Switched to Fluoxetine but anxiety awful - discontinued but still feeling highly anxious

Mental health
1

Hi was wondering if anyone can relate to my experience of Fluoxetine. 

My Gp switched me from Citalopram (which I’d been stable on for a while) to 20mg Fluoxetine due to pregnancy. 2 weeks into taking the Fluoxetine I was a mess with high anxiety, racing heart, upset stomach, inability to sleep, jittery, chills, shaking and sweating. Went back to another GP who switched me back to Citalopram. 

It’s now 6 days later and I am still highly anxious despite taking a small dose of Quetiapine on top of the Citalopram. I just want to know how much longer I’m going to feel like this for?! I thought the fluoxetine would be out of my system by now as I was only on it for 2 weeks. 

I’m not getting the shaking as much but still highly anxious and have no appetite at all. It’s unbearable. Did anyone have a similar experience? How long until you felt better? I know most people get side effects and persevere but I wasn’t able to do that so going back on the Fluoxetine isn’t an option at this point. 

2

There are differences between both medications, you will need to allow both medications contraindications to sort themselves out. Give a further three weeks

You were not on the first medication for long enough to allow it to work, you were moved on and will need to give Citalopram time to work, hopefully with being on this drug in the past you may find waiting times may reduce down. It all depends on you allowing a little bit of patience

BOB

3

Thanks Bob, really appreciate your response. Hopefully the Citalopram will start to work soon - I never had a problem with this in the past. I couldn’t have stayed on the Fluoxetine as the side effects were so uncomfortable. 

4

Claire

Good Luck with that, hopefully you will be ok

BOB