i need help with fluoxetine, what do i do?

Treatment and medication
1

hello,

i have been on fluoxetine for 15 days now and the side effects that i have been suffering since day one does not seem to be shrinking. my anxiety, depression and ocd has got alot worse since iv taken fluoxetine, and iv just been to my doctors and he suggested i switch to mirtazapine as soon as i come to a decision.

i can either stay with fluoxitine n see how i get on, or make the switch of medications.

i need help deciding, i have no idea what the right thing to do is.

shall i perservere with the side effects for another 1-2 week and see how i get along?

shall i carry on putting my trust in fluoxetine?

or make the switch?

any advice will be most greatful.

thank you very much,

oliver

2

I have been on Fluoxetine for just over a month now and i feel worse than ever, im also thinking about changing meds but im going to put up with it for about another month i think, i think u should put up with it a while longer and see how u go...

3

hey oliver

u have come to the right place! This site is very helpful no one knows each other but there is endless advice here!

My advice would be as I had severe side effects early on when first taking these meds is to try if you can to hang on at least until a month has passed yes it does feel rough & I did feel very odd for a while! But things will change not saying you are taking a magic pill but you really do have to give your body a chance to accept this medication.

Its rather odd how everyone reacts to these - everyone is different!

But if you feel bad or are miffed bout something - post it here there is always someone to listen - like others for me it felt hard to talk to your dr or ppl around you - here we all trying to follow same path!

There are some very caring ppl who glance this site from time to time so keep us posted how you are?

Try HANG IN THERE see what happens!!

fellow fluoxters - good luck xx

4

Aw Oliver, Maherg and Addy are so right, stick with it.

It can take up to 8 weeks my Dr told me to get in to my system and start having an effect on me.

I liked the word Addy chose - your body has to 'accept' this, get used to it

However, I was exactly the same as you after 2 weeks - more desperate than when I started the fluoxetine - I can honestly say I was at my wits end after 14 days of taking 20mg per day. I felt suicidal still, so bad, and thought this final attempt at finding help to go on had failed me. I went back to my Dr and saw another Dr, who was lovely, I totally broke down in front of her - she was just so lovely and caring, and didnt care about the time I was in there. She put my dose up to 40 mg a day (as she said she wanted to try that before changing the medication) I was truly desperate Oliver - just so down like you feel now.

She also suggested I see a counsellor, which previous Drs had tried to tell me - but I was always NO NO NO!

But I think because she was so genuine and caring, and I was at the final place I could ever be, I said to her OK put my name down.

Well I'be been on the 40mg per day since week 2 - right now I have no idea how long I have been taking this - but I think now probably 10 - 12 weeks maybe more. I got a call from my surgery yesterday offering me an appt with a counsellor this morning (I could only do 8.30 as work quite far away) An appt came up - and I took it

Oliver I so dont believe in talking, iv always kept everything in - but being on here, listening to other people, so loving and caring, I decided to try it. I am so glad I did

The lady today JILL - was so lovely, more like a friend than an interrogator which I was expecting. I feel she has helped me already Oliver

Go to your Dr again, and tell him about this, if you're on 20 mg of course - cos I am living proof that upping the dose was the right thing for me

I have had really bad times still, dont get me wrong - I turn to this site, and I turn to my Dr who I have faith in. I guess if you didnt want to help people, you wouldnt be a Dr eh?

I hope that I've helped you - all I can go by is my own experience, but bluntly - i dont think you have given this enough time to settle in your system, and also, I was exactly like you - after 2 weeks - so bad - but my Dr suggested (and I went with) upping my daily dosage to 40 mg

Let us know how you do wont you

Stick with it, these people on here are the salt of the earth.

Have u ever thought that may be part of it? As far as I can see you're all so caring, giving, maybe we get nothing back , but on here, people are the same

Anyway

GOOD LUCK OLIVER x

5

Hey suzisue's spot on!!!!!!

I was upped to 40mg a day but spent more time asleep than awake lol

Now back to 20mg still neither here or there?

I still waiting for counselling I dunno guys do the meds work? I have no idea - really can't remember life pre flux? luckely never felt like ending things but pure confusion & being paranoid & hating myself were top for me!

Now I'm kinda calm but slightly bonkers still hate my life tho maybe its down to me to change things?!

Have taken up drinkin now so not sure if meds work or if booze cheers me up lol

Either way my conclusion is still DUNNO?

I know everyones got their own hang ups but hey guess from this post u can tell i not too clever with things........as always no one to tell..........feels like no one cares :-(

Final note...................will things ever brighen feel likea pile of rubbish!

6

Im on week 16 and i still wonder if they work!!

have seen a change and bit more positive side to myself but that could be to do with having a job, something to get up for (not that i really want to most days) but feeling a little more worthwhile.

Saying that, i still just dont want to be here...and feel like its an 'outer' fake happiness like ive always had and im back to putting the usual front on rather than actually being happy.

Have also just had a kind of set back, and im so scared that ive been making so much progress, yet this could knock me back.

I dont want to lose control again, and i have to keep it together for work sake..or i feel like i do!

aaarrgh, i just dont know?!!

:cry:

x

7

SJT and Addy

Aw guys - Im sorry to hear that you feel so crap, SJT we're here to listen, we're all friends now.

