Day 22 Prozac/Fluoxetine 20mg feeling terrible

Treatment and medication
1

Hi guys,

I’m three weeks into my first try of Fluoxetine, having previously been on Citalopram. I’m having such a rough time on it, and basically wake up every morning feeling beyond awful and wondering how I’ll make it through the day. I know three weeks is still ‘early days’ - should I persist? I basically have continual severe anxiety that morphs into agitation as the day goes on, no appetite at all, exhausted all the time. A shell of my usual self :frowning: Could really do with some encouragement to keep going.

2

It really is early days. I wouldnt stop when you have come so far. The symptoms should gradually start to ease. Its not an instant thing, small steps each day.

3

I had the same. It's awful isn't it? I went to my psychiatrist who prescribed some low dose Xanax to help me get thru it. It worked a little but this does take a while, Maybe a few more days or weeks. You have come so far! Don't stop now.

4

Hello Lucy,

This all sounds very familiar to me, and all I can say is hang in there! You will make it - has your doctor/consultant given you anything to take the edge off while you adjust, such as lorazepam or diazepam? They really do help take the edge off for many and you will not be given enough to become dependent, they're just for short-term relief. I felt utterly horrendous when I first started fluoxetine (I was switched from escitalopram), I was climbing the walls, but after a month or so I was a lot better (remember it can take around 3 months to feel the full benefits). The wait paid off for me, and I've only just had a recurrence of symptoms years later which is likely due to another medication I'm on. Not sure if this helps at all! X

5

I don't know if I can keep going :( I'm so agitated, anxiety through the roof. I woke at 4am feeling dreadful, right ear buzzing, trembling, feeling like I want to die than keep living like this. Surely after three weeks this should be settling down and some benefits setting in? It's 7.30am and I've just taken diazepam, which I hate doing :( Help.

6

i was so in the exact same spot . o honestly didnt think i would be better . at around 6-7 weeks i had some better days in a row . here i am at week 8 and im back down a little so its a real process we can only keep going forward

7

The agitation is awful, isn't it? Akathisia is probably the worst symptom for me. If the diazepam is helping then take it for now, you will not need it forever and it's important to give yourself some rest while this is going on (trust me, it's early days). Do you have friends/family you can stay with while you're feeling like this? I understand when you don't feel 'safe' on your own because the symptoms are so extreme. You will get better, but you need to feel and be safe while you adjust.

8

3 weeks is still so early. USE THE DIAZEPAM. Call your doc if you have to & let him know how you're feeling but we've all been thru this.I used Xanax (alprazolam) to get thru it.

9

Hello Barbara, Just out of curiosity, how long can you take Xanax if you need it for a period of anxiety? I've been given lorazepam in the past but told I could only take it for a short period of time.

10

Hi Pamela.

I am in the US if that makes any difference for meds. I see a Psychiatrist who is the one that prescribes all of my meds for depression & anxiety. GP's do not have the training to know about psychiatric drugs. That's just my opinion.My psychiatrist gives me Xanax on a regular basis. We are not worried about dependence just yet or at all.Like I have said in my other posts, I'm 61 years old & if this is what I need once or twice a day for my scary anxiety issue-I don't care if I have to take it for the rest of my life. But to answer your question, I really don't know. I have heard that some doctors only give a 10 day supply or two weeks.

11

Thanks Alison, I know it's not an instant thing, but surely the suffering shouldn't be so bad you feel like dying :( This does't seem right.

12

It's akathisia? Yes actually that is what it feels like. It's like this awful inner agitation that I can't get at or relieve, it makes me want to run around screaming. I've never had it this bad before starting a med, and if I have it's only been for the first day or two. This is three weeks of torture so far. I have just taken another diazepam. It's not even 7am yet (I'm in Australia staying at my sisters). I can't imagine ever feeling well again.

13

Thanks for relating Toughgo, it helps hearing other peoples experiences. Really pleased to hear you've had some good days, that's progress :)

14

I know in the UK (I'm from Edinburgh), the doctors are much more wary of giving out benzodiazapenes, and usually only give you 7-14 tablets. I'm in Australia just now visiting my sister and the doctor here prescribed me 50! Told me not to be afraid to use it (I still am).

15

Thanks Barbara, I took another diazepam at 7am this morning, couldn't stand it any more. The waking anxiety/dread/agitation is getting worse. Surely not everyone goes through this torture starting Prozac or they wouldn't take it!! I am going to see the doc today.

16

Oh my gosh, thats exactly what I had.I didn't know that there was an actual name for it. It was so hard to explain to anyone.

17

I'm so sorry you're going through this - you described it perfectly, but you are not alone. And I know what it's like to think you will never feel well again. Have you had your iron, ferritin and vitamin B12 levels checked? I think agitation has also been linked to a vitamin B6 deficiency. Another possibility is that you might have a hormone imbalance...

18

Hi Pamela, I had my vitamin B12, B6, zinc and D3 checked, as well as full thyroid done. My zinc was low but everything else fine. But my female hormones are off - total estrogens are low (I'm 46). I went to the doctor om Friday, she says i should not be in such torment three weeks into the prozac, and it sounds like akathisia. She wants me to drop from 20mg to 10mg for three days and then off it. Bloody hell :(

19

Oh wow Lucywell glad you saw your docgood luck to you! check in with us

20

Hello Lucy, How has today been? So glad you saw a doctor. I think zinc can affect your hormones, and low estrogen can definitely cause depression and anxiety - perhaps in time you could try HRT? And this is a personal question, but do you mind telling me what your B12 reading was? Are you with your sister? Again my heart goes out to you. X