Hi everyone, i am 21 years old and i am taking fluoxetine. I was taking it 3 years (20mg) , i tapered it this year, i had relapse and i started it again. I was trying to feel myself back again at the same dose for about 12 weeks, but it didn’t happen. I went to my psychiatrist and he told me to increase it to 40mg. My questions are: How long will side effects last, how they will be and when i will start feeling better with the increased dose? (All answers based on your experiences , if you had the same issue)
Hello,
I have been taking fluoxetine at different dosages for a long time. I started at 20mg daily and throughout the years have increased this to 40mg and then back to 20 mg and have had stages where I’ve tried to be tapered off but ultimately have ended up staying on them.
I had been on 20mg for quite some time until about June of this year when I started a new job and started struggling with anxiety and OCD thoughts. My dosage was increased to 40mg but it has taken a long time for me to start to feel better and it can be a frustrating process. I believe it is a slow working drug and you need to be patient to allow it to work and get in your system.
In terms of side effects the only real effects I felt when my dosage was increased was I found I woke up early and was very hungry, and I did have a bit of an upset stomach for a short while.
I would go with what your doctor advises but just be realistic in your expectations and keep reading posts on here as I found this reassuring, particularly in the early days when I was still struggling.
It’s a journey not a race so be patient and positive that you will get better. Take one day at a time.
Best Wishes!