Hi all was on Fluoxetine about 3 years ago for anxiety, dizziness and panic attacks which were happening in public places and when in social situations. The Flux seemed to help greatly to the extent i came off about a year ago and also due the fact it had raised my Cholesterol level. I was fine for about 6 months until the dreaded symptoms came back again.
This time I tried some natural remedies and CBT but unfortunately neither helped/worked. I have now been back on Flux for 8 weeks, 1 week at 10mg and now 7 weeks at 20mg, and unfortunately no improvement at all and has actually got a lot worse to the extent I am constantly suffering from strong anxiety and feeling very helpless to the extent I think I’m becoming acrophobic, as I don’t want to leave the house and just sit on the sofa watching tv! Also family life suffering as I am so down all the time.
Last week I have had the week from hell where the anxiety is through the roof and much worse than the start up symptoms also suffering with morning nausea, constant lightheaded faint feelings and strange jaw discomfort.
I have a docs appoint on Tues, but looking for a bit of advice before I go as to whether I should hold on, increase dose or look at switching, was thinking of trying Citalopram if I do.
Any help would be most gratefully received
hi paul it sounds to me your dose isnt high enough yet perhaps u need to get the gp to put u up to 40 mg.u tend to feel alot worse till it gets into your system properly ive been back on it nearly 5 wks 3wks at 20mg and nearly 2wks on 40 mg have started to have odd days where i feel slightly better but then go down again and i dont leave the house.im at the dentist tomorrow and panicing about leaving the house but i have to go.im sure u will soon begin to feel a bit better if your gp ups your tablets.please keep in touch and let me know how you are.
Hi Bazza many thanks for the reply
Went to my docs and he has now switched me to Escitalopram (lexapro) I have to stop taking Fluoxetine for a week then start. Hope the dentist went ok for you i know how difficult that can be so well done for going.
hi paul i wasnt to bad at the dentists im back in 3 wks for impressions and another 3wks after that for my implant.the anxiety came back full force for the rest of the day was very down again seems like when i leave the house it gets really bad went on thurs to hospital to hospital with my husband and the same thing happened.i didnt feel quite so bad when i got up this morning but feel very down again tonight.hope the meds soon kick in it seems an age since i started them .i was on prozac before but dont remember it taking so long or all the side effects when you increase.hope u get on ok with lexapro and it doesnt take so long to work have u taken it before u would think by now the powers that be could give us something that works a lot faster there is so many people withthis its time they got there act together.please keek in touch and let me know how you feel.pleased i found this forum it does help to not feel so alone.
Hi again Bazza
Glad the Dentist wasn't too bad but you sound very similar to me with your anxiety mine comes on in public places horrible isn't it?
Been off Flux now for 5 days and i must say i am feeing so much better no more constant anxiety that i was getting and my head just feels clear again and more like my old self apart from a bit of dizziness which i think could be down to the abrupt stop.
Im due to start the Lexapro on Friday and was actually thinking of maybe not starting, but went food shopping this morning and the feeling of panic and anxiety came back while i was there, so definitely think i still need something.
Hope your road to recovery continues, but don't be scared if they don't work and you have to try something else like i do. Fluxoetine worked great for me in the past but this time round was totally different. i haven't taken Lexapro before so if new territory to me.
Anytime you fancy a chat please contact me as i agree this forum doesn't make you feel alone, and i think us anxious people benefit from sharing our feelings
hello paul thanks for your input i dare hardly say this but i feel a bit brighter today long may it continue.had appointment today to see a psychiatrist it went quite well he listened to me which makes a change and was interested in what i had tried in the past and what medicationi had been on before.i have also tried magnetic therapy not on the nhs but private it didnt work for me but it does help a lot of people but it is expensive they use it a lot on war veterans help the heroes i found it on line when i was desperately looking for anything that might help.the psychiatrist was really interested in that apprently there is research going on at the moment in the nhs about it helping people with the dreaded depression and anxiety.he told me to carry on with my 40 mg prozac for now and he will see me in 2 wks.i also ask him about suppliments [vitamins etc]he said to take them along with meds it might help.i will keep u informed have a good night bazza xx
hi paul just checking to see if youre ok havent heard from u for a few please let me know how u are coping .bazza x
Hi Bazza sorry hadn't logged on for a while and thought i had set up so it emailed when i had a reply but it didn't so missed your reply. Glad you was feeling a bit better and hope that day wasn't just a blip and you are on your road to recovery. That's interesting about magnetic therapy never heard of that to be honest, may look into if tabs don't work.