Addy - have you thought maybe you're feeling like this because you have gone back to 20mg? Maybe you should stick to 40? What do you think?

I hate thinking you're both feeling so down - and Oliver - everyone

I'm still taking 40mg as I said, and I'm sure they have helped me. I am so much more positive and feel stronger and more like living (though still have crap days too)

I've re done my CV and am desperate to change my life. Had an interview - wish you could all feel as good as I do right this moment.

Addy - what do you think about maybe going back up to 40mg? Why did you change back to 20mg? I really hope you feel better soon. You're never alone by the way - you always have us lot you know that.

SJT - I hope you can work through whatever is wrong - please just dont ever feel alone - God I know that feeling so well.

I HAVE to be strong for my children, and my Mum, and I am so going to be.

SJT you have to be for your job - it's a really positive step

COME ON - It's just a set back - you're strong enough to get through this aren't you - getting a job was a huge step

Pls keep posting guys xxxxxx

8

Evening everyone,

Suzisue, thanks for your reply and your kind words. Its is as we all know comforting that others out there take time to read our posts and care to reply.

After pretty much crying myself to sleep last night, i had a few bad dreams and managed to drag my tired ass outta bed to get ready for work. I tried not to think too much about last night and being so upset and do you know, by the time i got to work and the sun was shining and people were happy it was the weekend (bank hol at that!), I was feeling quite chirpy and surprised myself with my good mood.

I was tired a lot of the day though which is hard to cope with and also great news for me today - I took my first real call of my job!

Scary stuff, but i managed not to panic and apparently did really well so im chuffed to have got it out the way as apparently first is always really nervewracking.

Not sure if i've mentioned before but im now working for HSBC probate department which essentially means i receive calls notifying us of the death of a customer! Sounds a bit morbid i know, but we're there to help and guide people through what can be a tough time and most people really appreciate our help. Ive only just finished week 3 and although i had a day off sick this week I feel like im doing so well!

So i really urge everyone to stick with the ADs and also to keep doing their own things necessary to try and improve... for me that meant getting a job (overcoming interviews and all that jazz), getting into routine, actually going out and seeing my friends and doing things i enjoy again and just learning to also have my own down time and be alone (which i still struggle with..but im getting there).

I cant say for certain that it is the meds which have helped me, i believe that just as similarly it was a number of things that made me feel the need to see my GP in the first place...its also a number of things which are slowly helping me to improve.

I am so glad i found this site too, you've all been so great. I can only apologise that sometimes I am unable to give better opinions or help to some of you due to my own lack of life experience (Im only 22 now!!)

I wish you all the best, and thanks again! I will continue posting to keep you up to date!

Suzisue - how is your mum and the children?

Oliver - stick with it, good luck

xx

9

Hiya SJT - and where is Oliver - hope he comes back on here and reads our posts!

That's mega, I love the way you say you 'surprised' yourself with your cheery mood - that made lovely reading - I am so pleased. What you said is so true as well - we need to help ourselves - you have done a massive thing just getting the job - you're so young as well (Im 41 - how old is that? LOL!!)

Thanks for askin bout my kids and Mum - Danny's doing his Duke of Edinburgh this weekend - I think it'll do him good and be a lot harder than he is anticipating - may open his eyes a bit hopefully (He's doing a 58km walk - camping etc) Im still worried about him, but he's going to see a councellor, (I saw one on Thursday morning too) Did me the world of good. Lauren's a worry to me - she holds everything inside, and she's only 13. But I think we'll be oK

Mum is terrible, and it will always be hard - bless her so much - A friend at work today sent me an email which really touched my heart - a poem written by an old lady with dementia - it was amazing - would love to share it with you all, but it's sad too, and I dont want you to feel worse - but it is true, and so true about life. I've printed it off and Im going to put it on mum's door at her care home. (Im sure you would love it though)

Well - I've kept my best bit of news til last - I got that job I went for an interview for on Monday - I am over the moon - handed in my notice today (6 weeks) but like you SJT - it's now a whole new world to me - and you must feel exhilerated that you got your job and it's going so well - congratulations. My new job means no more traveling 120 miles a day - we are really changing our lives

Like you said, who knows if it would of happened anyway, or whether fluoxetine has played its part. I think it has, and would urge Oliver to read all the above posts.

Addy I hope you're OK too - pls come on here and talk to us. It's so good to be amongst people that feel similar, and makes me not feel lonely.

There's a 'Good Charlotte' song called 'March on'. Download it if you can and listen to the words - they're inspirational to me - I saw them live in Southampton - took the kids - they are sensational live - much better than their records. Anyway - this song is about feeling down - that you're not alone - that lots of people feel the same way - it's so true. Who knows - maybe it'll help in some small way.

I do wish you all love and good health xxx

10

Hi Oliver,

Just reading your post, I am on my first day of fluoxetine as I have just switched from mirtazapine, thats why i am replying. After being on mirtazapine for 7 weeks i gained alot of weight over a stone in 6 weeks this then developed into an eating dissorder with me which scared me. Now dont get me wrong the tabs really lifted me but the weight problem really became an issue that i just knew was gonna develop into something bad. So here i am on a new drug and gonna see how i get on. Good luck to you and hope you can stick it out. Keep me posted to how you get on.