1. Community
  2. Mental health
  3. Fluoxetine

Week 8 on 20mg

Posted , 7 users are following.

katie58615
katie58615

So iv been on 20mg for 8weeks now.

I was previously on citalopram for 4years for anxiety then me and my partner wanted to try for a baby so i gradually came off citalopram. After about 2months i was gettin tired cryin no motivation out of breath easily fast heart rate and losing weight i went to my GP she thought it was anxiety related as id came off citalopram (which makes sense although i cant help think theres something else wrong with my health- ecg fine bloods fine)! GP put me on fluoxetine (as its better than citalopram for during pregnancy) had horrendous side effects off fluoxetine i still dont feel right i also have bad acid reflux which comes and goes but with it brings anxiety as i think im gettin better then i feel crappy again no appetite feeling sick. Iv been off work 8weeks i feel useless at home on my own all day over thinkin and not much motivation. Id like to go back to work to occupy my mind a bit even tho i dont feel 100%. So now we have decided not to try for a baby and i am thi king do i stay on 20mg fluoxetine, up my dose or go back onto citalopram??!! Any advice would be appreciated thank you!!

0 likes, 56 replies

56 Replies

Prev Next
  • lookingonwards
    lookingonwards katie58615

    Posted

    What dose of Citalopram were you on before?
    • katie58615
      katie58615 lookingonwards

      Posted

      I was on 20mg, i think i may have started on 10mg for a few weeks then increased to 20mg and stayed on them with no problems for 4 years
    • lookingonwards
      lookingonwards katie58615

      Posted

      Ok I was on Citalopram for about 15 years before the switch. 20mg of Fluox did very little for me... but once I went up to 30mg for 10 days ten up to 40mg life started to change. 20mg of Citla are different to 20mg of Fluox. Also as my Doctor told me.. body chemistry changes as we age so what worked once before may change for us all as we go through life.. especially us females!
    • monica62597
      monica62597 lookingonwards

      Posted

      Last time I was this bad it took 40 mg of citalopram but I went up on it real fast over a period of a week or two because I was switching from another drug so 40 mg of Celexa fix me perfectly the last time and I eventually wean down to 10 and stayed on that for a while and then got off. So I'll probably need more of the Prozac then 20 mg I'm guessing for a while at least. Did you notice any increase in side effects when you went up over 20 mg. I'm only asking because the buzzing in my back just started this last week after I was on 20 for a little bit

    • lookingonwards
      lookingonwards monica62597

      Posted

      You will get side effects for sure.  I had the old dull headache for a day or so.. trouble sleeping for a few days.. and 1 or two days of feeling slightly anxious but they all passed very quickly and nowhere near as bad as when I first started out. The side effects were no worse then when I first started and because I had suvived them the first time I knew what to expect and that I could do it again. The mystery has been taken out of things when you increase... you already have an idea of what you may feel unlike when you first started out. 
    • katie58615
      katie58615 lookingonwards

      Posted

      I really dont want to increase the dose but i go back to the doctors in 2weeks so that will be week10 and if i feel the same as i do now i may have to. I feel ok at times then other days like today i get this overwelmin feelin of anxiety. I feel sick cant eat, racing heart, short of breath, panicky!! How lo g have you been on flu?
    • lookingonwards
      lookingonwards katie58615

      Posted

      I was on 20mg for 6 weeks and then 30mg for 10 days and now I am at on week 9 of being at 40mg now.
    • katie58615
      katie58615 lookingonwards

      Posted

      Iv just seen this sorry, i replied to you but asked again what dose you was on as i didnt see this. How did u find uppin the dose
    • lookingonwards
      lookingonwards katie58615

      Posted

      Hiya, I wrote this reply to Monica a while ago..

      You will get side effects for sure.  I had the old dull headache for a day or so.. trouble sleeping for a few days.. and 1 or two days of feeling slightly anxious but they all passed very quickly and nowhere near as bad as when I first started out. The side effects were no worse then when I first started and because I had suvived them the first time I knew what to expect and that I could do it again. The mystery has been taken out of things when you increase... you already have an idea of what you may feel unlike when you first started out. 

  • monica62597
    monica62597 katie58615

    Posted

    I think I am just scared it won't help me like celexa did!I have four kids.16,11,7,2.I really hope I can see them grow up and enjoy life again like I should and not fill myself with constant unrelenting guilt and worry!

    • lookingonwards
      lookingonwards monica62597

      Posted

      Actually this medication has been way way better for me than Celexa ever was. I always felt like I was in a daze on Celexa and just never felt right... but this medication has given me an amazingly clear head now. I wish I had switched years ago. Yes starting out sucks really badly.. but so does anything when you start out doing it. 
  • KevB5
    KevB5 katie58615

    Posted

    I also was switched from citalpram to fluoxetine. I think my brain was so use to it and the switch to fluoxetine has been brutal. I considered the same going back to the citalpram/Celexa but not wanting to suffer the same for so long. I was prescribed 40mg of the fluoxetine but only got to the 20 because of its Interactions and side effects being so bad not like the Celexa. I plan to taper very slowly, 3-4℅ every 1-2 months and just be rid of the SSRI evils. Changed diet and gym every day, natural supplements-magnesium, etc. No fun I know.
    • katie58615
      katie58615 KevB5

      Posted

      How long was you on citalopram for and at what dose if you dont mind me askin? So do you feel fluoxetine has helped you?
    • KevB5
      KevB5 katie58615

      Posted

      I was on 40 mg for 17+ years. I dropped it down to 20 mg for the last 5-6 year's and thought I could probably do without it. I was in an accident and ended up with a TBI. Started getting seizures so a med was added for that and the interactions with the Celexa began. Still some issues trial and error as between my neurologist and phychiatrist not knowing. Celexa actually worked well until.

    • katie58615
      katie58615 KevB5

      Posted

      Sorry to hear that!! Sounds like a tough time with the trial and error!
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.