Been on my tabs now for a week and not had much side effects which is good only thing is I've been feeling really dizzy, not sure if this is a side effect of new tabs or poss withdrawal from Flux anyway today has been a lot better so long may it continue, and anxiety hasn't been as bad as it was a couple of weeks ago. Im still only on the starting dose so will prob have to up in next couple of weeks to the amount they recommend for anxiety.
Keep in touch and happy for you to private message me
Paul
hi paul pleased to hear from u and hope u feel better and better do u think the anxiety is less because of the tablets/now im feeling better my anxiety is much less as well perhaps it goes hand in hand with feeling brighter.the magnetic theraphy didnt work for me but i wonder if ihad been down to long for a miracle to happen apparently they siad they ve had a 100 % success but it is a lot of money if u dont get a lift with it and the disappointment it hastnt worked which is even worse when u are banking on something to make u feel better .im quite happy to take the tabs if they work im also taking a supplement called brainsmart as well hoping it helps so i dont have to up my dose of prozac and there is no side effects with them.i know its extra money to pay out but if they work i think its worth it in the long run to feel happy.i can private message u but u will have to explain how i do it im a novice with computers.hope things carry on going up for u be in touch bazza x
Hi Bazza
Thanks again for the reply, feeling bit more anxious again today but hopefully just a bad day, so glad you are feeling better. Never heard of Brainsmart where do you get that from?
To private message you should have option under my username in messages ill message you and hopefully you get it x
Hi paul, how are you doing on the new tablets? I'm still waiting for the fluoxetine to work fully (or if they ever will) really don't like the thought of having to change to different ones, i'm so up and down though and really unsure of what to do.
Hi Lindsey thanks for message, How long have you been on Fluoxetine? Sorry to hear its not working fully yet have you been on it before? Dont be afraid to try different tabs though if they are not working for you.
Im not doing too bad so far certainly better than when i was on Flux it was making me so anxious when i was on it, the new tabs are certainly not helping me fully yet but only been on them for just over a week but not getting the levels of anxiety i was getting with Flux, just the odd dizzy spell which hopefully will go.
Let me know how you get on
Hi Paul, sorry for the late reply I've had a crap couple of days. I've been on 20mg for 15 weeks and my anxiety seems to be getting a bit better but I'm still struggling with low mood and just can't seem to get my head round doing anything unless i really have to. I've searched the internet for other peoples stories and quite a few say it can take up to 4 months to start feeling better, so i'm still praying for improvement 🤞🤞 It really scares me the thought of changing tablets as i don't want to go through all the side effects again, but neither can i go on feeling like this!! How are you doing? x
Ah Lindsey so sorry to hear that you are still suffering, thats not good after being on them that length of time, and must be horrible. I know i was getting to the end of my tether after just 8 weeks.
What has your Doctor said to do?
What is the reason you are on tablets?
I had exactly the same thoughts about changing tablets as you, but the way i was feeling I thought it couldn't get any worse, and as soon as I stopped the flux i felt so much better. Not had any major side effects on my new tabs which had been good so far, just some dizziness but i had that before.
I know i wouldn't be happy waiting for up to 4 months to start feeling better, and i think Fluoxetine is one of the ones to take longer to work, but i am no expert.
Do hope you get better and keep in touch x
Hi Paul, todays not been such a bad day! The weather has picked up and i've managed to go running (which really helps my head 😊)
I know 4 months of waiting for the tablets to work is a bloody long time, and i'm my own worse enemy at times by over thinking everything!!
I'm taking them for anxiety and low mood, i saw the doctor 2 weeks ago and she said i may need to up my dose ( but that worries me too)
my anxiety is not as bad as it was, and i've waited this long so i may as well give it a couple more weeks! 🤞🤞🤞
Its good to know you've managed to switch tablets without any major side effects, please keep in touch and let me know how you're getting on x
I'm on 40 mg right now Lindsey and I see my Dr. on Monday. I am not where I would like to be with this medication so I am willing to take a higher dosage to see if I have better results.
Hi Postaldogg, I think we've been on the tablets the same amount of time, are you any better at all? Let me know how you get on at the doctors, it helps talking on here xx
I still have that obsessive thinking but I think the anxiety from it may have lessened. I would like to feel much better though
My anxiety has lessened too but like you I really want to feel better in myself. I wish i could turn my thoughts off just for a while to give me a break!!
Think I'm going to have to give in and go back to the doctors though and see about upping my dose. x
I have no problem upping my dose as my side effects are minimal. I would just like to give this a chance before trying something else