like you are just 3 weeks in right now because the body is getting used to the new higher dose. So hang in there a little longer. All you are experiencing is not unusual. But I know it is very very hard.
My tiredness started to lift only after week 8 too, but I really helped it a lot myself with starting to exercise....even when I felt extremely tired, I pushed through it and discovered that the tiredness is more mental from the meds. Do you think you could do any sport or go dancing or fast walk or swim etc? Even it it is just 15-20 mins, I think it would help immensely. People do recover from anxiety through sport very frequently...it makes sense because the anxiety is an adrenalin rush and you can release it through physical activity. Just something to consider, but I know when you feel at the lowest, it is so hard to make yourself do it.
Hugs x
donna30993 luci11
Posted
Hi Luci,
?Thanks for responding to yet another one of my posts.....I just keep needing help to get through these tough weeks :-( and thankfully you are such a huge support and extremely knowledgable. I am soon starting a dance class for an hour every week in the evenings, but I feel so tired all the time that I know the motivation to go will be very difficult. I just hope this tiredness goes as I literally am yawning at my desk at work all day and shattered by the time I get home with no energy to do anything.
?I have a doctors appointment on Friday, so I will explain how I have been feeling to her......I'm sure her advice will be to give it more time.
?Thanks again for your support xxx
luci11 donna30993
Posted
Hi Donna,
I feel for you...the early weeks are crazy, I would never want to go through that again, it was truly the worst anxiety I ever felt and I was very scared. And you really are just at week 3 now...best to count the weeks from the day of the increase, as it is the same as starting over again on the meds, just to give yourself more comfort that it is still really too early to feel well at week 3...
I was on these forums none stop in the early weeks seeking reassurances from others; it was hard to believe I would get better but I am getting better, just like others did, and you will too!!
The tiredness is really tough. That's great about the dance class, that would be great for your spirits and even energy. So I didn't go running in the last 3 days because of a minor injury, and I discovered the tiredness is now back. It feels like I can't even get out of bed and it feels impossible I should do any exercise. That only confirms to me that a lot of the tiredness that the meds give you is just psychological actually. So I will make myself go for a run later, and I am sure that the energy will be there or will pick up. I think the meds give a bit of withdrawn and lethargic feeling to us when trying to numb down the anxiety and it makes us 'feel' tired.
I hope you will get a little better day today...the mornings are the toughest bit!!! Hugs x
donna30993 luci11
Posted
I actually found myself laughing more than I have in a long time at work today.....hopefully this was a glimpse of my recovery starting to happen. Still felt anxious upon waking this morning as usual, but made myself get up and keep busy and the anxiety does then fade a little.
Thanks again for all your support.
Donna
jeannie1972 donna30993
Posted
Hi Donna , my dr put me on Prozac 40 mg and propranolol 20 mg and buspar a month in half ago and I'm still having bad anxiety so he told me to drop the Prozac to 20 mg and started me on pristiq I'm supposed to take the Prozac 20 mg for five days and then stop taking it I'm worried I will have bad withdraws can someone please help me
lookingonwards donna30993
Posted
donna30993 lookingonwards
Posted
Hi Lookingforwards,
?Yes, I think you're right, the increase has prolonged my recovery. Do you still have tiredness 6 months in? or has it dissapeared?
Donna :-)
lookingonwards donna30993
Posted
donna30993 lookingonwards
Posted
lookingonwards donna30993
Posted
julie92859 donna30993
Posted
I am 8 weeks in after struggling with a relapse in anxiety which had gone on and on for months I still don't feel much better did it work for you eventuslly
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