Hi,
I've been suffering from anxiety and depression for 5 months and was prescibed Prozac yesterday. I wanted to know if anyone had similar symptoms to me that have been eased by prozac. My major symptoms are: morning panic attacks, diarrhea, constant butterflies in the stomach, low appetite, fear of time running out, fear of dying, and meaningless/hopelessness! I know its long... haha! Any advice/comments?
Hi Julian
Yes those are common side effects, tmrw will b the end of week 5 on flu and thank god those side effects have diminished alot, first few weeks are hard but you'll get there 
Thanks! I'm trying hard to stay optimistic
It'll get better, I know how it feels when your mind is telln you otherwise but hang n there, ppl here are very very supportive it helped me alot and still is
Hi Julian,
i have been been on flux for nearly 4 weeks now. I have had v bad side effects, panic attacks, no motovation, no appetite, sleeping not good, fear of dying, always anxious abt doing things, stress levels high. Just don't know what my life means. Very lonely too. Let's hope all gets better soon. I have a few weeks off work and I need to get back to normality a structured day. I hate this feeling of uselessness. Hope they kick in soon.
D
Did you feel like this before or after? Or both!
After taking the flux everything is worse. I hate going outside my home, as I get very anxious. Just shutting myself away from the outside world. Not good thing, but that's how I feel. Life must go on though. Hope you get through the Yuki side effects.
D
Hi Julian I'm on day 18 20mg flu and Things are so much better. I had anxiety panic attacks with depression and all those things you had. First two weeks symptoms got worse at times and I've had no appetite motivation but things just start to get better for periods and now Ives had a few days with very little anxiety And no panic attacks. I started on 10mg first five days then went up. Felt drugged first two weeks and sleepy with my head racing. Only last four days my head has settled and now I'm tired really early and sleeping almost 8 hours which is great.
i got some diazaiepane from doctor took like 1mg to take on the bad anxiety nights to get through the settling phase. Also Google anxiety realise meditations on u tube they really help with anxiety.
Keep going it does get better I already feel better.
Here is you need me
Alice
Hi Julian
Yes these are common symptoms of anxiety and depression. When you suffer with this illness you don't think rationally and become susceptible to lots of fears. These fears will get put back into perspective as you recover and they won't bother you eventually.
Prozac will help - but it will take a long time. You may find your symptoms will get much worse to start with, but that's only normal. The side effects will wear off in time. Gauge progress in months not weeks. Count each month as a week. That's how slow it can work. Don't try and hurry recovery, as you can't. Taking a larger dose won't make recovery any quicker either and will only make you feel worse. Take it real slow. It can be 3-4 months before you start feeling better and then another few months after that. It's really worth it though.
Don't change medications too thinking a different sort will work better for you. You need to give one medicine a good 4-5 months before you can tell.
When the side effects wear off, recovery often comes in patches. An hour feelin good, then sometimes a few days, then maybe a few weeks ..... it'll come and go for a while. This is normal.
These meds will work for you. I know it's a long process but it's worth the wait. I was ill for 15 years with depression and anxiety, so waiting a few months was a small price to pay for me. I recovered on SSRI's.
Remember - lots and lots of patience, and perseverance.
K x
Oh my goodness those are the two side effects I'm feeling! Very sleepy and head racing/zaps, which makes me feel depressed. I'm glad it has helped you! I'm trying to stay strong
Thank you!
Very nice comment!
Do you feel back to your normal self?
Hi Kate - cogs - cognitive therapy maybe? You're such a whiz on this site - I'm always so impressed! I've probably already told you I used to work in mental health (appalling memory on Prozac!!) - you bring it all back.
Well done!
Anne x
(Do you have memory probs? 14 wks and mine are getting worse)
Hi Alice,
I have been on flux for just over 3 weeks. First few weeks I had no appetite whatsoever, so I eat very little. I had a few panic attacks. I have been taking sleeping tablets to try and help me sleep, sometimes they work and other times don't work. My anxiety is up and down, is this normal with flux? Will the anxiousness go away in time. I have never felt this way before. I don't like being on my own, is this normal. My motivation is nil, I am off work for a few weeks, so there is no structure to.my days. This is my third depression and this is by the worse time I've had.
Awww thanks :-) Yes my memory doesn't seem to be as sharp as it used to be - is it the medication or age I wonder. I like to think our brains are like a big computer, and over the years we fill our hard drive with information and in time as it fills up, our computer gets slower and slower when trying to retrieve a particular memory.
My memory seems selective - I'm a dance teacher and can remember dance steps, combinations and choreographies without writing them down from years ago ..... but ask me to remember a someone's name ... nah.
I think the meds do play a part in poor memory too though.
Anne,
My memory is extremely poor since taking meds. Also I have lost all confidence in everything I do. I hve anxiety attacs. Lack of concentration too. Basically life is rubbish for me at the moment.
D
Oh my goodness! I'm on day 3 only and I can already do the things I like without getting nervous or having it feel like work! I was so skeptical starting but now I'm very optimistic
Ooooh, I do (like most folk on this site) recognise your plight Deborah! I note you've been on the tabs for just 4 weeks. There's no easy way to say this but it takes time for them to kick in. As Katecogs pointed out earlier, we need to think in terms of months, rather than weeks, to start feeling the benefits. It took me till week 12 to start feeling human again. That must seem such an age away right now - I know. The side effects are a total nightmare - and so many of them! This website is a godsend, so use it - you'll get the encouragement and support you need. It might also help to keep a (brief) daily log too, so you can check it every so often - our memories can be distorted by mood...
Hugs, Anne x
Haha! Yep - I love that alternative 'hard drive overload' theory!! I'm the same with names - it's getting quite embarrassing. I notice I'm also starting to lose track of stuff too, eg I left my bag on the counter after paying for coffees this morning. Worrying. My father died of Alzheimer's, so you can guess where I go on that one!
Dance teacher, eh? How wonderful! I was a full-time student until 14 yrs old when I was told I was too tall!! I still use some of the moves in my morning workouts and, don't know about you, but I still have to consciously turn my feet IN when I'm walking down the street to avoid that duck straddle!!
A x