5 weeks on fluoxetine, feeling very low

[Emphyrio]

I had a pretty bad night last night - couldn't sleep and felt the need to move my legs every few seconds. I'm wondering whether I should start taking the tablet in the morning...another annoying side effect I've noticed is a drop in libido.

I'm considering taking maybe 20mg every two days instead or breaking open the capsule and mixing it with juice so I can take 10mg a day. It seems to be working for my intrusive thoughts so I'm wondering whether I can get by on a smaller amount of fluox...

---------- Post added at 08:25 ---------- Previous post was at 08:20 ----------

Scamp - it seems to be that people experience a 'golden period' after 4-5 weeks when they feel better, but then experience a short-term 'rebound' effect regarding the side effects. I'm hoping that's what I'm experiencing at the moment. Try to stick it out in the meantime - give it a few more weeks before you decide whether its for you. Many people seem to come off medication prematurely without giving it time to get settled.

[Tildy]

I am in the same boat. Been on fluoxetine 20mg for a few years and was doing ok, but in the last 6months or so I went downhill with anxiety returning and then the onset of depression as a result. I had a breakdown at work and went to see my gp who increased my fluoxetine to 40mg per day. That was nearly 5 weeks ago now. I had some good days last week and thought I was making progress but this week so far I feel so low. I cant stop crying and am scared of everything. I try talking to my family but I know it upsets them too. So frustrating that the pills havent kicked in yet!!

[Piano]

Hi all, I am sending you all a big hug
I thought I was the only one in the world feeling like this, I have felt so isolated and scared. It helps to see that we are in the same boat.

A little update on me: I spent the whole day yesterday in bed in a strange mood, not depressed or anxious really. In the afternoon I got up (and spent time with my 5 year old daughter and my husband), and I had a sensation in my head when it felt like the fluoxetine was filling my brain and "lighting it up". The sensation lasted for many hours. Today I am at work, and although I have felt a little uneasy until noon, I now have almost the same feeling as yesterday, its like fluoxetine is smoothing my brain. It is not a strong or overwhelming feeling, and I sometimes feel a weak anxiety which passes quickly.

Emphyrio, thanks for updating us, I think it is important to realize that this takes time. And when we get our downs after feeling good, it is just a "short-term 'rebound' effect regarding the side effects", as Emphyrio said.

I do not expect that the good feeling will last, it is probably too early. I have informed people at work that my mood is unstable and that I can get anxiuos or depressed all of a sudden.

To sum up, I have now been on fluoxetine for 5 days (5 mg) and 38 days (10 mg). I take it in the morning. I tried to up the dose twice, first to 20 mg (became super anxious and restless), and then to 15 mg (became anxiuos), so after discussing it with my doc, I am staying at 10 mg.

---------- Post added at 13:23 ---------- Previous post was at 13:21 ----------

I just wanted to add that I am on a 50% sick leave, so most of the days I stay at home hiding from the world.... Hope this will change

---------- Post added at 14:17 ---------- Previous post was at 13:23 ----------

By the way, How are you all doing?

---------- Post added at 18:04 ---------- Previous post was at 14:17 ----------

The good feeling didn't last, now I am so sad...

[TheRivieraKid]

Don't worry too much Piano, it sounds like you're starting to see some positivity now - hang in there

[LAURA48]

Hi

Just thought I would post a very positive experience I had with Prozac.

I have suffered with anxiety for 27 years after being bullied at work - and was given lorazepam at the time as SSRIs were not around - I plodded on for a few more years but at the time I did not realise I had Pure OCD. I had a very bad time with anxiety and depression in 1996 and went to see my GP who prescrived Prozac 20mg. I started it and the side effects were horrific - an increase in anxiety - so bad I had to return to my parents - I was able to have lorazepam - when needed. But out of all anti depressants Prozac has been the worst - shaking, crying, terrible dyspepsia (heartburn) every side effect under the book and no internet access then! I plodded on, felt terrible and thought these are making me worse the depression is terrible, even asked the doctor if I could up the dose but he said not at this stage.

Week by week the side effects went alittle but was determined to stick with them - by about the 12th week mark was starting to feel much better - so much so booked in for driving lessons - this was remarkable! This really took my mind off things the heartburn was still there and took Omeprazole for it. To cut a long story short passed by test - first time and my life really took off - got a proper job, married, moved house - more normal things went on holidays - it made be feel so more "normal" no weird thoughts.

Summary

Piano has asked me to write something inspiring to you fellow sufferers - all I can say is stick with it - it worked great for me for 15 years - then it stopped working - my little dog died suddenly in front of me in October 2011 and I cannot find anything that has worked as well - how I wish I could get my old life back - my doc told me double it and that time and that made me really ill - the anxiety was unbearable - I had to stop it - tried it again but alas no longer worked. It had ran its course.

I found Prozac to work very slowly - and 20mg is the dose to be on imo - have some diazepam to hand as it is a very stimulating drug. Apparently it is supposed to be the weakest out of all the SSRIs? Not sure about that one.

Imo - you must not play around with doses - Piano - bite the bullit and stick to 20mg! take some diazepam if needed - this is the therapeutic dose in the UK. The anxiety will get better I promise you that.

I am on Effexor 225mg - still early days - but still waiting for lift off.

I hope I have given some inspiration to you all.

You will get there some quicker than others but Prozac changed my life for the good.

Take care Laura x

---------- Post added at 19:41 ---------- Previous post was at 19:38 ----------

ps - always take my meds early evening around 6pm

[katyjohnstone]

the aniexty will pass it takes time for the meds to work sometimes doics will give you dizampam to help with the really bad times keep smiling

[Piano]

Thank you Laura for your reassuring post! 12 weeks is a long time to wait for the prozac effect...! I hope Effexor will work nicely for you

About the 10 mg dose: my dr wants me to stay on it. I tried to up it (without telling my dr), but I just got super anxious. I have googled the dose and it seems that it is prescribed in the US for anxiety. But maybe it takes longer to work than with a 20 mg dosage regimen? Anyone on this forum who knows?

And thank you, katyjohnstone, for comforting us

[Iggy131313]

Are you in america Piano?

[Piano]

Norway

[Iggy131313]

Norway! Cool! So meeting for a coffee is out then lol!