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When should a trial of fluoxetine for major depression be declared failed?

Posted , 4 users are following.

danilo45459
danilo45459

Hi guys,

The title of this topic is the name of a study published in "The American Journal of Psychiatry" (2003) and the main conclusion is that "nonresponse to fluoxetine should not be declared until 8 weeks of treatment have elapsed".

They found, for example, that "Patients unimproved at week 6 had a remission rate at week 12 of 31%-41%." I hope it gives you an idea of how long fluoxetine may take to really kick in.

 

1 like, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • carl58303
    carl58303 danilo45459

    Posted

    Sheesh! I thouht you were giving up when I read that title, Dani!

    My GP saw me at two weeks and our next appointment will be at eight weeks - which fits nicely with your study. I've been looking at "at least" six weeks and once that far in surely you have to continue? I'd have thought so. It may not turn out to be a cure all but I'm hoping for good improvement over how I was at my worst - suicidal ideation, no motivationat all, de dah.

    I'm on a see how it goes journey but it's useful to have the milestones you provide. Cheers!

    • hevsky
      hevsky carl58303

      Posted

      It's taken me 8 weeks to feel anywhere near back to myself x
    • carl58303
      carl58303 hevsky

      Posted

      I was expecting six weeks so eight is in the ball park, I suppose. I'm in my third week and feel way better than when I started  - still way off base but better than I was.

      One day and one capsule at a time, I suppose!

    • danilo45459
      danilo45459 carl58303

      Posted

      Yes, carl. Second week was the rock bottom for me. The third week, even being far from the ideal, seems much better. I guess the fourth one will be okish for us =)
  • david_25160
    david_25160 danilo45459

    Posted

    omg so it certainly is not the quick fix I was hoping for, by quick I mean I kinda thought that by 2 weeks I would be back to my old self, up to 8 weeks my god that seems a lifetime right now sad
    • hevsky
      hevsky david_25160

      Posted

      It does but just stick with it, everyone's experience is different. By week 6 I was doubting, week 7 having up and down days and by week 8 feel almost back to normal. I've been off work 10 weeks so it's hard to distinguish my real feelings from the anxiety of faving work again, although I know I'll be prefectly fine! x
    • david_25160
      david_25160 hevsky

      Posted

      thanks for that hevsky, as you say everybody is different, Im just on day 5 so anxiety and lots of confusing thoughts rushing through my head all day. I must make a more concentrated effort to keep myself occupied during the day, lifes a bitch huh
    • carl58303
      carl58303 david_25160

      Posted

      Being occuupied and distracted from my thoughts is definitely better than sitting and brooding on them - they just get deeper and darker when I do that, no good at all.
    • danilo45459
      danilo45459 david_25160

      Posted

      It is hard, but you can do it. I'm in the end of the week 3 and feeling much better than week 2 (which was a nightmare). I still have to improve a lot. This early in the morning I was feeling very well, but over the morning I got worse. And then after lunch I improved. One week ago I would have hellish feelings the entire day.

      If it keeps improving, the week 4 will be a good one =)

    • david_25160
      david_25160 danilo45459

      Posted

      does it make any difference what time of day you take the fluoxitine? I usually have mine about 10 each morning. today has'nt been too bad for me, headaches, yawning lots, slightly blurry vision and general tiredness but I made myself stay awake, good luck danilo I hope it keeps getting better for you smile
    • hevsky
      hevsky david_25160

      Posted

      I got told by my gp to always take in a morning, because it can make you have very poor sleep. I felt generally better in an evening than in a morning... Things will improve, just persevere and try to believe it yourself x
    • carl58303
      carl58303 hevsky

      Posted

      Flu affected my sleep badly in week 2 but that seems to have gone in week 3.- no more tossing and turning and then sweating when I finally got to sleep in the early hours.

      I take my Flu with breakfast.. Getting calmer bit by bit, day by day.

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